Page 128 of Her Billionaire Bargain (Kensington Square)

“Yeah, I know. It’ll be put in storage soon. We can use your Forrester for the winter, right?”

“Of course. What did you usually use?”

“Depending on how bad the weather was, sometimes I used to drive the convertible. I used to have a Wagoneer too, but I sold it at the end of last winter.” I stroked my hand down her hair as yet again, the snow started falling. We’d had a couple snow-free minutes, but they never lasted long in December in central New York. “I know it must be killing you not to know. You so love surprises.”

“About your Wagoneer? Nah, I don’t care.” She laughed as I was the one to poke her in return. “I’m a little afraid, actually. Your surprises can be…overwhelming.”

“Me? No.”

“Um, you got a giant blow-up dinosaur on a bicycle for Berry’s birthday. Who blew bubbles. Remember that?”

“Vaguely.”

“And dressed up Bob to match.”

“I definitely remember that because he tried to eat the bottle of bubble solution.”

She tipped back her head and surprised me by sticking out her tongue to collect snowflakes. So, I did the same. We were still doing it when Berry returned with her bagged star. I’d neglected to give her money so she must have used more of her saved allowance.

“Totally cringe,” she announced.

I looked at Shelby. She just shrugged so I did too. “Thank you.”

With a shake of her head, Berry flounced back to the car.

“Just think, only a few more years until she’s a teenager.”

I sighed. “God help us.”

A short while later, I turned on the Christmas channel as we headed back home. Berry asked several times about the tree, trying to pry the truth out of me, then she gave up and started texting like a mad woman on the cell we’d given her as an early holiday gift. Shelby still thought it wasn’t a wise move.

She was probably right. She usually was.

“We’ll pick you up no later than nine-thirty,” Shelby told her as I pulled up to the curb near Babs’s neat ranch house on the other side of town.

“I didn’t bring my gift!” she wailed just as she was about to get out of the car.

“Where is it? I’ll get it at home and bring it back with me.”

“On my pillow. I think. Or maybe on the nightstand. It’s the purple bag with streamers.”

“Got it.”

Berry nibbled on her thumbnail as she looked back at me. “You sure?”

“I’m positive. Go have fun. I’ll be back in no time.”

“Okay. Thanks.” She ran off toward the front door, already opening to reveal Babs in the doorway with her hands on her hips.

“You’re a good dad.” Shelby leaned over to give me a kiss.

“I’m trying.”

“You’re succeeding. Now hurry up so you can drop me off too before whatever chaos will come with your ‘surprise.’” Naturally, she did finger air quotes.

I was already on my way. “Oh, ye of little faith.”

After I picked up Berry’s forgotten gift and returned it to her at Babs’ house, I then dropped off Shelby, who had also forgotten her briefcase, so she’d made good use of the trip home.

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