by MJ Fields
“I find love every day.” She smiles.
“Outside of your books,” I tease.
She throws her head back and laughs out. “You’re not the only one who likes variety. It is the spice of life, you know.”
Shaking my head, I sigh.
“Don’t you start with me.” She giggles. “I am perfectly content.”
“I’ll back off as soon as you do.” I wink.
“Back off what?” Nathaniel hops up on his stool and puts the candy inside the deep red canvas bag with the green lettering spelling out Blizzards Bar, from last season’s Holiday Springs Twelve Days of Christmas festivities.
“Back off the tea,” I lie. “All that caffeine keeps your aunt up all night.”
Nathaniel looks at her and concern begins to etch his features.
“Oh, don’t worry, I have my cats and books, Nate.” She pats his hand before turning back to me with her brows raised. “And a toy rabbit that takes care of me at night.”
I give her a shocked face before she laughs out loud.
Nate’s confused look moves to Faith. “You have a rabbit? Since when?”
Before I can respond, my gaze moves to the ladies’ room door as it opens. Nikki and Jenny walk toward the bar, if you can call the zigzag mess where they’re basically holding one another up, walking. “Jesus.”
I clear my throat and look at Faith. “How about you two take your tea upstairs, and I’ll be along as soon as I can?”
Nathaniel looks over his shoulder and back at me. “I’ve seen drunk people before, Dad. No big deal. It’s like live theatre. Entertain—”
Laughing, Faith cuts him off, “Let’s head up and let your father take care of business.”
The way she says take care of business, and the wink that follows it as Nathaniel slides off his barstool, has me literally rolling my eyes at her.
“Thanks for the candy.” Nathaniel smiles shyly at Nikki.
“Thank you for your forgiveness.” She smiles sincerely. “You really are just the cutest boy.”
Nathaniel flushes the same color as his candy bag as he looks at me, trying to hold back a smile. “Night, Dad.” He heads toward my office where there is a stairway leading up to our flat.
“Lock the door behind you,” I remind them. I like living right above the bar, but sometimes I worry that someone will drunkenly make their way up there without consent. I know I’m in Holiday Springs, not London town, but I still can’t shake the feeling that my son needs to always be secure inside our home.
Jenny and Nikki sit before me, both clearly having had plenty to drink. Yet, one has yet to get the memo. I step back, cross my arms, and wait for—
Jenny raises two fingers and slurs, “Six shots of tequila, bart—”
I interrupt, “How about a cup of tea?”
“A spot of tea, guv’nor?” Jenny slurs loudly into Nikki’s ear.
They both burst into a fit of laughter. I roll my eyes and bite back a laugh, glad they’re having fun, even if it’s at my expense.
Setting the cups on the bar, I ask, “Do you ladies have a ride?”
“The husband is coming to gather me up.” Jenny lifts her teacup. “So this is totally unnecessary,” she says in another ridiculous attempt at an English accent.
I try not to laugh when I say, “You’ll thank me in the morning.”
Jenny pulls her phone from her pocket and looks at the screen, grumbling, “One night. Just one night of fun, and I’m getting calls, and it’s not even ‘last call’ yet.” She looks at Nikki. “You’re so lucky to be free of all this responsibility.”
Then she glances back down at her cell and taps, accepting the call. I look at Nikki, who gives her a small smile and shrugs.
She doesn't look too lucky, and my God, how I want to change that.
Rule Number Seven
Drunk minds speak sober thoughts
Raff
I’ve known a lot of men who would love to be in the situation I find myself in right now. Two beautiful drunk women in my vehicle, leaving a bar and heading to one of their places.
I’ve never been one of those guys. Even if I were, this would hardly be a situation that would give cause to get the blood flowing south.
Yet it is.
Nikki.
I shouldn’t like her; she was harsh with my son.
I shouldn’t be attracted to her; she bears an uncanny resemblance to my late wife.
I shouldn’t want to taste her lips; she’s a resident of a town whose dating pool I’d sworn I wouldn’t even dip a toe in.
