Christmas Outburst

CHAPTER THREE

– NIXIE –

“Are you sure you don’t need any help?” I ask.

Leon shakes his head while he keeps washing the dishes. “No, ma’am. Like I said, at our house we have a rule. If one fixes the food, the other does the dishes.”

“I like that rule. My daughter used to help me out with the dishes as well. Oh, and Leon? It’s Nixie, no more ma’am, ya hear?” I tell him, my smile genuine.

I get a smile in return. “I really enjoyed the pizza fries, never had them before.”

“You did see how easy it was to make them, right?” I chuckle. “I make them whenever I crave something cheesy. Maeve loves them too, she even makes them herself every now and then.”

“Maeve?” Leon questions.

“My daughter.” I glance down at my hands. “I can’t believe she’s twenty-three and is going to be a mom too. She might even teach her kid how to make pizza fries.” A sigh rips from me. “I’m going to be a grandmother, when did I get so old?”

Leon turns to face me and rubs a plate dry with a dishtowel. “You don’t look old.”

I give the boy another genuine smile. He makes it too damn easy to like him. Maybe it’s the months of emptiness in the house, being lonely while working my ass off, who knows?

“I’m forty-five, and the only family I have left is my daughter who lives in another state.” I wince at the sound of those details. “Sorry.”

Leon shrugs. “You’re not old. Maybe you can ask your daughter to come live here or move closer to her? Didn’t you say you were going to be a grandma? That means more family, right?”

“True. Though, Maeve has her own life.” I stroll to the counter and grab the apple pie I made earlier today. “I can’t move back to that state, too many bad memories. Apple pie?”

Leon grins. “Never say no to pie, unless it’s from an ex.”

I raise my eyebrow. “You’re a teenager. Do you even have an ex?”

Leon is still wearing a grin. “It’s what my dad always says. Something about cyanide and women using poison for the easy kill.”

A snort rips from me. “The man clearly has either bad taste in women, or some serious trust issues.”

I instantly wince when I realize I just insulted the kid’s father, and his mother along with it.

My apology gets stuck in my throat when Leon chuckles and says, “Probably both.”

“Me too when it comes to men,” I mutter under my breath, but Leon picks it up anyway.

“You should try dating,” Leon states, and places the dishtowel on the counter.

Tilting my head, I ask, “Besides being an escape artist, with you easily climbing over the fence, you’re also a relationship expert?”

Leon rolls his eyes. “I’m fourteen, and in a year and a half I’ll be able to start prospecting for my dad’s club. Dating isn’t in my future. Being an escape artist, though?”

“Part of the job,” I finish for him.

He simply grins and I slowly shake my head.

“Zale is on his way,” Reef informs us as he steps into the kitchen.

When the police showed up at our doorstep, I caught most of the discussion. It was clear Zale and the cop knew one another and instantly went head-to-head, which led to Zale being handcuffed and dragged off to the police station.

Reef, who I heard is the vice president of Razing Muck, the motorcycle club they’re a part of, stayed here to make sure Leon was protected in case his mother came back. I told him Leon would be fine with me here and he should go make sure Zale was okay, but Reef assured me someone else from the MC would go to the police station. It’s why I kept my hands, and Leon, busy by making dinner, and feeding all of them.

I nod and ask, “Would you like some pie?”

“Never say no to pie, ma’am,” Reef rumbles and eagerly takes a chair at the kitchen table.

Laughter bubbles from me, and I can’t help but mention what Leon said earlier, “Unless it’s from an ex.”

Reef smirks. “Never accept anything when it involves an ex, you’ll live longer when you dump, run, and never look back.”

“You guys are such a joy to be around,” I tell them with a smile in my voice as I place the slices of pie in front of them.

“Ice cream or whipped cream?” I hold up both to let them decide.

“Ice cream,” Leon states.

“Both,” Reef says with a mouthful of pie.

I serve them both and fix myself a plate. The doorbell rings when I’m about to sit down.

“Eat,” Reef grunts. “I’ll get the door, it’s probably Zale.”

Leon’s gaze slides to more than half of the leftover pie on the counter.

“You can eat it all if you like, or take it with you,” I tell him.

His eyes go wide. “Really?”

“As long as you don’t make yourself sick. I hate it when people puke, makes me wanna vomit too.” I wipe my lips clean with a napkin.

Leon blinks a few times and then barks out a laugh. “No way. Dad’s the same way. Whenever he sees someone puke, he instantly gags.”

I grin at the boy. “Same here. Think about having a sick kid. I couldn’t hold her hair back because I’d puke right alongside of her.”

Leon laughs and even if the subject sucks, I find myself laughing right along with him.

“Glad to find you laughing here this time,” Zale rumbles when he steps into the kitchen, his eyes locked on Leon. “What’s so funny, eh?”

“Puking apparently,” I state and my heart jumps inside my chest when his penetrating eyes collide with mine.

Damn, this man has an air to him that sucks all the oxygen right from my lungs. The scruff on his jaw makes him seem rugged, the well-worn leather vest shows long-term commitment to the club, and the way he holds his muscled body indicates he doesn’t back down for anything. Hell, the man was just arrested for punching a cop.

