Happy Ever After in Christmas

by Debbie Mason

  “You’re always trying to sell your kids,” Jill said as she got up from her chair. Suze was a single parent of two teenagers, whom she adored. But the boys were a handful. Jill leaned over Suze to look at the screen and blinked. “You wouldn’t know what to do with him.”

  “Says you. I’m going to have Ty do me.”

  “Ah, Suze, you do know that Ty’s gay, don’t you?”

  “Please. I meant give me a makeover. I just downloaded the Tinder app on my phone and want to change my profile pic.”

  “Tinder?”

  Suze cocked her head, then straightened and slapped her desk. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. We’ll do it together. You and me. We just need to get you set up on Facebook.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I’m not signing up for Facebook. It’s stupid and a time suck.” And what was she supposed to post? Pictures of her vision board or the hotdogs she was having for dinner tonight?

  Suze scrolled down the screen. “You wanna get yourself some of this? He’d make you forget Sawyer in a heartbeat.”

  Ray, a deputy who’d been around longer than Jill but looked like he was about twelve, was talking to Brad, who’d just arrived for his shift. They glanced over at her and Suze. Jill smiled, muttering out of the side of her mouth, “Would you keep it down?”

  Ray patted Brad’s shoulder and lifted his chin at Jill and Suze as he headed for the door. “See you in the morning, ladies.”

  “See you, Ray. Say hi to—”

  “Hubba bubba, look at this baby daddy. He’d be perfect for you, Jill.”

  Ray stopped with his hand on the door and turned. “Something you forgot to tell us?”

  “No, it’s just—”

  Suze wiggled her fingers over the keyboard. “I’m going to set up your profile right this minute. Let the baby daddy hunt begin.”

  “Ray,” Jill called after him, but he was already out the door looking like a man on a mission. She loved Ray, she really did. But the man was as big a gossip as Ty. She ran to the door and opened it, looking up and down the sidewalk. He was nowhere in sight. Okay, that’s good. He was probably just anxious to get home to see his wife. They were newlyweds. She’d talk to him in the morning.

  * * *

  Sawyer looked up from mixing a martini when Ray rushed through the doors, elbowing his way to the bar. It was busy for a Monday. But then again Sawyer had always done a good business with the dinner-hour crowd, and the tourists had started to arrive in town.

  “Hey, Ray, don’t usually see you—” Sawyer began before the deputy cut him off.

  “Jill Flaherty’s on the hunt for a baby daddy!” Ray announced loud enough for the entire bar to hear.

  “Wait…what did you just say?” Sawyer asked, because there’s no way he could have heard him right.

  “Sign me up,” Jimmy said from the end of the bar.

  “Don’t know her, but I’m happy to offer my services,” one of the tourists said, dirty dancing on the stool.

  When two more men began describing in detail how they’d take care of Jill’s needs, Sawyer’s vision hazed with anger. He slammed the bottle of gin on the bar. “One more word out of any of you, and you can get the hell out of my bar. Jill Flaherty is a friend of mine and no one talks—”

  “I’ve dreamed of tapping her ass. Where do I—”

  Sawyer reached over and grabbed Jerry by the front of his plaid shirt, drew back his arm, and punched him in the nose.

  “You broke my nose! Ray, arrest him. Arrest him right now!” Jerry yelled through his hands.

  “Sorry, big guy. But I don’t have much choice. Come out from behind the bar quietly with your hands up.”

  Ray apologized all the way to the station, opening the door for Sawyer. Jill and Suze looked up from where they were huddled around a computer. Jill’s eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open.

  Hands cuffed behind his back, Sawyer glared at her. “A baby daddy, really, Jill?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Sawyer’s arresting officer of a few days earlier sidled up to the bar. “So are we good, big guy? No hard feelings?” Ray glanced at the two men on either side of him and leaned across the bar. “I didn’t have much choice when Jerry pressed charges in front of all those witnesses.”

  “Yeah, we’re good.” It wasn’t Ray’s fault. Well, indirectly it was.

  If Ray leaned any farther over the bar, he’d be behind it with Sawyer. “Wish I knew what Jill had on Jerry to get him to drop the charges. She didn’t happen to share with you, did she?”

