“So you broke into her apartment and kidnapped her?” Darren stood in one corner of the boxing ring in the gym attached to Crowne’s Garage, mocking his brother’s actions of the previous night.
Wise of his brother to be so far out of reach, Dario thought from his corner. He punched his gloved hands together and stretched his neck, rocking his head from side to side. “Watch it,” he said through his mouth guard. “Put your hands up and your protective gear in.”
Darren stretched his arms over the ropes. “Nah, I’m good.”
In the few weeks they’d had to work together, Dario had seen a definite transition in Darren’s frame. The abs were back and there were more defined muscles in his arms. “We have a few more days until Christmas Chaos, Darren. Your punches aren’t going to hurt a wet napkin.”
“Oh ye of little faith.” Darren pushed away from the ropes. “I’m planning on using mind control over my opponents.”
Boxing Around the Christmas Ring was the most violent event of the night. It was meant to get rid of the holiday aggression of everyone who needed more than cookie crunching or a javelin throw.
“Well, I need to work something out,” Dario said, jabbing his fists in the air toward his brother.
At least the move got Darren off the ropes and into the center of the ring to escape Dario’s reach. “Worried about those guys stealing your thunder, huh?”
“No,” Dario said. “They can’t come up with a replica of what I can do.”
“All this is your fault. If only you’d just told Kimber from the beginning that it was you. Tell me something, is part of this anonymity because of Pops?”
Dario took a swing and caught his brother in the shoulder. “What?”
“Well, you know how he used to stop us from playing with dolls.”
“I never played with dolls,” Dario corrected. “I needed to grab Alisha’s dolls to size them up when I made the dream house for her. The first time I did it he beat the crap out of me for it.”
Darren stood still. His taunting smile disappeared. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“I’m good,” Dario said, mentally shrugging off the memory of his father’s beatings. The physical blows Dario had taken were one thing. Bruises didn’t last. The taunting did. John Crowne, rest his soul now, had not been a nice man. Growing up like that had shaped Dario’s mind.
“There’s nothing wrong with you making the tiaras. Why are you letting them take the credit for it?” Darren asked, sidestepping another blow. “Given the fact Kimber didn’t press charges after you took her from her place, I think you’re golden with her.”
“First of all,” Dario said, sending an uppercut toward Darren’s chin, “I have a key. I’ve had a key ever since last year when Charlotte and Richard got engaged.” Darren closed his eyes in anticipation of the blow. But Dario didn’t want to hurt him for real, not even for speaking the truth.
“Ohhh.” Darren perked up, rolling his fists around. “What’s the next step? Marriage?”
“Kimber is far too freaked out by the idea of marriage. She has her eyes on a career away from here.”
Darren shrugged his shoulders. “Well, it’s not like you guys didn’t have a long-distance relationship before.”
“We weren’t together before,” Dario reminded him.
“So after you bought all those tickets that summer when she manned the kissing booth, you were still seeing other women when she went back to school?”
Dario stopped shuffling his feet. “We... I...”
“We... I...” Darren mocked him.
Dario threw a punch and it landed on his brother’s chin. “My bad.”
Outside light spilled into the garage and stopped their sparring. Breathing heavily, they faced the door, their arms on the ropes. Heels clicked on the cement floor. Once the door closed, a curvy frame came into view. Kimber, in a green sweater dress and thigh-high brown boots, folded her arms across her chest. “The door was unlocked,” she explained. “I’ve been calling out for you guys for a minute or two.”
“Sorry,” Darren said. “I meant to turn the sign to Closed. Your boyfriend here dragged me off to whip me into shape.”
“Is that true?” Kimber asked, feeding into Darren’s search for sympathy.
Dario shook his head and laughed. “If someone robbed the place, Darren wouldn’t be in shape to run after them.”
For the first time that morning Darren threw a punch, landing it on Dario’s left cheek. Kimber covered her mouth with her hands to stifle a horrified scream. “Oh my God. You guys are so rough.”
“It didn’t hurt,” Dario assured her. “He punches like a girl.”
That comment got Kimber’s hands on her hips. “I’m a girl. Want me to hop into the ring and go a few rounds?”
“Depends.” Dario offered her a lopsided smile. “Rounds of what?”
“Y’all need to take your dirty talk someplace else.” Darren attempted to get out of the ring but Dario swept out with his leg, catching his twin’s foot and bringing him down to the ground.
“We’re not done here,” he told his brother.
“Dario,” Kimber called out. “Be gentle with him.”
