Puppy Wishes & Candy Kisses (Kringle Falls #1)

22. Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

O ne last look.

Candi drove through Kringle Falls one last time before heading back to Ohio. She didn’t want to forget anything about this special little town.

Her heart wanted to seek out Michael and tell him he was a fool for pushing her and Tank away. But her mind told her she had more dignity than that. She couldn’t throw herself at a man who obviously didn’t want her. And it didn’t matter how much she’d come to love him.

She drove slowly past Purr ’n Woof. She was so tempted to pull over and go inside, but she didn’t let herself. It would just make leaving Kringle Falls that much harder.

Instead, she pressed harder on the accelerator. She just had to get away from there. Her foot pressed even harder on the accelerator. The farther she got from this town, the better she’d feel. Wouldn’t she?

Wee-oow. Wee-oow.

She glanced in the mirror to find flashing red lights. Just great.

She looked down at the speedometer to find she was, in fact, ten miles over the posted speed limit. Now she would have a speeding ticket to remember Kringle Falls by.

By now she was outside the town limits. She put on her turn signal and pulled over on the berm of the road.

As her front tire dropped off the asphalt, there was a big pop. The van dipped hard to the right side, but kept moving. What had happened?

She wanted to investigate, but the red flashing lights in her mirror reminded her she had to deal with a speeding ticket. She reached for her purse to get her driver’s license.

Tap-tap.

She looked through the window to find Sheriff Parker Bishop standing there. He wore dark sunglasses that kept her from seeing his eyes. She sent him a smile as she rolled down the window. He didn’t smile back.

“Do you know that you were going over the speed limit?”

She fumbled through her purse, looking for her wallet. “I’m sorry. I was distracted.”

“Distracted by what?”

What was she supposed to say to that? “I... I was just taking one last look around.”

“You’re leaving?”

She nodded. “It’s time.”

“Does my brother know this?”

“I...” She finally found her wallet. “I don’t know. I left him a note.”

He arched a brow. “A note?”

She nodded. “He left this morning before I got up, and he didn’t come back by the time they delivered the van.” She stopped rambling. Why was she telling him all of this? None of this had anything to do with her speeding. “It doesn’t matter. Could I have my ticket so I can get going?”

Parker didn’t say anything as he walked around the van, as though he were inspecting it. By the time he made it the whole way around the vehicle, he was frowning. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You blew out a tire, and if I’m not mistaken, your rim is now bent.”

Candi groaned. “What else can possibly go wrong?”

“Stay here. I’ll call for a tow.” He didn’t wait for her to say anything.

She noticed he hadn’t said anything about the ticket. Maybe he felt bad enough for her not to give her one. That would be a good thing because with her not working, her savings were dwindling.

She sat there, glancing in the mirror every few seconds. He was certainly taking a long time. She sighed. What was Parker doing? Maybe he was writing up that ticket after all.

She picked up her phone and noticed it was dead. Really? She’d been so upset the night before and that morning it hadn’t even crossed her mind to charge it.

She sat there, waiting. And waiting. And waiting. What was taking so long?

The next time she looked into her mirror, she saw a very familiar red pickup coming down the road. Great. Now she got to be embarrassed in front of the man she loved, who didn’t love her back.

Michael pulled over in front of her van. What did he want? They had nothing left to say.

Her window was still down because she thought Parker was going to come back, but instead, he turned off his lights and pulled out.

“I heard you needed some help.” Michael leaned his hands against the door.

“I thought your brother was helping me.”

“He called me.”

“He did?” That traitor. “Listen, Michael, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I’ve got this. The garage will just put on a new wheel, and I’ll be on my way.”

“What if I want you to stay?”

She wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. “What did you say?”

“I want you to stay.”

Her heart tap-danced in her chest. “You do?”

He smiled and nodded. “You know it’s cold out here. How about we have this conversation in my pickup?”

No sooner had he said it than a familiar tow truck pulled up with its yellow lights flashing. She gathered her things and walked with Michael to his vehicle.

When he opened the passenger door for her, she was surprised by Tank. He leaned over and licked her face. She hugged him. “You’re back.”

“He never left,” Michael said. “I couldn’t take him back to Purr ’n Woof.”

He closed the door and moved to the back of the pickup. She saw him in the mirror as he spoke to the tow truck driver.

Once Michael was in the driver’s seat, he turned to her. “I’m sorry, Candi. I’ve been pushing you away, and I shouldn’t have done that. I hurt you, and I hurt me. And I’m sorry.”

“I understand. You didn’t want to get hurt again.”

“But I did anyway because I was being so stubborn and refusing to admit to the happiness and joy that you’ve brought back to my life.” He looked deep into her eyes. “I love you, Candi.”

“You do?” Her heart pitter-pattered. She couldn’t believe he was saying all of the things that she’d longed to hear.

His brown eyes searched hers. “I do. Will you forgive me?”

“Yes.” A rush of emotions had happy tears welled up in her eyes. “Yes, I will. Because I love you too.”

They leaned over the top of Tank, and their lips met. Nothing had ever felt so right. Her heart fluttered in her chest.

When they pulled back, she asked, “How is this going to work?” Then she hesitantly asked, “Are we going to have a long-distance relationship?”

“I’ve given this some thought, and I don’t think long distance will work for either of us.” When Tank barked, they both laughed. “It looks like Tank agrees. So, I could look into getting a job near you.”

She was surprised by how serious he was about making their relationship work. “You would give up your job and move away from your family?”

He shrugged. “One of us has to be willing to move. I can’t ask you to do something that I’m not willing to do. Besides, we can visit my family for holidays and stuff.”

Tears rushed to her eyes. No one had ever loved her that much. It made what she was about to say so much easier.

“I don’t want you to do that.”

Concern shone in his brown eyes. “You don’t want us to be together?”

“I want us to be together, but I don’t want you to move to Ohio.”

“What are you saying?”

“That I’ll move to Kringle Falls. Merry has already offered me a job, and I can apply for a teaching position at the school here.” When he was quiet, she asked, “You don’t look happy about it.”

“It’s not that. I just want to make sure this is really what you want.”

“I want to be wherever you are.” When Tank nosed her chin, she laughed. “And where Tank is. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve fallen in love with Kringle Falls. Who wouldn’t love a Christmas town?”

“Wait. Does this mean that you’re going to make me decorate the outside of the house?”

She smiled at him. “Most definitely.”

He groaned and rolled his eyes. “What have I done falling in love with a Christmas-fanatic?”

“Oh. It isn’t that bad.” She lightly punched his arm. “Maybe my love of the holiday will rub off on you.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Michael put the pickup in gear.

“But I still have to go back to Ohio to return the van and empty my apartment.”

“You aren’t going alone.” Tank barked his agreement, and they laughed. “We don’t think you’re safe driving alone in that van. So, we’ve decided to go with you.”

“Really?” She hadn’t been expecting that. “But what about your work?”

“They can survive without me for a few days. Besides I’m on vacation, remember?”

“So you’re going to vacation in Cleveland in December?”

“Yep. I heard it’s the place to be. And there happens to be a woman there that I love.” He held his hand out to her.

She placed her hand in his, lacing her fingers with his. “I love you too.”