“Don’t.” Jenna gave her little push. “Get up there and talk to him, or I will.”
“Be my guest.” Amelia gestured toward the stage.
“All right.” Grinning, Jenna pushed back from the table.
Amelia looked over at Jenna’s husband. “Derek, can’t you stop her?”
Smiling wryly, Derek shook his head. “She’s a woman with a mission. She sees a chance to match you up with someone, and she’s not going to stop.”
As Jenna approached Scott, Amelia had second thoughts about suggesting her friend talk to him. What would Jenna say? They talked for a little bit, and then Scott appeared to be explaining something to Jenna. She looked out at Amelia and grinned with satisfaction.
Amelia’s stomach sank as Scott nodded to Jenna and headed off the stage. As he approached, Amelia’s heart danced. What did he want?
“Jenna was kind enough to give me a break.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve done that.” Maybe Jenna’s interference might backfire because Scott would think Amelia didn’t care that he’d been stuck on the stage all evening.
“You’ve had a lot of other things to think about.” Scott pulled out a chair and put his half-eaten meal on the table.
Amelia didn’t want to look at Scott for fear her eyes would give away her attraction to him, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. “Thanks again for all your help. I don’t know how to repay you.”
“I do.” He leaned a little closer. “When Jenna starts the next set I programmed, you can dance with me.”
Amelia’s breath caught in her throat. The thought of dancing with him made her tingle all over. She was a mess. First she’d been disappointed that they wouldn’t get to dance together. Now she dreaded the event, but she could hardly turn him down. She finally managed to take a breath. “Sure. Just let me know when.”
“I will.” He resumed eating.
Amelia sat there trying to think of something witty to say, but nothing came to mind. Her thoughts were consumed with the idea of Scott holding her in his arms. Maybe the song would be a fast one where they didn’t have to actually touch each other. She was tying herself in knots over nothing. One dance didn’t mean a thing.
“Ready?” Scott stood and held out his hand.
“Yeah.” Amelia steeled herself against her reaction to his touch as she put her hand in his. She could do this. She wanted to do this. She had to do this.
As Scott led her to the dance floor, the melodic notes of an old love song sung by the Beatles, “Till There Was You,” swirled through the room. Scott put an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I’ll try not to step on your toes.”
Amelia swallowed hard. “And I’ll try not to trip over my feet or yours.”
Scott laughed, and Amelia relaxed, all the tension draining away as they moved around the dance floor among the other couples. She let Scott and the music carry her away. She wanted to enjoy this time and not let worries crowd out the good feelings. Neither of them said anything, as if talking would ruin the moment.
When the song ended, Scott stepped away and smiled at her. “That went well. I didn’t step on your toes once.”
Her heart still dancing, Amelia returned his smile. “Really. You’re a very good dancer.”
“Must be those military balls I had to attend.”
“You were in the military?”
“Yeah. Army.”
Another slow song started, and Scott took her in his arms again. She had the feeling his short, abrupt answer to her question meant he didn’t want to talk about the army. Or maybe it was her imagination. After all, he mentioned it first. She had a lot to learn about Scott Graham, and she wanted to do just that.
The man made her heart melt, her mind race, and her stomach flip-flop. How had she let herself care for him so much in such a short time, especially when she didn’t know that much about him?
After another slow dance and several faster-paced songs that had them kicking up their heels, Scott looked down at her. “That was fun. Thanks. Now I’d better get back to my duties before this set runs out.”
“Thank you. It was fun.” Amelia watched him saunter back to the stage and wished the evening would have been different. But this way, she was saved from herself. Many more dances with that handsome man would have her falling for him.
Maybe it was already too late.
Chapter Seven
As the partygoers gathered their things, Scott helped the guys pack up the sound equipment. While he worked, he watched Amelia shaking hands with the attendees as they left. She had a natural way with people. The dance appeared to be a big hit, despite the lack of a live band. Even the mayor seemed pleased.
Scott had done what he had set out to do—help a damsel in distress and have several dances with said damsel. Nothing beat holding her close while they swayed to love songs. Now he hoped Amelia would see him as a big hit as well. He liked her. Liked her a lot. He hoped this budget thing wouldn’t stand in the way of getting to know her better.
Kissing her good night was already on his mind, but he’d better temper that thought. He couldn’t jeopardize the business relationship, but he was going to make sure they had another date. This time the date would be real. He would do the asking, and nothing would stand in the way of a kiss at the end.
When the last of the equipment was safely stored in the band’s van, Scott went in search of Amelia. He found her standing near the door as she hugged Lesley. Then both women raised their arms in a triumphant pose. “We did it.”
Scott stepped closer. “You sure did. It was a success.”
“Thanks to you.” Amelia placed a hand on his arm. “You saved the day.”
Scott smiled. One goal accomplished. “Glad to help. Are you ready to leave?”
“If you don’t mind, I have to make a few last-minute checks. Then I’ll be ready.”
“Take whatever time you need. I’ll be waiting right here. Lesley will keep me company.” As Amelia left, Scott looked over at Lesley. “Is she always this ball of fire?”