“I’ll be with you in a second,” Dario hollered over his shoulder. “There’s a chair in that closet over there with the Mustang engine on the door.”
Kimber stood still. “There are, like, three doors with pictures of engines on them.”
“The middle.” Darren yelled in pain. “But you don’t have to get it. I’ve got Dario right where I want him.”
Tossing Darren around into a jujitsu submission, Dario said, “Yeah, right.”
“Okay, so you remember my plan to play mind games to win?” Darren struggled to get out of the hold.
“You gotta be able to talk,” Dario reminded him.
“I’m ’bout to use my last breath on you and get out of this move.”
“Try it.”
Darren punched at Dario’s forearms. “That room you just sent your girlfriend to is where I threw that gift you made her last year and never gave her. I believe it’s a one of a kind tiara made by none other than you.”
Dario let his brother go with startling quickness. He hopped out of the ring onto the mat below and rushed over to the door. Kimber was already inside the closet, her hand stretched into the air for the string to the light switch.
“Hey,” Dario said, trying to hold his breath.
“Whoa,” Kimber exclaimed, clutching her necklace of tiny Christmas ornaments. As she turned to face him, the light came on. The string swung back and forth. “How did you get here so fast?”
“I took care of Darren already.” The red-and-white-striped Christmas present was right there, front and center, with her name scrawled in his handwriting. Dario reached over Kimber’s hand to attempt to push the present farther back on the shelf. The door closed behind him. She cocked her head at him, confused. “This room is dusty,” he tried to explain.
Kimber pressed her hands against his chest. An arched brow rose on her face. “And here I thought you were trying to get frisky with me.”
“Huh?”
“Seven minutes in heaven,” Kimber said, rising on her tiptoes.
Who was he to resist a kiss from her? Her mouth fueled him with desire. “I am sweaty.”
“So make me sweaty too.” Kimber bit her lip and grabbed her cell phone. Her nails were painted with candy cane stripes and blurred as she set the timer. 07:00. “Something about seeing you all sweaty and manly, ohh!” She shimmied her body against his.
Dario untied his gloves with his teeth, freeing his fingers to roam her body. The knit of Kimber’s dress felt soft against his rough hands. He hooked the hem up over her hips. Kimber braced her foot on a lower shelf. She wore a skimpy pair of lacy underwear beneath her dress. As a test, Dario slipped one finger into her moist center. Craving her, his knees weakened. He swore under his breath, inhaling her sweet, minty breath. Dario took her mouth once more. Kimber’s nails pawed at his chest down to his stomach. Dario’s cock strained in his shorts until she freed him. Her gentle hands caressed him but this interlude did not call for soft hands. He spun her around, bent her over and entered her swiftly from behind.
Kimber yelped in excitement. She moved her body back and forth and then did the ultimate move, bending over completely and grabbing her ankles. Amid the sheer pleasure, Dario tried hard not to lose his mind. His hands gripped her hips, careful not to hurt her, and he bucked until they both came. The timer went off over their panting.
“Now that’s what I call seven minutes in heaven,” Kimber breathed, straightening her clothes.
Dario cupped her face, kissing her lips, caressing her tongue with his. “I promise to give you more heaven later.”
A week before Christmas Eve, Kimber found herself stretched out on the bed, wrapped in soft blue sheets and—even better—Dario’s arms. The previous month might have been the best month of her entire life. Between the chestnut roasting, Christmas caroling, and the smooth setup so far for the Christmas pageant, all combined with getting to do these things with her best friend, Kimber didn’t think things could get any better.
“I like that you wake up with a smile on your face,” Dario said, pushing her hair off her forehead. A sliver of light spilled through the dark curtains where they’d been shifted apart by the wind from the ceiling fan. Over the last few days the winter weather had settled in through Southwood, making spirits brighten in anticipation of Christmas.
Warmth from his body made her not want to get out of bed. “I could stay here all day.”
“I don’t mind,” he replied. “What do you want to do today?”
Back arched, Kimber stretched her body. Sleeping naked against Dario’s hard frame was tantalizing. The tips of her fingers pressed against the curves of his abs. Dario pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed the tip of each finger.
“Okay, but what do you want to do afterward?”
Eyes fluttering, Kimber tried to focus. “I need to go shopping.”
“What kind? Grocery? ’Cause I have everything in here you need. Clothes? I’ll have someone come over with a closetful you can choose from.”
“I get the feeling you don’t want to leave the bed today,” Kimber said. Two large calloused fingertips traced circles around her tailbone. Her toes pointed then flexed before she tossed her right leg over his thigh. She half closed her eyes, amazed at how turned on she was by the heat flowing between their legs. This feeling of love consumed her. She loved him and he loved her. Kimber caressed Dario’s cheek with her right hand. Was it possible to feel this happy?