I shouldn’t want to bury myself inside her, but I most definitely want to. Hell, I’ve passed the better part of two weeks thinking of doing just that.
“Two-seven-nine-seven Ridge Road West,” Jenny informs me again. “Did I already say two-seven-nine-seven Ridge Road West?”
“Yes,” I reply dryly, counting down the minutes to reach the destination.
Nikki, who is safely tucked in the back seat snorts out a laugh, which is seemingly contagious because the two of them begin laughing hysterically.
When their laughter simmers, another onset seems to boil up in Jenny’s throat, and it starts all over again.
Had I known I’d have to deal with this, I’d have spent the money to put them in a cab, and the nearest is thirty miles away this time of year. The locals don’t start their Uber-ing or Lyft-ing until the Holiday festival begins.
“By chance, do you know David Beckham?” Jenny asks, her horrible impression of a British accent popping in and out on occasion.
“Yes. I also know John, Paul, George, and Ringo. I share tea with the queen whenever I am in London, and Harry Potter is a close personal friend of mine. We attended Hogwarts together.”
Nikki snort laughs again, and Jenny looks back. “Who the hell are John, Paul, George, and.” She stops just before mentioning Ringo. Apparently, a gust of air has blown the drunken cobwebs from her brain, giving her a bit of clarity. “The Beatles! Hey, Jude, don’t make me mad...” she mangles the words, singing off tune, and I cringe.
They fall into another fit of laughter, and all I can do is keep my eyes focused forward because the side of the road is tempting me to pull over and boot them both out, well, one, and if I’m honest with myself, it’s purely for selfish reasons.
Jenny leans toward me. “I’ve set her up on four dates. None gave her the bent over like Beckham feel if you know what I mean.”
“Jenny, so help me God, I will Sharpie your face when you pass out if you don’t stop.” Nikki laughs.
For some reason I can’t explain, I feel quite happy with the fact that there is no man in the picture. “Some men have it. Others don’t.”
“Please don’t encourage her,” Nikki nearly begs from behind me.
I ignore her, wanting to know more about these dates. “Tell me about the men Nikki has yet to be satisfied with.”
“The house is up here,” Nikki says before Jenny has a chance to answer.
“Is not.” Jenny laughs. “Don’t try to dodge this discussion, picky Nikki.”
“Picky Nikki?” Nikki huffs.
“So damn picky. They were some of Holiday Springs’ finest.”
“Lawyer Larry, Handyman Hank, Policeman Paul, and Franky the freaky fireman? That’s Holiday Springs’ finest?” Nikki’s voice squeaks.
“Oh, they’re not that bad. They all own houses and have jobs. None are self-absorbed little princes of Manhattan.” Jenny shrugs. “Surely one of them would be a decent rebound fuck.”
“Larry picks his nose, Hank got too handsy, Paul asked me if I’d let him cuff me, and you don’t even want to know why I call Franky a freak.”
“Ricky whateverhisname is, is single.” Jenny snorts out a laugh.
“And I’m going to assume Reverend Ricky is still a virgin, therefore making him a less than decent lay.” She slaps her hands over her mouth. “And now I’m going to hell because of you.”
Then the laughter begins again
.
But I’m not laughing, not even mildly amused. I’m actually stewing just thinking about her, Nikki, considering any of them as a bedmate.
Pulling into the paved drive leading to the two-story white colonial at two-seven-nine-seven Ridge Road West, the porch light flips on, and then the front door swings open, and Bobby, Jenny’s husband who works ski patrol steps out.
“If he weren’t so damn delicious to look at, I’d be pissed he called me to come home and take care of a sick kid,” Jenny says as she attempts to open the door.
Lucky for her, Bobby opens it for her, putting an end to his wife’s embarrassment, well, what should be embarrassing to her, yet I’m quite sure it isn’t one bit.
One look at her, and he’s rolling his eyes, trying not to smile as he holds out his hand. “Classic Jenny and Nikki shit right here. How are ya, Raff?”
