I know where we can get a cargo trailer, Bailey was saying. Mayor Marsha had me make sure it was available but I didnt know why until now.
He was having trouble taking it all in, and sitting this close to Bailey didnt help. Once again he could inhale the scent of something a little floral, a little girlie, and it didnt make thinking any easier.
A cargo trailer will take a lot of toys, he said.
The town will come through, Bailey said confidently. Okay, so I see where we pick up the empty bins. Well need to arrange to decorate them. If the drive starts the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we should decorate the Saturday before. Does that work for you?
She looked up at him and he found himself getting lost in her big green eyes.
I never said yes, he told her, knowing he sounded like an idiot.
Her mouth twitched. Dont let that worry you. Mayor Marsha does that to people. Unless you want to go tell her no.
Not really.
I didnt think so. She lightly put her hand on his forearm. Itll be fun.
Her fingers were long and slender and he could feel the heat through his shirt. There were a lot of words for spending the next month or so working with Bailey on the toy drive, but he wasnt sure fun was going to be one of them. Torture was more likely.
I, ah, have a big SUV, he said after clearing his throat. I can use it to empty the bins.
Great. She pulled her arm back. Well get a schedule together. Discuss it with the girls at the FWM meeting. They can sign up their parents to help with that, too.
Theres a meeting? he asked.
She nodded. Were both going to have to be there. I know most of the girls because of Chloe, but theyll have to meet you and well discuss supplies for decorating. Her glossy lips curved into another smile. I cant wait.
Me, either, he lied, thinking it would have been so much easier to take on the flying monkeys.
* * *
KENNY WALKED INTO Taryns office and stalked over to her desk. You have a lot to answer for, he announced, doing his best to look intimidating.
Unfortunately for him, Taryn had spent the past few years dealing with three former NFL players and not much got to her. Instead of looking nervous or even guilty, she simply raised her eyebrows and waited.
You and Angel are bailing, he told her, his tone accusing. On your Sprouts. Theres a toy drive and I got hauled in to the whole thing.
What are you talking about? How did you know about our trip? We just decided a couple of days ago to spend a month in Fiji. We havent told anyone yet.
Someone told Mayor Marsha. I just got back from a meeting with her. Im going to be working with Bailey Voss on the toy drive. Its not like I could say no.
Taryns mouth twitched, but it wasnt nearly as sexy as it had been on Bailey. Because he knew Taryn was laughing at him rather than with him.
Its not funny, he grumbled.
It kind of is. She rose and walked around her desk toward him.
As usual she wore some fancy designer-suit thing and was barefoot. Because she wore stupid shoes that were too high to walk in all day. She put her hands on his chest and stared into his eyes.
Thank you for helping my Sprouts with the toy drive.
You owe me.
I do. I dont know how Mayor Marsha found out, but she did and youre a really good guy for stepping in.
He made a growling sound in his throat. No way she could mollify him with a few compliments. He was tougher than that.
She smiled. Seriously. It means a lot to me. Those are my girls and I want them to have a good holiday.
He shook off her touch and glowered. I said Id do it, okay? You dont have to convince me.
No, but I would like it if youd at least pretend it might be fun. Unless... The humor fled her violet eyes and worry replaced it. Oh, Kenny, I didnt think. Is this going to be too hard for you? I can ask Jack or Sam.
Kenny was sure their other two partners would agree. And while that would free up his time, he wasnt one to walk away from something hed already said he would do.
Im fine, he told her. Bailey has the details figured out. Its the holidays, right? I can help kids who need toys.
Taryn wasnt fooled. She continued to study him. I worry about you. You need somebody in your life. She held up a hand to stop him from talking. Not just friends, but someone special. Someone to fall in love with.
Im fine. The truth, he thought. He was completely fine. As for falling in lovewell, he wanted that, too. But so far it hadnt happened. He liked women but he hadnt found the one. When he did...he would be all in. As long as she didnt have kids. That was his only caveat. No single moms. No exceptions.
I want you to be more than fine, Taryn told him. I want you to be happy.
I will be.
One day, he thought longingly. Because there was someone for everyone. Even a guy like him.
CHAPTER TWO
THE FWM MEETINGS were a lot louder than Kenny would have guessed. He knew that there were only eight seven-year-old girls in the room, but it seemed like there were more. Of course all the girls had brought at least one parent. Adding the Grove Keepers along with him, that was a fair number of people in a smallish space.