Have Yourself a Naughty Little Santa Page 13

  Kim opened her mouth to say their time, great as it was, had come to an end, but when her body flared at just imagining the things he could do and had done to her body, she slowly shook her head. “Uh…um…”

  Ricco unwound those long limbs, and his lips broke into that dazzling smile. He pushed off the pole and said, “Let’s keep our options open then?”

  “Sure,” she squeaked out.

  “Then I’ll see you later.” He turned and walked down the boardwalk, and she watched, speechless, as every woman, from the blue-haired grandmother types to teenaged girls, turned around to watch him in that naughty Santa suit of his, sauntering down the street as if he’d been the cock of the walk. Her belly did that jumpy thing again. “Jesus.” She was losing it.

  For several long minutes Kim stood there in the cold, staring after Ricco until his tall Santa-suit-clad body disappeared into the throng. She looked around, expecting to see every eye on her, laughing and pointing an accusing finger at her and giving her a number to pin on her back.

  She felt like she had as a child, watching her parents leave yet again, wanting desperately to call them back but knowing they had no use for her.

  “Did my son pull his Houdini act on you so soon?”

  Kim jumped and turned to face Leticia Maza. The woman was taller than Kim by a good six inches, and though her face was serious, her green eyes held compassion in their smoky depths. “It was mutual,” Kim responded.

  What Leticia did next shocked Kim to the core. She took her hand and pulled her along, walking with her as a mother would a daughter. “Enrique is, as you know, the youngest of my four children. He was raised by women who adored him. We gave him everything he wanted…and when we resisted?” Leticia threw her head back and laughed. The sound was warm and deep and resonated with love and pride. “When we resisted, that boy knew just how to twist us around his little finger.” Leticia patted Kim’s hand. “I admit, I am to blame.”

  “But why doesn’t he ever stick around?”

  Leticia’s step faltered, and Kim steadied her. “Though Ricco’s father was not around very much, the one lesson my son learned was never to stay in one place with one woman too long.” She patted Kim’s hand and smiled at her. “He isn’t even aware of what he does. He just does it. He’s always been that way.”

  “Why are you telling me all of this?”

  Leticia shrugged. “I thought you might want to know it isn’t you. It’s him.”

  And for some reason that made Kim feel better. They continued to walk along the bustling boardwalk. The sights, sounds, and smells of the little town mingled into a warm welcoming hodgepodge of feelings and vibrancy. Leticia made no movement to release Kim’s arm, and oddly, Kim didn’t want her to. She’d never had the benefit of a mother who took the time to discuss feelings, much less strive to allay her fears.

  “Is your husband ill?” Kim asked. She didn’t know why, but she wanted to know.

  “Yes. He has come home to make peace with his son.”

  “How does Ricco feel about that?”

  “You saw his reaction.”

  “I can’t say that I blame him.” The minute the words left her mouth, Kim regretted them. She was a hard case in business, but she didn’t mean to be to Leticia. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. It’s true. But Enrique doesn’t have much time, and I know if Riccito doesn’t make his own peace with his father, he will always regret it.”

  “But what if he’s already removed himself emotionally? Why go there?” She’d done it. And had no compunction with regard to zero contact with her parents. She hadn’t spoken to them in three years. The last time was when her aunt Tilly had passed away. The meeting had been extremely unpleasant, and most uncomfortable. What was the point of making peace when there was nothing there? She completely understood Ricco’s refusal to see his father. The man had deserted him and his family—not once, but repeatedly. She looked at Leticia.

  “Why didn’t you divorce him?” Kim’s eyes bugged out of her head. She slapped her hand across her mouth. “Sorry, I…this town has made me say and do things I don’t normally do.”

  Leticia smiled and stopped in front of what looked like a saloon. “I’m meeting the mayor for lunch. Would you like to join us?”

  Would she? “I’d love to.”

  As they entered the 1850s-style saloon, it took Kim’s eye a minute to adjust to the dim light of the room. While it was on the main promenade, she recognized it as the place the locals came to hide.

