Chapter Four

“ T he train leaves at four in the afternoon.”

“There are no rental cars in the entire freaking state of Florida. Well... not unless it’s like Honest Bob’s Gator Farm and Rentals in some swamp town that doesn’t have a website.” Reese’s phone screen dimmed. “I need to charge my phone. And my computer. And I need a shower. I must look like a caffeinated rat.”

“You look beautiful—just tired. Well... I guess we could get a hotel for a few hours and get some sleep?”

“I’m not sleeping until I leave Florida.” Reese crossed her arms, telling herself she was channeling inner strength and not acting like a stubborn three-year-old. “There has to be a car somewhere!”

Derrick shouldered his bag and gave her a wary side eye as she followed the baggage carousel around one more time. When she made her way back to his side, this time with her only surviving checked bag in hand, he hissed, “Your brand of crazy might be growing on me, but I’m not going to steal a car!”

“We’re not stealing.” Reese’s eyes landed on the white and red Our Car is Your Car sign at the end of the airport concourse. “We’re stalking.”

“What?” Derrick yelped.

“I’ll explain on the way. Do you have a clean shirt in there?”

“Well, I—”

“And a razor?”

“Of course.”

“Good.” She pointed to the restroom ahead of them. “Go into that bathroom and come out looking like a customer service expert.”

“But I’m not—”

“Leave everything to me. Nothing illegal, I promise.” Reese put her hand between his shoulder blades and pushed.

Derrick looked at her for several long seconds, then sighed. “I have such a bad feeling about this...”

TRUST YOUR GUT. DAD said it a million times.

His gut said this wasn’t a good idea. His gut said that he was an idiot, beguiled by a gorgeous caramel-brunette with long, long legs and a tacky-cute Christmas sweatshirt of an alligator in a Santa hat.

His gut said run .

His eyes looked at Reese’s smile and said, “Trust her. Your gut hasn’t mastered anything but sit-ups in your thirty-six years on this earth.”

Freshly scrubbed with paper towels and restroom soap, shaved, spritzed, and wearing a hunter green polo that his mother said complimented his dark hair and too-much-time-in-front-of-a-screen complexion, Derrick took his place next to Reese. “You look refreshed.”

“Mhm. Nothing like shopping on Christmas Eve at the airport mini-mall. Santa Gator is all the rage right now.” She struck a pose, gesturing to her new sweatshirt.

His heart throbbed. She’s adorable. Not even just sexy, but adorable, like the kind of girl you want to curl up on the couch with and watch cat videos. “What do we do? And why—hey!” Derrick found his hands suddenly crammed with candy canes. “Why do you have candy canes? Why do we have candy canes?” he asked.

“They were free at the minimart. Well. One was free. I kind of took half the bowl.”

“You said no stealing!”

“I’m not!” Reese hissed back, looping her arm through his. “This is the candy cane redistribution system!”

“Oh, God.”

Reese just beamed. “Fa-la-la-la, la-la-la-laaaa.”

REESE FELT LIKE SHE was going to barf. If she was caught, they’d be arrested. Definitely. Impersonating an Our Car Is Your Car employee was probably a federal offense.

But the nationwide car rental service stated that they were absolutely booked solid. Every car they owned was spoken for.

But there was no reason why some drivers couldn’t take on an extra passenger or two...

A harried-looking man in an expensive winter coat came bustling out of the Our Car Is Your Car exit, looking at the key and tag he’d just received inside.

This is it.

I’ll just say Derrick was a pawn in my nefarious scheme. He knew nothing. I’m the lunatic.

Jeff would love to see his ex arrested in Florida. This is totally a Florida thing to do.

Hmm. Maybe that means it’ll work.

“Hi there, sir! Happy Holidays from the Our Car Is Your Car family! May I ask where you’re driving this Merry Christmas Eve?”

“Orlando, God help me,” he growled.

Wrong direction. “How would you rate your experience today?” Reese held out a candy cane, and the man’s scowl lightened—slightly.

“It would be a hell of a lot better if I didn’t have to drive the car back to the Our Car lot in Orlando and then get an Uber to my mother’s place. But I’ll give it a seven out of ten.”

“Have a great day! I’ll pass that on to corporate,” Reese beamed.

Derrick looked at her as she waved the guy off. She shook her head.

A family of four came out, lugging strollers and coaxing a toddler and a whining older sibling. Derrick immediately jumped up to help them load their rented minivan and gave candy canes to the older child and parents.

“Excuse me, do you work here? Where is lot Seven-A?”

Reese stopped watching Derrick and thinking how sweet and helpful he was as someone tapped her elbow. She turned with a cheery smile to find a middle-aged couple behind her. “Lot Seven-A? That’s the Our Car Is Your Car lot! May I ask where you’re driving today?” Reese held out two candy canes.

“Oh, thank you. Just to Jacksonville. Now, it says we have to turn the car back in by noon tomorrow. Will the Jacksonville branch be open on Christmas Day?” the man asked.

