Only then did Shelby moan out his name.
He lifted his head, grinned, and he made the moment even more incredible by kissing her. Slow and gentle this time. Tender. With way more emotion than he’d probably intended.
It was perfect.
But it didn’t last.
All Shelby did was move to her left, and she felt the “thing” spring to life. Some kind of lopsided blob of pine needles. With a rattle of rolling eyes and a slitting mouth, it began to sing “Holly Jolly Christmas.”
* * *
CALLEN TRIED TO stand back and just watch the activity going on in the living room at Buck’s house. Something that Rosy and Shelby were doing, too, as Lucy and Mateo chatted with Sarah and Dan Millhouse and their daughter, Katie.
Chatted was a loose interpretation of what was going on, though.
Sarah and Dan were talking with regular input from Katie, and the conversation ranged from Santa to hobbies to their favorite subjects in school. But Lucy and Mateo were in their quiet, eyes-down mode that some might mistake for sullen. As opposed to just guarded.
Callen had to give it to the Millhouses, though. They didn’t give up. Sarah, who led the chatting charge, just continued on about how excited she was that Lucy and Mateo might come live with them. Katie piped in about wanting a brother and sister. Dan talked about them having their own rooms and their pet golden retriever named Jelly Beans.
Mateo and Lucy remained guarded.
“And here are some more cookies,” Rosy announced, coming to the rescue.
She breezed into the living room with a fresh plate of sugar cookies. All of them were in the shape of armadillos. Heaven knew where Rosy had found that particular cookie cutter, but anyone who’d ever seen the sweet treats probably wished that it would disappear.
It was the second round of cookies that Rosy had served. Along with hot chocolate, cider, homemade fudge, gingerbread men and green Rice Krispies treats in the shape of Christmas trees. It was enough food to give the entire town a sugar high along with extreme weight gain, and Callen was afraid there’d be even more if the guardedness continued. That was why he reluctantly decided to try to help.
He glanced at Shelby, a “go for it” look passing between them, and Callen strolled from the back of the room over to the sofas and chair where they all sat. He’d already introduced himself, of course, had already mentioned that he’d once been one of Buck’s foster kids, but now it was time for a deeper conversation.
And he could think of nothing.
He didn’t want to bring up Buck’s chemo or the hell that Mateo and Lucy had been through before they’d come here. Definitely no mention or thoughts of Avis Odell—though that was on his mind. Avis had threatened a Christmas Eve return, and that was only two days away. Still, he wouldn’t let the gut-twisting anger of that interfere with this.
“Did Lucy tell you she’s going to be a bridesmaid in Rosy and Buck’s wedding?” Callen threw out there. “It’s on Christmas Eve.”
Sarah and Dan smiled. “How wonderful,” Sarah gushed, turning to the girl. “What color is your dress?”
“Red,” Lucy answered, and for some reason she gave Shelby an uneasy glance. Something passed between them, too.
“I’m sure that color will look beautiful on you.” More gushing from Sarah.
Then silence.
“The three of you should come to the wedding, too,” Rosy insisted, and she hurried into the dining room and came back with an invitation. Sarah wasn’t so gushy when she saw the picture of Billy on the front, but she still smiled.
“I think we can manage that,” the woman said after getting the nod from her husband.
The gushing returned, all from Rosy now, who was thrilled they’d be coming, though Rosy did feel the need to tell them that they’d all be seeing the ceremony through video feed. That brought on a more detailed than necessary explanation about Buck.
Then the silence came again.
And lingered.
“Shelby can lift a hay bale all by herself,” Lucy said, her voice hardly louder than a whisper.
Callen barely bit off a laugh, but the comment got the attention off the kids and onto Shelby, who joined them in the living room. “I’m a woman of many talents,” Shelby joked.
Yes, she was. And Callen wasn’t joking about that. Nor was he just thinking about sex, either. She had a knack for lifting dark moods, and she even had Mateo and Lucy smiling a little.
“Lucy’s a wonderful cook,” Shelby offered. “And Mateo’s great with the horses.”
“Except for Sweet Caroline,” Mateo muttered.
Callen was about to say that nobody was good with that she-witch, but he thought of something else that might brighten the mood and stir some conversation. “I wanted to give Mateo and Lucy horses for Christmas.”
“For real?” Mateo asked.
“For real,” Callen assured him. “It’s the two horses that Shelby trained. A bay mare and a paint gelding.”
“And their temperaments are much different from Sweet Caroline,” Shelby added. “I’ll chip in my own gift of boarding them for as long as you need.”
“For real?” Lucy that time.
Callen expected questions or concerns about the logistics of horse ownership from the Millhouses, maybe even a couple more “for real?” questions. But he got more than concerns and questions. Lucy actually squealed, like a girl. Of course, considering she was a girl, that wasn’t a huge surprise. But the hug she gave him surprised the heck out of him. Ditto for the one that Mateo gave him after his sister had finished. Then the pair rushed to Shelby to hug her, too.
Apparently, his first attempt at Christmas shopping had been a success and an even-better one with Shelby’s offer of the boarding.
