Before Ecko could respond, Marcy appeared with their lunch and placed a salad before Ecko, dressing on the side, and set Joshua’s hot plate in front of him. Ecko noticed the woman wink at Joshua. In return, he gave the waitress a slight nod. What was that about?
Marcy left, and Joshua returned his attention to Ecko. “Others gave assistance. Someone even brought me a towel and offered me something warm to drink.”
Ecko realized she’d become tense. She relaxed as understanding dawned. The incident had happened just outside this restaurant. “I have a hunch that our waitress today was there to help you. Am I wrong?”
“You’re correct. I was a stranger to her, yet she offered me warmth when I was cold and something to drink when I was thirsty.” He took a swig of coffee, watching Ecko over the rim.
He’s a Christian. Ecko’s breath almost caught in her throat. “The parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew chapter twenty-five. ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”
His expression softened into something Ecko couldn’t read. “I’m—impressed.”
Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, Ecko looked down at her salad. “Would you say the blessing, then?”
Ecko shut her eyes and listened to the soft words of thanks as they rolled with feeling from Joshua’s lips. She slowly opened them to see him staring at her. His lips stretched into a small grin.
Lifting his fork, he said, “Tell me about the interview. It went well, I hope.”
Ecko jabbed at her salad, too nervous to eat. What was happening? Could she really like a guy she’d only just met?
“I feel confident that they want me. I’m waiting to hear back from them.” For the first time since hearing Daddy’s news she felt at peace. Things might just work out, after all. And though Daddy’s engagement could be the right thing for him, she almost let her concerns dampen her mood. One look at Joshua lifted her spirits again.
Before she realized it, she’d divulged her hopes and dreams, leaving out that she’d written for a gossip column. It had only been a stepping-stone, after all. Leaving out, too, that she was beginning to think the serious job she wanted in San Antonio could amount to nothing more than a tabloid. But again, she needed a job, and it would land her near her father.
She set her fork down, realizing she’d only toyed with her salad, the dressing on the side unused. When was the last time a man had made her so giddy? And to think, he’d actually listened to her, seeming to care about her life. Grim regrets of her brief engagement to Brennan flitted through her thoughts.
A new waitress came to remove their plates and offer dessert.
Joshua wiped his mouth then placed his napkin on his empty dish. “Where’s Marcy?”
The young woman smiled sadly. “She had a family emergency. I’m taking her place for now. Can I get you anything else?”
Lost in thought, he frowned. Finally, he realized the waitress still waited for his answer, and he looked at Ecko. “Would you like dessert?”
Ecko wanted to know more about Joshua. She didn’t want their time to end. Did he feel the same way? “I’ll have some if you are.”
He studied her, appearing more serious than she’d seen him since she’d watched him fall into the river. “I’m afraid I have to get back to work.”
“Oh.” The one word revealed her disappointment. Oddly, instead of wishing she’d hidden her true feelings, she wanted him to know.
“I think I’ll pass on dessert then, too,” she said to the waitress.
Slipping his hand across the table, he took hers. His gentle touch sent a current up her arm—something she’d never felt with Brennan.
“Eliza Connors, thank you for meeting me today. I enjoyed it.” He searched her eyes.
What was he looking for? The answer to his next question? Can I see you again?
“I did, too,” she said.
For an instant, Ecko thought he might lift her hand to his lips. The romantic current was definitely flowing. Instead, he released her hand and stood. He smiled down at her as he tugged on his cap and jacket.
Pulling a large bill from his wallet, he left it on the table and winked. “Take care,” he said then headed toward the exit.
Stunned, Ecko watched him leave. Was that it? One minute she was practically basking in his company, and the next he stood and walked away without so much as asking if he could see her again?
As if emptying the coffee cup could somehow douse her disappointment, Ecko drained the last drop for good measure. What had she expected anyway?
Wait. Wasn’t she supposed to pay?