“Doing well. Glad to get these two home safely.”
“Girls’ night only happens once in a blue moon. Guess what, husbutt.” She laughs at her own rhyming word choice and continues. “It’s going to be a weekly thing now that our girl is back in town and out of hiding.”
He leans down and swings her legs that don’t seem to be working of their own accord, around out of the vehicle.
“Hell no.” He laughs and looks back at Nikki. “Did Jenny tell you my buddy Rex is taking you out next week?”
“Over my dead body!” Nikki practically yells.
“Look, babe,” he pulls Jenny out, “we have two kids inside this house, one looking straight out of a scene from The Exorcist and one, like the chicks from the movie Bridesmaids where everyone is shitting—”
“Gross.” Nikki laughs as she struggles to push the rear passenger side door open and somehow manages to get out of the car.
“Accurate,” he says, swooping Jenny up in his arms. “I know you were supposed to stay here all night and cockblock, but as usual, the kids got it covered.”
“Oh my God, Bobby!” Jenny snorts and starts laughing.
“Just warning her if she stays over, she may wake up like our two monsters,” he says as he walks toward the house.
“I have work and a job interview in Vail next week,” Nikki calls after them.
“Better ask Raff to drop you off at home then,” he calls back to her.
“No. No way. I’m not—”
I lean over the console and ask her, “You live in town or—”
“It’s not your responsibility.” She pulls her iPhone out of her Gucci handbag and holds it high above her head, clearly trying to get service.
“You won’t get service out here without Wi-Fi, and actually, it is my responsibility. You got pissed at my bar.”
She walks in a circle, looking up at her phone, and then stumbles a bit, grabbing the open door to steady herself.
“Nikki, just get back in the car.”
“No, I’m—”
“Get in before I get out and help you in.” I damn near demand but catch myself before actually doing so and quickly correct my word choice. “It’s not a problem. It would be my pleasure.”
Her spine straightens as her eyes widen.
Frustrated but doing my best to hide it, I tell her, “Just get in the car. You’ll be home in no time. I don’t mind at all.”
Finally, she does just that. Sitting on the leather seat beside me, she shuts the door.
“Seatbelt,” I say through tight lips. “Please.”
She does so, and I notice a slight shake of her hands.
“Are you cold?” She nods as I look up from her near snow-white petite hand, and I see her teeth are chattering a bit.
I reach up and tap the dash display screen, raising the interior temperature to ninety degrees, and then turn on the seat warmer.
“Tequila tremors,” she says through chattering teeth. “God, I didn’t miss this.”
“This?” I ask, backing out of the driveway and onto the road.
“I ne, ne, never got so cold in Manhattan. But here, it’s a totally different story.”
Before I have time to ask for clarification on whether she lived in Manhattan and when, she quickly says, “I’m so sorry about Hope. Jenny told me all about you in the bathroom...” She bites her lip, looking up at me apologetically.
I’ve heard that sentiment a million times since moving Nathaniel and me here. The truth though, is that the “I’m sorry” was not always given in earnestness. And more times than I can count on both fingers and toes, it eventually led to a come-on. Shifting into drive, I look out of the corner of my eye to gauge whether or not she’s being sincere. It appears she is.
“I appreciate it.” I hit the accelerator.
“God, I feel like a total bitch now. Hope was my queen, and I treated her little prince like a common thief. I’m a horrible person. You should pull over and make me walk.”
I have no intention of making her walk. “Your queen?”
“When she was crowned Holiday Springs Christmastime Queen her senior year, we were all so excited, mostly because she wasn’t the typical queen. She wasn’t a mean girl and was not about pretending to be a natural blonde like all those who came before her. The next day, I was crowned Holiday Springs Christmastime Princess. A yearly tradition.”
I nod. "I’m aware of the tradition.”
