“I might not have known DJ, but I know you. He was just an excuse to leave the Predators. Just like leaving Arizona to go to Florida instead of staying and helping your men rebuild your club.”
“Unlike The Last Riders, I don’t have deep pockets. I need the money from the job in Florida.”
“Arizona has jobs that you could have found. The Predators would have found you the same type of job, but you didn’t let them. You left to get as far as you could. Then you’ll go back and find another excuse to leave. That’s what you do, especially at Christmas. The Road Kingz, Predators, and The Last Riders all consider you family, yet you consider none of us the same way. Do you?”
He clenched his jaw. “I don’t have a family.”
“Brother, you do. Whether you want one or not, you do.” Striding around the bar, Moon gave him a disgusted look. “You can find the last fucking two yourself.”
Hennessy turned to watch Moon leave and saw Arin indecisively standing on the stairs. Moon going out the front door must have made up her mind for her as she continued down the stairs.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear.”
“You make a habit of showing up at the wrong time.”
The hurt look she gave him was the tipping point for a shitty day that had gone from bad to worse.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I’m embarrassed that Moon was ripping me a new a-hole.
Arin climbed onto a stool next to where he was standing. “Did you deserve it?”
He wanted to deny it but couldn’t. If it was one of the brothers, he would have, but he couldn’t lie to her. “Yes.”
“It sounded to me like he was more hurt than angry.”
“I’m good at making everyone feel that way about me. You should know that firsthand.”
She looked at him guardedly. “Why do you say that?”
“The first night we met.”
“Oh … I thought you meant something else.”
She lightly touched the two gifts on the bar. “Are these your naughty Santa gifts?”
“Yes.”
“Why haven’t you opened them?”
“I didn’t know they were hidden. That was what Moon was giving me hell about.”
“From what I overhead, that wasn’t all he was giving you hell for.” With a fingertip, she moved one of the presents closer to his hand. “Go ahead and open it.”
Opening the small box as Arin watched, he took out a pair of briefs with a candy cane on the front. He had to laugh, along with her.
“All the guys have been wearing theirs, showing off their presents. You’ll have to wear those tonight,” she teased.
“That won’t be happening.” Reaching for the other box, he opened it to take out … he didn’t know what the fuck it was.
Both of them stared at the crocheted something.
“Is it a beer cozy?” he asked her, perplexed.
Arin giggled, putting her hand over her mouth. “It’s too long for that.” Removing her hand, she had to wipe her tears of laughter away. “I think it’s a cock warmer.”
“Oh … I see it now. How’d you know what the fuck it was?”
“A good guess. It’s one of the more inventive gifts I’ve seen. What are the other two gifts you’ve gotten?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t found them yet.” Putting the two presents back in the boxes, he cleaned up the Christmas wrapping paper and threw them in the trash behind the bar.
“She must be good at hiding things if you haven’t found them.”
“I didn’t know we were supposed to find them. I thought they would just be put in my room.”
“Well, no harm’s been done. Now you know. You want me to help you find them?”
“Please. I have no idea where to look. Where did you hide yours?”
“Nuh-uh. That would be telling on myself. A Santa never gives away her secrets.”
Going around the room, they couldn’t find any more presents for him.
“Let’s look in the kitchen,” Arin suggested.
Thirty minutes later, they admitted defeat and moved on, finding the third one under one of the cushions in the TV room. He had sat on it last night when he had watched a movie.
Opening the box, Hennessy stared down at a snowman that had a carrot where his dick was instead of on his nose.
Arin thoughtfully took it out of the box and pushed the carrot down. “It’s a lighter.”
“Now that’s a gift I can use.” Closing the box, he put the lighter in his pocket.
“You won’t use the underwear or the warmer?”
Hennessy was captivated by her good-natured ribbing.
“I’ll tell you one of my secrets. I don’t wear underwear. And I think the cock warmer might be itchy.”
“Would you have worn it if you had it on your ride in from Arizona?”
Hennessy’s face broke out in a grin. “Yes, and I would have splurged and bought Core one. Of course, coming from me, he would have shoved it down my throat.”