  And who should be leaning up against the bar chatting happily with a beautiful redhead? None other than Mr. Ricco Maza. Gone was the Santa suit. Now he was clad in black leather cowboy boots, snug-fitting Wranglers that did naughty things to his ass, and a sweater that was supposed to be bulky but hugged his muscular chest and arms. He smiled at his mother, and when his gaze rested on Kim, he scowled. Wow, the guy moved quick. “Ignore my son, Kimberly.”

  Kim forced a smile. “You have a son?”

  Before Leticia could comment, Ricco strode up, gave his mother a hug, and kissed her on the forehead. He nodded at Kim and said, with his arm slung around his mother’s shoulders, “Pey’s been waiting for you. He’ll be right back.” He set Leticia down at a round table and turned back to Kim. “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “I invited Kimberly to have lunch with Peyton and me. You’re welcome to join us,” Leticia informed him.

  Ricco dragged a chair from the small table next to them and pointed to the one near Kim, saying, “Have a seat.” When both Leticia and Kim were seated, Ricco sat as well. The tall redhead strolled up to them with an overconfident and overexaggerated swivel of the hips, pad and pen in hand and a big, shit-eating grin slapped across her big glossy lips. Kim resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Despite the redhead’s obvious intentions toward Ricco, she didn’t seem concerned about Kim as competition. Indeed, let’s-be-friends vibes oozed from her bombshell body.

  “You want your regular, Leti?”

  “Of course.”

  Kim didn’t bother to look at the menu. She just looked at Ricco and asked, “What’s good?”

  He grinned and said, “Everything.”

  Kim flushed and said, “I’ll have what Mrs. Maza is having.”

  Once the order was taken, Peyton came in and was introduced to Kim, but it was almost as if she wasn’t there. The conversation turned hushed and dire. The town was in trouble. Big trouble. She did everything but scribble notes on her napkin.

  “That dang Land’s Edge is coming in with another offer. I told Jerry we weren’t interested, but he managed to get Donna and John’s attention.”

  “Why on earth would the Tomlinsons be interested in talking sellout?” Ricco asked, anger lacing his words.

  “Because,” Leticia began, “the nursery is going under. With the snow, their utility bills have been outrageous the last four years.”

  “Mistletoe doesn’t pay that good,” Peyton added.

  “Why don’t they go solar?” Kim asked. “The feds and the state are offering huge rebates as incentives. A sixty-thousand-dollar setup after rebate is less than thirty grand, and the fed offers some really attractive low-cost and very long-term financing.”

  All three sets of eyes stared at her, and she wondered why on earth she’d offered that tidbit. It was her job to capitalize on the dire straits of the residents, not help them out.

  “They’re already mortgaged to the hilt,” Leticia said. Then she added, “I hope you understand that what we discuss here does not leave the table.”

  Kim’s eyes widened innocently. “Of course,” she hastened to assure her, then raised her eyes to Ricco’s dark ones, which calmly regarded her. She felt her cheeks flush as she looked away and asked, “I’m confused how your system works. How does this Land’s Edge even get an offer presented to the powers that be?”

  “It goes before the city council for a vote. Both of the Tomlinsons are part of the six-member council board. Leti and I, as wel
l as Chief Connor and Ray, Esmeralda’s husband, are also on the council,” Peyton explained.

  “So you speak for the town then?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is the offer bad?” Kim asked.

  Peyton nodded and bit into his roast beef sandwich. Kim toyed with her chicken salad. Her stomach was getting jumpy again, except this time it wasn’t because of Ricco. “It wasn’t great, even if we were in the market to sell out. But we’re not.”

  “Why does this company want Evergreen?”

  “Casinos.”

  Kim’s eyes widened. She knew damn well that Nick had given no indication of a casino in the buyout proposal. “Are you sure?”

  Peyton nodded and set his sandwich down. “I’d swear it.”

  “But you have no proof?”

  “I don’t need it. The local tribes have been making noises for years. They want a piece of the casino pie. Can’t say that I blame them, but what will happen is, they get the casino, then contract it out to be managed. And that leaves Evergreen in a lurch.”

