Page 13 of The Irishman's Christmas Gamble
Chapter Five
The snow-dusted Christmas trees leaned against temporary fencing set up on a parking lot. Couples in bright hats and puffy jackets, some with children in tow, strolled through the fragrant outdoor aisles in search of the perfect pine.
A ho-ho-ho-ing Santa Claus greeted Frankie and Liam on the sidewalk in front of the cashier’s shed. “And what do you want for Christmas, little lady?” he asked.
That stymied Frankie. She could buy whatever she wanted, so there wasn’t anything left to put on her list. “World peace,” she said.
“That’s a tall order,” Santa said. “But I’ll do my best.”
As Santa went on to the next customer, Liam said, “Such an altruist you are.”
“It’s better for the chocolate business if people aren’t shooting at each other.”
“Is there nothing you want?”
She waved her hand in dismissal. “I’ve got all the jets and diamonds I can use.”
“I keep forgetting that you could buy a small country, if you chose. For now, we’ll settle for a tree.”
She noticed that he had stiffened and the teasing light had vanished from his face. He had a problem with her money? That seemed ironic, since their youthful dreams had always been about being rich.
But Liam was already walking down the rows of trees propped against the wooden fence. Frankie watched as he occasionally grabbed a fir and stood it upright for inspection before letting it drop back again.
“What’s wrong with that one?” she asked after the seventh tree had been rejected.
“Not fat enough. Maybe they have one that hasn’t been opened up yet.” He waved at one of the men working at the lot. “Hey, do you have a seven-footer that’s got some girth?”
The fellow strolled up. “I might have one still netted…hey, aren’t you Liam Keller? Man, you are the best!” He raised his voice. “Yo, Pete, it’s Liam Keller.”
“What? You’re puttin’ me—” A short, chubby man in an orange ski jacket came to a halt in front of them with his mouth hanging open. “Liam effing Keller.”
“Nice to meet you, Pete,” Liam said with a half-smile. “I take it you’re a soccer fan.”
“I’m a big fan ofyours,” Pete said, finding his voice and shaking Liam’s hand. “When you scored that goal in the final against Germany….” He shook his head in wonder. “Okay, Rich, get this man the best tree on the lot. You want seven feet? You got eight.”
Frankie trailed the trio to a pile of newly delivered trees behind the cashier’s shed, listening to them relive various moments of glory in Liam’s career. She was surprised at his celebrity here in New York. If he’d been a baseball player, she would have expected the recognition, but soccer wasn’t so popular in the States.
Rich, Pete, and Liam cut open several trees before they agreed thatthiswas what they were looking for. “What do you think, Frankie?” Liam asked, walking around the tree as Pete held it.
“I’ve never seen a better one.”
“I like you,” Rich said, giving her a thumbs-up. “Let’s get it on your car.” When he saw the limo, he whistled. “Mr. Keller knows how to do things in style.”
Once the tree was secured, Frankie was pressed into service to take pictures with Rich’s and Pete’s phones of the two of them with Liam and the limo. Then Liam asked Pete to take a picture of him and Frankie together with Liam’s phone. Frankie caught herself smoothing her hair like a teenager and stopped as Liam put his arm around her shoulders. “Smile, my pretty bird,” he said.
That made her laugh just as Pete took the shot. “I haven’t been called a bird in donkey’s years.”
“About time someone did it then,” Liam said, folding himself into the limousine beside her.
“Ha!” But she felt a little glow of pleasure that he thought of her as a girl. Which was ridiculous for a woman of her years. “Your fame has preceded you to New York, I see. Before long you’ll be on the cover ofPeople Magazine.”
“I hear I have a good shot at Sexiest Man Alive this year,” he said, but his attention was on his phone where he was swiping away.
“I’d smack you for your conceit but it’s probably true.”
He raised his head, his blue eyes hot and amused. “That’s twice now.”
“Twice?”
