Page 35 of Just Add Mistletoe

Lori moved to her feet. “Everything’s closed. You know, small town and all.”

Malcom picked up the empty popcorn bucket. “I could cook—I’ve got some chicken, and I can make rice. Nothing fancy.”

Lori hesitated. It was after ten p.m., and tomorrow would be crazy at the store with Halloween activities. A lot depended on the weather too. If the weather was decent, they’d have most of it outside, but if it was too cold or it rained, it would have to be moved inside the store.

“Or not,” Malcom said with a gentle smile. “We could have cold cereal. Do you like Lucky Charms?”

Lori laughed. “I do, but you’re probably exhausted.”

He shrugged. “I’m getting my second wind,” he said in a ridiculousDraculaaccent.

“Just for that, I’ll come over for a little bit,” she said. “I never sleep much the night before Halloween anyway.”

“That’s right—you have your store event tomorrow,” Malcom said as they walked out of the theater. “I can’t wait to see your costume. You’ll have to text me a photo since I’ll probably be with Bronson trying to see if our company will survive.”

They’d reached the truck, and Lori set a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry you have to deal with all of that. I guess since neither of us will be sleeping, we should cook.”

“It’s a deal.” Malcom opened the door for her, and she climbed up into the truck.

The ride back to their neighborhood was quiet, but Lori didn’t mind a man who didn’t feel like he had to fill the silence all of the time. By the time they reached his trailer, a light rain had started.

Malcom opted for real food versus Lucky Charms, and Lori wandered about the trailer as he cooked. There was a lot more to the trailer than what it seemed on the outside. The main area doubled as a kitchen and an office. A door separated the next section, and through the partially opened door, she could see the outlines of a bedroom.

The kitchen area had a small table with two chairs. Everything was clean and tidy, which it had to be in such limited space. She paused to look at the handful of photos he’d posted on a white board. “Are these your parents?”

He looked over from where he was grilling the chicken in a fry pan. “Yeah, before the divorce. I was about six, I guess. My mom is on her third marriage now to a guy named Phil. Really good guy, and I think this one will actually stick.”

“And Bronson is from another marriage?”

“Exactly. My dad remarried and got Bronson as part of the package.”

The next photo showed Malcom in a basketball team photo. A third was at a wedding—Bronson and Kari’s. Another showedhim and Bronson on what looked like a fishing trip. It was kind of charming he had these photos up.

“Did you hear that?” Malcom asked.

Lori looked over at him. She had to admit, he looked quite appealing standing at the narrow stove, making food for her. “Hear what?”

He brought a finger to his lips, and above the sound of the sizzling chicken, she heard a small cry. No, a whine . . . or . . . “I think it’s a cat,” she said.

“A cat?”

Lori headed to the door and opened it, Malcom right behind her. The rain had started up again, but she stepped out. Another meow sounded, this time more frantic.

“Where are you?” Lori said in a soft voice. “Are you getting wet?”

She crouched next to the trailer and looked under it. It was too dark to see much.

The cat meowed again, but it sounded like a kitten. She pulled out her phone from her pocket.

“Do you see anything?” Malcom asked, crouching next to her.

She turned on the flashlight and two glowing eyes popped into view. “Oh, it’s a kitten.” She handed the phone to him, then held out her hand to the kitten. “Come here, baby. It’s okay. We’ll get you warm.”

“We will?” Malcom mused.

“Go get a piece of that chicken. She’s probably starving.”

Malcom stood and headed into the trailer. Seconds later, he was back with a piece of chicken.

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