Dawson kissed the top of her head.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Holden squeezed her
to him. His words were gentle, yet had a hard edge to them, which
she knew was directed at her father.
Dawson stroked her drying hair. “I’d like to
have a word with your father.”
She shook her head. “It wouldn’t do any good.
He is and will always be a bastard.”
Holden took one of her hands and held it in
his. “So what were your plans for Thanksgiving?”
She did not want to tell them and remained
mute, not meeting their eyes.
Dawson took her other hand. “Tell us.”
“My plans included a microwave dinner, my
cat, and football.” She refused to look at them in case she saw
pity in their eyes.
“You’ve won my heart with the football.”
Holden had a lightness in his voice and she looked up to see his
smile. “You can be sure you won’t be missing that.”
“No way are we going to miss the Broncos
kicking the Giants’ ass.” Dawson rubbed the back of her neck,
smoothing away some of the tension there from talking about her
parents.
“Ha.” She scoffed at the notion. “The Giants
have a better team this year than the Broncos.”
“Them’s fightin’ words.” Dawson spoke in an
Old West cowboy drawl. “How about a wager?”
“You’re on.” She liked how the men picked up
on something she enjoyed and didn’t make her feel pathetic for
having a non-life outside of work. “When you lose, you have to walk
around naked, worship my feet, and do whatever I tell you.”
Holden snorted and Dawson chuckled. “When you lose, you have to wear a Broncos jersey tonight and all
day tomorrow. Even if we’re not snowed in any longer and we go into
the office.”
Her jaw dropped. “No way.”
“Does that mean you don’t have confidence in
your team?” Holden leaned his back up against the breakfast bar.
“You can back out now—”
She scowled shook her head. “No way. The
Giants are going to win.”
Dawson gave a wide grin and extended his
hand. “Then we have a deal?”
She took his hand and squeezed. “Deal.” She
released it and grasped Holden’s hand and they shook on it, too.
Holden was grinning just as broadly as Dawson.
Now her Giants just had to win or she’d be
eating humble pie and wearing orange while doing it.
* * * * *
Thanksgiving dinner was amazing. Penny had
prepped sweet potatoes with brown sugar and marshmallows; fresh
corn off the cob; boiled red potatoes to mash; thick giblet gravy;
the stuffing they’d used to stuff the bird; and homemade rolls that
were to die for.
Enough food had been prepared for the
Kennedy’s large family, so there were plenty of leftovers that they
wrapped, packaged, and bagged. The majority of them were put into a
freezer in the mudroom. They kept enough leftovers in the fridge to
last a couple of days.
By the time they’d finished putting
everything away, it was time for pregame. She curled up on the
couch between Holden and Dawson. She liked how they didn’t crowd
her, just clearly liked to be close to her.
They talked smack during the pregame and then
it was time for kickoff. The Giants won the coin toss and chose to
receive. They led the first half by 20-0 and Erika had visions of
two naked men kissing her feet, followed by many more erotic
thoughts. She’d have them where she wanted them.
Which was actually more of the same as last
night, only she’d be in control. After all, she thrived on
control.
The men didn’t look worried during halftime.
When she rubbed it in about how behind the Broncos were, Dawson
shrugged. “All the Broncos need are three touchdowns.”
“The Giants have clearly outplayed the
Broncos on offense and defense.” She crossed her arms over her
chest, feeling smug. “Twenty points is beyond what a superior team
needs to stay ahead of an inferior team like the Broncos.” She
wiggled her bare toes. “Get ready for some foot worship.”
Halftime ended and the second half of the
game began. The Broncos
Brenda Novak
Italo Calvino
C. C. Hunter
ylugin
Mario Puzo
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Toby Neal
Amarinda Jones
Ashley Hunter
Riley Clifford