Page 49 of Christmas Wish
It was aWinter Wonderland of sparkling lights, glowing sculptures, animated displays, and an array of brilliant colors. Booths surrounded the perimeter of Main Square, selling homemade baked goods and cups of hot cider and cocoa.
Savannah stood next to Ryder, her arm looped around his, and watched as Timmy sat on Santa’s lap telling him what he wanted for Christmas. Several good-looking men wearing leather jackets with the Insurgents’ name and logo on the back came over to Ryder and bumped fists with him. She recognized just a few of the men: Hawk, Banger, Throttle, Rags, and Animal. The majority of the others were strangers to Savanah, but they lifted their chins to her when Ryder made the introductions.
“Santa gave me this,” Timmy said, holding up a multi-colored sucker.
“Let’s leave it for tomorrow,” Savannah said, placing it in her purse. Timmy was already bouncing from all the sugar he’d ingested since they arrived at the festival a couple of hours before.
“When are they gonna light the tree?” Timmy asked.
“Real soon, so we should head over to it,” Ryder answered.
As they stood listening to the mayor give his holiday speech, Savannah leaned against Ryder’s arm, and he looked sideways at her and smiled. He’d placed Timmy on top of his shoulders so the boy could see the festivities over the heads of the adults crammed in front of them.
Suddenly, an uneasy feeling quivered in Savannah’s stomach and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.Someone’s watching me.The feeling overwhelmed her, and she knew whoever it was stood just behind her. Gripping Ryder’s upper arm, she slowly looked over her shoulder and met the steely eyes of a man whose face looked as if it’d been rearranged a few times. A thick scar ran from his left temple to the middle of the cheek, pockmarks peppered his skin, a big bump lay atop his crooked nose, and his thin lips reminded her of those on her brother’s lizard from when they were kids.
Savannah shuddered.Do I know him?She wracked her brain, but nothing came up.I’m sure I’d remember seeing someone that creepy.Angling her head slightly, she noticed that the man was still behind her, watching.
“Don’t make it obvious, but have you seen that guy behind me before? I’m just wondering if he lives here,” she said to Ryder.
“Is someone bothering you?” A hard edge marked his voice.
“No … that’s not it. I’m just wondering if you’ve seen him around town.”
Ryder glanced backward then shook his head. “Don’t know him, but I don’t go into town very often.” His gaze landed on a tall, built man in a leather jacket. Ryder raised his hand and gestured him over.
The tall man looked at Savannah then at Ryder, lifting his chin at him. “What’s up, dude?”
“Have you seen this guy behind me? The one whose nose looks like it’s been broken a few times.”
The brown-haired biker turned around and stared at the man. “What the fuck are you looking at?” he asked him.
“The tree,” the man said.
“Bullshit,” Ryder added, turning around slightly.
Savannah’s chest tightened.What are they doing? I just asked about him, I don’t want to be the cause of any trouble.
The young biker took a couple of steps toward the stranger. “Where the fuck are you from?”
“Here.”
“Wrong answer. I saw you come out of the Pinewood Springs Hotel last night.”
Soon, two other muscular Insurgents wandered over, joining in on the banter with the tall man.
“Ryder, I don’t want any trouble. I just asked you a simple question,” Savannah said in a soft voice.
“Man checks out a woman when she’s with another man has to expect some trouble,” he answered.
“Jerry, what’s going on?” a pretty blonde asked as she came toward the small group.
“Kylie, go back over to your dad. I’ll be there in a minute.”
The blonde tossed her hair and shook her head. “I don’t want you to start something. We came to have a good time. Let’s go back together.”
The stranger crossed his arms. “Listen to the girl—she’s talking sense.”
“What the fuck did you say to me, old man?” Jerry clenched his fists.
