Page 33 of Daycare Santa

“This isn’t the way to settle how you feel. I need to see you.” He paused, then used her words to cement his case. “Of all the things I am, a liar isn’t one of them.”

“What is it you want from me?”

Her flat tone wasn’t the least bit inviting, but he wasn’t ready to give up on her. “Meet me here. I’ll be waiting.”

When she didn’t answer, he asked, “Can you pay me that courtesy at least?”

Her sigh said everything, but she relented. “Fine. I’ll see you in twenty minutes, give or take, depending on the traffic.”

“I’ve waited nearly an hour. A few more minutes won’t kill me.”

***

GINA’S FACE WAS AStight as the skin on a newly tuned drum, but he expected no less. She swept into the parking lot exactly thirty minutes after they spoke.

He stepped out of the Maserati and escorted her inside the shop, which was full. In his eagerness to have Gina say yes to him, he’d forgotten the place would be packed to capacity.

The store carried a wide variety of ice cream and was a hot spot. Fridays and Saturdays were the worst. He knew that because Lizette liked the stuff, same as he did, and sometimes wheedled him into stopping there on his way to see her.

He led the way inside and snagged a table for two that a member of staff had just cleaned. When they sat, he directed Gina’s attention to the board.

“I’m not having anything,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “Thank you.”

“We have to buy something, unless you want to sit in my car or yours.”

Her wrinkled brow said the idea didn’t suit her. “Fine. I’ll have Mango Peach on a waffle cone. No, sorry. Get it in a cup, please.”

“Be right back.”

She nodded and turned her head away as he rose.

Zack joined the line, which only had a half-dozen people. Lucky for him. Others waited to be served, and some stared into the display case, trying to choose their flavors. He preferred Devon Stout, and ordered it in a container.

He eased into the seat carrying their orders, slid Gina the cup and spoon, and received a stiff thank you. She tried the ice cream and her eyes closed briefly. If they were on good terms, he’d have made a joke about her obvious appreciation, but here they sat, acting like strangers.

Moving sideways, Zack pulled the phone from his jeans. He went through the gallery until he found photos of their last family gathering and handed her the cell. “You can scroll.”

After scanning the pictures, she returned the phone. “You realize this proves nothing? The only thing I know is that you have a twin, but that car was yours.”

Her stubbornness grated on his nerves, but Zack realized she had every right to be wary. He ate several spoonfuls of the ice cream before responding. “You have no reason to trust me, but I also have no motive that would make me lie. My brother’s car was in the garage. He borrowed mine for the afternoon.”

Gina’s direct stare told Zack her opinion hadn’t changed, so he said, “I’m interested in you. That must have been clear from the moment I laid eyes on you.”

Her lips quirked, and he figured she remembered him checking her out in his Santa suit.

Zack glanced around, but the surrounding customers were busy with their own conversations. “I’m not big on trust right now. I’ve had a rough time this past year, but you’re a special lady, and I wouldn’t risk messing up our friendship, if I can call it that.”

She stared into his eyes as if trying to see behind them and into his soul. Then she gazed over his shoulder.

Zack didn’t believe in giving up on anything he wanted, and sensed Gina had weighed him and decided he wasn’t worth the risk. He touched her hand to bring her back to the conversation.

She jerked away and spun the spoon in the yellowish-peach concoction. “Um, how do I say this?”

He waited, because he wouldn’t make her rejection of him easy.

Sighing, Gina focused on him. “I was in a relationship until recently. To make a long story short, my friend and business partner and I were seeing the same guy.”

“Ouch.”

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