Chapter 4
Joshua spent the remainder of the afternoon attempting to answer complaints as well as meet the demands of new customers. Though he had several crews to oversee, there never seemed to be enough hard-workers to meet the needs during the holiday season. Despite the hectic afternoon, a sense of pride and achievement swelled inside. He could easily have lived off his mother’s wealth like a spoiled son, but he refused her generosity, wanting instead to build something successful and meaningful with his own hands.
Though swamped with work, Joshua had not stopped thinking about lunch with Eliza. It had taken every ounce of his strength to keep from asking her to meet with him again. To ask her on a real date. But, he reasoned, his emotions were getting away from him. He was moving far too fast and feared he would scare her off. She’d simply agreed to meet him for coffee and, because she’d arrived late, offered to pay for lunch.
He chuckled, remembering that he’d been the one to pay in the end. Joshua searched the radio station for Christmas music while he drove.
There. A popular contemporary Christian artist sang “Angels We Have Heard on High.” That was more to his liking. Another angel came to mind. In two days, he would call Eliza Connors again. This time he would invite her to go shopping with him to find a Christmas gift for a special little girl.
Today, he’d learned that Marcy had been pulled away from her job as a waitress to care for her six-year-old granddaughter, who’d fallen ill. Marcy’s son, the child’s father, had left his daughter with Marcy while he was out of town. Marcy didn’t go into detail, but Joshua figured she had her hands full. Staying home from her job to care for the child would hit her already-limited finances hard. He would do what he could to help without making Marcy feel as though she was accepting charity. Somehow he knew she would flatly refuse his assistance otherwise.
Darkness had settled over San Antonio a couple of hours ago. He drove through one of his favorite neighborhoods on his way home to admire the Christmas lights. Depictions of the Christmas story decorating yards and business establishments never failed to inspire him and ease his tension. In a way, he believed he was part of a ministry to spread the Gospel by telling the story of Christ through Christmas lights.
Leaving the neighborhood behind, exhaustion began to lay hold of Joshua. Joining his mother and Tom for dinner was the last thing he wanted to do right now and, as it was, he would be late for dessert. He rushed home, showered, and called her to let her know he was on his way. Then he spent the remainder of the drive attempting to order his thoughts regarding Tom. His mother knew how he felt about the man, but she insisted that Joshua was wrong. Insisted that Joshua spend time getting to know Tom.
The most important thing to Joshua was his mother, and he would bend over backward if that’s what it took to keep Tom from hurting her. He would be there tonight, smile and be cordial to Tom, and at the same time, hope Tom would slip in some way, revealing the truth about his unfaithfulness. Though he dreaded seeing his mother hurt, he preferred that the truth come out before the wedding.
Guilt squeezed his heart. Could he consider his actions and thoughts those of one who claimed to follow Christ?
Create in me a clean heart, oh God.
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Parking his car in the circular driveway, he trotted up the steps onto the porch and slipped through the front door. His mother’s laughter could be heard in the den. When she saw him standing in the doorway, her face lit up.
“Joshua.” She seemed to float across the floor to him and kissed his cheek. “You made it.”
Tom stood. “Good to see you.”
“And you.” Joshua made his way to the settee where he took a seat.
The man smiled, but Joshua noticed his jaw working—tension that could easily be spotted if one knew where to look. Thanks to Marcy, Joshua now knew. And Tom’s tension? All the more reason to be suspicious of him. Why couldn’t his mother see Tom’s obvious aversion to her son? That should be a sign to her.
“I can’t stay long,” Joshua said.
“It’s your busy season; I understand.” She sat on the sofa across from Joshua. “Thank you for coming.”
Tom joined her. “Your mother hopes that you and I will have the opportunity to get to know each other better.”
His mother smiled and looked into Tom’s eyes. “Before the wedding,” she said.
Feeling nauseous, Joshua averted his gaze from their shared look. “That doesn’t give us much time, does it?”
