Chapter 86

"What are you thinking about?" Kiki brought him from his reverie.
"Nothing."
This time, she reached across the table for his hand. "Oh no you don't! You made me tell you."
One corner of his lips curled into a smile, wondering if she was going to kiss his hand and up his arm like he had attempted to do to her before she stopped him. For a moment, he was tempted to see if that's what she had in mind, but was a bit disappointed when she just held his hand and looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Please?" she batted her eyes, stirring his heart more than he had anticipated.
His face suddenly turned serious. "I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have run into you again."
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and then released it. "I'm the one who's lucky."
Taren shook his head. "I'm not talking about the fire." Taren paused for a moment, gauging his words. "I'm the lucky one that you came back into my life. I know that sounds corny, but--"
"I know what you mean," she cut him off. Then she looked down at the table, obviously not wanting to see his reaction. "I'm pretty lucky, too- and not because you pulled me out of my house, but because of- well-."
He reached over and raised her hand to his lips and kissed it, claiming her attention. "I know what you mean, too."
A beautiful shade of pink colored her cheeks. He had never seen her blush before and it looked good on her.
"What's so funny?" she asked, her tough persona from high school returning.
Taren shrugged. "Nothing. It's just good to see the real you. In high school, you were- different."
"I was a bit rebellious back then." She shrugged. "I don't know, maybe I outgrew it."
"Oh, I think you could still be rebellious if you wanted to," he teased, drinking down the last of his hot cocoa.
She smiled. "Well, I think I'd better get out of here." She drank down the rest of her hot cocoa, too, dabbed her lips with her napkin, and laid it on the table. "I'm expecting someone tonight." She gave him a mischievous smile.
He raised an eyebrow. "You are, huh?"
She laughed. "To pick me up. Get your mind out of the gutter."
His mouth opened just as wide as his eyes as he placed a hand to his chest, feigning innocence. "Me? Madame, I have you know that I am an honorable man."
Kiki smirked as she stood and slid into her coat, preparing to leave. "Yeah. Tell me another one."
Taren loved teasing her. Standing, he slipped into his coat, and laid a few bills down on the table. "I guess I'd better let you go so you'll be ready for your date."
Kiki shook her head. "You're incorrigible."
"I try." He smirked as he placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the door.
"Thank you! Happy New Year!" Angela waved to them over her shoulder while taking another order. But the couple didn't seem to mind. "Come again!"
"We will." Kiki returned the wave as they passed by.
Taren opened the door for her to go out first and the snow was still falling.
"I think we might have to postpone tonight if it gets any worse." Kiki said, lowering her head as they walked to her car.
"Oh no!" Taren teased. "Don't worry. I'll be over to pick you up."
She tucked her arm into his and snuggled to his side. "Are you sure you'll be able to make it?"
"I'll put snow chains on my tires if I have to, but I'll be there." Taren stopped at her car and waited for her to open the door.
She unlocked the door and then looked into his eyes as white puffs landed in her hair. "You'd do that for me?"
He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "Of course I would." Then his lips descended upon hers, filling him with warmth in the driving snow as passion filled them both. "I'll see you in a bit."
She looked at him through her eyelashes. "I'll be ready."
Then he held the door open and waited for her to climb in, feeling protective of her somehow. Once she started the car and turned on the headlights, he pulled his coat around him and headed toward his car, already making plans.
***
Within a few hours, he had showered, wrapped the gifts for under the tree and stashed the ones from Santa, and put the snow chains on the car, and then came inside to warm up.
Prissy came out to greet him, meowing as she rubbed up against him. After dropping off Kiki, he had stopped by the station to get her, wanting to surprise Kiki. The guys teased him and Erica pouted as she playfully admonished him for taking away their mascot. In the few days that Prissy had been at the station, everyone had grown attached to her, but Taren figured that Kiki was ready to have her back.
"Hey, girl." He reached down and petted her, running his hand along her soft fur. She purred loudly, leaning into his hand.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to be driving in this?" his mother asked, adjusting the bow on Abby's Christmas dress. "It hasn't let up all day."
He stood and Prissy curled up on the rug, next to the fireplace where a fire burned brightly. He gave his mother a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be back soon. I just put on the snow chains. I'll be fine. I promise." Then he stooped down to Abby's level. "You look beautiful. Just like a princess."
She twisted back and forth, obviously enjoying the feel of the full skirt swish around her. "Thanks, Dad." Then she wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a big hug. Pulling back, she looked into his eyes. "Can I go, too?"
He shook his head. "Not this time, sugar. It's just too cold out there." He held her at arm's length with his hands on her shoulders. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you stay here with Grammy and help her get the last minute things ready?"
She clapped her hands happily. "Yeah!"
Evelyn chuckled, motioning around her. "Everything's ready."
"Well, then you can play the Christmas album with Santa Claus that I used to listen to when I was your age." Then he had a thought. "And if you're really good, maybe the Candy Fairy will come."
In their family, it was understood that the Candy Fairy came and dropped candy from the ceiling to all the good boys and girls every night the week before Christmas. Taren loved it as a child and looked forward to the fairy's nightly visits. But as an adult, he realized it was probably his mother's way of getting him to behave while he waited for Christmas. He remembered being so excited for Christmas to come that he would be filled with energy, probably driving his parents crazy.
He gave Abby a kiss on the cheek and then looked into her eyes. "Now, you be a good girl for Grammy and I'll be right back."
Evelyn stood behind her granddaughter and placed her hands on her shoulders, but concern filled her voice. "You be careful out there."
He nodded once. "I will." Then he looked back at Abby. "And when I do, I'll have Kiki with me." Prissy meowed, as if having understood what he had said. Taren smiled, knowing the cat was probably ready to be back with her mommy.
"Yeah!" Abby clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes.
"By the way," Taren said to his mother, "she's spending the night."
One corner of her lips curled into a smile as she raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Taren laughed at her knowing look. "Not like that! She's staying in the spare room so she can be here when Santa comes tomorrow."
"Good. I'm glad. Neither of you need to go back out there tonight." Evelyn adjusted Abby's curls.
Abby's eyes widened. "Santa's coming again?"
"Hold still, now-." her grandmother instructed.
Taren smiled, enjoying the surprised look on his daughter's face. "Yes, he is. I saw him in town and he told me that he forgot to bring you a few things, so he's dropping by again tomorrow."
Abby clapped excitedly. "Yeah! Two Christmases!"
"You be a good girl while I'm gone, and we'll celebrate when I get back." Taren headed out the door, shielding his face from the blinding snow. As hard as it was coming down, he wondered if it was wise to be driving in it, but he couldn't disappoint Kiki and Abby. But most of all, he couldn't disappoint himself.