Page 15 of Mistletoe Mischief

“I’m sorry, Cassandra. Friendly fire accidents don’t happen often, but when they do they affect entire bases, entire companies. I’m sorry.”

She shrugged, running her fingernails over the smooth outer finish. “It was better he died over there than on the streets here. It’s so hard for young black men to reach for anything. He was doing what he’d dared to reach for.”

“Just like you are.”

Smiling, she allowed him to guide the conversation to happier things. “Yes, I am. I used his death benefit to finish putting myself through school and move away from the Five Points.”

Roger winced. He was probably very aware of what the Five Points were. The urban area northeast of the city center was low income, high crime. Definitely one of the most dangerous areas in Denver. The fact that she’d found the means to get out of the area spoke to her determination as a strong woman. She was proud of herself for that. It would have been so much easier to fall into the patterns of her mother, stealing and whoring herself out for the drugs she used.

Cass wasn’t proud of where she’d grown up, but she was proud of what she’d accomplished. It had taken her four years to get through graphic design school, but she’d relished the schooling. It had challenged her, and given her a purpose. It had given her something to focus on other than the fact that she was so very alone in the world.

In fact, there was a very real possibility that she was with Roger because she was lonely. She winced, hating that she’d even thought that. Roger was more to her than just a pacifier. He was quickly becoming more to her than anything else in the world.

“Oh, yes,” he hissed. They had just passed beneath an interstate underpass and found a big, brightly lit, expansive travel station. Semis lined one side of the parking lot and cars the other. People were moving around and it looked like business as usual. Actually, it was probably a little more busy than normal because it was theonlything open at the moment.

Roger parked the car and took her hand as she met him at the front of the Jeep.

“I bet we can find breakfast, lunch, and a midnight snack here.”

She waved a hand at one of the neon signs, bright even in the daylight. “As well as a twenty-four hour masseuse slash dentist.”

Shaking their heads, they laughed together and started walking toward the gas station. It was huge inside, and obviously catered to a very diverse clientele. There were drink coolers and food coolers, a well as several hot counter ovens with ‘roller’ food. Ewww…

Before she moved from the doorway, Roger gripped her hand in his own. “Not so fast, baby.”

He glanced at the top of the entryway. There, hanging from the ceiling on a thin fishing line, was a bunch of plastic mistletoe.

Cass looked at him incredulously, trying to gather her thoughts. A woman stomped around them, aggravated at being moved off her trajectory.

“You don’t seriously expect me to stand here and kiss you,” she told him.

He gave her a lopsided smile and held his hand out to her. “Are you embarrassed to kiss me in public? I know I’m a beat up old Marine but I didn’t think you’d hold it against me.”

Huffing out a breath, Cass shook her head. “Beat up old Marine my ass,” she muttered and leaned up for a kiss.

Roger met her halfway, but when she would have drawn back, his arms tightened around her. The kiss deepened. Cass gasped as he lowered her into a theatrical dip, sending her tummy into free-fall, then lifted her back up as if she were a skinny little bitch. She stared into his dark eyes, dazed.

Grinning, Roger reached out to straighten the lapels of her coat as the few people gathered around them clapped.

With a huff, Cass turned away, shaking her head. But she had to admit she was secretly thrilled with the little show. “You’re a madman,” she hissed. “You and your mistletoe mischief.”

Laughing out loud, Roger cupped her ass in his hand and squeezed. Before she could turn around to smack him, he had disappeared.

They went their separate ways to find food, but most of the fare they found was pretty scary. There were all the gray sandwiches with mystery meat she could choose from…um, no.

The Subway counter was open, so she headed in that direction. Roger had the same idea, because he met her halfway there. As natural as breathing, their hands reached toward each other and clasped. It was sheer lunacy that he’d completely obliterated her natural reserve in less than twenty-four hours.

Cass ran her fingers over his as they stopped in line. Behind the counter a frazzled woman wrapped sandwiches for waiting customers.

Cass and Roger waited patiently. They moved forward slowly, till they got to the register. Roger smiled at the woman to try to set her at ease, but it wasn’t until she caught sight of his prosthetic hand that she actually looked up into his eyes. “Can I help you?”

He nodded and leaned in toward her, turning on the charm. “I know you’re so busy. I appreciate you being here, though. I thought we were going to starve to death.”

The woman flushed under the attention, as she tucked some flyaway hair behind her ears. “What can I get you?”

Roger gave her his order, then motioned for Cass to give hers. Moving quickly and efficiently, the woman rang them up then made their sandwiches. Roger smiled at her and Cass thought he might have even tossed in a wink, but she was in the wrong position to see for sure. She was reminded of a saying. Something about judging the character of others by how they treat those that can do nothing for them. Yes, the lady was making them a sandwich, but he didn’t have to be nice to her to get it. That was just the kind of guy Roger was.

As they took their sandwiches he wished the woman a very merry Christmas. She smiled. “Thank you. I will. Merry Christmas to you and your wife as well.”

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