His question prompted an idea. In fact, this could be the answer. A way for him to discover what he needed to prove Tom’s unfaithfulness. “Maybe you can join me one evening on the job. You don’t work during the evening, do you?”
“With the approaching holidays and wedding, I’m trying to tie up loose ends and still have time to spend with your mother.”
“And Tom’s daughter is in town,” she said.
“Yes, I’d love for you to meet her.” Tom rose and moved to stand behind the sofa.
At that moment, Joshua noticed the turtle cheesecake set out. He took a slice and poured himself coffee while he considered Tom’s suggestion. If Joshua had his way, Tom wouldn’t be around long enough to bring other acquaintances into the circumstances. He took a long slurp of coffee, enjoying the warmth to his gut.
Tom’s cell phone rang, and he looked at it. “Excuse me, I have to take this.” He answered and disappeared from the den.
When Tom left the room, Joshua’s mother visibly sagged. “What’s wrong with you? We’ve been over this already. I’m getting married. Accept it.”
“Everything is fine. I’m just tired.”
“You act so—cold and guarded.”
Joshua sighed, wishing his mother would be more guarded with her heart. He moved to sit next to her, leaving his cheesecake. “All I want is for you to be happy. You know how I feel about your engagement, but I’m here, aren’t I?”
She touched his hand. “I wish you would find someone to love.”
With the words, an angel named Eliza Connors filled his mind’s eye. Silver-gray eyes stared back at him.
His mother’s gasp drew him from the momentary vision.
“You have, haven’t you?”
“What?”
“You’ve found someone. Oh Joshua, I couldn’t be happier.”
“Why would you think that?” Now, Joshua felt his own jaw twitching.
“Haven’t you witnessed love in someone’s eyes?”
Joshua said nothing, but knew that he had. He’d seen it in his mother’s eyes when she looked at Tom or spoke of him.
“I saw that look in your eyes when I mentioned you should find someone to love. Who is she? Please, invite her over. I’d love to meet her.”
How could Joshua tell his mother that was the last thing he wanted to do? Fame and fortune had a way of changing the way people looked at someone—he’d seen that enough in his mother’s relationships.
No.
He could only trust what Eliza Connors might feel for him if she knew nothing about his mother’s fame and wealth.
Two days later, Joshua could hardly believe that he stood next to Eliza in the Rivercenter Mall. She’d agreed to join him to shop for Christmas gifts.
Blond hair catching the light, she held out a Madame Alexander doll. “Oh, Joshua. Don’t you think she’d love one of these?”
The doll’s face was framed with golden curls, and its eyelids slid closed when Eliza cradled it. She tipped it forward to hear a responding, “ma-ma.”
The doll’s cry elicited sweet laughter from Eliza. Joshua smiled, appreciating the warmth that stirred all the way to his toes. He wondered if he were going crazy, or if Eliza felt it, too. That first day in the restaurant, he’d been so sure she sensed their chemistry.
Joshua breathed in the scent of the doll store—a blend of new toys and women’s perfume—restoring calm to his thoughts. Planted as they were next to the large display that had caught Eliza’s eye, customers shopped around them as though they were store mannequins.
Suddenly, Eliza’s smile faded, and she slowly looked up into his face. All that surrounded him seemed to fade away as he held her gaze. What were her thoughts at that moment? Her lips appeared soft and expectant.
Without thinking, Joshua gave her a quick, gentle kiss. Watching her reaction, he smiled, unwilling to hide his pleasure from her. Still, he feared he’d overstepped.
Surprise shown in her eyes for an instant then was gone. She gave him a quick squeeze. “Well, regardless of what you think, I’d love to give her one of these. I had one when I was a little girl.”
Joshua risked a hug and relished that Eliza was receptive to him. “I think that’s fine. In fact, we don’t need to stop with the doll. Why don’t we spoil her?” He winked then led Eliza, who still held the doll, to the cashier’s counter.
