Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“I didn’t see your Benz. The only vehicle I saw was a truck in a ditch a couple miles back.”
“That would be mine.”
“What?”
“I rented it.” I avoid looking at him as I wait for him to drive, and when he doesn’t, I sigh and turn to face him. “What?”
“Why would you rent a truck, and why the hell are you out after midnight on Christmas Eve?”
“Why are you out after midnight on Christmas Eve?” I return with a raise of my brow.
“I run a bar, Milly. We had our Christmas party tonight.”
Oh yeah, I remember hearing Tiffany talk about that when she came to the bank to deposit her paycheck. “Now why are you out, and what happened to your car?”
“Well.” I lick my lips, and his eyes drop to my mouth, making my belly dip. “It’s kinda a long story.”
“I have nowhere to be right now.” He taps his long fingers on the steering wheel, settling in like he really does have all night, when I definitely do not.
“Okay, then I’d rather not tell you.” I know the smart thing would be to tell him and ask for his help, but for four years, this has been my little secret, and I don’t want anyone to find out that I’m the person they dubbed Port Huron’s Santa.
“Milly.” His eyes narrow. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“Of course I’m not in trouble.”
“Then start talking, Milly.”
“Can you stop using my name like that?”
“Babe,” he growls, and I glare at him, which does absolutely no good whatsoever. “Start talking.”
“If I tell you, you have to swear not to tell anyone ever. Like, ever-ever.”
“Okay.”
“I’m serious; you can’t tell anyone.”
“I said I wouldn’t,” he replies, and I study his face for a long moment then lay it all out. I tell him that since I work at the bank, I know a lot of folks’ personal financial information and hear things while people are in my line. I explain quickly that I know I shouldn’t pry, but hearing people can’t even afford a tree or one gift for their kids makes my heart hurt, so I want to help. I tell him about the first year and how I couldn’t really afford to help more than a few families, but since then, I’ve found a way to save all year long to help a few more.
When I finish, I drop my eyes to my lap, rub my hands up and down my damp jeans, and let out a breath without looking at him. “So, this year, I have twelve families to deliver Christmas to. That’s why I rented a truck, but now that truck is in a ditch, so I need to go to town and see if I can find somewhere to get another truck from. Then I can hopefully make some magic happen in the next—” I glance at the clock, trying not to cry when I see the time. “—five hours.”
“Milly.” The way he says my name feels like a caress, and then his hand covers one of mine, engulfing it. “Look at me, baby.” I do, and my breath catches. “I don’t even know how you’ve managed to do what you’ve done.” He shakes his head. “Last year, Curt and Emilly we’re going to lose their house, and from what I head, they didn’t because of you.”
It wasn’t me. I mean, it was, but I had asked my father for money for a very expensive bag, and he gave it to me without even batting a lash, and since I already have a ton of purses, he never knew I didn’t use that money on myself. “You can’t tell anyone,” I plead, latching onto his hand.
“I won’t tell. I promise. Now tell me what we need to do.”
“We?” I repeat, feeling suddenly hot. I know I need his help, but the idea of spending the next few hours with him makes me feel anxious rather than relieved. “Umm…, you don’t have to.”
“Milly, it’s after midnight on Christmas Eve. The chances of you finding another truck to use are slim to none, so just let me help you.”
He’s right. I know he is, and if I have any chance of pulling tonight off, he’s my only hope. “Okay,” I give in. “We have to unload all the stuff in the truck. Then we need to hustle, because the sun is going to come up before we know it.”
“Right, let’s get this done.” He puts the engine in drive then spins the truck around. As we head back to my rental, I hope I can actually trust him with my secret.
Tyler
With Milly’s cute little ass in the passenger seat of my truck, and the back loaded up with trees, wrapped gifts, and bags of what I’m guessing is food, I try to wrap my mind around the fact that she’s Port Huron’s Santa. For four years, people have been trying to guess who the Christmas miracle worker could be, and I guarantee that Milly never even made the list.