“That’s a wonderful gift,” Sarah exclaimed, and she went to Callen and Shelby and hugged them, as well. Dan shook their hands, pumping enthusiastically, and Katie wanted to know if she’d be able to ride them, too, and was assured that she could do that. And more. That maybe Shelby could sell a horse to Katie, too.
“Maybe we can get Lucy and Mateo saddles and tack for Christmas?” Sarah asked and got another nod from Dan.
Well, this just kept on rolling in the right direction, and there was suddenly no more silence to fill. The talk turned to a very happy conversation about horses, names, riding times and such. Callen got another hug from Mateo.
And then it happened.
Lucy and Mateo were on the couch, not hugging the Millhouses, but actually chatting. The ice had been broken, and Callen could see the beginnings of what might be a perfect fit.
For a moment, just a moment, it was bittersweet. The thought that the kids wouldn’t be here with Buck and Rosy. However, any trace of bitterness faded, leaving just the sweet. They’d still have Buck and Rosy. Shelby, too. But they’d also have a family. And Callen would be fulfilling the promise he’d made to Buck.
There couldn’t be anything bittersweet about that.
Couldn’t be.
The sound pulled Callen from his thoughts. A vehicle coming to a stop in front of the house. They’d had many visitors over the past couple of days, so it wasn’t a surprise that there’d be more. But the surprise came when Callen went to the door.
And saw Avis.
The man stepped out of an old pickup truck, and smiling, he started toward Callen. The rage came, the very stuff that Callen had been trying to punch deep down into his gut. He seriously doubted that he’d have much success punching it down right now.
“What the heck is he doing here?” Shelby mumbled, coming up behind Callen.
“Stay put,” Callen told her, and shutting the front door, he charged out toward Avis. “Get right back in your truck,” Callen warned him. “You’re not welcome here.”
“Now, is that any way to be?” His tone was smug. “I’m just he
re for a friendly reminder about that money you owe me.”
Callen heard the door open and close behind him, then the running footsteps. He didn’t even need to look back because he knew it was Shelby. Obviously, one of her many talents wasn’t listening when he told her to stay put. He expected her to try to pull him back so that he wouldn’t start a fight with this piece of shit.
But no. That didn’t happen.
It was Shelby who charged forward, and she balled her hand into a fist. A fist that she then rammed right into Avis’s jaw.
The man’s head snapped back, and the rage flared hot and red in his eyes. For a couple of seconds, anyway. Then he must have remembered that getting punched by a woman half his size wasn’t something a macho moron like him should be whining about. Plus, there was a better way for Avis to get Callen’s goat.
“You’re gonna just stand there and let your girlie punch me,” Avis asked. “Because she hits like a powder puff.”
Callen groaned. That was so the wrong thing to say, and he reached for Shelby, a little too late. Shelby slugged Avis again, and this time blood flew from the man’s nose. She followed it up with a kick to his balls.
Nothing tamped down the rage that time. It was there, in Avis’s suddenly watering eyes, but so were the weak whimpering moans he made while he cupped his nuts and dropped to his knees. Shelby would have gone after the man again, but this time Callen managed to snag her around her waist.
“I will not let that sack of turds come here and say anything,” she snarled. “And I don’t punch like a sonofabitching powder puff.”
Well, the “say anything” wasn’t going to happen in the next couple of minutes because Avis was still mute from the pain that Callen imagined was searing through him. He looked pale, clammy and ready to puke.
He puked.
Callen moved Shelby back even farther so it wouldn’t get on her boots.
As temper searing—and disgusting—as this encounter was, the puke and the pain actually helped Callen rein in his own rage.
The same could not be said of Shelby.
She was cursing and still trying to get at Avis, kicking and punching at him. Callen and she ended up spinning around a couple of times while he fought to keep a grip on her.
“You get out of here, you sonofabitch,” Shelby growled. And, yes, it was a growl.
The threat and accompanying growl must have put the fear of God—or in this case, the fear of Shelby—into Avis because the man managed to get to his feet. While still cupping his balls and hunched over in pain, he hobbled back to his truck and got in. The man gulped in some deep breaths, started the engine and then lowered his window.
“You’re gonna pay for this,” Avis snapped, the warning aimed at Callen. “You’re gonna pay big.”
The words and expression were mean enough, but when Shelby broke loose from Callen’s grip, the man’s mean expression turned to panic. Avis hit the accelerator and sped away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CALLEN HAD TO make his way through the maze of Christmas decorations, carolers, shoppers and well-wishers who were clogging the sidewalk that led to the police station. All that cheer and merriment didn’t improve his attitude one bit, and he knew what was waiting for him inside wouldn’t help.
Or rather who was waiting inside.
Kace, Judd and Nico.
Callen had called each of them, saying he needed a family meeting, and they’d agreed—eventually. Though Judd had got in a dig about Callen not having any family. Or something along those lines. Callen deserved the dig, but he’d also known it wouldn’t stop Judd from coming.
“Callen,” someone called out in greeting. It was Ginger Monroe, who’d been the dispatcher for multiple decades now. “Well, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Ginger winked at him with what genuinely looked like “sore eyes.” They were red and puffy, and she was dabbing at the corner of her left one with a Kleenex. “Bad reaction to some new mascara,” she added when he stared at her.