  “No.” She currently wasn’t speaking to him. Possibly because, after Suze had explained where the baby-daddy comment had come from, and that Jill was signing up for Tinder, he’d lectured her on the dangers of online dating. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew it was a dumbass thing to say. Jill was a cop. She could take care of herself. But she hadn’t been there, hadn’t heard what the men said about her.

  “Didn’t think so. But whooee, whatever it is it must be big. Jerry back downed pretty darn quick.”

  He did, but whether it was because of what Jill was holding over his head or the way she’d laid into the guy, Sawyer didn’t know. As Jill had proved, she didn’t need or want a knight in shining armor. Or, as she’d told him, another self-appointed big brother. Sawyer didn’t tell her he hadn’t been feeling brotherly at the time.

  “You want a lemon cola?” Sawyer asked. Ray was in uniform so he figured he’d go with his usual on-duty drink. The deputy liked to stop in on his break to chat and catch up on the latest gossip in town.

  “Better give it to me straight. I’ve got the late shift.”

  Sawyer held back a laugh as he got Ray his cola. “I thought Jill took the overnight shifts on the weekend,” he said, handing him his drink and waving off the proffered bills. “On the house.”

  “Thanks.” Ray took a sip of his cola and looked around the crowded bar. “Not tonight. She’s got a hot date. Thought it was about time I took my turn. She’s been covering for me since the accident, you know. Least I could do. She works too hard. About time she had some fun.”

  Ray had nearly died in an accident a year ago May. For a while there, it hadn’t looked like he was going to make it. Everyone had been understandably shaken. Sawyer wasn’t surprised Jill stepped up. That’s who she was; what she did. And while he agreed she worked too hard, an uncomfortable weight settled in his gut at the thought of her on a hot date. “She’d be better off finding something else to do for fun. She doesn’t have much luck dating,” he said, sounding a little testy even to his own ears.

  “I bet her date’s thinking he’s going to have some fun. Her profile pic is hot.” Ray’s smooth baby face pinked. “Don’t tell Lauren I said that.” He grimaced. “Jill either. I better get back to work.” He left his empty glass on the bar, heading for the door while Sawyer pulled out his phone.

  “Be right with you,” he told the customer trying to get his attention. Sawyer found Jill’s Facebook profile. But it wasn’t Jill; it was the lady in red. She’d used the photo Ty had taken of her standing on the road holding up her gun and badge. Ray was right. She looked like she’d be a real fun date.

  “Hey, Sawyer.” He shoved his phone in the back pocket of his jeans and looked to the spot Ray had just vacated. Jake Callahan leaned against the bar. The man raised an eyebrow. “Having a bad night?”

  “No. You come to scope out the competition?” He was yanking Jake’s chain. The Callahan brothers owned a club in the next county. The Garage drew a younger, hipper clientele than Sawyer’s place.

  “Yeah, thought I’d pass out a few flyers.” Jake grinned. “I’ve got a date. Your place is quieter than ours.”

  Sawyer flipped him off and started filling the order for the customer who’d tried to get his attention earlier. “Sorry for the delay, buddy. You wanna beer?” he asked Jake, as he filled another order.

  “Sure. Whatever’s on tap.”

&
nbsp; “So who’s your date, anyone I know?” Sawyer asked moments later when he handed Jake the beer.

  “Thanks.” He passed Sawyer a few bills and change. “Jill Flaherty.”

  Sawyer nearly dropped the change on the bar. He did his best to hide his reaction from Jake, but it wasn’t easy. The anxious knot tightening in Sawyer’s chest wasn’t the same level of discomfort he’d experienced with any of Jill’s other dates. It was over the top and more than a little disconcerting. He decided it was because the dark-haired, good-looking guy standing across from him was a player.

  “She’s not for you.” The words were out of Sawyer’s mouth before he could stop them.

  Jake slowly lowered his beer from his mouth and frowned. “Huh?”

  Sawyer leaned toward him, lowering his voice. “You like fast cars and fast women, and that’s not Jill.” Then he remembered her Facebook profile and pulled out his phone, turning the screen to Jake. “This”—he tapped his finger on her face with, he belatedly realized, a little more force than was necessary—“is false advertising. It’s not who Jill is. She’s shy and quiet. Her idea of fun is going for a run or a hike, hanging out with her family. She’d rather sit at home listening to country music and playing her guitar than going to a bar.”

