Despite her shaky hands, she managed to unwrap it without dropping it. When she opened the lid, she pulled out a wind chime made of mismatched antique spoons. She stared at the gift, refusing to look up because she knew her gaze would go straight to Andy, and she couldn’t take that risk.
Don called out, “Okay, who’s the secret admirer?”
Please don’t speak! She willed Andy not to say a word at the same time she forced herself to paste on a cheery smile and look up. It’d be best if she shut this down quickly.
“Whoever’s trying to get on my good side, know I absolutely love this.” Truth be told, it would likely be her favorite gift this year. She hoped Andy understood her tactic when she looked at Billy B to deflect attention. “Doesn’t mean I’m going to give you premium assignments, though.” Billy was too buzzed to form a coherent denial, so everyone laughed. Mission accomplished. “Okay, Don. Who’s next?”
With that, Nikki picked another box off the pile and handed it to their resident Santa, then scooted back to her seat. On her way, she let her gaze wander to Andy, who’d quietly stood by the bar.
He winked, which almost made her stumble. Thankfully, she managed to take her seat without making a scene. A true Christmas miracle.
“Do you really think Billy B gave that to you?” Cindy asked, inspecting the chimes more closely.
Time to ward off further questions. “Maybe. He’s been begging for an upgrade to private lessons. Perhaps he’s resorting to bribes.”
Cindy looked over her shoulder at Billy, whose eyes were glazed over from too much alcohol. “He’s so drunk, no wonder he didn’t answer. He probably didn’t even realize you opened it. Odd choice, though. Do you like it?”
“I love it.” The fact that Andy had done this for her made her want to break into the Snoopy dance.
Cindy shrugged and set the box back on the table, then returned her attention to Don. Thank God.
Shortly after the gift exchange, the crowd started thinning out. Nikki had said good-bye to several coworkers and was grabbing her coat when she saw Andy at the bar with Billy, Greg, and the other guys. That sight caused her guilty memory to resurface from the last time they’d been in a bar together.
“What’s with the smirk?” She noticed Andy’s mouth quirk. Hard not to notice almost everything about him, especially this afternoon, when he’d spent almost all his time hanging with her instead of the guys.
“No smirk. Just wondering if there’s anything you don’t do better than me.” Andy laughed and took the darts from her hand, setting up to throw his round.
If he were sober, he’d probably be able to beat her, but his game had steadily faltered with each draft beer he downed. Now he hovered between tipsy and drunk. She wouldn’t complain, because it’d made him flirty and fun. Even if it were only beer goggles on his part, she’d enjoy it for a while longer.
A gaggle of attractive younger women, including her sister, Amy, walked in. Oh, joy. Amy’s friend Robyn’s bachelorette party.
Every guy’s attention vibrated with interest as the sexily dressed ladies made their way to the bar. Even Andy’s attention wandered, his gaze roving over their exposed legs and every other body part.
Before Andy threw his next dart, Greg breezed by, nodding at the group of mostly single women. He slapped Andy’s shoulder. “Come on, dude. Doesn’t get any easier than a bachelorette party.” Then, as if noticing Nikki only as an afterthought, added, “Sorry, Nik. You know how it is. But we promise, we won’t bother Amy.”
It wasn’t the first time she realized she’d always be seen as one of the guys.
“Gee, thanks.” Nikki hoped Andy wouldn’t leave her standing there.
Andy hesitated, scratching his chin while Greg waited, then handed her the darts. “To be continued.”
He winked and ruffled her hair like she was some kind of child, then wandered off with Greg to the round of shots being set up on the bar.
Humiliated again, Nikki set the darts down and slipped away without saying a word. Hours later, she heard about the accident—about Andy’s punctured lung and Grey’s torn-up knee—and cried.
She’d wanted to thank Andy for the gift tonight, but now, that opportunity was lost. Rather than waste time feeling sorry for herself, she went to thank Don for another great party. While they were talking, Billy B’s voice grew louder from the other side of the room.
“I’m fine!” He shrugged Andy off.
