A Very Venom Christmas: RBMC: Ankeny IA Read online

  “Oh, that’s too bad,” she murmured to me as if he hadn’t spoken.

  It dawned on me that he’d called her “Grams,” which meant he was the elusive grandson she loved to talk about. I’d expected someone younger, considering her fairly young age. Then I remembered her saying her daughter had him very young. If my recall was correct, he was around forty. Okay, maybe that didn’t qualify as a silver fox, but the gray highlighting his beard and hair was extremely hot.

  “The name’s Loralei, not pizza chick. I’m Ms. Margaret’s neighbor. It just so happens I deliver pizzas part-time.” Why I’d felt the need to explain myself to him, I had no idea.

  “Don’t forget! We have our knitting lesson tomorrow,” Ms. Margaret randomly piped in. Dragging my gaze from his hypnotizing one, I gave her a kind smile.

  “We can reschedule. I didn’t realize you were going to have company,” I excused.

  “Psh! He’s not company. This is my grandson, Decker. He’s not usually this rude. He’ll probably be busy watching football tomorrow anyway.”

  I blinked and tried to come up with an excuse as to why I couldn’t come, but I was drawing a big fat blank.

  “Good! See you tomorrow. Be sure to be careful, and if you need anything, you let me know.”

  Nodding like an idiot, I waved and left.

  It took me almost twice as long to get back to Mel’s Pizza because the snow had picked up. I started to slide a couple of times and prayed my old Toyota wouldn’t fail me.

  Swirls of snow followed me into the restaurant that was now deserted except for the staff.

  “I was just about to send out a search party!” Mel exclaimed, and I chuckled.

  “I was fine. But the roads are getting bad,” I admitted.

  “Yeah, I’m closing down early. This weather is insane. It’s too early in the year for this stuff. I haven’t seen snow this early since I was a kid. Anyway, we were only waiting for you to get back. Should’ve told you to go straight home after your delivery,” he said as he started shutting lights off.

  “It’s okay; I needed to bring back the money for the pizza delivery.” I rang up the cash in the old-fashioned register. With my past, I hated for anyone to think I was being shady.

  “I wasn’t worried about that,” Mel said as he waved my unspoken worry off. He was one of few who knew my truths.

  “I’ll see you Tuesday night. If you need me before that, give me a call,” I offered as we locked up. Mel nodded and gave me a hug.

  “Thank you. I wish I could hire you full-time,” he said into my ear before he leaned back to gaze at me with kind eyes.

  “I know, and I appreciate it.” The corner of my mouth quirked. We all got into our vehicles and went our separate ways. Mel had been one of the only ones who would hire me when I came to town. He’d also been damn near like a father to me in the year I’d worked for him.

  The snow was really coming down hard, and my wipers were working overtime. “For crying out loud! It’s only October!”

  It was times like this that I questioned my sanity in moving to northern Iowa. At the time, a small town miles away from home had seemed like the perfect solution to my problem. Except coming from central Texas, I wasn’t used to driving in snow… yet there I was delivering fucking pizzas in the shit.

  Making the decision to stop for gas on the way home, I pulled into the place around the corner. After filling up, I went inside to grab a scratch-off ticket. It was a tiny guilty pleasure that I’d treated myself to once a week for the last five years.

  Rushing back to my car, I looked up through the snow to find a police car parked at an angle blocking me in.

  Fuck.

  The officer got out of his car as I approached my door.

  “Good evening, Ms. Barnes,” Officer Edwards said as he walked up to me.

  “Is there something wrong?” I asked, knowing damn well there wasn’t anything I’d done to fall under question. I lived my life strictly by the book. I didn’t speed, I didn’t jaywalk, I didn’t so much as walk on public grass. I’d never risk going back.

  “Just making sure there wasn’t a problem while you were in the store,” he said with a smile that didn’t meet his eyes as they swept over me from head to toe, then back again. He stepped closer, and I really wanted to move back, but I held my ground. It brought him too close into my personal bubble, and ripples of anxiety snaked through my veins.

  “None at all,” I replied with a tight smile.

