This is my response to the December writing challenge on the Janet Evanovich Fanfiction Facebook group. I choose the prompts 'Standing under mistletoe', 'First Kiss' and "I didn't catch your name"- "I didn't throw it."
In case you are on Facebook but not part of the group - come join us. It is a quiet fun way to connect readers with writers :)
This story will be not really canon-compliant and actually will have a nice twist right at the start :) And then another one close to the end.
Also, I know the title sucks and seems like I didn't put a whole lot of thought into it, but that was the name I saved it under and then I realized something. This is going to sound slightly weird, but since years I posed this challenge to myself to publish stories with title that start with each letter of the alphabet. X was one of the last few missing. That's also how Villains got its name. Now only Z is left….
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
A week that started with an ambush was never a really good one. An ambush that was camouflaged as a request for a favour.
"Vinnie," I said in my best whining voice. "Really?"
He nodded, looking at least like he was somewhat sorry. Vinnie – or as he was officially baptised as Vincent Mateo – Plum was my cousin who I adored and loved more then probably almost anyone in the world. At least he was my number one favourite person in the family. We have always been close and best friends since growing up and being born just six days apart. We always had each other's backs and were the other one's first call whenever something happened – good or bad.
Right now qualified rather as bad and I was not feeling the love so much anymore.
"Can't you ask someone else?"
"Who? As you remember I split with Alyson last month and everyone else is already tied up with other plans."
"And you think I am not?" I asked confused at which he just threw a look my way Okay, fair enough, chances were slim. I was basically a hermit these days and avoided people as much as possible. Partly due to my rather bad breakup – though that was already almost ten months ago, so did that really count as excuse anymore – and partly due to my general distaste of most people.
"I really hate Christmas office parties. Even more so since it isn't even your Christmas office party," I tried as excuse.
"I know, Steph. But you really would do me a huge favour and I'd owe you infinitely."
"You already owe me infinitely for various other favours you made me do," I remarked, seeing him look at my desperately. The entire Plum-Mazur clan was all into parties and socializing and generally showing everyone how well we did (or pretend to do). Well, everyone in the clan except Vinnie and me. We hated all kinds of gatherings, parties or even dinner invites. Both of us weren't really into showing off what we did and how well we did in general. For different reasons. Vinnie was actually doing super well compared to… well… everyone. He had his own company that started as a small bails bond office – much to my mother's horror, because what will the neighbours say? – and had become by now a really big name which usually was number one pick for people who needed bond as well as people who caught them when they didn't show up. My mother was still horrified, despite the fact that Vinnie made a whole lot of money with his venture, but at least the fact that he was rich by now seemed to soften the blow. I had my own business as well – though, while Vinnie started his out of nothing, paying for it himself, Vinnie helped me finance my venture in the beginning. While I didn't make the money, Vinnie made, I wasn't doing bad either. I designed and sold lingerie and was enjoying it. I must have chosen the wrong string of revenue since it was obvious that crime was a lot more lucrative than seduction. Otherwise, how else would you explain that Vinnie made probably four times of what I made?
"Can't you just take one of your supermodel-conquests or acquaintances?" I asked, not caring that I sounded desperate. If you now think I was exaggerating the supermodel-thing… I wasn't. Vinnie could easily moonlight as one himself, if he wasn't already busy enough running an empire. Strangely enough his good looks didn't really fit with anyone in the family and for the longest time people assumed that he must been switched at birth or something else that could explain how he looks that no one else in the family really had.
"They wouldn't really fit there I guess," he remarked.
"What? How? And more importantly, they wouldn't fit in there but I would?"
"It… look, it's a really big company and account of mine that does a lot of business for me and is rather important to me. While I certainly don't have to show up, it would be beneficial and good for business relations. Also, you never know who you could meet there in regards of potential new clients."
"You expect to run into future criminals?" I asked confused at which he just laughed and shock his head.
"No, rather the other end of business."
I looked at him for a long moment, wondering how else I could get out of this. A simple no hadn't worked and finding arguments so far didn't prove fruitful either. Given, my arguments were kind of weak and he looked right through them. Before I could start a new approach, he went on.
"It's really not the typical Christmas Office Party you'd expect. There won't be any crazy things happening and too much alcohol that makes people do stupid shit. These guys are rather … serious and professional. Security experts who let actions do the speaking instead of words. They actually seem just as hermit-y as you. And we don't have to stay for long. Just… show up, show our faces and leave an hour later if you want. To be honest, I was surprised they even have a Christmas Office Party. They are really giving me a big party vibe."
