Take Me Home for Christmas

because he’d made a similar mistake with Callie, he’d also be more understanding.

“I’m fine.” Ted stretched his neck. “Between you and me, I’m better than I should be. It’s Eve I’m worried about. I hope—I hope I didn’t make her feel bad.”

“Well, you damn sure didn’t make her feel good,” he said wryly. “That’s what I was hoping to help you avoid in the first place.”

“I know. How’d she act this morning?”

“Wasn’t there.”

So neither of them had shown up. “Then how—”

“Cheyenne announced it.”

It made sense that Cheyenne would be the first to hear, since she and Eve were so close.

He waved Kyle into the house. “Come in.”

They went to the game room and lounged on either end of the leather sofa. “How’d Cheyenne break the news?” Ted asked.

“Just came right out with it. She also said she didn’t want any of us asking about you when we see Eve again. And we’re not allowed to tease her.”

Ted feared that might be too tempting for some of the guys to resist. But he’d probably get ribbed about it more than she would—thank God. “So...could you tell how she was taking it?”

“Chey said she’d be fine. She said you’d both be fine...given time.”

“But you came over anyway.”

“I wanted to see how much time you’re going to need.”

Ted grinned sardonically. “Your sensitivity overwhelms me.”

“Okay. I came to rub your nose in your mistake. So let’s hear you say it.”

“Say what?”

“‘Kyle, I humbly apologize for not listening. You were absolutely right in trying to warn me away from one of our close friends.’”

Ted gave him a playful kick. “Screw you.”

Chuckling, Kyle got up and started racking balls on the pool table. “At least tell me what happened.”

Ted walked over and selected a cue stick. Kyle didn’t have to ask; he wanted a game or he wouldn’t be racking the balls. “I’m not discussing it with you or anyone else. I doubt she’d appreciate me running my mouth.”

“Uh, huh. Okay. Good answer.” He seemed intent and supportive, but then he grinned. “So what happened?”

“I just told you—”

“So?”

Ted scowled. “Quit it!”

Kyle chucked him on the chin. “It wasn’t there, am I right?”

The fact that Kyle had guessed without any effort at all made Ted feel like even more of an ass. “Okay, I should’ve listened to you. Happy now?”

“I am,” he said. “At least I’m no longer the only one who’s ventured into no-man’s-land.”

“You’re making me feel a lot better.”

The smile curving Kyle’s lips stretched wider. “No problem.”

Ted watched him select a cue stick now that he had the balls in place. “You want to go first?”

“After you.”

He took the shot and watched the balls scatter. Two striped ones found their way into a pocket, giving him a nice start. He circled the table looking for his next shot.

Kyle waited off to one side. “When are you going to start dating Sophia?” he asked.

Ted glanced up. “Who said anything about Sophia?”

“Come on!”

“She’s not ready for a relationship.” He used a dismissive tone, hoping that would be enough to get Kyle off his back, but Kyle wasn’t so easily discouraged.

“Does that mean you’re not going to date her?”

“Why are you so set on finding out?”

“Because Riley and I have both considered asking her out.”

Ted had just bent over to take another shot but, at this, he buried the white ball along with the one he’d been aiming for.

Kyle slapped him on the back. “That’s what I thought.”

“No, go ahead.” Ted spoke as if it was nothing.

It was Kyle’s turn to miss his shot. “What?”

“You heard me.” Ted didn’t want Sophia to “settle,” didn’t want her back just because she felt she had no one else. Giving her other options and letting her choose—that was the only way he’d ever be sure.

* * *

Sophia was in the hot tub when Ted came out of the house; she was alone because she’d agreed to let Alexa stay over another night.

“It’s cold this evening,” he said.

She tilted her head up. He was standing on the deck, but she couldn’t see him clearly. It’d been raining, so dark clouds obscured the moon.

Sadly, her mood was as dark and unsettled as the weather. Since her encounter with Chief Stacy, she’d been examining her budget, trying to get some idea how long it might take her to save up enough to leave Whiskey Creek. But it all seemed so far off because she was starting with nothing. She didn’t even have a car. “The water’s perfect.”

When he came down, she saw that he was wearing swim trunks and realized he planned to get in with her. He’d spent the day in his office, trying to catch up on his book. At least that was where he’d been when she made dinner. He’d been so engrossed when she carried up his tray that he’d barely acknowledged her.

“There’s a bottle of wine sitting on my kitchen counter,” he said.

She sank lower in the water to avoid the cold air. “That’s for you. I’m hoping it’ll make up for one of the bottles I drank. I’ll pay for the other one, of course—for both if you don’t care for that brand.”

“The brand’s fine. I’ll take it off your hands, but after how bad you felt last night I’m not sure you should be cruising the liquor aisle.”

“I didn’t buy it. Chief Stacy did.”

At the mention of Whiskey Creek’s chief of police, he studied her more closely. “Come again?”

“It’s a long story,” she said.

“Looks to me like we’ve got all night.”

Not really. She had to get some sleep. She’d come to the conclusion that she had to make better use of her off hours, had to gain some skills and figure out other ways of making money or she’d be trapped in Whiskey Creek indefinitely and that meant leading a disciplined life. But she took a few minutes as he settled across from her to explain what had happened at the grocery store. It gave them something to talk about other than the debacle she’d created last night.

“Hard to believe someone in his position would T.P. your house,” he said. “What is he...twelve?”

“That happened a few days before and was probably kids. But he was behind the vandalism and the rock that broke the window.”

“Are you sure it was him?”

“Positive. He quoted the first part of the note wrapped around that rock.”

Ted stared at her. “That’s ballsy, to give himself away like that.”

“He couldn’t resist. He’s too proud of what he’s done.”

“That’s out of line for anyone, but especially for him,” Ted said, his words clipped. “I’m going to talk to Noah’s dad and see if there isn’t something that can be done.”

Sophia felt his feet brush against hers and jerked back. “Don’t waste your time. Chief Stacy’s been tight with the mayor ever since he was elected.” She swished some of the bubbles away. “I just have to get out of Whiskey Creek. There’s too much bias here. I’ll never have a chance to start over.”