  He tugged on my scarf as if he was teasing. Hell, maybe the fucker thought he was, but I didn’t like it. Gently but firmly, I pulled it from his gloved hand as I held his gaze.

  “You know some of the force here doesn’t trust you. They don’t think you have any business in our little town.” He gave me the creeps, the way he bit his top lip and looked down at me. While the other cops in town glared at me or curled their lips in contempt, Officer Edwards made me nervous.

  “Well, I can assure you I have no idea why they would feel that way. I’m a law-abiding citizen, Officer Edwards.” Giving him a saccharine sweet smile, I stepped back.

  He moved forward again and dipped his head to speak softly. “If you wanted, I might be able to convince them that you weren’t any kind of threat, Ms. Barnes. I mean, if you wanted to work something out.”

  Not a chance in fucking hell.

  “I think I’ll be just fine, Officer Edwards. You have a nice night. And be careful on those roads. They’re getting nasty.” With an exaggerated wave, I stepped around him and got into my car. Since he still blocked the front of my car, I backed away from the pump. As I pulled out onto the road, I was so damn tempted to flip him off.

  But I refrained—because law-abiding citizen and all.

  “Ughhhhhh!” I roared in frustration as I drove away. The flakes were coming down wet and heavy by then, and I had my wipers on high to keep my windshield clean. “It’s not even really winter yet! Fucking ridiculous,” I muttered. At least back in Texas, it wasn’t winter.

  You’re not in Texas anymore, Toto.

  I’d made it halfway across town when I lost traction and started to slide.

  “Shit, shit, shit!” I exclaimed as my heart pounded and I hit the brakes. Too late, I remembered that was the wrong thing to do. The car careened sideways and corrected, but then I slid again and went right off the road. The seat belt locked, and I jerked forward before the airbag slammed me back when I hit the light pole. My car died, and I sat there stunned for a few seconds.

  “Ahh!” I shouted as I shoved and slapped at the airbag to get it out of my face as it deflated. Slowly, my panic ebbed. It was quickly replaced with frustration.

  “Oh, come on!” I groaned at the hissing sound that suddenly registered with me. After several attempts to get my car to start, I gave up and laid my head on the steering wheel. “Fuck. My. Life.”

  Braving the heavy wet snow, I popped the hood and got out. There were two problems with that, though. One, I couldn’t get the hood to open because it was jammed after hitting the light pole. Two, even if I’d been able to get it open, I wouldn’t have had a freaking clue as to what to check.

  Looking around, I realized that par for the shitty course of my life, the only reason I’d gone off the road was because I’d happened to hit the driveway into the cemetery and then went along the sidewalk. If I’d lost control anywhere else along the road, I would’ve hit the curb and likely been okay.

  My head hung as I dropped my hands to my knees and fought the urge to vomit or cry. I seriously couldn’t afford for something like this to happen. Not only couldn’t I afford a tow, I couldn’t afford the repairs, or worse, a new vehicle, which was more likely. Yet I also couldn’t afford to be without a vehicle. I delivered pizzas, for Christ sake. I couldn’t do that on foot.

  “Why, God? Why do you keep raining utter shit down on me? Was my stupidity at eighteen not enough? I’ve paid for my mistakes, haven’t I?” Crying won out, and a sob escaped me. Once I half-assed compos
ed myself, I took a deep breath.

  “Okay, Loralei. Get your shit together. What are you going to do? Shit, I’m talking to myself. Great.” I rolled my eyes in self-condemnation and hurried back into my car, out of the wind.

  Tow truck? Out of the question. I’d have to hope it didn’t end up in impound before I could get someone to help me tow it back to my place. Great plan if I knew someone with a damn truck.

  Shit.

  Shit.

  Shit.

  Calling the cops was out of the question. No way. Not that I’d had any real issues since my move, but I didn’t trust cops. They all only saw one thing. Not knowing what else to do, I pulled out my cheap-ass phone.

  I must’ve looked at the clock fifteen times. Each time, I questioned if it was too late to call her. I could start walking, but it was cold, and I hadn’t exactly dressed for it since I’d planned on minimal outside exposure.

