Page 51 of Christmas Wish
“When is the party?” Savannah asked.
“Tomorrow night. You can bring Timmy over around three thirty or four. Is he allergic to peanuts or anything?”
“No.”
“Do you like macaroni and cheese, Timmy?” Cara asked.
“That’s my favorite. My mom makes it the best.”
“I know I won’t beat your mom’s mac ’n cheese, but I make a pretty good one too. Do you think you’ll want to try it?”
“Uh-huh.” Timmy bobbed up and down.
“Mommy, can we have meatballs too?” Braxton asked.
Ryder laughed. “You can tell he’s apaisano. Italian-American kids gotta have their meatballs. Speaking of that, Savannah makes the best lasagna. Ever,” he said to Cara.
“I waitressed at a mom and pop Italian restaurant a million years ago,” Savannah replied to Cara’s curious look.
“You about ready to get going?” Hawk asked as he swept Isa up in his arms.
“It’s time we head out too,” Ryder said, grasping Savannah’s hand. The two bikers bumped fists before parting ways.
On the ride back to the cabin, a mix of ’80s metal music played at a low volume as the vehicle heated up. Savannah rested her head back against the seat and stared at the darkness in front of them. The face of the stranger flashed through her mind, and suspicion trickled down her spine.Something doesn’t seem right.Worry niggled in the back of her mind as she recalled her mother’s declaration from their conversation earlier that day at how she was “pretty confident” Savannah and Timmy would be home for Christmas. After her mom had said that, she’d thought it was just her mom’s way of subtly guilting her into returning to Boston, but after seeing that man, Savannah wasn’t too sure about her mother’s statement.Did she tell Bret where we are? She wouldn’t … or would she?
Ryder’s hand covered hers and drew her away from her thoughts. She looked at him and smiled then peeked into the back seat where Timmy’s head lolled to the side as he slept.
“He’s pooped out,” she said.
“It was a big day,” Ryder answered.
“Was it horrible for you? I mean, for someone who isn’t into Christmas, you had the holiday cheer rammed down your throat today. I bet after the season, you probably don’t ever want to see another decorated tree.”
Ryder brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “It was a bit much, but I didn’t mind it. I liked seeing how happy you and Timmy were, but I draw the line at incessant Christmas music.”
She laughed softly. “I promise not to blast it throughout your house.”
“Then we won’t have a problem.”
“Your family’s not into Christmas either?”
“They are. My mom’s all about the food and the traditions, and she’s been baking up a storm with my sisters, aunts, and cousins since Thanksgiving. Last time I was over there, they had pizzelle all over the damn place.”
“I love those cookies. I haven’t had them since I worked at Luna’s. I bet they’re so good.”
“I’ll have to bring some to you.”
“So, your family doesn’t go in for the tree lighting?”
“Some years they do, others years they don’t. I was surprised my brother wasn’t there. His daughters like that kind of thing.” He glanced at her briefly and shrugged. “Maybe they had something else to do.”
“I didn’t know you were an uncle,” Savannah said.
Nodding, he stared straight ahead. “I got three nieces and a nine-month-old nephew. My brother’s got two girls, and my sister has a girl and the new baby.”
“Do you see them very often?”
“Depends—I go in cycles. Most of the time I want to be left the hell alone, so they back off. It works.” Ryder veered the jeep onto the narrow road that led to his cabin. “What about you?”
