Page 20 of Shy Santa

Bear smiled at me when I picked up my bag and skirted around the desk. “You quit?”

“Yep, been a long time coming.” I pushed through the front door and strode down the hall to the elevators. “What’s on your plate next?”

“Don’t have much going on aside from needing to find a new law firm.” He shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“You didn’t have to dump them.” I felt guilty. Bear now had more work to do. “Pickman Irwin and Sutton is a powerhouse of a law firm.”

“Would rather deal with people who care and aren’t in the good ol’ boys’ club. I was already thinking about dumping them, anyway.” He shrugged as the elevator dinged, and the doors opened for us to climb in. “Want to grab a coffee?”

“Might as well get one last coffee before I go beg my aunt for a job.” I sighed, not wanting to be back at square one.

“I’ll drive us to a place that’s supposed to be good.” Bear’s hand hit my lower back, sending electric tingles through my body.

How the man affected me so much drove me crazy. It was probably residual insanity from Saturday night. That’s what it had to be.

Memories of his beard and lips working on my lady bits had my stomach clenching and a giddiness spreading along with those lovely tingles from his hand.

“That’s fine.” I give up on trying to focus and let him lead me out of there. My brain, at this point, was fried in hormones and the adrenaline from quitting my job.

What am I going to do now? Echoed through my mind trying to kill the warm fuzzies his hand and memories of his talented mouth left.

CHAPTER12

Bear

Addy was a cool chick. We’d spent the last fifteen minutes talking about the people in town. I felt terrible she quit her job, but it had to be for the best. Sutton's son was a complete sleaze and a part of me was relieved she wouldn’t have to put up with him anymore.

Even after she tried to give my kid fake pot gummies, I’m not pissed at her. She seemed like she didn’t know they could’ve been laced. And after meeting her friend Maya that night, I could see it happening, like Addy said.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

She played with the edge of the paper plate her cherry danish came on. “No idea, but I’ll try to find something in Kissing Springs. I’m over the commute. Maybe see if the local lawyer could use a receptionist.” Her shoulders curved in on a sigh. “I still feel bad you have to look for a new lawyer. You didn’t have to fire them because of Chadwick.”

“Yeah, I did. If that’s the type of people who worked for them and they’re grooming to take over.” Shrugging my shoulders, I kept my tone level. She didn’t need to see how pissed I was. “I wasn’t planning on staying with them, anyway. They were supposed to deal with my gran’s place but dropped the ball. Like I said that night. The place was a dump when we got in.”

A buzzing and annoying ringing caught my attention, and I glanced around, wondering who was ignoring their phone.

“Think your pants are ringing.” Addy giggled at my confused look. I hated phones. Didn’t have one before I discharged from the Marines.

“Sorry.” I pulled my cell out and saw Ace’s school calling. “I have to take this. It’s my kids’ school.”

Standing, I walked outside the coffee shop so I could hear. “Hello?”

“May I speak to Theodore Alexander?” A lady asked.

“This is he.”

“Yes. This is principal Lackman at Huggins Elementary. I have Alice-Grace in my office. There was an incident.” The woman said.

My heart dropped out my ass. Was Ace okay? “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. I’m in Louisville but headed out now.” I interrupted the woman, not hearing a word in my desperation to get to Ace.

Clicking my phone off, I rushed back inside. “Addy, I’m sorry, but I have to go. Now. If you still want a ride back to town, let’s go.”

She stood immediately. Collecting our trash. “Is everything okay?”

“Principal just called something happened to Ace.”

“What happened?”

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