  “Ugh!” I grumbled. One last glance at my phone, and I hit send on Ms. Margaret’s number. It rang several times before she picked up.

  “Loralei, what’s wrong?” she immediately questioned. She knew I never called that late.

  “Ms. Margaret, I really hate to ask this, but is there any way you possibly come pick me up? My car slid off the road and then I hit a pole.” Tears cascaded down my face as silence was my answer. Dammit, I knew I should’ve called Webster or Mel. Except Webster kept trying to get me to go out with him, and Mel lived in the opposite direction and would then have to drive home again in this crap.

  “Are you okay?” The worry in her tone made me feel like shit.

  “I’m fine. A little shaken up, but I’m okay. If you think you’ll be okay to drive here, I can drive us back to your house,” I offered hopefully.

  Finally, she replied, “Well… I’ve already gotten ready for bed, but Decker’s here. He’ll help with your car. Where are you exactly?”

  I told her, then there was the sound of the phone being covered and muffled voices. When she came back on, she told me, “He’s on his way.”

  The thought of Decker Pruitt coming to be my white knight was laughable. The man screamed bad news, but parts of me really didn’t care. “Thank you so much, Ms. Margaret,” I said with a relieved sigh. “I’m so sorry to disturb you, and I hate for him to go out in this insane weather. I just didn’t know what else to do.”

  “He’s got that big fancy four-by-four. He might as well put it to good use.” She chuckled, and I smiled a bit at her humor.

  “Okay, well, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. You get some sleep.” We ended the call as I sat back to wait.

  It wasn’t long before headlights broke through the falling flakes and stopped beside me. A large form hopped out of the truck and moved in my direction.

  He didn’t wait for me to open my door; he whipped it open and leaned down.

  “Why didn’t you call a tow truck?” he gruffly demanded without even a muttered greeting.

  “Well fuck you very much too.”

  He tried to suppress a smile at my reply, and that was the only thing that kept me from saying fuck it and walking. Cold be damned.

  “That an offer of payment for a ride?” The snarky question was accompanied by a barely there sexy as hell smirk, and my bad side nearly screamed. Yes! Yes, pleeeeease!

  Instead I snorted. “Yeah, right. And in answer to your question, I don’t have the money for a tow right now.” My face reddened at the admission.

  “So you call a seventy-one-year-old woman?” he asked, incredulous. “Or were you hoping I’d come for you?”

  Whether the innuendo was intentional or not, it had me squeezing my legs together.

  “I don’t normally ask for anything from her, but I was in a bind. I honestly forgot you were here. Look, never mind, I can walk.” I grabbed my purse from the passenger seat floor where it had slid when I hit the pole.

  When I turned back, he was still resting one arm on the top of my door and the other on top of my car. “Move, please. I need to get out.”

  “You’re not going to walk.”

  Pushing up and trying to move him out of my way, I lost it and burst into frustrated tears. Which served to make me madder, because I hated that I was crying in front of him. “Get out of my way! I don’t need you and your stupid truck. I don’t need rescuing!”

  His cool hand rested on my cheek. “Hey, chill. It’s okay.”

  “It is not o-fucking-kay! My life is going to absolute shit! Again! I cannot deal with this. Every fucking time I think I’m getting my life straight, I swear to fucking Christ Karma comes along and butt-fucks me without lube. I’ve paid my goddamn debt!”

  He placed his other hand along my other cheek, and though his hands were chilled from the cold, where our skin touched was like flames licking the surface. I continued to cry, and I hated it. Crying made you weak. Crying made you a target.

  I never cried. “Goddamn it!” I shouted in utter frustration.

  His storm-colored eyes narrowed as he slid his hands down my neck and used his thumbs to lift my chin. The light from the streetlamp illuminated the way he seemed to study me like a bug under a microscope.

  “Quit looking at me! Can’t a girl have a breakdown in peace?” I shouted.

  “No,” he replied, looking absolutely baffled.

  “No?” I repeated with wide, disbelieving eyes. Who the hell was this guy to tell me I couldn’t lose my shit when I felt like it?

