“What are you doing next weekend?”

The wrinkles on Mr. Myers’s face deepened. “Hopefully the widow Mrs. Huggins.”

“I believe Mrs. Huggins is dating Ralph, the pianist from the Methodist church.” As Dominic spoke, he realized he knew way too much about the town’s gossip.

Puffing out his chest, Mr. Myers shook his head and spoke. “If I know I can beat up the boyfriend, she’s single in my eyes.”

Dominic pinched the bridge of his nose to keep from laughing. And he needed to laugh. It had been two days since he and Waverly crossed the line. Their conversation yesterday was probably the most awkward they’d ever had. But he needed the distance. The last thing he wanted was to come between Waverly and her crown. In his absence Waverly accomplished a lot. She was focused and winning in the silly social media polls. He couldn’t help but wonder if him not being around had a lot to do with it. Since he would never be able to abide by the moral codes when it came to Waverly and her body, the best thing to do was leave her alone.

Mr. Myers cleared his throat. “What do you say we head over to your place and check them out now?”

Dominic scratched the back of his neck. How did he tell this man he was at work? But then again, he was the boss. “Billy?”

Billy, Miss Annie’s grandson, poked his head out from under the hood of a car getting an oil change. “Yeah, boss?”

“Mr. Myers and I are going to run out to my ranch,” Dominic announced. He shrugged out of his overalls. No grease or grime smeared his khaki pants or the light blue polo shirt with Crowne scripted on the pocket. Alisha insisted the garage workers needed to wear matching shirts.

“Fine by me, boss.”

Dominic tossed the keys to Mr. Myers. “Feels good to have these back in my hands again.”

They both got in the car at the same time. Mr. Myers went on about his baby purring. This was the part of Dominic’s job that he loved the most. It wasn’t about collecting old cars, finding them or even selling them. It was about bringing a car together with its owner. He thought about the confidence he restored in Waverly. Had he known helping her become Miss Southwood would result in them not being together, he might not have taken the job.

The afternoon sun warmed Dominic’s face. The fickle Southern weather couldn’t decide what season it wanted to be. Today crispness lingered in the air. With the temperature finally beginning to change, it made the holiday season a reality. At the sound of the tires squealing at a sharp left turn, Dominic gripped the side of the door.

“Everything okay?” he asked Mr. Myers.

“Oh, yeah, sure, sure.” He chuckled. “I just remembered the news mentioned the Elder Elf list went up today. Mind if we stop by? It’s right down Sunshine Street.”

Considering Mr. Myers halted the freshly restored vehicle a half inch in front of someone’s gold Cadillac and turned off the ignition, Dominic shook his head no. “What is Elder Elf?”

“This here’s the Senior Citizen Center.” Mr. Myers gave off a lecherous laugh. “Where I like to shop.”

A cement ramp built beside a set of stairs led up to a redbrick three-story building. Two empty walkers stood at the top of the ramp. Dominic looked around for the owners and prayed n

o one had fallen. He didn’t see anyone. Red and gold garlands festooned the arched doorway and a giant decorated wreath hung from a hook. A red picket fence outlined a green manicured lawn. Mr. Myers was out of his side of the car within seconds and halfway up the stairs before Dominic got out.

“So the Elder Elf Helper happens every year,” Mr. Myers began, waiting for Dominic to catch up. “Every Christmas, a list goes out here requesting help with some of the older folks.”

The word older played in Dominic’s mind. Mr. Myers was pushing seventy. What was old to him? “So you like to help?” Dominic asked his question when they reached the top step.

“Every Christmas I get first dibs at the list of the eligible women who need help with things. Sometimes it’s someone to take them to dinner. Sometimes it’s taking them around to go shopping. Now, with my baby back, I’m in business for some smooching time and none of the ladies can get mad at me for two-timing.”

“You old coot.” Dominic chuckled.

They each reached for one of the handles of the double doors. Dominic wasn’t sure what he expected, but it wasn’t the roaring party going on in the room immediately to the left. A crowd of scrubs-wearing helpers stood peering inside. Mr. Myers pulled Dominic around the crowd and got them an empty spot to stand by the front window. Red and green construction paper cut out in interconnected rings decorated a large evergreen propped in the corner by an empty fireplace. On the other side of the chimney stood a folding table covered in a snowman tablecloth and filled with cookies stacked in a pyramid. A jug of apple juice stood by a tower of nine-ounce paper cups. At twelve in the afternoon, the party was in full swing.

An older gentleman wearing a page boy cap sat at a piano tickling the keys to a catchy Christmas tune. A crowd of people gathered around the baby grand, singing along to “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” When the five golden rings part came, the voice of an angel belted out. Dominic’s heart thumped.

“Waverly,” he breathed. Her sweet voice evoked devilish thoughts. And he needed to stay away from her, why?

Dominic hung back and waited for the song to end. The crowd parted. Perched on the table was the vision of beauty. Waverly wore a red sequined dress with a slit up to her thigh. Her hair was blown straight and covered her left eye in an old-fashioned forties style. The old men in the room gawked at her. The women all clapped and cheered for Waverly.

“Well, ladies and gentlemen,” Waverly said, “what do you say we take a break?” She was met with a round of boos, but Mr. Myers stepped forward and inquired about the list for Elder Elves. Gray-haired ladies surrounded him, giving Waverly a chance to escape.

“Dominic, hi,” Waverly said breathlessly. The ten-inch crown she wore today was highlighted with faux diamonds and gold. “What brings you here?”

Dominic pointed in the direction of the ladies’ man. “Mr. Myers wanted to come out to my ranch and got sidetracked when he realized this infamous list came out today.”

Tags: Carolyn Hector Billionaire Romance
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