My chest swelled. Unless I was reading the signs wrong, he seemed to be just as into me as I was into him. At least for tonight.
“Onward, Santa’s little elf.” I nudged my chin toward the windshield. “I can’t wait to see where you’re taking me next.”
Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the parking lot of a rundown building. The half lit sign out front read “Gus’s First Class”, but a few letters didn’t light up, so it looked more like “Gus’s Fir Ass.”
“Don’t judge a fine drinking establishment by the exterior.” Zander came around to open my door for me.
“Are you sure this place is open?” My quick scan of the gravel parking lot told me there were a handful of bikers inside and someone who drove a red minivan with reindeer antlers stuck to the top.
“Do you trust me?” He held out his hand. That was a loaded question. There had been so few people in my life who were deserving of my trust and even fewer still who had earned it.
But my gut urged me to put my hand in his. Listening to my intuition hadn’t steered me wrong yet, so I slipped my hand into his and we headed through the doorway, right into the bowels of Gus’s Fir Ass.
8
ZANDER
Ihadn’t been to Gus’s in years and had never brought a woman inside. The place hadn’t changed a bit. That was one thing about Gus’s I could depend on. No matter how long it had been since I’d last visited, I could count on it being the same the next time I stopped in.
The dark walls held decades of graffiti, and pictures of Gus with every half-famous person who’d ever stepped inside littered the walls. It was slow for a weeknight. A few guys in leather sat at the long bar sipping on long necks and a few couples hung around the back room where the pool table was.
“Zander!” Gus waved from behind the bar. “I was wondering if I’d see you this year.”
I tugged Holly his way, dropping her hand just long enough to grip Gus’s for a moment. “You know I always stop by when I’m in town.”
“Yeah, but you’re usually alone.” Gus shifted his gaze to Holly and gave her the once over through his thick bifocals. “Who’s this?”
“Gus, meet Holly. She’s in town for Dirk’s wedding.” I put my arm behind her back and pulled her against my side, intentionally staking out my turf. I didn’t want any of the guys there to get the mistaken impression they stood a chance with the brown-eyed curvy goddess by my side.
“It’s nice to meet you.” She shook Gus’s hand while her gaze darted around the room. I tried to see the place through her eyes. I’d been a coming in for so long that I saw past the desperate attempt at biker bar decor.
“The pleasure’s all mine. Can I get you a drink?” Gus asked.
I shook my head. “Not this time. I thought I’d pick up those last few deliveries and drop them off on my way home.”
“It’s kind of late for deliveries,” Gus said, but he was already moving to the door to the back room.
“Says the guy who doesn’t hit the sack until three in the morning on a slow night,” I said. Gus laughed out loud, and I followed him into the room he’d used as headquarters for the Holiday Helpers program for the past eight years.
“Take your pick.” Gus gestured around the room.
“You’ve still got all of these to deliver?” I asked. Usually, this close to the holiday, the back room was practically empty.
“The Lonestar Riders MC is coming in to help tomorrow. They’ll make quick work of it.”
“What is all of this?” Holly asked.
Bags full of wrapped presented lined the shelves.
“We deliver donated gifts to the families of soldiers who are deployed,” I said.
“Or killed in action,” Gus added.
“Or anyone else the group thinks needs a helping hand.” I’d been involved with the program from the start and there were always half a dozen local families who made the list.
“And you drop off gifts to their house?” Holly asked.
“No, Santa delivers them.” I nodded toward a portable rack where a few Santa suits hung. “Let’s see if we have a suit in your size.”