“If you wanted to get out of the bed, I’m not going to stop you,” he said.
Kimber moved her body and his hand clamped down over hers. “Oh really?”
“My mistake,” Dario semi-apologized, “I thought you were about to roll out of the bed.”
“This California king?” Kimber laughed and gave her head a shake. “But seriously, believe it or not, I do need to get up and get a move on the day.”
Dario let her go and flattened his back into the mattress. “To get Lexi a present. That’s right. If you could get her anything, what would it be?”
Following his move, Kimber rolled onto her back. Their hands touched and raised together in the air between them. “Since I can’t trust Vin or Philip, I am going to have to rethink my gift for Lexi.”
“You sound sad,” he noted. Their fingers locked together and released in a dance-like move.
She sighed sadly. “I am. I thought a tiara would be the perfect gift for her. She and Amelia have been the best role models a girl could ever ask for. I mean, they stepped into this motherly role without hesitation.” Kimber paused to take a shaky breath. Dario stroked the length of her index finger with his thumb, silently waiting for her to continue. “I wasn’t the easiest person to get along with when my parents died.”
“I’m sorry you had to endure that,” said Dario. “You know I lost my dad not too long ago. He tried to make amends before he passed away but he had been out of our lives for so long by the time his apology would have mattered.”
There was something bitter in his voice. Kimber let go of his hand and pulled herself up on her elbows. “I think this is the first time you’ve ever mentioned him.”
Dario’s handsome face scrunched up with thought. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s true. I’ve heard Darren mention him before. He always referred to your father as an SOB.”
A deep chuckle rattled in Dario’s chest. “That he was.”
“So, you didn’t get along?”
He snorted.
“Aw, that makes me sad,” she said with a pout. Still on her elbows, Kimber turned on her side to face him.
Dario’s lips twitched but he didn’t look at her. “My dad was quite the ass, to say the least. He left my mom when we were younger and never looked back until he was on his deathbed and wanted forgiveness.”
“Did you give it to him?”
“No,” he clipped. “What do you say to a man who called you a punk all your life? Or smacked you around when you cried after falling off a bike?” Kimber’s heart ached as he spoke. “All my memories are of him telling me how I was going to grow up and be a weak man.”
Kimber gasped. “What? Jesus, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s all good now.”
She reached out and touched his biceps. “You’re the manliest man I’ve ever met in my entire life.”
“Besides Vin and Philip?” Dario cut his eyes to look at her before his lips spread upward into a teasing smile.
Kimber gave a little dig of her nails into his muscle. “You’re funny.”
“What are you going to do if both of them show up with tiaras?”
“Then I’m going to interview them and post it. Hopefully MET will see the story and remember I’m a viable candidate for a field journalist position.”
Just that second her phone rang from the nightstand on her side of the bed. She gasped. Dario opened his mouth and widened his eyes in excitement for her.
“Hello?” Kimber answered without looking at the number.
“Hey, sis!” Philly’s cheerful voice came over the line. “Video-chat me. I want you to see what I look like.”
While she was naked, in bed with Dario? “Maybe later. Are you all cleared up now?”
“I am. Can we go shopping? You said we could go once I cleared up.”
“Funny you should mention that,” Kimber said. Dario’s hands splayed against her backside. She tried to ignore the wanton tingle in her insides. “So, um, I, I’ll come and get you.”
“I’m coming in with Lexi. Will you meet me at the store in a little bit?”
“Sure.” Kimber congratulated Philly for healing quickly before hanging up. She’d barely set the phone on the nightstand before Dario pulled her body on top of his. She straddled his legs but laid her breasts against his chest.
“You were saying something about giving a ride?” Dario placed his hands on her hips.
“I did,” she said over a chill of excitement. “I’ve got to get dressed.”
“I’ll let you get dressed, but first...”
Kimber dipped her head and kissed his lips. No better way to get the day started than a quick roll in the sack.
“Uncle Dario! Uncle Dario!”
Young voices echoed throughout the house followed by a deep voice. “Kids, stop running.”
And another voice filled the air. “Oh, look how great everything looks.”
Dario swore under his breath. “We’re going to have to pick this up later. Right now we have about fifteen seconds to get dressed before we’re terrorized by a couple of toddlers.”
