Free Christmas Steele by Vanessa Gray Bartal Page B

bright tone was a sharp contrast to the heavy
tension in the room, but of course she didn’t notice. “Are you my
mother’s pastor?” Then, stepping forward, she noticed his uniform.
“Lacy, what’s going on?”
    Lacy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Did
her mother actually think Lacy was in trouble with the law? Yet her
fearful tone hinted at such. “Mom, do you remember Jason
Cantor?”
    Frannie blinked in confusion, either because
she didn’t remember Jason or she did and had no idea what he was
doing with Lacy. They hadn’t exactly been in the same social strata
in high school. “Why, yes, I believe so. You were the quarterback
when Lacy was in school, weren’t you?”
    “I was,” Jason said, standing and extending
his hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Mrs. Steele.”
    “You, too,” Lacy’s mother said, though she
still sounded confused. Lacy could almost hear her mental gears
turning, and she dreaded the coming conversation.
    “I should probably go,” Jason said.
    “I’ll walk you out,” Lacy said, delaying the
inevitable questions from her mother. She trotted behind Jason, so
close behind that she smacked into him when he stopped to open the
door.
    “Wow, you really don’t want to have to
explain to your mother what I was doing here,” Jason said.
    “Less than anything in the world,” Lacy said,
closing the door and leaning against it for support. Then,
plastering on a bright smile, she looked up at Jason. “Thanks for
helping me decorate the tree, Jason. I had a lot of fun.” Oh,
and what was it you were saying before we were so rudely
interrupted? Something about lifelong love? And, while we’re at it,
who is the mysterious blond? And did you buy me a necklace for
Christmas?
    “It was fun,” he said, his tone wary. “What’s
up with you?”
    Lacy had to get an answer to at least one of
her questions. She chose the one that was least humiliating to put
forth. “This is a weird question, but have you already bought my
Christmas present?”
    “Yes,” he drawled. “Why?”
    She shrugged, not knowing how to continue
once she had started. “Oh, you know, just wondering and stuff.” Awesome answer, Lacy.
    Jason’s smile was wry. “You’re acting weird,
even for you.” He leaned down to bestow a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll
see you.”
    “See you,” she called lamely, staring at him
as he jogged to his truck. It wasn’t that she wanted to kiss him
every time she saw him. No, scratch that, she did want to kiss him
every time she saw him. But common sense told her it wasn’t healthy
for their friendship to dwell on their attraction to each other.
Still, the sisterly kisses on the cheek the last couple of times
they parted had left her feeling suspicious. Was his sudden lack of
interest in her due to his interest in the mystery blond?
    “Get a grip, Lacy,” she told herself just as
her phone rang. By the tone, she knew it was Tosh. “Hello?”
    “You left me a cryptic message about a
falling ladder,” he said. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine. I was stuck in the attic, but I’m
out now. Crisis averted.”
    “How did you get out?” Was it her
imagination, or was his tone suspicious?
    “Jason. He was the only one I could
reach.”
    Tosh sighed. “I knew no good could come of my
counseling session today. Sorry I wasn’t there for you, and sorry
I’m seemingly never there for you. I miss you. After Christmas, can
we catch up? What are you doing for New Year’s Eve?”
    “Not a thing,” Lacy said, staring wistfully
in the direction Jason had gone.
    “Is it too early to claim you?”
    “Claim away,” Lacy said. “What are we going
to do?”
    “It’s a surprise,” Tosh replied.
    “You haven’t thought of anything yet, huh?”
she asked.
    “No, but I will,” he promised. “And it will
be epic. Prepare to be impressed.”
    “I’ll begin preparing immediately,” she
promised. “Have fun tonight whatever you’re doing.”
    “I will,” he said, then,