"You do realize you are not really selling this thing well right now, don't you?"
"I… I buy you the biggest Christmas present you ever received," he promised and I needed to laugh.
"You already did that last year when you promised the same so I'd go with you to that godawful Halloween Party in the Hamptons that you dragged me to."
"Positive side, this party is at least local and you wouldn't even have to leave Trenton. Also, you might increase your pool of potential customers as well..."
"How?" I asked confused.
"They are guys, with girlfriends, wives, friends-with-benefits, conquests, women to impress…."
"Didn't you just call them hermit-y a second ago?"
"Not all of them," he defended weakly, giving me the feeling, he was trying to sell me this party hard. "Also, there won't just be them but also clients of theirs as well. You never know…"
"I feel like you are grasping straws. Any straws that might work for you. And, just for your information, it isn't like I need potentially new customers. I do rather well…"
"Yes, but you always can do better," he threw my way. I hated this sales pitch. Mainly because my mother used this with me all day long in regards of everything. Business, money, houses and cars (pretty much anything that could be used to show off how well her daughter did) and most importantly husbands. My mother's favourite topic. Hers and aunt Mim's as a matter of fact. Vinnie and me were almost certain that our mothers had an ongoing competition who could get their child married off the quickest. Seeing as me and Vinnie were the only ones still single – and happily so, though, he maybe more than me – it was a favourite topic at every family gathering we showed up for.
"One hour," I finally said, knowing there was no way out of this. Both me and Vinnie can be quite stubborn and I knew I didn't have the stamina to prove I could I outdo him. So… instead of wasting hours of me saying no and him coming with more and more reasons why I should accompany him, I gave in. One hour couldn't hurt. And he better find me the most perfect Christmas present.
I saw him strike a pose, throwing a fist in the air and being generally happy that he had managed to wear me down. Or get his way anyway. I knew I'd repay the favour at one point or another.
So, two weeks after I had agreed on being his date, I shimmied myself into a little black dress and spent an hour on hair and makeup. Thrusting my feet into silver glittery heels and adding a fake fur jacket, I was ready to go, enduring this party for an hour and then hoping to return home to my couch and my Ghostbusters DVD. And maybe a bottle of red wine.
Vinnie knocked on my door almost at six on the dot and had a cab waiting for us, profusely thanking me once more on our way to downtown Trenton. He hadn't given me plenty of info, which in the end, I guess I didn't need anyway. It wouldn't make a difference.
The cab stopped in front of a rather unimpressive building in the financial district of Trenton. It wasn't bad, especially since most buildings in Trenton could be described as 'unimpressive'. A small placard at the door indicated that the company was called RangeMan. I had never heard of them, but than again I wasn't in the whole crime-security business. By the size of the building, we walked into, it seemed they were doing quiet alright seeing that they occupied the entire building with all of its seven floors.
"Name?" we were asked when we approached the front desk and Vinnie gave his name as well as the name of his company. There was an affirmative sound and the guy who had just asked for a name was looking through a rather large stack of papers. Maybe the guest list? Please not. That list seemed endless and would indicate a lot of people. Way too many people for my taste. Finally, he seemed to have found us – or Vinnie – and put a tick behind his name, indicating towards a set of elevator doors a second later.
"Fourth floor."
"Can we also take the stairs? I hate taking an elevator. Claustrophobia and the likes…"
Right. I remember that there was something that dented his perfection. His fear of closed, tight spaces.
The guy looked at Vinnie as if he wasn't sure what fear could possibly be. In all fairness, he didn't look like he was afraid of anything.
"Vinnie, I love you," I started when we moved towards the elevators and probably also stairs. "Taking a look at my shoes I'm certain you agree that there is no way I'll walk four floors worth of steps. No way in hell."
"How about I take the stairs and meet you in front of the elevators on the fourth floor?" he asked, pressing the button for the elevators and being gone a moment later. While I was somewhat athletic, I really wasn't insane enough to walk four flights of stairs voluntarily. But then again, I wasn't claustrophobic. Maybe that changed things quickly.
The elevator arrived within seconds and since no one else seemed to wait around for a ride, I pressed the button for the fourth floor and was at my destination within seconds. Of course, Vinnie was nowhere to be seen, seeing that'd probably take a bit longer then ten seconds to make it up fourth flights of stairs.