  “Good to know,” Jake said, looking like he held back a laugh. “She sounds perfect.” Then he cocked his head to study Sawyer, his expression more serious than amused. “But if you’re interested, I’ll back off. Jack didn’t say anything when he suggested I ask her out. I don’t want to—”

  Really? He wasn’t good enough for Jill but Jake Callahan was? But that wasn’t something he could say to either man. “No, are you crazy?” Sawyer cut Jake off. “Jill and I are just…” He trailed off when the door opened and Jill entered the bar.

  She had on a cream-colored blousy top that gathered at the bottom and revealed a tanned strip of skin, her belly button ring visible above her low-riding jeans. Dark jeans that, unlike the ones she usually wore, molded to her narrow hips and long legs. She looked taller, and he craned his neck to get a look at her feet, shocked to see she wore heels. They weren’t red; they were black. But just as sexy. And so was her dark hair that framed her lightly made-up face. He’d seen her on a date before and she’d never taken this much care with her appearance. She wasn’t playing around anymore. This was serious. What the hell was her brother thinking setting her up with Jake?

  The other man followed his gaze and smiled, lifting his hand to get Jill’s attention. As she started toward the bar, Jake murmured to Sawyer, “Gotta say, I’m glad to hear I’m not stepping on your toes, buddy.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean…Oh, hey, Jill,” Sawyer said at the same time as he shot a menacing stare at the man he was now referring to in his head as Jake the Snake.

  Jill gave Sawyer a curt nod, but Jake got an answering smile to his hello and, “Hi, sorry I’m late. Do you want to grab a table?”

  “No problem. Sure, sounds good to—”

  “Why don’t you grab a seat right here?” Sawyer nudged his head at the two men sitting on the stools in front of him. “Scoot down a couple, guys. Thanks.”

  “No, stay right where you are,” Jill snapped at the men, then cast Jake a self-conscious smile before glaring at Sawyer. “Come on, Jake.” She walked away. Her dark jeans lovingly cupped her ass while the heels added a sexy sway to her hips that had his customers’ eyes going along for the ride.

  Sawyer jerked his gaze from her to Jake, who was watching him with a sardonic twist to his lips. “False advertising, my ass,” the other man said as he walked away.

  * * *

  Sawyer had spent the last hour trying to gauge how Jill and Jake’s date was going while at the same time pretending not to be.

  “Can I get another—”

  Sawyer distractedly waved his hand. “I’ll be with you in a minute.” Why was Jake lifting his hand? He stroked Jill’s cheek. You’ve done it now, buddy, Sawyer thought with a smug smile. Jill won’t…Wait, why was she laughing?

  He heard a sigh, the sound of a tray landing on the bar, and then, “Coming right up. You too, sir. Sorry for the wait.”

  Brandi brushed past Sawyer as she retrieved a bottle of rum off the glass shelf and speared him with a ticked-off look. “If you want to know what’s going on, why don’t you just go and sit with Jake and Jill? Oh, wait, you tried that and she told you to buzz off.”

  “She didn’t tell me to buzz off.” Not in those exact words. “You were busy, and they were waiting for their drinks, so I…” He didn’t have to explain himself, and since he’d probably dig a deeper hole if he did, he closed his mouth and mixed drinks alongside Brandi. Who was obviously not happy with him. Neither were the customers he’d kept waiting.

  She glanced at him as he filled the last of her drinks order. “You’re sending Jill mixed signals. It’s no wonder she still thinks she has a chance with you.”

  “She doesn’t, and I’m not.” He turned to put the bottles of bourbon and rum on the shelf.

  Brandi touched his arm. “Sawyer, I saw you with her the other day at my place. You had your arm around her.”

  “Around her neck. We were playing around like we always do.” But it hadn’t felt the same.

  “Well, maybe you should stop and put some distance between you for a while. For Jill’s sake.”

  Sawyer opened his mouth to argue. But the hollow feeling that expanded in his chest at the thought of keeping his distance from Jill made him think Brandi might have a point. He didn’t understand the how or why of it, but somehow his feelings for Jill had changed. It was like he was inches from crossing an invisible line. One that would put him in dangerous and uncharted territory.

