Yours for Christmas (Fool's Gold #15.5)(32)

“Thanks.”

She led Chloe to their car. There were only a couple more days until the toy delivery, but she wasn’t worried. They would make it. Then it would be Christmas and the start of a New Year.

Usually she enjoyed the holidays. Since having Chloe, they’d become nearly magical. She’d had high hopes for this season, at least until three days ago. Because ever since the toys had been stolen, Kenny had disappeared.

He hadn’t called her or stopped by. They hadn’t spoken. She hadn’t even caught sight of him in town. Taryn hadn’t said anything, so Bailey knew that he hadn’t been in an accident or gotten sick, but he had disappeared.

She wanted to tell herself that there were a thousand explanations. The problem was, she couldn’t think of a single one that explained why he hadn’t been in touch with her. If only to say he was busy. Or driving to Bora Bora.

It wasn’t that he’d left her to deal with the toy drive on her own. It was that she’d missed him. In the past few weeks, she’d grown used to seeing Kenny every day. She liked talking to him and simply being in his company. Her feelings for him had grown to the point where he was part of her world. Letting that go was going to be difficult.

Ignoring her own bruised heart, there was also Chloe to worry about. So far her daughter hadn’t mentioned Kenny, but it was only a matter of time until the questions started. And Bailey had no idea how she was going to answer them.

* * *

TARYN TOOK A sip from her Score mug and shuddered. Kenny looked back at the Keurig in the break room. The used pod was still in place. He raised his eyebrows.

“Hot chocolate? You?”

She sighed. “I know. But it’s the season, right?”

“You drink coffee. Or water.”

“Now I drink hot chocolate.” She grimaced. “Or not.”

He studied his business partner. Something was different, he thought, but he wasn’t sure what. Taryn was wearing one of her stylish suits with stitching and darts and whatever made it contour to the shape of her body. She was barefoot, as per usual. Her ridiculous high heels looked good, but she only wore them walking into or out of the office. During the day she was barefoot.

She looked happy, he thought. But there was something in her eyes. Maybe a secret? Not that he was going to ask. Right now he was a big believer in everyone keeping their thoughts to themselves.

She set down her mug and walked to the bowl of fruit on the counter. She picked up an apple, washed it, then took a bite.

“So what’s new with you?” she asked when she’d chewed and swallowed. “How’s it coming with the toys? I heard the town has responded as you’d expect from this ridiculously nice place. Toys are pouring in by the bucketful.”

The one thing he didn’t want to talk about. No—the toys were symptomatic. Bailey was the real subject he wanted to avoid. Yet he wanted to hear how she was. It was less than a week until Christmas. Was she settled in her house? Was Chloe excited about her presents? What were their traditions? And how was he going to make it through without being with the two of them?

“Kenny?”

He saw Taryn frowning at him. “What?”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s a complete guy response. Talk to me like a human being. What’s going on? Are you feeling all right?”

“Sure. Never better.”

She didn’t look convinced. “You didn’t answer me about the toy drive.”

“You seem to have all the answers.”

She dumped her mug into the sink and quickly rinsed it, then picked up her half-eaten apple, grabbed him by the hand and dragged him into her office. When they got there, she bumped the door closed with her hip and positioned herself in front of him.

“What?” she demanded. “You’re not getting out of here until you tell me what’s going on. And don’t think I won’t beat it out of you.”

“Nothing’s going on. I don’t know what’s happening with the toy drive because I’m not doing it anymore.”

“Why not? I thought you were helping Bailey?”

“You and Angel are back. Why don’t you take it over?”

“Bailey said she wanted to finish it with the Sprouts. I thought you felt that way, too.”

He paced to her window, then turned back to her. “It’s stupid. The whole thing. I said I’d write a check. We could have just bought the toys.”

“Now you sound like Jack did six months ago. Money doesn’t always solve the problem. Besides, people like to give. They like to be a part of the solution. What’s wrong with you? Is it your family? If you want to go with them to Bali, you know we’ll be fine here.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what?”

She asked the question gently. While Taryn was all about the threats, in her heart, she was a marshmallow. She took care of all of them—she had from the very beginning. Taryn was the glue that held Score together.

She walked up behind him and put her hand on his arm. “Kenny,” she said softly. “Tell me.”

He continued to stare out window. “I can’t do it. I can’t. When I lost James...” He swallowed. “I loved him and it was like he died. Only worse, because I knew he was around and I couldn’t be with him anymore.”