LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Watch the tree!” Rose called as the men skittered across the floor, dangerously close.

      “Watch his right!” Beth called too late.

      They grimaced in unison when Jake’s fist landed solidly against the other man’s cheek.

      “Stop it,” Ellie heard Jake exclaim as he dodged blows as effortlessly as a professional. “I can explain.”

      “Thief,” Josh growled as he butted Jake with his head.

      The two men went sailing backward. Ellie heard Rose exclaim, “Oh my God,” a fraction of a second before the Christmas tree came crashing down.

      Glass shattered and several of the lights exploded in a series of multicolored pops.

      “Do something,” Beth whined.

      Ellie, thinking this was not an appropriate thing for her nephew to see, went into the fray and grabbed Josh by the back of his coat. “Stop this right now,” she insisted as she gave a hard jerk. It wasn’t her strength but probably the fact that her action caused his shirt to act like a noose. Whatever the reason, it earned her Josh’s cooperation. Instinctively she knew Jake wouldn’t continue the fight. With the exception of a few punches meant to deter the aggressor, Jake had gone out of his way to keep from hurting the bartender. Still, seeing his readied stance and balled fists, Ellie had no doubt that this man could pound Josh into a bloody pulp with little or no effort.

      “What is going on here?” she demanded as she watched Josh struggle for breath.

      Jake tested his jaw by opening and closing his mouth in an exaggerated action. “I was looking for something.”

      “Money?” Rose accused, one brow arched toward the mass of lacquered hair.

      “My money,” Jake corrected. “I had a special coin with me that he must have—”

      “Yeah, right,” Josh grumbled. “And to think I didn’t even charge you for the cup of coffee.”

      “Thanks,” Jake answered wryly. “But the point remains that I had this item with me when I came in—”

      “And you think that gives you the right to break into my register?” Rose said with a sneer.

      “I was out the door before I realized I didn’t have it,” Jake explained. “I thought you all had left so I simply went looking for it on my own.”

      “Call the police,” Beth insisted. “He’s probably wanted.”

      Jake didn’t even flinch at the suggestion. Instead, he took a moment to pull several strands of tinsel from the front of his jeans. “I can assure you, I am not a thief and I was only looking for something that belonged to me. If you don’t believe me, I suggest you check the amount of cash in the drawer. You’ll probably find that your cash drawer is exactly one cent over.”

      “You mean to tell me you were trying to steal a penny?” Ellie asked, astonished.

      Rose handed the wide-eyed little boy to Ellie as she went over to the register. After a few minutes she said, “He’s right. Nothing’s missing.”

      Again Jake didn’t react in any visible way. His casual, relaxed features piqued her curiosity. Of course, the fact that he was drop-dead gorgeous didn’t help, either.

      Remember Mike, she silently admonished. Though New Year’s Day was still two weeks away, Ellie had already made a resolution—no more alpha males. And Jake was nothing if not an alpha. It was apparent from the hard set of his jaw. This man fairly screamed arrogance bred of too much testosterone, and she wasn’t about to let history repeat itself.

      “So,” Beth began as she dabbed at Josh’s bloodied lip with a napkin. “Are we going to have him arrested?”

      Josh shrugged away from Beth. Ellie guessed the action was the result of having so many people witness his thrashing.

      “I should,” Rose huffed as she went over to survey the damage that was once her Christmas tree. She sank down to her knees. “Look at this!” she whined. “Do either of you two barbarians have any idea how long it’s taken me to collect these?”

      Ellie offered a conciliatory smile. “Maybe we can glue them together.”

      Rose grunted in response. “This one,” she said, holding up a fragment depicting part of a nostril, “was painted by a woman Elvis kissed in Germany. I have the certificate of authenticity at home.”

      “I’ll be happy to share the cost of replacing what was broken,” Jake offered.

      Rose glared at him. The hostility in her eyes reminded Ellie never to get on this woman’s bad side.

      “They aren’t replaceable,” Rose said.

      “Neither is my penny,” Jake said.

      Rose got up slowly, still clutching the small piece of the King’s nose in her hand. “Do you really think an Elvis Presley collectible and a penny are in the same category, Devereaux? We’re talking Elvis here. Much more important than a dead president cast in copper.”

      Jake moved then, drawing Ellie’s eyes to the definition of muscles where his well-worn jeans hugged powerful thighs. She shouldn’t be watching his legs, she admonished. Nor should she care that his sheepskin jacket hung from broad, even shoulders. It was as ridiculous as fixating on the fact that he didn’t just walk, no, this man swaggered with a pure male confidence that reminded her of an old movie hero. The kind that breezed into town, saved the day, then disappeared without a backward glance.

      “Hot,” Chad said as he wiggled in her arms.

      “Yes he is,” Ellie mumbled. “Rose, maybe your daughter-in-law can do something with the pieces. Isn’t she some sort of preservationist?”

      “Yes,” Rose answered. “But I don’t think Tory can fix all these in time for the holidays.”

      “So buy some new ones,” Josh suggested, a touch of annoyance in his voice.

      “You have no appreciation for the King,” Rose said. “If you did, you wouldn’t make such a stupid suggestion.”

      “Forgive me,” Josh said on a sigh. “I guess listening to his music hour after hour, night after night, has kinda turned me off the guy.”

      Rose glared harder. “You can always find another job. Hey!” she called out, turning in the direction of the bar. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

      Ellie followed Rose’s angry gaze and found Jake on his hands and knees, crawling between the bar stools.

      Jake looked over and Ellie was amazed at the mild annoyance she saw in his eyes. “I’m looking for my penny.”

      “To hell with your penny,” Rose said as she stomped over to the man. “Is it worth a fortune? Is that it?”

      Jake shrugged and said, “Not really.”

      “Then get up off my floor and get out of my place.”

      “As soon as I find my penny.”

      Without taking her eyes off the man, Rose said, “I’ll give you exactly two seconds to get out of here, or I’m calling the cops and having you arrested for attempted robbery.”

      “You don’t seem to understand,” Jake said in a calm but firm voice. “I need that penny.”

      “And I needed my Christmas tree. Out.”

      “It will just take—”

      “Josh,” Rose called, “see this jerk out.” Rose stepped back to allow an eager Josh access to Jake. “Consider your penny—if there ever was one—partial payment for the damage you did.”

      The two men squared off, and for a brief second Ellie was afraid another fight might break out. “Here,” Ellie

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