Tuesday Tales: From the Word Leafy

Wow! Mid-September. Days are already shorter and cooler. This week, the authors from Tuesday Tales are writing to the word prompt LEAFY. I’m continuing with Naughty Rudolph, my Christmas Romance Comedy.

Rudy placed his hand at the small of my back , and I trembled.

“I’m sorry about that, Mara.” He led me up the stairs and turned right at the landing. “The family occupies rooms the other way.”

“It wasn’t your fault. I should’ve realized someone would notice it was a wig sooner or later. By the way, I may not be a cosmetician, but that shade of red isn’t your color.”

He reddened and swiped at his lips with the back of his hand.

“Hazel thought her future included me. I never agreed to any such thing and told her so. Unfortunately, she vented her anger on you.”

When we reached my room in the guest wing, he unlocked the door and handed me the key.

“Do you want to call it a day or are you really still on for tonight?”

Knowing that I would lose this battle if I didn’t make an appearance, I shrugged.

“I’m game, if you are. If your girlfriend is there, she won’t be happy with you.”

He stiffened. “Whether or not Hazel is happy is none of my concern. We had … fun together, I’ll give her that, but as your ex-boyfriend put it, we want different things. My daughter comes first. The woman who wins my heart has to win hers. So, are you still up for beer, a burger with that leafy stuff Molly puts on it, and karaoke?”

I grinned. If that was the way to his heart, I was off to a good start. Callie and I were already friends.

“Hell, yeah. I’ve never been one to let bullies win the day.”

He chuckled. “In that case, I’ll see you in the parlor at eight-thirty.”

“I’ll be the one wearing this sweater and dark hair.”

And, with Callie in bed, I could ask about my resemblance to his deceased wife because it was a given that a lot of people, including Hazel, had realized that.

As soon as he closed the door, I walked over and locked it. With more anger that I realized I still had, I tore off the wig and tossed it across the room where it landed on the seat of the rocking chair. I bent over and removed the pins and elastic I’d used to secure my hair in place and shook out my tresses. Then, I scratched my scalp until I was afraid it would bleed. Finally, I slipped to the floor and collapsed into tears. So much for my perfect vacation in Miami.

Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.