He’s years younger than me. I shouldn’t lust after my neighbor. I give a mental snort, as if I stood a chance to so much as spike his interest. The man looks like he doesn’t have any issues with picking up girls. Ugh. The picking up girls part reminds me of my husband, who in fact didn’t have any problem with getting something young instead of having sex with his old wife.

Men suck. No dating for me. Surely no chance with my neighbor. Still, locking the visual of this rugged man-hunk inside my head for masturbation inspiration wouldn’t hurt, right? I mean, no one can look inside my head. No judgement or limitations; it’s all fiction and dream worthy. Hey, even the sex would be mind-blowing, much better than the reality.

“You should have some of Nixie’s pie, Dad,” Leon quips.

“Yes, you should eat my pie,” I agree wholeheartedly.

I grin a little too cheerful at the joke inside my head of him eating my pie, pussy, pie, pussypie. Oh. My. Freaking. Gosh. Laughter rips from me and I slam my hand over my mouth to mute the sound. Shit. Very mature, Nixie. Whirling around to face the counter, I quickly grab two plates and add a slice to each.

Placing one in front of Leon, the other where his father is standing, I ask, “More ice cream, Leon?” Ignoring Zale I direct my attention at Reef. “How about you, Reef?”

The man pats his stomach. “Pizza fries, and the slice of pie as dessert was enough. I am coming back for your other version of loaded fries you mentioned earlier.”

I give Reef a genuine smile. He looks like he’s around the age of Maeve, maybe a bit older, twenty-five maybe?

“Sure thing,” I tell him. “Just let me know when.”

The scraping of a chair catches my attention.

Zale sits down, his gaze intense and penetrating when he rumbles, “Your pie should be sweet enough without anything else.”

I raise one of my eyebrows. “Don’t judge until you try it.”

“Like pizza fries? What’s up with that?” He takes the fork and shovels a piece of pie in his mouth.

There’s no way I have a reply for him when he rumbles a groan of pleasure from deep within his throat. Holy hell, talk about wet panties by just the sound of this man. Shit. I whirl around to face the counter.

I hear a chuckle from beside me and find Reef staring at me. “How does Saturday sound? I could bring wine or beer.”

Giving a slight shake of my head I tell him, “Not for me, thanks. You could bring beer or wine for yourself if you’d want.”

“You don’t drink alcohol?” Reef asks with a load of suspicion in his voice.

“I do. Only on occasion. A little limoncello with some lemon-lime soft drink on a hot summer’s day, or some Baileys when it’s cold.” I shrug. “Not much of a drinker I guess.”

Silence fills the kitchen and it makes me slightly awkward.

Keeping my smile in place I ramble, “I don’t have anything against alcohol, I just never enjoy more than one or two on occasion. Now, if we’re talking about ice cream? I can inhale a whole tub in one go.” I smack my own ass. “I guess it shows.”

Reef snorts, Zale narrows his eyes, and Leon scowls.

Zale shoves his empty plate away from him and leans back in his chair. “What was the thing you mentioned about Christmas?”

“Her mother used to arrange for all the houses on the street to have their yard or house decorated. People from everywhere would drive by and enjoy the lights. There would even be hot chocolate for the kids on the last day, and a contest for the best house on the block,” Leon rattles.

My smile is warm when I look at him, his enthusiasm is infectious. We chatted while making dinner, and this was a topic Leon was very interested in.

“We have to go,” Zale grits and gets to his feet. “Thanks for looking after my kid.”

I purse my lips, wondering what caused his sudden change in attitude.

Instead of answering him, I give Leon a genuine smile and tell him, “Anytime, dude. Thanks for doing the dishes.”

“Thanks for dinner.” Leon grins. “And dessert.”

“Anytime,” I remind him.

The smile on my face stays in place, but it might be a little strained when I face Zale. “Remember the favor you owe me.”

He steps closer to me and rumbles, “Leon, go with Reef and wait outside for me.”

Leon’s gaze bounces between me and his father.

“Come on, kid, you heard Prez,” Reef states.

I have no other choice but to keep staring at Zale’s intense eyes that hold me captive. There’s the sound of footsteps fading, then the front door falls shut.

“There was no contract or any binding shit to force me to be a part of any jolly stuff.” He takes another step closer. “I appreciate the way you took care of my boy, but I have no intention of returning the favor that way.”

Some people, and by some I might also mean myself, might be intimidated by the imposing man and the way he’s looming over me. Yet his words aggravate me to the point where I think he’s a first-class asshole.

Giving him a dashing smile in an attempt to kill him with kindness, I tell him, “Duly noted.”

I move past him and stalk out of the kitchen without looking back. Opening the front door, I glance at Zale who saunters in my direction. Annoyed by his attitude, especially when I’ve done nothing to deserve his weird mood, I walk past him and bump his bicep with my shoulder.

With a snap in my voice I give him one final message, “Though, I’d advise you to really try and enjoy some jolly shit, it might brighten your mood. Hope your night sucks even more than landing your ass in a cell, Zale. Oh, and please let the door hit your grumpy ass on the way out.”