Cole in Her Stocking by C.A. Szarek

Author:C.A. Szarek [Szarek, C.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love, texas, marriage, christmas, short story, babies, cops
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

“I’ll be back, babe.”

Andi looked up from the sugar cookies she and Ethan were icing. Well, she was icing them, her son was making a red and green sticky mess, but he was adorable. “Work call?”

“Nope, just need to run out.” Cole had an odd expression on his face, but when their eyes met, her husband flashed dimples.

That smile always scrambled her brains—and he knew it.

She studied him, but got nothing. Which made her even more suspicious.

Cole was up to something.

Is it something to do with last night?

He’d helped her get the boys in bed, and right when she’d slipped into comfortable sleepwear, he’d announced he had to go out. Told her not to wait up for him.

Her husband had been evasive when she’d questioned him. Had only explained his partner needed him. Andi hadn’t asked much more. Detective Jared Manning had a penchant for spending too much time at the local cop hangout, a bar called McAuley’s.

Cole had probably had to get him home and cleaned up. Not a responsible thing to do when one was on call, though.

“Jared, okay?”

“Yeah.” He paused, as if he didn’t know why she was asking.

She narrowed her eyes. “It’s Christmas Eve, where could you possibly have to go?”

One dark eyebrow shot up. “I’ll never tell. C’mon, don’t interrogate me. You’re gonna ruin it.”

“Hmmm a surprise?”

“A surprise! A surprise!” Ethan jumped off the step stool he’d been using at the counter.

One icing container went flying. Green splats hit the tiled floor.

“Oh, Ethan,” Andi groaned.

Cole laughed. “On that note, see you later, babe.”

“Of course,” she muttered. When Andi looked up, he’d already disappeared from the entryway. The front door closed with a thump.

Damn man.

Her son’s blue eyes were misty when their gazes brushed. He held his little hands out. “Sorry, Mama.”

“It’s okay, baby. We have more.” She bent and cleaned up the thick blobs of green. Andi righted the icing container and set it on the counter. She rinsed a washcloth in warm water and cleaned her son’s hands and face. “Let’s try to get some icing on the cookies, okay?”

Ethan flashed a grin. “It tastes good, Mama.”

“I know, baby. You’re going to bounce off the walls all night from all this sugar.”

“Bounce, bounce, bounce.” He punctuated his words by hopping across the kitchen back to his stool.

Andi found herself laughing, despite the irritation at her delinquent husband. What on earth could he be up to? A last minute gift for her?

They’d agreed to keep the budget reasonable, spending most of their Christmas money on the boys. However, Andi had asked for a few things, and of course, had bought Cole most of the things on his short list.

She’d had to yank it out of him anyway. He’d kept telling her he had everything he needed, but she’d made him name a few items. Everyone should have a present or two to open on Christmas morning.

“Santa’s coming tonight?” The excitement in her four-year-old’s voice made her grin.

“Yes, sir. After you and Micah go to bed.

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