After a morning of shopping, mani-pedis and double cheeseburgers, Kimber and Philly topped off their day of fun with a banana split with pecans, caramel and fresh whipped cream at The Scoop, Amelia’s family’s ice cream parlor. Being related to one of the owners came unlimited ice cream. During their spa treatment, Kimber had gone with a royal blue to match her sweater while Philly asked for the unicorn treatment. The unicorn colors, consisting of pastel pinks, purples and blues, now shone under the bright lights above them at the parlor while Kimber’s nails stood out against the cool white countertops. Philly pushed herself around in circles in the swirling chair after each bite.
“Don’t get sick now,” Kimber warned her.
“You just don’t understand how good it feels to be free,” Philly squealed, kicking her leg warmer–clad legs back and forth. “I’ve been cooped up with those babies.”
A few of the customers watched them and smiled fondly, probably former friends of their parents. Kimber was used to the looks from the townspeople. They were always that sweet, sad smile where they’d tilt their heads to the side, glad to see the girls were adjusting to life without their parents. Kimber blew out a sigh and focused on her sister.
“I bet you got to do a lot of reading though.”
Philly had been the first of them to catch the fever for the pageant world. Then she stopped doing them and took up softball, although she’d never lost her taste for a tiara. Today was no different, other than that the crown she wore was small for her growing body.
“I read so much I was sure my eyes were going to bleed.” Philly did another turn before grabbing her spoon to take another bite of her dessert. “How’s your search for the tiara designer going?”
Kimber narrowed her eyes. “You’ve been following my blogs?”
“Always,” said Philly with a coy smile, reminding Kimber of their mother. “That and I’m Facebook friends with Jenny Grieco, cousin of Philip.”
“Ugh,” Kimber groaned. “What did she say?” She couldn’t believe she was leaning forward to hear the gossip from a middle schooler.
“That Philip regrets breaking up with you.”
“I broke up with him, but whatever.” Kimber shrugged her shoulders and went on. “Did he think by saying he designed the crowns that I would get back with him?”
Philly cocked her head to the side like the other ladies did. “Aw, whatever happened between the two of you? I liked him.”
“I thought you liked Dario.”
“I’m mature enough to like two people,” said Philly. “Dario is going to move back to Southwood at some point and I know you don’t ever plan on coming back here to live.”
Eyes widening, Kimber turned her lips down in a frown. “You know that?”
“I am way more aware than you’d ever guess. I see things.”
“Like?”
“Like the way you are with Dario is different than when you were with any of your other boyfriends,” said Philly all wise and whatnot with whipped cream on her upper lip. “I like him for that. But I also know you liked Philip.” Philly slipped off her stool and pressed her hands together under her chin, then out of nowhere grabbed on to Kimber’s arm. “Uncle Stephen, stop, don’t kill him, he’s my boyfriend and I love him.”
The mocking plea caused Kimber to laugh so hard tears came to her eyes. Years ago she’d said something along those lines.
“And then he wanted you to settle down with him,” Philly reminded her, “and you ripped that poor boy’s heart out.”
“Someone’s been binge-watching teen dramas,” Kimber mumbled.
“Will you talk to him?”
“Sure, when he comes up with the tiara, I’ll do a whole interview.”
Philly took another bite of ice cream. “Did you ever stop to think it might be Dario? Philip has access to a workshop at his school. But Dario has access to one all the time. He owns a garage.”
It took a few seconds of blinking for Kimber to process the obvious answer. The image of him standing shirtless over a power saw was still burned in her memory. He had access to all types of scrap metal from the cars he worked on. “I mean, it could be him. But why wouldn’t he tell me?”
“Duh,” Philly said, rolling her eyes. “You have commitment issues.”
“What show did you learn that from?”
“Dr. Phil.”
One of the ladies watching came over to the two of them. “I’m sorry to butt into your conversation but are you guys talking about the beautiful tiaras that showed up at the hospital last year?”
“Yes, ma’am,” answered Kimber. She swiveled her chair to face the woman. “Kimber Reyes,” she said extending her hand.
The older woman pulled Kimber into a hug. She smelled of fresh strawberries, probably from the homemade sauce The Scoop used. “Now, I’ve watched you girls grow up. I taught your mother in school many years ago. She’d be so proud. I’m Mrs. Hanson.”
“Thank you,” the girls chorused.
“These tiaras you’re looking for. I recall a couple of them being at the pageant for my great-niece who’d been in the hospital.”
Excited, Kimber nodded. “Really now? Does she recall seeing who brought them in?”
Mrs. Hanson shook her lavender-tinted head of hair. “I was there before and after the show but there was so much chaos, I never saw anyone bring them into the bedroom where they were found.”
