Page 65 of Jagger

I was a pessimist when it came to romance even though I craved it with every inch of my soul.

With every building painted a different vibrant color, including the brick facades, I could see the town plopped in a tropical atmosphere. “Danger Falls isn’t what I expected,” I told him.

“Every tourist says that,” he admitted. “My parents had a hand in redecorating the town so the place would seem friendlier.”

“Your parents?”

His laugh held meaning and one he wouldn’t discuss with me. “Yeah, they bought Foxhead Resort, determined to bring life back to the dying town.”

“It looks like they did a good job.” The place was crawling with people, the remaining snow on the ground adding a Christmasy feel. The sidewalks were already cleared. I found that amazing. Wreathes were hung from every door, every streetlight adornedwith garland and lights, a representation of Santa or a snowman capping each.

“Look, Mommy! Santa.”

My heart ached since the holidays meant so much to her. Christmas brought heartache to my world, but I’d tried in her few short years to bring her the joy of the season.

When she started singing her favorite Christmas tune, I stifled a laugh. “Don’t mind the baby girl. She can’t get enough of the holidays. I know you hate them.”

“Yeah, I do,” he admitted. “I have reasons.”

“I get it.” I did. Either Joel or I had always had to work, never truly enjoying the holiday season other than the typical company party he’d forced me to attend.

“More than you know.”

He added the last part as if an afterthought and so many questions formed in my mind. Too late. I noticed the pet store marquee and sighed. Today just might be the most difficult day of all.

Jagger

Secrets.

Danger.

Both were ubiquitous in my world. I’d become the master of keeping secrets close, doing my best to ignore them while they ceremoniously attempted to destroy my life.

I’d become damn good at being able to shove them aside.

Bella wasn’t capable of doing so. Maybe because of Cally. Whatever the reason, her suffering kept my anger fresh and just under the surface.

Whoever had texted her was at least part of the reason she was petrified with every shadow. Somehow, I would need to figure out what I was dealing with since Bella refused to tell me.

“Look, Mommy,” Cally squealed again. “Santa Claus.”

We arrived in town and it seemed the entire population was out in force. My muscles tensed all over again at the thought.

I hated shopping.

Purchasing groceries was a pain in the ass.

But here I was in the middle of a thriving pet store, far too many tourists and locals fawning over treats behind the doggie bakery case and stuffed animals that had hefty price tags. But it was something I had to do. Just seeing the joy-filled look on Cally’s face almost warmed my heart.

Almost.

“Xena stays in the car until she has a collar and a leash,” Bella told Cally as the little girl tried to get the dog out of my Range Rover.

“Ah, Mommy!”

“Nope. We don’t want her running away. Do we?” Bella pinched her daughter’s chin.

I noticed again that neither one of them had a decent coat on. Their two were far too flimsy for this kind of weather.

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