He pulled his wallet out to pay for the item.
Eliza stepped in front of him. “Oh no you don’t. I’m getting this.”
“No, please. I invited you to help me, remember?”
Her eyes sparkled. “I was supposed to pay for lunch the other day. Besides, I really want to do this. Let me?”
How could Joshua deny this woman? He stood back while she went through the payment process. His mother had already mentioned she’d seen “the look” in his eyes. How would he ever hide this from her? He was in love.
Really—in love.
While Ecko walked the crowded mall, she admired the gorgeous Christmas trees covered in lavish ornaments and silver tinsel, and the colorful lights strung everywhere possible. Cheerful seasonal music was piped through the mall, and the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls drifted around her, making her mouth water. The Christmas spirit was definitely in the air.
Joshua carried their purchases, but she wished the doll wasn’t packaged in a box. How she’d love to hold it to her gently. It seemed that was the only thing missing, because she was happier than she remembered ever being.
His calloused hand was large and strong as he held hers. Odd. It had all happened so fast, but seemed so natural. She couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Being with anyone else. She’d never felt this way with Brennan, and, except for the quick comparison, Joshua had made her forget about her ex-fiancé. Despite everything that had gone wrong between them, she’d continued to harbor the hurt, as though she owed Brennan something, as though she still carried a remnant of the love they supposedly shared.
She glanced up at Joshua, his good-looking face the picture of contentment as he searched the store windows. The man stirred her heart in a powerful way. No, she’d never loved Brennan.
Ecko shopped in a perfume store while Joshua took their packages, including the doll, to his truck. Rummaging through the large display of scents, both old and new, Ecko stumbled upon a bottle of Giselle.
She drew in a quick breath. “Daddy,” she whispered. When he’d shared the news that his fiancée, Laura Kimball, was also the infamous Giselle Honors, Ecko could hardly believe it. She pondered that a woman of such beauty could have influence over Daddy, and perhaps that was the reason he seemed so in love, so eager to marry.
Still wary about Daddy’s engagement, Ecko had tried to convince him to wait if onl
y a little. But he would not be persuaded to postpone the wedding. Daddy wanted Ecko to meet Laura soon.
Lifting the perfume bottle from its position among many, Ecko held it gently in her hand. Would they have a tester? After searching through the displays, she couldn’t find one. Regardless of the perfume’s scent, Ecko decided to buy a bottle for herself.
After completing her purchase, she stood outside the perfume store waiting for Joshua and gazed at the books in the window display next to the perfume store. Strong hands squeezed her waist from behind.
“Eliza,” Joshua said into her ear. A delightful tingle crawled over her body. She turned to face him—his handsome face nearly taking her breath away.
How had she been so blessed to cross paths with this man?
“Eliza,” he said again and smiled. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
Eliza. Though she was accustomed to going by Eliza professionally, Ecko considered telling him her real name. As she gazed into his dark eyes, she realized the extent of her growing feelings for him—a man whom she’d only recently met. But if things didn’t work out, it would be easier this way. How many times had she wished that Brennan had never known her by her real name?—so messy was their breakup.
Suddenly he frowned. “What’s wrong?”
She flashed him a bright smile. “Now that you’re back, all is well with the world.”
He studied her, appearing unconvinced at first, then the crease in his forehead disappeared. “What did you buy?”
“Perfume, of course, what else?” Ecko pulled the box that held the bottle of Giselle from the sack.
If possible, Joshua’s dark eyes grew even darker.
Chapter 5
Something was wrong. Ecko sensed that Joshua had grown distant ever since he’d returned from putting away their packages. Gone was the light in his eyes and the easy conversation, zapping her joy and Christmas spirit. Joshua seemed preoccupied because within half an hour, Ecko found herself sitting in his truck as he drove her home. They’d ended their shopping spree too soon in her opinion.
A Riverwalk Christmas: Four-in-One Collection Page 3