  “How so? It sounds like a windfall to me.”

  “Hardly, Miss Michaels. If the casinos come to town, we turn into the Las Vegas version of Christmas. We happen to like the no crime, small town, family value system we have going here. We live by what this country was founded on, and the casinos will take that away. No thanks.”

  “But what if you can’t make up this year what you’ve lost the last five years?”

  He pointed to the big window and to the boardwalk beyond. Tourists continued to fill up the space. “Look outside. Once 82 opened, the masses poured in. It’s Christmas for us. Literally and figuratively. People love coming here. We are the reason for the season, and there is nowhere else you can feel it like you do here. We are charmed, Miss Michaels. And so long as we keep that charm, we keep our trade, and we keep our homes.”

  “So long as the weather holds and we don’t give guests a reason to leave town, we’ll weather the storm,” Leticia added.

  Peyton wiped his mouth with a napkin and then pushed his plate away. “Exactly. We must keep up this level of occupancy through New Year’s. Anything less?” He shook his head. “And we’re sunk.”

  “We had two incidents today,” Ricco said.

  Peyton nodded. “I heard. A mugging and an erratic driver?”

  Ricco nodded and finished his hamburger. “The Suburban was deliberate. I got a partial. But the only Suburban in the state with that beginning sequence was reported stolen in Fremont yesterday.”

  “How coincidental is that? A mugging and an asshole driving a stolen truck down the middle of town?”

  Ricco shrugged. “We were due. But I think we need to keep a heads-up. With as many people as we have in town right now, there could be more. Hell, for all I know, someone let the secret out. We need to lock our doors.”

  “Ricco, the only time I lock my door is when I go to Auburn,” Leticia said.

  “Mom, make it a habit. The real world is getting closer to Evergreen every day.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. Be smart and be safe. Lock them.”

  The conversation turned to the Christmas parade and Leti’s excitement over having her granddaughter play the Virgin Mary. Peyton asked Kim what she was doing in Evergreen, and she explained, “I’m having a bit of a working vacation.”

  “What line of work are you in?”

  “Real estate. I have a client who’s interested in a property here or in South Lake. When I leave here I’ll head south and see what I can see.”

  “If your client is looking for peace, quiet, serenity, and nice folks, Evergreen is your place. Reindeer Lake is beautiful year-round.” He smiled and continued, “You will not find a more naturally beautiful landscape anywhere in the world. Summertime, this place is green and lush, and that lake is teeming with fish. And during the holidays? Well, you can’t find another place as warm and as welcoming. If you don’t already know, our Christmas parade is world renowned. Three years ago we were featured in Living and O. This year Town & Country is coming in for next year’s Christmas edition.”

  “You have a lovely town, Mayor,” Kim honestly said.

  “Pey?” said a short, stout woman of about fifty, barging her way into their conversation. “I just got the new offer from Land’s Edge. It’s less than what they offered last month!”

  Kim sat up straight. Another offer? What the hell was Nick doing? Peyton scowled, and Leticia caught her breath. Ricco said, “What do you want, Donna? A shocked reaction? No one is selling out regardless of what is offered.”

  Kim cleared her throat. “Do you mean another offer as in today another offer?”

  All sets of eyes looked at her. “I’m just curious. From a business standpoint, I don’t understand the developer’s reasoning behind it,” she defended.

  Donna’s head bobbed like a chicken. “Yes, the amended offer just came in twenty minutes ago.”

  “Maybe he heard about our little crime wave and wants to bank on us running scared,” Ricco said sarcastically.

  And Kim knew that was exactly it. She was going to wring Nick’s neck! How dare he maneuver behind her back!

  “It doesn’t matter. It is what it is,” Donna said, then turned back to Ricco. “It’s easy for you to be so cavalier, Ricco—your life isn’t tied in to the economy of Evergreen. Mine is.” She looked to Peyton and Leticia, her eyes pleading. “My balloon payment is due the thirty-first! I have two kids in college and a grandchild with special needs. I’ll take seventy cents on the dollar.”