Bingo. “Actually, no, it won’t, but that’s why we’ve introduced our new Santa’s Helper program. Derrick from Customer Care and I, the head of the Santa’s Helper initiative, will gladly load your bags in your rental, drive you to your Jacksonville destination, unload your bags, and return the car to an OCIYC location! Free of charge! All you have to do is give Derrick over there the address of your destination.”

“Did you hear that, Jack? Chauffeur service! I told you this trip wouldn’t be so bad.”

“I can’t sleep on planes. We just got in from Denver—and we had the most hellacious wait at the terminal, our flight was delayed by three hours, then—”

“We know how busy and stressful the holidays are!” Reese ushered the couple toward Derrick and took the key and tag from them. “You chose wisely! A black Lincoln Corsair. Perfection! Derrick, can you please fill out the customer satisfaction survey with Mr. and Mrs.—”

“Netherton.”

“With the Nethertons, and I’ll bring their car around. We’ll be delivering them to Jacksonville today!” Reese planted the Nethertons firmly in front of Derrick, who smiled and opened his laptop. An official-looking spreadsheet was already up on his screen.

They never even noticed her dragging her own luggage along behind her as she raced to find the rental car.

“I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU did this,” Derrick whispered as he drove. He checked the rearview mirror for the hundredth time.

The Nethertons were both snoring away, mouths open and bodies limp. Mr. Netherton’s hairpiece rested in his lap like a flat brown guinea pig. Mrs. Netherton’s head slumped on his shoulder.

Reese tapped the screen in the expensive luxury vehicle. “It says we’ll be there in an hour. We’re making good time. And we have the car until noon tomorrow.”

“Okay, fine, but we’re stopping and getting a hotel at some point. If I don’t stretch out somewhere flat soon, you’re going to have to carve me out of the car.”

“That’s fine! There’s an Our Car Is Your Car lot in pretty much every major city, and every major city has a train station or a bus system. We might even be close enough to have our relatives come get us by that point.”

“Shh. They might wake up.”

“They might, but that’s okay. We’re just talking about our holiday plans.” Reese’s bright smile faltered. “How often do you travel for work?”

“Off and on. Once or twice a month.”

“But the rest of the time you live in Pine Ridge?”

“I do. I have one of those little townhouses in the Pine Point development. They’re adding onto it. I’m at the end of the old subdivision, and my neighbors live in the new one. Nice couple, just moved in like two weeks ago, and they’re already picking up my mail for me and bringing over cookies. Kev and Marina.”

“I’m going to save up for a townhouse. I’m glad they’re still adding onto that development. In the meantime, I’ll probably stay with my parents. Until we drive each other insane.”

They laughed softly together as he zoomed up 301 North. “What if we don’t get it back in time?” he whispered.

“You worry too much. We’ll get it back in time. We’ll get it back early, even if it means we’re stuck somewhere, celebrating Christmas alone in a little hotel room.” Reese leaned forward in her seat and rubbed her lower back.

He tried not to look. Eyes on the road. Eyes on the road. Don’t crash the rented car that I’m not actually supposed to be driving.

Reese kept talking, unintentionally showing off her flexible body as she laid her chest flat against her slender legs and turned her head to face him, smiling up at him in her doubled-up position. “Eating a Christmas dinner from the convenience store that’s open twenty-four hours, no matter what. Watching It’s A Wonderful Life or A Charlie Brown Christmas . Giving each other presents we bought at a highway rest stop.”

His fingers flexed on the sleek leather wheel as a fine mist of rain began to fall. “That doesn’t sound so bad. I mean, it sounds better than what a lot of other people have on Christmas day. At least we’d have Christmas candy.”

Reese giggled.

“I know you’ve got some candy canes left. My mom always put candy canes in our stockings and on the tree.”

“Mine did that, too.” Reese opened one of the red and white peppermint sticks as she sat up, slowly sucking on it as she reclined.

Eyes on the road. Eyes on the road. Do not be that guy.

His eyes watched her lips wrap and pull, her tongue dart out.

Shit, I’m totally that guy.

Her eyes met his in the rearview mirror as she moved her head. “Whatcha looking at, Derrick?” she whispered.

No, purred .

A whisper is just soft. This voice was sultry and soft. Seductive .

“Oh, nothing. Just thinking about a Christmas present I’d really like,” he muttered and flicked his blinker on, ready to change lanes.

“Something sweet?” Her hand was suddenly on his leg.

“Mhm.”

“Surprising?”

“At every turn.”

“The best kind of gifts are the ones you get to share with someone else. Like... a plate of homemade cookies.”

“Yep.” His voice was going on strike as her fingers massaged lightly.

“Or a puzzle. A game. Something both people get enjoyment out of.”

“Sometimes games get heated, though. One person gets upset. They take it seriously, and the other one doesn’t.”

Her hand vanished.

“Oh.”