The elevator opened right onto the open floor where the party was already in full swing it seemed. Several sets of eyes looked my way when the elevator doors seemed to open, but went back to whatever they had done before within seconds. It only took me also just seconds to realize that this party was predominantly male. As a matter of fact, I seemed to be one of very, very, very few women in attendance. Lovely.
Vinnie arrived maybe a minute after I had gotten off the elevator and I might have felt slightly better. Had I mentioned that I really hated parties?
"Why are there so many guys?" I asked curious when he guided me towards where the party was going on. I saw him shrug at my question for a second.
"It is a very male-dominated field of work. Also, most people here are probably customers and therefore accounts – business owners and the likes. And the fact that most of the RangeMan guys are probably a bit intimidating to most women probably accounts for the rest."
"Intimidating? How so?" I asked, not sure what he was referring to.
"Big, bulky, tough-looking and they hardly smile, not that that's a requirement. But it probably scares the female clientele away."
"Stephanie Plum," a guy I had never seen before said, walking towards us.
"Have we meet?" I asked curiously, trying to place his face. He didn't seem familiar.
"Not really," he said, at which I stepped almost instinctively backwards, placing myself behind Vinnie.
"Then how do you know her?" Vinnie asked, seeming less then amused. I was wondering the same thing and hoped secretly it wasn't another case of that incident a few months back.
"I…I read an article about you in last month's issue of Business Punk," he explained, looking at me worried for a moment. "I'm sorry if I said something rude." And I let out a slow breath of air. Thank God. And then I remembered the article he was talking about. It wasn't a big, fancy, cover story article and barely contained more than a dozen sentences. So, being recognized for it seemed a bit odd, especially at a place like this. He also didn't seem like a typical Business Punk subscriber. Especially not with that big flaming skull tattoo on his forehead.
"I… no, no, sorry," I said, trying to get my mind back into the game. "It's not you, just…I had a bit of an issue with people a few months back and just get skittish when someone seems to know who I am, but I have no idea who they are," I explained and extended my hand a moment later. "I'm sorry. Stephanie Plum, as you already mentioned," I said, laughing slightly uneasy. I was bad at small talk, interacting with people, networking and general socialising. And this conversation just shows how bad.
"Calvin Hobbes," he replied, shacking my hand a second later.
"Nice to meet you, Calvin," I said, trying to relax enough to actually smile. It didn't really work, which I learned a second later when Calvin picked up on it.
"Whatever you are worried or afraid of, I can guarantee you …we're the good guys," he said and I tried to smile, but knew that even though I did, it didn't reach my eyes.
"There are plenty of assholes in the world as I learn anew every single day courtesy to my cousin. The guys he bails out prove to me that this world is going to hell. And maybe it is time for me to upgrade my security system." Never mind that this had happened months ago already and I got the best the market had to offer.
"I can certainly help you with that," a cheery blonde appeared seemingly out of nowhere. "I'm Lester," he introduced himself. "And whatever you need, I can get you."
"I'm sure you can," I agreed, relaxing instantly, which was odd. But there was something about this Lester that seemed comforting and instantly endearing.
"I didn't catch your name," he said with a soft smile when he held out his hand.
"I didn't throw it," I replied, putting my hand slowly into his.
"Meow," Lester remarked with a smile that seemed infectious. "You are one of these challenges, aren't you? One of the girls where you have to peel back layer by layer. You know, I'm really good at peeling. Onions, layers, clothes. Really good at it."
I laughed for a solid minute at his statement, before shacking my head. "Thanks, but no thanks. And I'm sure you are good at it."
"So, what gets you into our humble offices?" Calvin asked and I looked between him and Lester back and forth.
"Wait, you work here? Both of you?" I asked surprised. "Both of you?" I repeated just to make sure. I saw Lester and Calvin nod.
"You seem surprised," Lester remarked and this time it was me who nodded.
"It just… you two are so very different. And from what my cousin told me about this place I was expecting some sort of Men in Black or something. He's also what got me here. He needed a date for the party," I explained, motioning towards Vinnie next to me.
"You… two are related?" Calvin and Lester asked simultaneously, though with very different tones in their voice. While Calvin seemed surprised, Lester seemed relieved.