“Do you recall seeing Dr. Vin or Philip Grieco at the hospital?” Philly, the budding journalist, asked.
“Celeste,” called the woman who’d been sitting at the table with Mrs. Hanson. “They were both in Jackson’s graduating class.”
“Oh yes, I remember them now,” Mrs. Hanson went on. “They were both there. I remember it because I never moved from my seat and I could see how the two of them were sneaking around the hospital.”
Philly elbowed Kimber in the ribs. “Sneaking around because one of them dropped off the tiaras and didn’t want to get caught by you.”
“I’m not sure if that helps,” said Mrs. Hanson. “I can call my granddaughter right now and have her bring her tiara here. Got a sec?”
Elated, Kimber’s heart pounded against her chest. “For this, yes.”
Mrs. Hanson stepped aside. “A few of her friends received them, as well, for Valentine’s Day and Easter. Maybe everyone should wear their favorite tiara, like you, Miss Philly.”
Philly adjusted her crown and smiled.
Kimber chewed her bottom lip. Something Mrs. Hanson had said bothered her. According to the conversations she’d had with Dario about the deliveries. Some were made when she knew he was in Southwood. But the others? He couldn’t have been the mystery designer. And though he’d never done anything to indicate whether he was or wasn’t, she’d debunked the idea before the story took life in her mind. Kimber couldn’t ignore the disappointed feeling that Dario wasn’t her mystery man. Somehow thinking he’d been the man behind the tiaras made the gesture feel like a fairytale romance. It had to have been either Vin or Philip.
“I’ve been thinking,” Philly began. She stirred the sprinkles on top of her ice cream until they colored the vanilla treat a pinkish-purple color. “It would make sense for Dr. Vin to be the designer. He had access to everyone’s charts when the kids were being discharged.”
“Valid point, little sis,” said Kimber. “I thought about it, but I also don’t peg Vin as the shop-class type.”
“Philip Grieco on the other hand, yes.” Philly twisted her lips to the side. “Is that why you’ve left them out of the blogs?”
“Exactly,” replied Kimber. “I don’t want anyone else popping up and trying to lay claim.”
“Mmmph,” Philly mumbled. “Perhaps you shouldn’t have so many exes.”
“Little girl, I will make you walk home,” Kimber joked. The girls laughed for a second, both knowing Kimber would never leave her behind. “Alright tell me, how’s my makeup look for the video I’m about to shoot?”
“Here, let me help.”
Most people wouldn’t let a twelve-year-old fix their makeup, but considering Philly came from a background so connected to the beauty world, what with their aunts being friends with celebrity judges, reality show socialites and connections to Ravens Cosmetics, the girl knew a thing or two.
Kimber hadn’t realized how quickly time was flying by until the bell over the door announced the latest visitor. A small girl walked in and stared at Kimber. It took Kimber a second to get over the spiral curls on her head.
“Felicity?” Kimber covered her mouth. “Oh my God. How long has it been?”
Felicity put some pep in her step and met Kimber halfway for a big hug. “Let’s see, I’ve been in remission since the beginning of this year, so at least that long.”
“Philly, this is Felicity.” Kimber introduced them. “She was the winner of the Miss Four Points General Hospital last year.”
Philly gave a wave and a quick hello.
“I’m so glad you came down here,” said Kimber. They made their way to an empty booth to sit and chat. Kimber listened to Felicity, now fifteen, talk about going back to high school after dealing with her leukemia.
“I looked up the number on the shirt you wore the day you posted from that hottie’s garage.”
“Oh goodness. Crowne’s?” Kimber’s eyes furrowed together. “You called there?”
“I tried to comment live but you stopped the feed. I’ve been waiting for you to call me back.”
“Weird. Did you speak with anyone?”
“A guy named Darren, who said he’d make sure he’d give my information to the right person.”
“I’m so sorry, Felicity. I’ll find out what happened.”
“In the meantime, do you want to see the crown?” Felicity reached down beside her into the cross-body purse over her hoodie.
If Kimber didn’t know any better, she’d swear a ray of light shone down on top of the masterpiece. The designer had known that with Felicity’s hair being thin at the time, a tiara with clips or pins would not work. So the maker had fixed it so Felicity could wear her tiara as a headband with two parts. The first part she wore like a regular headband and the second part, extending forward to wear on top of her head, was the crown with all its lovely intricate parts, costume diamonds and pearls. It was a work of art. Kimber took out her phone and filmed all angles of the tiara and Felicity wearing it. If Vin or Philip had done this, they were geniuses.