“Present?” She hit the button to unlock the exterior door. “Why didn’t you say so? You know ‘present’ is the magic word.” Tipping her head close to the wood panel, she listened for the dull thud of the outer door closing and the click of the lock reengaging. Once it was secure, she opened the four dead-bolt locks and two chains as quickly as possible. Finally yanking open the interior door, she grinned when she saw the big box Chris was carrying.
“Out of the way,” he grunted, walking forward so she was forced to retreat a few steps. As soon as he was through the doorway, she closed the interior door, careful not to look at the outer one. Just the sight of that flimsy barrier between her and the outside world made her dizzy.
After refastening the locks, she turned toward her gift and its bearer. Chris had set the box on the kitchen floor and returned to the door to remove his boots. As Daisy hurried toward the mystery box, she stepped on a chunk of melting snow. With a yelp, she hopped over the remainder of what Chris had tracked in.
“I think the cows already escaped,” she said, watching through the arched doorway between the kitchen and the entry as he pulled off his boots.
He blinked up at her. “What?”
“Closing the barn door? Boots? Snow on the floor?”
With a snort, he unzipped his coat. “You’re a strange one, Daisy May.”
“You do know that’s not my middle name, right?”
“Sure.” He offered her a crooked grin. His bad mood seemed to have disappeared as soon as he was inside. “Daisy May is just more fun to say than Daisy Josephine.”
“If you say so.” She curled her fingers under the box’s cardboard flaps and looked at Chris, waiting anxiously for his okay to open it. When he waved a hand, a smile tugging at his mouth, she flipped the flaps over, revealing a sheet of bubble wrap. Pushing it aside, she spotted the flesh-colored torso and shrieked with excitement. “Grapple Man!”
Wrapping her arms around the dummy, she pulled him out of the box, scattering packing material as she did so. He was heavier than she’d expected, probably about fifty pounds, and Daisy grunted as she hoisted him upright. Looking at Chris, she saw he was wearing a proud grin.
“This is awesome, Chris! If I didn’t have my arms full of this marvelous specimen of fake manhood, I would hug you so hard! Where’d you get him?”
“The department upgraded, so I snagged this one for you.” He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “He needed a new sparring partner, and I figured you could use a training buddy for times when I’m not here.”
She was distracted for a second by the way Chris’s biceps bulged, stretching the tan fabric of his uniform shirt, and it took a moment for his answer to penetrate. “He’s the best present ever. Thank you, Chris.” She hugged the dummy, since the man she really wanted to hug was several feet away and didn’t always accept physical affection gracefully. “I shall call him…Maximillian. Unless…” Daisy looked over the dummy’s shoulder so she could see Chris. “Did you guys already name him?”
Smirking, he shook his head.
“Huh.” Bending her knees, she heaved Max over her shoulder into a fireman’s carry. “How could you have worked with him for years without naming him? It’s unnatural.”
“Unnatural? Naming some dummy you’re about to kick in the face is what’s unnatural. I’ll get him, Dais.” Chris reached to take Max, but Daisy spun out of reach, tottering slightly before catching her balance.
“We’re good.” She patted Max’s behind as she headed for the training room. “I can’t wait to practice my kicks on him. With the bag, I never know if I’m landing them in the right spot. Did I mention that this is the best gift ever?”
“I think you did a couple of times.” He followed her through the doorway.
“Well, thank you again.” She eyed the hook dangling from a chain next to the heavy bag. “That should be a good height for Mr. Max, don’t you think?”
“Looks about right.” Chris maneuvered the dummy so the ring at the back of his neck slid onto the hook. Max’s feet almost touched the ground.
“Perfect.” Eyeing her new piece of training equipment, Daisy excitedly bounced on her toes before turning back to Chris. “He’s so great. You’re so great. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
She couldn’t stop herself from reaching to hug him, but he dodged and grabbed her outstretched hands instead. Although she felt the usual dart of hurt, Daisy’s delight in Max was too great to be squashed so easily. She squeezed his hands, instead.
“You’re, uh, welcome,” he said, glancing away. Ever since she’d given in to a moment of impulsive stupidity and tried to kiss him a few months earlier, awkward moments had occurred between them on a regular basis. Daisy hated that.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, releasing his hands and turning toward the doorway. “I can make us some lunch.”
“That’s okay.” He followed her out of the training room. “I’ll just swing by my house and grab something quick.”
Disappointment settled over her, and she fought to keep her smile. “Since you used your break to bring me my new favorite man, the least I can do is feed you. Plus, then you can fill me in on all the latest Simpson gossip.”