"Yes," I replied with a nod. "And I know, we look nothing alike. We get that a lot, I'm just too pretty," I said jokingly, not even sure where the hell that had come from. That was not me. Also, we did get that a lot, but mainly the other way around, that people said he was way too pretty to be related to me. I noticed how Vinnie next to me looked slightly amused my way, wondering probably the same as me: what the hell was getting into me?
"I didn't know you have a cousin as beautiful as her," Lester addressed Vinnie, which made him just smile my way and shrug.
"There's a reason I kept her from you," Vinnie finally just said with a wide smile and Lester looked less than impressed.
"Not cool, man," Lester just commented after a while which made Vinnie just sigh.
"I might have said she is my cousin, but she feels more like a sister to me. So… don't get any stupid ideas in that head of yours," Vinnie finally said, and it sounded slightly like a threat.
Lester looked offended and Vinnie tried staring him down. I knew that this could easily go on for a while, so instead of letting Lester and Vinnie battle it out, I figured I stop this before long.
"It was nice meeting you, Lester and Calvin," I just said, turning around and leaving. I wasn't sure where to really walk to since I had no idea about anything but figured that my departure at least sent a very clear message to Lester. Not interested.
I found a small bar that looked like it was put in place just for the party and ordered myself a drink, checking my watch to see how long I had to last. Vinnie found me surprisingly fast.
"For what it's worth, Lester is a really nice guy actually. Maybe a little to sure of himself, but a nice guy," my cousin said without any pause.
"A little too flirty maybe for my taste…," I commented and saw Vinnie smile at me.
"I never said he sits at home all night, reading a book. He probably has a new girlfriend every weekend. But again… really nice guy."
"Clearly," I just confirmed with a smile. "And before you try and set up something, remember you just indirectly threatened him a few moments ago."
"I don't try anything, Steph," Vinnie said with a smile. "But sometimes I wonder whether someone like Lester wouldn't be exactly what would could need."
"What could I possibly need from a manwhore?" I asked amused and not insulting really. Though, I was certain that Lester himself knew what he was. And probably took pride in it.
"Adventure," Vinnie said and I looked at him slightly surprised.
"I had enough adventure to last me a lifetime. So, thanks for the thought, but no thanks."
"I also don't think you need that kind of adventure," a voice behind us said. Turning around I was faced another person I had never seen before. Which wasn't surprising, seeing that I knew no one at this place, let alone the company. Though, looking at the stranger I couldn't help but admire him for a second. He was certainly handsome and strikingly beautiful, with mocha-coloured skin an impressive hight and a built that signalized he took really good care of himself. If I ever was interested in anything romantic again, he certainly ticked a few boxes on my imaginary list for potential boyfriends.
"And you think that because of what you just heard or because you think you know me?" I asked and saw him smile, showing off perfectly white teeth.
"Neither. I only say it because my cousin has a way of getting into situations with women that slowly manage to become complicated."
"Your cousin?" I asked, not really seeing a whole lot of resemblance.
"Distant," he offered with another smile and yet I knew they weren't as distant as he meant. "I also think you must be one of very few women who ever turned him down…."
"And he sent you over to make sure I know about his bruised ego?" I wondered amused and saw him smile.
"Not exactly. I need to enjoy this for a second."
"Ah, I get it. When the two of you hit the bars, he usually ends up taking the girl home you two fight over."
Instead of a reply he just laughed for a long moment, shacking his head almost in disbelief.
"Not wanting to sound arrogant, but if I was to go out – which I don't – I'm certain I'd take the girl home – if I wanted to, which I don't. Running a company like this requires a lot of time and partying all night long usually doesn't happen. Not for me, not that I miss it."
"You …run this company?" I asked surprised and looked at Vinnie for confirmation. He just nodded and shock hands with the guy a moment later.
"Good seeing you, Ranger."
"Glad to see you could make it. And that you brought a guest along," he just said, smiling at me when he mentioned the guest. "I'm Carlos by the way."
He held his hand out to me and clearly waited for me to take it and also give him a name.
"Nice to meet you, Carlos," I just said, reaching for his hand.
"And your name?" he asked, probably curious why I wasn't giving it.
"Shall remain a mystery for now," I answered and took a long sip of my ordered drink. Carlos looked at Vinnie as if expecting an explanation but Vinnie just shrugged. I didn't try to be difficult or extra mysterious, but I wasn't a big fan of handing out my name. Of course, that sort of contradicted itself with my profession and that a few papers, magazines or newspapers liked to run a story on me every once in a while.