He could see why a reaction had been possible. There was perhaps a pound of that mascara on what might not have even been lashes. Perhaps just gobs of the black goo.
“It’s good to see you, too,” Callen told her, and he tipped his head to what was now his brother’s office. “Are they here?”
“Yep. All of them,” Ginger verified. “Kace didn’t say what the meeting was about, but if y’all need anything, just let me know.”
Since Ginger might try to listen at the door, Callen decided to get her off their scent. “We’re just discussing some bull sperm I want to talk them into buying. I’ve got a couple of gallons that are about to go bad if it doesn’t get used soon.”
It had the intended effect, complete with Ginger’s mouth squeezing up like a prune and her saying “ewww.” With that task done, Callen headed to Kace’s office, stepped inside and shut the door.
Scowling, Kace was seated behind his desk, and his expression certainly wasn’t one that even remotely conveyed he was interested in buying bull sperm. Or anything else for that matter. Judd was pacing like a jungle cat. No sperm-buying interest there, either. Nico was lounging, his Stetson covering his face, his legs stretched out as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Since there was no easy way to say this, Callen just went with fast. “Yesterday, Avis Odell came to the inn and demanded money. He said if I didn’t give it to him, that he would disrupt Buck and Rosy’s wedding.”
Judd cursed.
Kace cursed.
Nico lifted his hat from his face and eased to a sitting position.
Callen didn’t have to guess what was going on in their heads. The shock, the flashbacks, the anger. Well, except for Nico.
“Why didn’t you just tell him to piss off?” Nico asked.
Callen nodded. “I did, more or less. Then about an hour ago he showed up at Buck’s.”
Kace and Judd cursed again, and a mean jungle-cat look went through Judd’s eyes. “Is he still there?” Judd snapped, and it didn’t sound as if he was simply asking a question but also setting up a potential ass-whipping for Avis.
“No, he left,” Callen explained. “But he came when the Millhouse family was visiting with Lucy and Mateo. Let’s just say the family was more than a little alarmed, and I’m not sure how it’ll affect their decision to take the kids.”
That hurt. A cut to the bone. Avis had already dicked around with so many lives, and now he might have ruined a solid chance for Lucy and Mateo. Of course, if that ruckus had sent the Millhouse couple running, then they likely wouldn’t be the parents the kids deserved.
“I’m not paying Avis a penny,” Callen insisted, “and neither will any of you.”
“No arguments there,” Judd agreed. “I want to kick his ass.”
“Shelby already did. It didn’t help. Much.” Though it had given Callen some satisfaction to see Avis on his knees and puking.
They looked at Callen as if he’d sprouted an extra ear. “Shelby?” Nico questioned.
“Yeah, she punched him twice and kicked him in the balls before I could stop her.”
Kace studied him a moment. “How hard did you try to stop her?”
“Hard,” Callen verified. “Because I wanted to kick his ass myself.” He paused. “Avis made a threat, telling me I was going to pay for that. He might try to press charges against Shelby.”
A burst of air left Judd’s mouth, but it wasn’t a laugh of humor. “You really think Avis is going to admit he got his balls busted by a woman Shelby’s size?”
“I believe he will if he thinks he can gain something from it. I won’t let Shelby be arrested for this,” Callen added, and made sure that wasn’t up for debate.
Thankfully, no one argued about it. Callen doubted the lack of debate would hold once he told them his plan.
“I made some calls
and found out that Avis is staying at the motel just off the interstate exit for Coldwater,” Callen explained. “I plan to go there and clarify that there will be no payment and that I want him to leave.”
“Clarify,” Kace repeated on a huff. He scrubbed his hand over his face. “You mean threaten.”
Callen nodded, causing Judd to grumble some profanity. “I’d be better at a threat than you,” Judd insisted.
No one debated that, either. Judd could be downright scary.
“But I don’t want you to get caught up in this,” Callen said.
“Bullshit,” Judd spit out. “That dickhead nearly killed Nico and you when you two were just kids. I’m involved. I’ll get my coat and go with you.” He headed out the office door.
Kace sighed, got up, taking his coat off the back of his chair to put it on. “I’ll drive. And I’ll do the talking.”
Callen frowned now. “I really didn’t want to involve any of you. I just came here to let you know what was going on. But you don’t have to do this,” he added when Nico stood. “Avis came after me, and this is my fight. You don’t owe me anything.”
Nico just patted his back. “We’re brothers” was all he said as he headed out.
We’re brothers? That didn’t seem like much of an argument, but when Callen walked out with them, he thought maybe it was the only argument that mattered.
Yes, brothers.
“If punches are thrown, they need to come from one of us,” Nico added under his breath to Callen as they made their way to a cruiser in the parking lot.
“Any punches will come from me,” Callen assured him. That would protect the badges and keep Nico out of it. It didn’t matter that Nico was actually taller and probably stronger than any of them. He was still the kid brother.
Kace took the wheel with Judd in the front seat. Callen and Nico took the back. It was only about five miles to the motel, which wouldn’t give them too much time to think. But Callen figured they were all dealing with the bad memories and flashbacks right now. Especially Nico.
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