“Give me your keys.” Andy held out his hand.
“Dude, back off.” Billy shoved at Andy’s shoulder but threw himself off balance instead.
Andy then hitched his arm under Billy’s shoulder. Nikki could hear Andy grumbling, “Come on. I’m taking you home. You can get your car tomorrow.” He used those powerful thighs to counterbalance Billy. Using all his height and strength, Andy was able to drag him toward the door despite resistance.
“Maybe we should help?” Nikki said to Don.
He nodded and then went with her out to the parking lot, where they found Andy struggling to get Billy to cooperate.
“Billy.” Don’s sharp voice echoed down the canyon.
Andy and Billy stopped in their tracks and swiveled.
“This is no way to behave, especially at a work-sponsored event. I suggest you let Andy see you home without causing more of a scene.” Once Billy acquiesced, Don asked Andy, “Which car is yours?”
Andy gestured toward his beat-up silver Subaru. “That one.”
Don opened its passenger door and helped Andy situate Billy. “Thanks for making sure Billy didn’t make the mistake you once made, Andy. You’ve learned from that accident.”
“Yes, sir.”
“See you tomorrow.” Don shook his hand, wearing something that resembled a smile. He then said a final good-bye to Nikki before climbing into his Jeep and driving home.
Andy glanced at Nikki and gave her the thumbs-up. “I think I scored some points with the big boss.”
She grinned, taking a lot of joy in his evident pride.
“With the not-so-big boss, too.” She raised the box of wind chimes. “Thank you for this. I’ll hang it up tonight.”
“You’re welcome.” Andy peeked into his car to see that Billy had already half passed out. After confirming that they were effectively alone, he drew nearer, which made her body shiver all over. “Where’s your car?”
“Back there.” She hitched her thumb over her shoulder.
“Let me make sure you get there safely.” He linked arms with her while they crossed the lot to her car.
She wanted to draw out the time longer, but anyone could waltz out of the bar at any time. She opened her car door, tossed her gift on the seat, then turned. “Why’d you get me a present?”
He shrugged. “Think of it as a thank-you for going out on that limb for me.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that. I figured I sort of owed you.”
“How so?” He looked curious, which surprised her. Had he never thought about the relative culpability of all the friends who let him get behind the wheel that night?
“You know, that night . . .” She didn’t need to elaborate. “I wish I’d done for you what you’re now doing for Billy.”
“And I wish I’d kept playing darts instead of getting sidetracked by a bunch of girls who don’t hold a candle to you.” He leaned against her open car door, boxing her in between it and her car.
Despite the snow beginning to fall and the door between them, she felt warm all over. “That’s sweet, Andy.”
“Don’t mistake me, Nik. I don’t mean to be sweet. In fact, my thoughts are anything but sweet.” The slight roughness in his voice sent tingles to her tummy.
Even she could tell that this was not just friendly banter. Instinctively, she turned her bad cheek away. Fumbling for something to say, she blurted, “I’m sorry I didn’t think to get you a gift, too.”
“You can make it up to me.”
“Oh?” She glanced up. “How?”
“With a kiss.”
When she didn’t faint, he cupped her jaw and brushed his lips against hers. He started gently, like he did a lot of things. He traced the seam of her lips with his tongue until she opened her mouth; then his tongue slipped inside, filling hers with a mixture of tangy barbecue, sweet soda, and something uniquely Andy. He deepened the kiss, despite the door between them, and suddenly her hands were in his hair. His awesome, overgrown hair.
She might as well have been floating for how lightweight she felt, but then the bar door slammed open as people spilled out into the night, abruptly ending her bliss.
“Close call.” He wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb. Did he not want others to see them, or was he protecting her from scrutiny? She didn’t want to ask, because she didn’t want to know. “Merry almost Christmas, Nik.”
“Merry almost Christmas.” And then, because that was dumb, she added, “See you tomorrow.”
“Bright and early.” His eyes twinkled. He waited until she was seated, then shut the door and banged on her roof. “Drive safe.”
When she started her engine, he strolled back to his car, where Billy remained passed out.