Knowing Vinnie's line of work and seeing that RangeMan was a client or associate off my cousin, it wasn't tough to figure that they were in similar professions and therefore my name would probably be just a few clicks and keystrokes away.
Carlos seemed to be able to take the hint – something not a lot of men were able to do – and moved on in regards of conversation.
"So, how come Vinnie dragged you down here for the party?"
"I was his last option and he was desperate, making deals he soon might regret," I replied, seeing Vinnie next to me laugh.
"I'd probably say you are an upgrade to whoever he had intended to bring initially," Carlos said with a reply, taking a sip of his drink. "But I hope you at least don't regret cancelling on whatever other plans you had for tonight?"
"What made you think I had to cancel anything?" I asked confused and saw Carlos look at me confused as well in return.
"Well, saying Vinnie had to make a deal he soon might regret indicates that he needed an incentive to get you to come with him. So, I assumed you had other arrangements?"
"Um… well," I said, feeling slightly embarrassed. How do you tell someone your plans were staying at home and shouting out the outside world?
"Ste – I mean, my cousin doesn't like social gatherings. Of any kind. At all," Vinnie explained a second later, making me feel only more embarrassed. It wasn't like I wanted people to believe I was a social butterfly, but when you told someone, you hated social gatherings or going out in general most people had odd ideas about you all of a sudden.
"I hope we are not that bad of company and that we somehow managed to make your appearance a little worthwhile? I can offer to hit Lester in case his approach made you want to escape even more so."
I laughed at his offer for a solid minute and imagined him hitting an unsuspecting Lester out of the blue. That thought made me laugh even more.
"I appreciate the offer but it seems you more than made up for his antics," I said, smiling at him when I had regained control of myself again. Vinnie next to me just stared. It had probably been a while since he had last seen me like this.
"I'm glad I could be of some service," Carlos offered and afterwards we spent way too much time talking about all sorts of things that ranged from sort of private questions that I managed to dodge or answer as vague as possible without being too obvious to general questions that felt safe. Strangely enough whenever he did ask a private question and I managed to avoid answers as much as possible he always followed up with dozens of safe and general questions. Almost as if sensing I wasn't too comfortable. But than again, if you ask a personal question and don't really get answers, it might not be too hard to guess what to avoid: Personal questions.
"I get downstairs already and get us a cab. Meet you downstairs?" Vinnie asked, surprising me when putting his empty glass on a nearby table. I had expected to be the one calling it a night after the obligatory hour had passed, not him. Looking at my watch I however needed to realize that it hadn't been an hour since our arrival. It had been three by now. What the hell? I just nodded, turned towards Carlos and bid my farewell.
"It was nice meeting you, Carlos," I said, holding out my hand for a change.
"It was also nice meeting you. Maybe next time I might even get a name?" he joked with a big smile, placing his soft and warm hand in mine and then engulfing it with his second hand, sending shockwaves through my body. I turned towards the elevator after he released my hand and all of a sudden, felt like I owed him an explanation. I know I didn't and I usually also never talked about it, but something about him made me sad to leave in such a way and without at least a name. He wouldn't get the later one, but at least an explanation. What he made of it… was up to him. And again, I wasn't naïve and assumed he could get my name within seconds, seeing that he knew my cousin and therefore probably just needed not even to dig too deep.
"Earlier this year I had a stalker and things became rather… nasty," I offered and saw immediate worry in a lot of faces.
"I hope no harm came your way?" Carlos asked and I shock my head.
"Fortunately, yes. It just made me rather cautious in regards to people."
"I can see why. Do you mind me asking what happened?"
"In regards to what? How I got a stalker or how it ended?"
Carlos just shrugged. "Both I guess. But obviously it isn't any of my business."
I looked at Carlos for a long moment, trying to read him. Was he really worried despite never having met me before or was it just a curiosity that he needed to quench? He didn't seem like a gossip to me and rather someone who tried to get as little as possible into other people's business.
"Maybe a little clichéd, but it was an ex-boyfriend of mine who I had been dating way back in high school and all of a sudden after all these years decided that I was his one true love and only one. I mean… at least ten years must have passed since we split. A restraining order only helped… partially, since he was a cop and therefore had a few creative ways to keep tabs I guess."