“Always. She wants to make sure everything is just right.” Lesley stepped closer and lowered her voice. “While I wait for Tony to bring the car around, let me give you some advice.”
“About Amelia?”
Lesley nodded. “She’s special—one of a kind.”
“I kind of figured that.” Scott wondered what Lesley was trying to tell him. “So what’s the advice?”
“She would probably kill me for telling you this, but she’s never had a serious love interest. So be nice to her. Don’t go breaking her heart.”
“What makes you think I’m out to break her heart?”
Lesley sighed. “I don’t know your intentions, and I know you’ve just met. Anyway, I might be way out of line saying anything to you, but she’s not sophisticated when it comes to romance. Do you understand?”
No. He didn’t understand. How was he supposed to take this advice? Back away? Proceed with caution? Sweep her off her feet? He didn’t want to seem like a dunderhead and ask. He wasn’t exactly experienced in the romance department himself. Honesty. That was his only play. “I plan to ask her out again. Is that okay with you?”
Lesley grinned. “Perfect. But I’ll be watching you.”
“Thanks for the warning. I’ll be on my best behavior.” Scott still wasn’t sure what to think about this conversation.
“You’d better be.” Lesley waved when a man appeared at the door. “Here’s Tony. Good night.”
As Lesley and Tony left, Amelia reappeared. “All set.”
“Not quite.”
Amelia gave him a puzzled look. “Is there something you need to do?”
“Yeah.” He took her hand. “Have another dance with my date.”
“But there’s no music.”
“You’re wrong.” He fished his phone from his jacket pocket and punched the screen a few times. Keith Urban’s “Making Memories
of Us” played from the speaker on his phone.
She smiled up at him as he set the phone on the nearby table. “You’ve thought of everything.”
Not everything. He hadn’t figured out why this was happening to him—why he had feelings for this woman so soon after meeting her. He wanted to make memories with her. Were those thoughts crazy when they barely knew each other? He didn’t want them to be. Despite his mixed-up life, he wanted her to be a part of it. Maybe his sister’s prayers were working on him.
Scott pulled Amelia closer, and she laid her head against his shoulder. Protective instincts toward her inundated him. She smelled sweet like Christmas candy and Christmas trees all wrapped into one. His heart thudded against his rib cage as she followed him across the floor. Could love happen this fast?
Why did he have to feel this way when everything about his life said, Don’t?
The song ended, and Scott didn’t want to let her go, but he had to, and his thoughts of love as well. He would have to sort this out, but not tonight. He looked into her hazel eyes. Was this all one sided? He didn’t want to search too hard. He might not like what he found. “Guess we’d better get out of here. We’re the last to leave.”
“Maintenance is still here. They’ll lock up.”
Scott offered Amelia his elbow. When she slipped her arm through his, a pressure filled his chest. A gamut of emotions washed over him as he walked her to the car. She was making him forget every reservation he’d ever had about love. Was he brave enough to act on his feelings? He had to think about something else, or he might explode right here in the parking lot. “What happens to the decorations?”
Amelia pulled her scarf up around her chin. “They stay in place until after the first of the year. There are other events that will use them.”
“Wise to get as much use out of them as possible.”
“Does that give me brownie points in the budget?”
“No talking business tonight.” Scott didn’t want to be reminded of the reason for this date. He opened the car door for Amelia. “Thanks for the last dance.”
A little smile curved her mouth as she settled in the car. “You’re very welcome.”
All the way to Amelia’s place, Scott went over scenario after scenario of how he was going to ask her on another date. By the time he parked his car in front of her apartment, his mind was cluttered with a dozen ways to ask her out again, and none of them seemed right. “Here we are.”
“Yeah. Thanks for being a sport and going along with the mayor’s suggestion and then helping us out with the music.” She put her hand on the door handle.
“I was glad to do it.” Scott jumped out and raced to open the door for her, then offered her his hand. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
“Thanks.” She placed her hand in his.
While his heart beat in overtime, Scott pointed to the nearby puddle of water and mud. “Watch your step. There’s a little water by the curb.”
“Yeah. A couple of years ago I slipped on some mud and broke my wrist. I don’t want to do that again.”
“For sure.” As they drew closer to the front steps, Scott summoned his courage to ask her out. “Hey, I had a great time tonight. I wish it could’ve been a regular date.”
“Me, too.” She fumbled in her purse and produced a key, then looked up at him. “Thanks again for everything.”
“I’d like to take you out again.” The words tumbled from his mouth as if it were on fire.
“I’d like that.”
Relief washed over him and put out the flames of his worry. “You have such a beautiful Christmas tree. Never mind that brochure. Would you be willing to show Lily and me where you got it?”
“I’d love to.”
“Great.” Scott took a deep breath. “I was thinking tomorrow after church. I’m going to try the church you mentioned.”
“Sure. That works.”
“I’d also like to take you to my sister’s annual Christmas open house tomorrow night.” He hoped he wasn’t overwhelming Amelia with invitations. “Does that work, too? She and her husband invite work associates, neighbors, friends, and family. They have a Santa for the kids, and it’s over pretty early, so we won’t be out late.”
