Page 7 of Santa of the Creek
The smile fades. “That too.”
There’s no point denying it. Everyone knows I hate Christmas. Most people don’t know why.
“It’s a real shame,” Echo murmurs and reaches up to touch my face.
Instinctively I flinch, jogging him, and he winces.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, mortified that I’ve hurt him.
“It’s okay.”
It clearly isn’t, but I’m grateful for his kindness considering how much pain he must be in.
Hebe emerges from the office. “The EMT’s are on their way.”
“Ooh, more hunky men to rescue me,” Echo says drily.
“Aren’t you a lucky boy,” she giggles, although I can see the worry in her eyes.
“Aunt Hebe?” I ask, seeking a way to distract them both.
“He’s my nephew,” she says. “My sister’s boy.” Her mouth purses as she mentions his mom. I know from previous conversations that she’s estranged from her family. But clearly not all of them. As I look between the two, I can see a family resemblance. Maybe it’s the full curve of their mouths or the sweetest blue eyes.
“Is that why you came to Collier’s Creek?” I ask Echo.
He nods, then winces again. “I must stop doing that. Yeah, I needed a chance of scene and Aunt Hebe suggested I visit Collier’s Creek for a while. I liked it so much I stayed.”
I became aware of the new guy a few months ago. I didn’t spend much time in Randy’s Rodeo Grill and Bar, but Sheriff Morgan had invited me to dinner with him and his husband. I expected a night of quiet elegance at Odette’s. Instead, I was subjected to line dancing. They were both obsessed with it. I liked the beer and wings, and the eye candy.
While they danced, I became entranced with the gorgeous new bartender. Dark hair, dark eyes, and tanned skin. He has longest lashes I’ve ever seen. I spent the night drooling, only looking away when he glanced my way.
Now he’s in my arms, resting against my chest, and long lashes fan his cheeks as his eyes are closed. I can see a long, thin scar down his left cheek. I frown, wondering how he’d gotten that. I look up to see Hebe watching me, and flush at the knowing look in her eyes. I’d run from that knowing look if Icould, but I don’t want to disturb Echo, who sucks in a breath every time he moves. My legs go numb, but I don’t dare shift, just in case it hurts him.
It doesn’t take long before the EMTs arrive. I know them both. I was in high school with one of them. James’s eyes narrow when he spots me holding Echo. I give him a long stare, daring him to say anything. He made my life hell as a teen, but my brother assures me he’s a different guy now, easy-going, more tolerant. They’re golfing buddies. Of course they are.
“Did Santa fall down the wrong chimney?” he booms out.
“Santa got taken out by a small dog,” Echo says with a sigh as he opens his eyes. “How embarrassing is that? Hi, James. Tony, how’s your daughter?”
“She’s fine,” the older man says. “Leona says thanks by the way, for getting her home safely. She won’t do that again.”
“Everyone has a night like that,” Echo says, and now I can hear the pain in his voice. It quells the sudden jealousy I feel at him taking a girl home. I’m being ridiculous, I know that.
So can James and Tony from the way they hustle over to us.
“I should move,” I say, ready to get up.
Echo moans and clutches me. “Stay.”
“Stay where you are,” James says, pushing me down before I can move. “We can take care of Santa at our end. It’s your left leg?”
“Yeah. That mutt sure packs a punch.”
We all chuckle at Echo’s lame attempt at a joke. I broke my leg once and it was all I could do not to scream when anyone came near me. My brother told me I was a drama queen. As he’d been the one to launch me off our swing set, I ignored him and carried on screaming. I was only six, I was allowed.
James hooks Echo up to a machine while Tony runs through a series of questions. Displaced from Echo’s side, Hebe herds the interested residents back into the lounge.
“I’m going to have to cut the costume, I’m afraid,” Tony says.
