Page 13 of The Santa Surprise

I nod, “Yes, sir, I am.”

“Good, Brock wouldn’t have recommended you if he didn’t think it was the right call.” He pulls a booklet out of his desk drawer. “Here’s the information on the test and what study guide you can get to help you. Once we get to the first of the year, we’ll schedule it, and set up your interview.”

“Okay, that sounds great. Thanks, Chief.”

We both stand up and he holds his hand out. “You’re a good officer, Alex, and I think you’d make an excellent detective.”

I take it and smile. “Thank you, sir.”

The rest of the day goes well. I even grab the papers to add Dakota to my insurance and make her the beneficiary on my life insurance. I know I’m jumping the gun, but I want them so when it’s time, I can fill them out.

On my way out, Dad stops me. “Your mom is calling Aspen. We want to take Dakota to go look at Christmas lights.”

“She’d love that I’m sure. I’m going over there tonight to help put up their tree.” I zip up my coat because it’s frigid this afternoon.

“What is going on with you and Aspen? I only ask because you weren’t dating before, right?” They know that she and I only spent one night together—it was not something I wanted to admit to my parents.

They know I have sex and I date . . . sort of but telling them that, is something completely different. “No, we weren’t. That night I felt a connection to her. There was definitely something there.”

“She is a good mother. You can see how the two of them love each other, but damn, did you see the way Dakota and Tiny were together? It was just like the way the OG Tiny was with you.” He pats me on the back before telling me bye and I tell him I’ll talk to him later.

I need to go home and change, grab Tiny, and then head to Aspen’s.

Chapter Ten

Aspen

“Mommy? Is Daddy gonna be hewe soon?” Dakota asks as she runs into the living room, where I’m untangling the strands of lights.

I nod, looking at her. “Yep, he should be here soon”

Earlier, I was surprised when Ripley called, asking if they could take Dakota to look at Christmas lights tomorrow. I, of course said yes. They’re her only set of grandparents, and they seem to be good people. If my daughter doesn’t want to go with them when they come to get her then I won’t make her, but I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to do something with them.

Dakota stands in the window, watching for him. I love how excited she is about him coming over. I won’t admit that I’m excited to see him too. An excited squeal rips from my daughter’s throat as she runs to the front door, pulling it open.

She hops up and down as she waits impatiently at the door. It opens and Tiny comes jogging in. “Tiny,” she hollers, before throwing her arms around his neck.

“Momma, Tiny’s hewe.”

“I see that, baby. Come here, Tiny.” I squat and he comes over knocking me to the ground, making me laugh.

“Tiny get off of her.” I look up into the smiling face of Alex. “Sometimes I think he forgets how big he is.” He holds out his hand that’s not holding my daughter and he pulls me up with ease. “Hey.” His voice is soft, and he doesn’t let my hand go right away either.

“Hi,” I whisper back. The air crackles around us with some unknown force and it makes my heart flutter. I let go and step back. “How was your day?”

Alex sets Dakota down and we watch her lead Tiny down the hall to her bedroom. “It was good. It’s okay that I brought him, right?”

“Of course.” He slips off his coat, and I take it from him—all while trying not to look at the way he fills out the green thermal shirt he’s wearing. I hang his coat on the back of the kitchen chair.

When I turn around, I find the living room empty. I spot Alex standing in the hall and he gives me the “come here” signal. He holds out his hand to me when I reach him and I take it, ignoring the tingles that shoot up my arm.

Alex maneuvers me until I’m standing in front of him. He places his hands on my shoulders. We peak around the door frame and find Dakota showing Tiny around her room.

“Dis is my baby.” She rocks it in her arms before shoving it in Tiny’s face. “Kiss hew.” Tiny licks it and then licks Dakota’s face.

The two of us head back into the living room. “I’m so glad she and Tiny get along,” he says before picking up the strand of lights I was working on. “Should we order pizza?”

Alex calls and orders us a large pizza with the works and a kid’s size cheese pizza for Dakota—she eats like a bird and it’ll take her at least two days to finish the whole thing.

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