Wait. Damn it, she thinks I meant that she’d take it seriously and I wouldn’t! But I’m the serious one. I’d be serious about this ! “Reese, I—”

A loud, explosive jangling cut off his words. In the backseat, Mr. Netherton jumped awake and Mrs. Netherton sat upright like she was spring-loaded. “Are we there yet?” she demanded hoarsely.

“My phone is ringing!” Mr. Netherton declared, patting his pockets.

“We’ll be there in about forty-five minutes,” Reese soothed.

But Derrick noticed her hands stayed tucked up under her arms, and the playful sparkle in her eyes was gone.

“HAPPY HOLIDAYS!”

“Thank you again!” Mr. Netherton shoved a twenty into Derrick’s hand and refused to take it back. “Best service ever! We’ll use you guys when we fly back to Denver!”

“Our pleasure!” Reese put down the last of their luggage and hugged Mrs. Netherton goodbye, handing her a handful of candy canes. “For all those grandkids you’ve been telling me about!”

She climbed back into the car, this time behind the wheel. Derrick subtly moved their luggage into the back during the unloading process and then took his spot in the passenger’s seat. The second he was in the car, she flew down the street, leaving the Nethertons in the arms of their children and in-laws.

“I’m getting onto I-95 North,” she announced in a terse voice. “You sleep. I slept on the first flight, and you didn’t. Well, not as much.”

“Reese, I need to explain! About the game. The puzzle! The gift,” Derrick stumbled over words, pointing over his shoulder. “I couldn’t when they were in the car. I know you just went through a bad break-up. I understand, I do! I just... I want to have that same sort of present... I think. If we’re talking about the same sort of present, that is.”

Her anger, held for almost an hour, started to wane as Derrick stammered and coughed his way through an awkward explanation. “And you’re afraid I’ll make a dumb decision and get hurt?”

“No! Oh, yes. Actually, both. That and the fact that I’ll get hurt. See, I... I’m too serious. Not good at casual things or flings. The only time I’ve ever done anything impulsive has been with you.”

Reese blinked and pretended to be fascinated by the GPS display.

Derrick kept talking, voice melancholy. “I’d get super attached, and you probably want time to heal your heart. I’d get possessive and want you around all the time. Especially in the same little town. I’d be underfoot all the time. You’ll be back in town, trying to start over, and there I’ll be.” Derrick fiddled with the seat adjusters and groaned as the seat reclined and he could finally stretch out his legs.

“Got it. You don’t want to open a gift you have to return?”

“Exactly! But maybe over time, you know, if you’re interested—it’d be a gift I’d keep. Uh. That makes me sound possessive and creepy. I don’t mean to sound like that. My brain is way too zonked for this conversation.”

“Rest. Everything’s cool.”

“It is?”

“Mhm!” Reese gave him a soft smile. “You were caring about what happens next. Do you have an idea how many guys would have seen the chance to get some and just said ‘yes’ no matter what?”

“Oh, I wanted to. Every time I look at you—I mean, who wouldn’t be tempted by a girl who makes an alligator sweatshirt look like the sexiest thing in existence?”

“What? Really?” Reese had to admit that her battered ego sat up and purred.

“Yes, really. And you shouldn’t eat any more candy canes in front of me. I’m trying to be a good, decent human being, and my mind is a filthy sinkhole of lust.”

“Dude, I watched you help a struggling dad load his luggage and toddlers into a minivan. You adopted my chaotic ass during the most hectic traveling time of the year. You are a good, decent man.”

He chuckled and yawned. “Only by a Christmas miracle.”

“No, no, no.”

“ Yes ! Fifty percent of me wants to unwrap that present you mentioned here and now.”

“Down, tiger.” She stuck out her tongue.

He stuck his out as well. “You like cats.”

They laughed together, and Reese rolled through the stations on the radio, looking for Christmas music. In a few seconds, she heard Bing Crosby calling all the faithful, and her shoulders relaxed. “I’m not Santa, you know.”

Derrick’s eyes sprung open just after they’d shut. “Pardon me?”

“I’m not Santa. I don’t have lists of naughty and nice. I think a person can be both. I’d still like them, too.”

Yes, Derrick is a little bit naughty, but ninety percent nice. I think that’s what I want these days. And coming home, starting over—he’s crazy to think that I wouldn’t want him there for that. Every girl needs a friend. Frankly, every girl needs a Derrick—a good guy who gets you—and has just a little bit of naughty tossed into the mix.

“About that gift. Derrick, I’ve been thinking... We barely know each other, but in under a day, you and I have had more adventures than Jeff and I had in a year. What’s more, you were more willing to listen to me, talk to me, and even change that serious, strait-laced guy you claim to be into a guy who would dive into a wacky plan with both feet. I like that, Derrick. I love that. A lot.”

Nothing.

Reese looked over. Derrick was breathing deeply, nice and even, a tiny smile on his face.

Shoot, he’s handsome, too. Handsome in an understated way, the way where you need to really look at him to notice it. It doesn’t scream at you with big muscles or a heroic cleft in the chin, or morally gray villain cheekbones.

But it’s still there.

Screw Jeff. I want Derrick for Christmas.