“Well, she was kind to me. Wiped my tears when all the girls who didn’t get the crown told me I only won because I looked like her. I’m warning you now. Your little boy is going to need the highest premium dental care available because I plan on giving him all the candy he wants. Not only do I owe him for being rude, but Hope, for being kind to me.” She pauses and hiccups. “When no one else.” Pause and another hiccup. “Was.” And another.
Jesus Christ, I think to myself. Not only does she physically resemble Hope but she also looked up to her. All thoughts of possibly getting into her knickers are about to get knackered. So, I change the subject.
“Tell me about Manhattan. And tell me, what brought you back here?”
“Um, why?” she asks, clearly confused.
“Seems fitting that I know as much about you as you do me.”
“Manhattan,” she says, her teeth chattering less now. “It’s an island.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.” She laughs and then hiccups.
“As is the UK.” I chuckle.
“Which part are you from?” Hiccup. “England?”
I nod. “London.”
“I’ve heard it’s a beautiful city.” Hiccup.
“Never been?” I ask as I reach under the seat and grab for the spare bottle of water I keep in the vehicle in case Nathaniel forgets his water bottle at home when I drop him off at school.
She shakes her head no and crosses her arms, and hiccups.
I hand her the bottle and then a pen from my console. “Put this between—”
“I know the drill,” she says, putting the pen between her teeth, twisting open the lid, and downing half the bottle of water.
I continue the conversation. “From the island of Manhattan to the foothills of Colorado. What brings you back here?”
She takes a moment to catch her breath and then shrugs. “Several things snowballed, and where better for a snowball to land than here, huh?”
“Vague, but all right.”
She pinches the bridge of her nose and then sits back. “College boyfriend turned out to be royalty in the city.”
“And that was a problem because...?”
“He turned boss at his family’s corporation, turned into my fiancé, and I was never good enough for him.” She looks over at me.
“I’m sure you were, Nikki.” I shake my head.
She yawns. “His mother didn’t think so, and he chose her side.” I feel her eyes on me. “So the day I was snippy with Nathaniel, that’s who I was angry with, Townes and his mother. I saw Nathaniel as the type of person who gets whatever he wants without any repercussions.”
“He shouldn’t have tak
en a piece of candy like he did. And I’m not making excuses for him, but Nellie always gives him a piece when we come in together. He must have just assumed it would be okay. I spoke to him about it.”
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry.”
“Please continue.” I have to admit. I’m thoroughly amused.
“I really shouldn’t, especially now that I know Nellie set a precedent to give free candy and not the hot British daddy in the shiny, black Ferragamo shoes who fat-shamed me.” Her eyes move to the window.
Her admitting her attraction is a giant step toward my bed, but, “Fat-shamed you? I highly doubt that. You happen to be the exact shape I am attracted to.”
“Oh, please.” She yawns, leaning her head on the window. “You told me I wasn’t going to starve, all smug, looking down at me, before turning and walking away.”
“No, Nikki. I said, I can assure you he wasn’t trying to starve you.”
She shakes her head before pulling the tie out of her hair. The scent of strawberries assaults me as her shiny, wavy auburn hair falls around her shoulders. I inhale, wanting to keep her scent inside me. I’m glad she’s as drunk as she is. Hopefully, she doesn’t notice that I’m being creepy as fuck right now.
She closes her eyes, and I want her to hear me. I don’t want her sleeping on the thought that I don’t like the way she looks. A woman as beautiful as she should know it. She should have a man by her side who reminds her daily. “When your brain isn’t tequila-soaked, try to remember the conversation with a clearer mind. And instead of a Winterfield Sweet Spot candy explosion on my bar for my son, let me take you to dinner.”
She silently giggles, smiling, and my heart balloons. “I’m nowhere near ready to go on a date with the likes of you. After the shit show I went through, a man like you is the last thing I need.”
“A man like me?”
“Rich. Handsome, with money. Jenny already told me you own the bar, amongst other things. The combination has burned me once, and I won’t let it happen to me again. And now,” she exhales, “Jenny won’t stop until she finds me a rebound fuck when quite honestly, I’d rather fuck myself.”