  Leticia stood and patted the woman on the shoulder. “Donna, don’t panic. We’re at capacity right now.”

  “Maybe for all of you, but I couldn’t afford to ship more than a short crop this year. I have nothing left!”

  Peyton nodded slowly and said, “Donna, we’re meeting tomorrow afternoon in the back room. Come talk to us then. So long as everyone who relied on the tourist trade can come up with their balloon payments, maybe we can work something out for you.” He looked at Leticia. “Can you talk to the investors? See if they can rework the terms?”

  “I work investors all the time,” Kim offered. “Who holds the notes?”

  Leticia and Peyton exchanged a look. “It’s a private consortium.”

  Kim nodded and pushed a little harder. “Most of the money I work with is private money.” She gave the mayor and Leticia her best trust-me-I-can-help-you smile. “I’ll be in town for another week at least. Holler if you need anything.”

  Leticia smiled, then patted Donna again. “I’ll go right now and make a phone call.”

  And with that, Kim was left at the table with Ricco, in a very uncomfortable silence. And just as uncomfortable was the growing guilt in her belly.

  “So, what exactly are you looking for, for your client?” he asked.

  She didn’t miss a beat. “Waterfront property.”

  “Have you been down by the lake?”

  “No, I’d wanted to do that.”

  Ricco stood, pulled a few bills from his wallet, and tossed them onto the table. “C’mon, I’ll take you down there. There isn’t another one like it on earth.”

  Kim stood but said, “Would you excuse me for a minute? I need to go to the little girls’ room.” Not waiting for an answer, she hurried to the back of the saloon. Once in the single-stall restroom, she pulled out her cell phone and hit Nick’s number.

  “Gold.”

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Why, hello, sunshine.”

  “Don’t patronize me, Nick. When did we talk about amending the offer?”

  “I took advantage of our opponents’ fear.” He chuckled. ‘C’mon, baby, I’m surprised you didn’t think of it first.”

  The fact that he was right didn’t make her feel any better. She shook her head and paced the tiled floor. She was allowing her emotions to get in the way. “You’re right, but do me a favor—let me know next time. We’ve always worked as a team, and I don’t
like being left out in the cold.”

  “Then let me come up there and warm you up.”

  “I told you, no. I’m making headway and I don’t want you breathing down my neck.”

  “If I didn’t know you as well as I do, Kimberly, I’d take offense at that.”

  “Well, then it’s a good thing you know me so well.”

  There was a knock on the door. “Look, I have to go. I’ll check in later.” She flushed the toilet and washed her hands and smiled to the lady doing the pee-pee dance outside the restroom.

  • • •

  RICCO WATCHED KIM SOAK IN THE PRISTINE BEAUTY of Reindeer Lake and the surrounding tree line. Even blanketed in snow as it was, the raw beauty of the view was breathtaking.

  “My God, Ricco, this is gorgeous! No wonder everyone braves the snow for this.” She walked down the wide, cleared sidewalk to the edge of the lake. The sun had begun its descent over the western horizon, and the rays skittered across the icy snow of the lake, giving it the brilliant kaleidoscope of a prism. To their left, not more than fifty feet away, a small herd of reindeer pawed through the snow, searching out grass. They weren’t at all bothered by their human presence.

  Ricco moved down to stand behind Kim. He resisted reaching out and touching her shiny blond hair. His resistance to her was so strong that he retook two steps. She bothered him. A lot. For several reasons. She was smart. She was sexier then all get-out, with a passion for him that matched his for her, but underneath all of her fire-breathing bravado she had the vulnerability of a lonely child. Something about her called to his soul, and he didn’t like the way it made him feel.

  He didn’t like not being the one to set the pace and the rules. He didn’t like being beaten to the door. That was his move. She turned around and smiled, her deep blue eyes dancing in merriment. “How can you leave this place?”

  “Easy.”

  Her smile dipped, and her finely arched brows nudged together. “Why can’t you stay here?”

  He shrugged and moved past her to the edge of the frozen lake. “I don’t stay anywhere very long.”

  “To make sergeant, don’t you have to stay put?”