“Sounds like fun. I’d like that.”
“Okay. How about lunch after church before we go to the tree farm?”
Amelia laughed. “It’s going to be a busy day. I can hardly wait.”
“Great.” Was that all he could say? Her agreement turned his thoughts into mush. Or maybe it was the thought of kissing her that made his mind mushy. To kiss her or not to kiss her? That was the question.
Before he could decide, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks so much for all your help. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. See you in the morning. Good night.”
“Good night.” His response was lost in the closing of her door.
He walked back to his car in a daze. She had kissed him. It was more of a brotherly kiss than anything else, but it was a kiss all the same. He had a good feeling about tomorrow.
****
As Scott brought the eight-foot Fraser fir through the front door of his row house, Jet barked. Amelia, who followed close behind, steeled herself against an automatic reaction to the sound.
“It’s okay, boy. It’s just a tree.” Scott looked down at the dog as he placed the tree in the stand he had ready. He looked up at Amelia. “Hold this while I tighten the screws on the stand.”
Amelia grabbed hold of the tree trunk and prayed that Jet wouldn’t bark again and cause her to drop the tree on Scott’s head. The trip to buy the tree brought home to her how much she already liked Scott and Lily. Why did she have to fall for a guy who should probably be off limits because of his work with the city budget? But the mayor had put them together, so what did it hurt? But she couldn’t let go of the idea that this might just be a disaster in the making.
After they got the tree standing straight, Scott smiled at her and lifted his hand for a high five. “We make a good team.”
“We do.” Amelia couldn’t help thinking of being on his team beyond setting a Christmas tree in a stand. Way too soon to have such ideas. The cautionary thought failed to take hold. She was in deep trouble, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to find a way out.
“I’m going to make some hot chocolate for us to drink while we get this tree decorated.” Scott motioned toward the kitchen.
“Sounds good.” Amelia looked over at Lily. “Shall we get out the decorations?”
Lily pulled boxes from the nearby closet. “This will be fun.”
The scent of pine and hot chocolate mingled in the air as Amelia helped Lily open boxes of Christmas ornaments sitting on the nearby coffee table. Jet sniffed around the bottom of the tree without barking and settled underneath it, as if he was guarding the thing. Amelia tried not to let his presence disturb her. She had to remember she had spent a whole night with him in her apartment, and everything had turned out okay. Dogs sometimes barked. She had to get used to that if she wanted to spend time with Scott and Lily.
Lily grabbed a gold ornament in the shape of a star from the first box she opened and promptly put it on the tree. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Managing to carry three mugs of hot chocolate with ease, Scott walked into the room. “It is, but you have to wait on the ornaments until I get the lights on the tree.”
“But I want to decorate now.” Lily put her hands on her hips as a pout formed on her mouth.
Scott set the mugs on the table, a lazy line of steam rising from each one. “First things first. You have to do it right.”
“Ornaments first.” Lily stamped her foot and looked at Amelia. “What do you say?”
Amelia took in the disagreement and wondered whether Scott had never had a Christmas tree before. Amelia didn’t want to get caught in this argument, but Scott was right. “Did you help decorate a tree last year?”
“So the lights were on first?” Amelia asked.
Lily scrunched up her face further in thought, then let out a loud sigh. “I guess so.”
“Let’s get out those lights.” Scott rummaged through a couple of boxes until he held up a string of lights. “Let’s see if these work. Lily, you can plug them in.”
Lily leaned over and plugged them into a nearby socket. The tiny colorful lights sprang to life, and she clapped her hands together. “They work. They’re so pretty.”
“While I put this string on, you and Amelia can test all the other strings in this box.” Scott started at the top of the tree and carefully placed the wires on the branches.
After all the lights were on the tree, Scott let Lily plug the final string in. The tree sparkled with a rainbow of colors.
“It’s beautiful.” Lily’s voice held a touch of awe as she stood between Scott and Amelia.
“Yes, it is. Now you can put on the ornaments.” Scott reached over and pulled out a little bell and handed it to Lily. “Remember this one? Your grandparents gave you this one for your first Christmas when you were a baby.”
Lily nodded as she placed it on the tree, then turned to Amelia. “They live far, far away across the ocean.”
Amelia looked over at Scott, a question on her lips.
“AnaMarie, Lily’s mom, was born in the Philippines. Her parents still live there.”
“Do they ever get to see her?” Amelia wanted to ask so much more, but maybe Scott’s slow, piece-by-piece revelations about Lily were for the best. Had Scott been married to AnaMarie?
Scott shook his head. “They don’t have the resources. Besides, they can’t make the long trip because AnaMarie’s dad is in poor health. Danny and AnaMarie traveled to the Philippines not long after Lily was born and then again a few months before…”
Scott’s voice cracked and trailed off into silence. Obviously he was having a hard time talking about it. And who was Danny? How could she change the topic of conversation? She picked up another ornament and wished she’d never asked the question.
Puppy Love and Mistletoe Page 8