"He was a cop?" Carlos asked surprised, looking like he already went mentally through a list of potential candidates. Maybe telling him any of this was a mistake. I didn't even know why I was doing this. Apart from my parents and Vinnie and very few friends no one knew about this. And my family only knew because my mother was so damn hell-bent to push me right back into his arms. So, in order to stop that from happening or him being all of a sudden a surprise guest at a family dinner, I let them in on a few things he had been up to recently. "I hope you are not talking about Morelli?"
Oh damn, he knew him. Why the hell didn't I keep my mouth shut?
"I… um…," I stuttered, not sure what to say. With my luck he would run right to Joe after I had finally managed to free myself of the delusions of him. Carlos probably saw the slight panic in my face since there was no way I could hide that after he had mentioned Morelli's name, since he went on before I could say anything else.
"He is the only cop I know that was let go recently, though stories about the reasons were plenty. And he has a rather nasty temper, so for your own benefit I hope it was someone a little more pleasant than him. But… judging by the way you reacted, I guess I was spot on?"
I just nodded, seeing no sense in actually denying it. What he said next surprised me by a lot.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. The few times our ways crossed professionally he had been a major pain in my ass, so I can't even try to imagine what it must be like to have him … stalk you. He is a rather unpleasant person."
"He got really creative; I give him that. But it seems like he has moved on – whether to a new victim or an actual girlfriend, I don't know, but hope for the sake of everyone it is the later one. And that I never have to see him again…"
"I heard he relocated to the Midwest or even West Coast. So, you might just get your wish."
"Let's hope you are right," I just smiled, feeling the lightness return. Not sure what it was about this guy, but he had a way about him. One that seemed non-threatening despite his rather impressive physique.
"You know... if you ever need a bodyguard let me know..."
Instead of a reply I just smiled at him, stepped closer and went up on my toes, pressing a soft kiss against his cheek.
"I appreciate the offer," I said, turned around and started to make my way towards the elevator. Vinnie had already seemingly started his descend to the lobby, being nowhere seen.
"Let me escort you downstairs if you don't mind," Carlos offered behind me and before I could even say a word the elevator opened and the two of us stepped inside. While I usually would try to keep my distance to guys I just met, there was something about Carlos that was strangely familiar, comforting and reassuring.
The ride down only took a few moments and was spent in silence, though it was not an awkward one and just felt perfect and right in these couple of seconds. When we were down, he held placed his hands on the door to keep them from closing in case we weren't quick enough and let me get off first.
"You worried I might be too slow for the doors?" I asked amused and saw him smile.
"I never take the elevator so I don't know how quick or slow these doors are."
"If you don't ever take the elevator, why do it now?" I asked curious and walked past reception desk, seeing the guy who had earlier asked for Vinnie's name stand up all of a sudden and looking like he might start saluting any moment now.
"Because you took the elevator," came Carlos' reply almost instantly.
He opened the first set of doors for me and was about to open the second one when I noticed him looking up for a second, smiling to himself and out of the blue I felt his lips on mine a second later. It was a soft, chaste and light kiss that didn't feel invasive or demanding and was more like a promise. He released my lips what could only have been two or three seconds later, smiled at my, touched my nose with his index finger and looked up.
"Mistletoe. I had to," he just said as an explanation which made me smile. My usual reaction usually was very different to a smile. But again, there was something so comforting and relaxing about this man that it made me throw caution to the wind for once.
He stepped back one or two steps, turned to the side and held open the second door to the outside where I already saw Vinnie waiting and pretending like he hadn't seen what had just happened. The smile I could make out on his face told me otherwise.
Before I could walk to Vinnie, who stood next to the cab and held the door already open for me, Carlos pulled me back once more and handed me a card a second later. A black business card, with very few information on it. Just a number on the back. That's all.
"In case you ever need to get in touch, that's my direct line," he said, pressed his lips against my forehead and was gone a moment later. By the way he had said it, I knew that not a lot of people had his direct line and I was in a very privileged circle. Walking towards Vinnie I got inside the cab.
"Maybe I won't owe you that favour after all and you owe me for once," Vinnie laughed and home we went. What an interesting night.
THE END
Post-A/N: My one Christmas wish? No one asking for another chapter or continuation. I know, it is a huge compliment if people ask for more, but it also adds a certain stress, knowing that there is someone or several someone's hoping that there will be more. Follow it and who knows… maybe next years Christmas? :)