Page 48 of Take Me Home for Christmas

They both laughed out loud until she was wiping her eyes again. Everett didn’t remember ever laughing this hard or this often in forever. In fact, he was secretly glad for the dog’s antics. It filled an empty spot where a memory he should have had with Keeley was supposed to have been.

A boat horn sounded in the distance.

“Here they come!” someone shouted from the pier.

Kitty slid her chair closer. “Keep your eyes on the horizon. This is one of Chances Inlet’s unique holiday traditions. And my favorite. It’s guaranteed to brighten your mood.”

His mood was already brighter having her so close. Christmas music began to fill the air as the lead boat approached. Behind it was a line of sailboats, all of them with string lights decorating their tall masts. The brightly colored lights created a stunning image against the dark purple sky.

The spectators “oohed” and “aahed” watching the early boats float by. They grew more subdued over the next half hour as they enjoyed the spectacle playing out on the ocean. Kitty dropped her head to his shoulder with a sigh. Everett was surprised by the sudden peace he felt. He’d lost hope that his memories would ever allow him such tranquility again.

It’s this place, he told himself. The noise of his past wasn’t so loud here. The woman beside him had a lot to do with that. He brought her hand to his lips again.

Minutes later, the blaring of sirens and sounds of spraying water quickly vanquished Everett’s sense of peacefulness. The frenetic sounds had his limbs growing stiff while his heart raced.

Kitty lifted her head. “Are you okay?”

He dropped her hand after realizing he’d begun to squeeze it more tightly than necessary. The Coast Guard’s fire ship moved into view. Its red and white lights flashed furiously against the night sky, while its cannons sprayed seawater high into the air. The murmur of anticipation rose among the crowd.

“Everett?”

Kitty’s voice sounded far away. His pulse began to race as soon as he spied the barge floating behind the Coast Guard ship. He knew what was coming next. And he knew there was no way he could keep from embarrassing himself.

A cheer went up along the pier as the first burst of light crackled through the air. A loud whistle followed the second explosion as sparks rained from the sky. The smell of sulfur wafted over the beach.

Everett’s breath left his body in a rush. His palms were already clammy. The fireworks continued to explode into the night sky. He worked to regain a normal breathing pattern, but it was no use. The booming and whizzing continued for several minutes until rapid fire explosions erupted at the end of the pier. He instantly felt the world fade away.

“West!” a voice shouted in his ear.

He ignored it, intent on keeping Keeley safe from the firefight. “Stop struggling, Keeley. I need to keep you covered up.” The thought of a stray bullet striking her had his gut clenching.

A hand palmed his cheek. “Everett. It’s me, Kitty. It’s alright. I’m safe.We’resafe.”

Fingers tugged on his flak vest. He struggled against them, the need to keep Keeley safe giving him the strength to hold his ground.

“West! This is Master Sergeant Hollister. On your feet. Now. That’s an order.”

Fuck.

Several long seconds later, sanity began to kick in. Everett pushed himself up onto his palms. The woman beneath him was not Keeley. It was Kitty. Beautiful, sensible, kind Kitty. Her hand was still on his cheek.

“Shh,” she soothed him. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”

No, he wasn’t. He fucking wasn’t. Everett looked away so he wouldn’t have to see the pity that would surely be arriving in her eyes soon. A hand wrapped around his arm. He shook it off before jumping to his feet. The gym owner reached down to help Kitty up. Of course, the sheriff would have to be standing beside him. The look he leveled at Everett was filled with steely compassion.

And that was the last thing he wanted.

Shaking his head at the sheriff, he stalked through the ring of bystanders surrounding them.

“Everett West, don’t you dare walk away from me!” Kitty called after him, adding to his humiliation.

He hesitated for a moment, shocked that she would want anything to do with him ever again. Hell, he’d practically assaulted her in front of an audience. She, and everyone present, had seen the side of him he worked so hard to keep concealed. The part he couldn’t eviscerate no matter how hard he tried.

Two men deliberately blocked his way, making it easier for Kitty to catch him. She immediately slid her arm through his. He held himself rigid while Kitty nodded a thank you to the two guards. They immediately moved, letting them pass. The sheriff fell into step on Everett’s other side.

“You should get as far away from me as you can,” Everett grumbled to Kitty.

The look on her face was incredulous. “That’s the last thing I want to do.”

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