  “You don’t feel calmer?” he bizarrely questioned as his brows drew down beneath the front of his beanie.

  “Do I look calmer?” I damn near shrieked. Honest to fucking God, I was ready to hit the man with my purse.

  “No, and that’s what worries me,” he muttered with disgruntled disbelief.

  “RISE”—I Prevail

  Not once since I’d discovered my gift had I not been able to influence someone’s emotions. Being one of a long line of psychic empaths was sometimes more of a curse than a gift. Not only did I have the uncanny ability to sense the emotions of others, I could manipulate their feelings.

  It was part of the reason I’d never tried to have a relationship. Besides being emotionally bankrupt after the shit I’d done and been through in the army, I couldn’t handle the thought that someone was only happy with me because I inadvertently made them that way.

  “Are you on crack?” the feisty little brunette barked at me, and I couldn’t help but laugh despite my confusion. She was hot as fuck when she was angry.

  “Seriously? Jesus. Are you?” I tossed back at her.

  Like a little kitten hissing and jumping around, she snarled and waved her hands in my face.

  “Out of my way!” she spat childishly. I wanted to take her over my knee and redden her ass. Then I wanted to do things I shouldn’t. Except the temptation was worse than anything I’d ever experienced.

  “No. I don’t think so,” I growled.

  Knowing I was making a huge mistake, yet completely unable to stop myself, I pulled her closer and pressed my lips to hers. When she gasped in shock, I stole the advantage, and my tongue slipped in to duel with hers.

  For a brief moment, she didn’t respond, but a second later, I was pretty sure she pushed herself up on her toes and brazenly reciprocated. My hands slid back to grip her hair in a tight fist.

  She tasted like sin, cinnamon, and trouble. Trouble that was too fucking young for me. But goddamn, it was amazing.

  The snow was letting up, but it was still cold. Reluctantly, I broke the kiss, took a deep breath. I’d intended to tow her car back tonight, but decided I’d call her a tow in the morning. I wanted her in the cab of my truck, not in her cold car as I pulled it down the road.

  “I’m going to pull your car back from the pole.” Not that I figured any of the cops in this small town were going to go out of their way to check these back streets, but one never knew. I’d hate for her car to be impounded or for her to be accused of leaving the scene of an accident.

  It took no time at all to
hook my chains to her car and pull it off the pole and into the road. Once I had it parked on the side of the road, I got out of the truck, removed the chains, and tossed them in the bed of my truck.

  “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

  She slowly blinked twice before she swallowed hard. “I can’t leave my car here,” she said in a husky tone.

  “It’ll be fine until morning. We’ll get it then.”

  For a heartbeat, she looked like she was going to argue. Then her shoulders slumped slightly, and she locked the door before she closed it. I wanted to laugh and tell her no one was going to steal it, but the look of defeat on her face had me holding my tongue.

  I guided her to the passenger side of my truck and literally bit my lip when her ass moved past my face as I helped her climb in. She was fucking tiny—barely taller than my grandmother.

  Images of me picking her up and pushing her up against the wall as I drove deep inside her had me shaking my head to clear it.

  “Grams said you live across the street from her?”

  She nodded, and her messy dark hair half covered her face.

  Too young, I reiterated to myself. Once she was safely inside, I closed the door and rounded the hood. After I was in the driver seat, I carefully pulled out and turned around in the cemetery driveway that she’d obviously hit in her slide.

  She was silent on the way back and pointed to the appropriate house when we got there. Sure enough, it was straight across the road from the end of my grandmother’s little strip of apartments. They weren’t kidding.

  I pulled into her driveway and put the truck in park.

  Big blue eyes glanced in my direction. Her pink tongue skimmed her bottom lip as she appeared to ponder her words.

  Don’t ask me in.

  “Do you want to come in for some hot chocolate?”

  Fuck. She had no idea what she was opening her door to by inviting me in. That kiss had only sparked the flickering flames I could sense between us, waiting to combust into a blazing inferno.

  Darkly, I chuckled. “Do I look like a hot chocolate kind of guy?”

  Her gaze flickered down, then boldly held mine. “No, but I don’t keep alcohol in the house.”