  “Point taken,” he said. “Thanks.”

  She smiled and picked up her tray. “I’m just thinking of Jill. You’re pretty irresistible, Sawyer Anderson,” she said, then went to walk away. He’d just released a relieved breath when she backtracked to his side. “Are you busy Sunday night? I was hoping you’d come for dinner.”

  This is what he’d been worried about. He’d started to see the signs a few weeks ago but had been ignoring them in hopes Brandi would lose interest. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings or Trent’s. Brandi was his manager and going through a tough time. Besides that, he liked Trent. He saw a little of himself in the boy. Trent looked up to Sawyer the way he’d looked up to Bill. But on the heels of his spending the night, a family dinner would give both Brandi and Trent the wrong idea. “I’d like to, but I promised Bill—”

  “I don’t want to interfere with your plans. It’s just that I have to tell Trent about his father and…” She lifted a shoulder and gave him a half smile. “Don’t worry about it.”

  Sawyer bit back a frustrated sigh. He wanted to be there for the kid when he got the news. “It’s okay. I’ll be there. Bill will understand.”

  “Thanks. I really appreciate it. Ethan told me I shouldn’t put it off.”

  Ethan O’Connor was a stand-up guy and the county’s district attorney. The morning after Dawson’s visit Sawyer had called him to see if he’d be willing to advise Brandi or recommend an attorney. Ethan promised he’d do what he could, refusing Sawyer’s offer to pay him for his time. That was the thing Sawyer loved about his hometown—they looked after their own.

  Sawyer wiped down the bar as Brandi walked off to serve a table of four. He was thinking about how to ensure that she didn’t get the wrong idea about their relationship when Chris DeBurgh’s “Lady in Red” came through the speakers. He should have taken the selection out of the jukebox. He glanced to Jill and Jake’s table at the far corner of the bar. It was empty. His gaze shot to the dance floor. There they were in each other’s arms. Sawyer reached under the bar for the remote. The song stopped, and the jukebox went dark.

  There were a couple of groans, which he pretended not to hear, and he went back to wiping down the bar with a satisfied smile on his face. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jake
give the machine a couple shakes, and the satisfied smile fell from Sawyer’s face. Obviously the man liked dancing with Jill and wasn’t going to give up. It wouldn’t do him much good unless… “What do you think you’re doing, Callahan?”

  Jake looked up from where he’d moved to the back of the silver-and-blue jukebox. “It shut down. I’m trying to—”

  “In the box,” Sawyer called out, jerking his thumb at the penalty box.

  Jake looked from the black-and-white wooden box to Sawyer. “You shitting me?”

  Sawyer ignored Jill, who glared at him with her arms crossed. “Nope, that’s what happens when you try to bust my jukebox. Brandi, go set the timer. It’s a major.” Not long enough. “A double major.” At least he’d be sidelined for twenty minutes.

  * * *

  “You sure you don’t mind?” Matt Trainer asked Jill as they approached the Penalty Box.

  Oh, she minded all right. But that wasn’t something she could share with her date. Besides, she, more than anyone, understood that the job came first. Matt was on call and wanted to stick close to Christmas General. She smiled and said, “No, it’s fine.”

  And maybe it was. The whole point of dating was to knock Sawyer off the pedestal she’d put him on in her mind. After what he’d pulled Friday night with Jake, and earlier in the week with Jerry, she was halfway there. Maybe if she’d felt something other than a friendly interest in Jake, she would have been all the way. But she didn’t. Despite that he looked like the bad boy version of Chris Pine, there’d been no butterflies, sweaty palms, or secret longings that he’d kiss her. They’d even gone out a second time. Jake had suggested a hike. And although they’d had a good time together, there’d been no sparks.

  Jill was hoping this time would be different. The women in town had nicknamed Matt “Dr. McSexy” for a reason. Tonight, wearing a white button-down shirt and faded jeans, he was the poster boy for sexy. And with his dark blond good looks, tall, leanly muscled frame, and easygoing charm, he reminded her a little of Sawyer. Maybe that was why, when he placed his strong, life-saving hand on her lower back as they entered the bar, she felt a warm tingle in her stomach. Then she saw Sawyer.