“Then, yes. You can go get some traps and set them up around the house.” After Thomas left, he turned to Charley. “Happy?”
She couldn’t stop smiling. “Extremely.” The kitten squirmed and she walked out of the sunroom, waiting until Alexander was out to shut the door and put the cat down. Milly pawed at the closed door.
“Come on, kitty. I have a ball of yarn you can play with in the living room.”
As if she heard and understood, Milly started toward the living room. Alexander chuckled. “How did you do that?”
She gave him a silly grin. “I’m magic.”
He slowed. “I was beginning to wonder if you were.”
She sent him a questioning glance.
The smile faded from his face and he turned to her. She didn’t have much space in the hallway, and she ended up with her back against the wall, looking up at him. He slowly reached out and touched her cheek.
Charley tried to calm the panic rising in her. Was he going to kiss her again? Was he going to tell her he loved her and then take it back, like he did before? And why did she find herself almost wishing he would?
That was crazy. She wasn’t in love with him. She just had a silly crush. Well, a big crush. He was handsome and enigmatic. She was attracted to him in an insane way. But love? No way. It couldn’t be.
His finger trailed down her jawline. “You brought Christmas back into my life.”
Oh. Was that all? And was that disappointment that weighed on her chest? She let out a breath that she didn’t realize she was holding. “That wasn’t me. You’re the one who decided to let me decorate. And bake cookies.”
“It’s more than just the tinsel. You brought something back into my life that I was missing.”
That, too, wasn’t her. He was getting into the Christmas spirit. He wasn’t falling in love with her. He was feeling the warmth of this special time of year. She forced a smile. “You’re welcome.”
He paused before stepping back and putting his hands behind him. “You are pretty amazing.”
“You’ll be happy to know, then, that I should be able to finish up the garage tomorrow.” The words were out before she could stop them, and she pinched her lips together. She wasn’t going to tell him that. She was going to wait until after Christmas to finish.
Alexander raised his eyebrows at her. “Really?”
Great. Now she was stuck. She had to tell him. “Yes. I only have a few more boxes to go through.”
“Oh.” He scratched at his chin. “Then will you leave tomorrow?”
Did he want her to leave? She’d been hoping to stay for Christmas, but now with him asking if she was going to leave, she wasn’t sure if she was invited. Trying to decide what to say, she shifted her weight. “Um…”
“I mean, you don’t have to leave. If you don’t want to. You could stay another day. So you’re not spending Christmas in an airport.” He dipped his chin and broke eye contact.
Relief flooded through her. He did want her to stay. “I will leave after Christmas.”
He smiled at her. “Good. Because I want to see you open your presents.”
That evening at the dinner table, Alexander called Dorothy and Thomas to the table. He stood. “I would like us all to have Christmas dinner together. Then I would invite you to the living room to open presents.”
Thomas looked like his eyes were going to pop out of his head. Dorothy smiled and nodded her head. “That would be lovely.”
“Thank you. You are dismissed.”
After they left, Charley smiled at Alexander. “You’re turning into an old softie.”
He chuckled. “Am I?”
“I think so. Keep going down this road and soon you’re be a regular nice guy.”
He dipped his spoon in his chicken noodle soup and raised one eyebrow. “We wouldn’t want that now, would we? I mean, it would ruin the whole vibe I have going on here.”
Milly scampered into the room, batting the ball of yarn Charley had given her, leaving string along the floor as she went. Alexander’s gaze followed the kitten as she ran after the ball under a chair leg, then through to the other side. She continued to hit the ball until it rolled into the kitchen.
“You will clean that up, right?”
Charley giggled. “No, I thought I’d use it to create a maze and hide your present at the end of it.”
“Not a bad idea.”
She hid her smile as she ate a bite of noodles and chicken. They ate for a few minutes before Charley couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?”
“Nope.” He went back to his soup, but then he paused. “But I bet you do.”
“How did you guess?”
“What are they?”
“We always ate shrimp cocktail and beef stroganoff.”
He laughed. “What? I would have thought you’d eat ham or something.”
Charley shrugged and stirred her soup. “That’s my father’s favorite. And my mom loves to make it for him.”
“What else?”
Thinking about Christmas Eve with her family was making her miss Florida. She swallowed back the homesickness. “We always bought a gift basket for a family in need. We’d fill it with fruit and some gifts for the kids. On Christmas Eve we would deliver it to their doorstep, ring the bell and run away.”
Alexander’s expression softened. “That’s sweet.”
“It always made me feel so good to do something nice for someone else anonymously. It helped me get into the holiday spirit.”
“Would you do anything else on Christmas Eve?”
Charley thought about it. “Not really a tradition, but we’d often watch a Christmas movie before bed.”
“Sounds nice.”
Charley smiled at him. “Yes. It was.”
Chapter 20
Alexander awoke the next day with an energy he hadn’t had in a long time. He talked to Dorothy last night. He wanted to surprise Charley with her family’s Christmas Eve traditions, and Dorothy was on board. But in order to accomplish everything, he had to take a trip into town.
His first stop was the church. He hadn’t stepped foot in it in over two years. It felt good when he walked in the door. His next stop was the store. It took a while, but he found the perfect basket and filled it with food and other things, then had them wrap it in cellophane and put a bow on it.
It took him longer than he’d expected, but he was back by three in the afternoon. As he pulled up, Charley was loading a box into the back of his truck. She waved at him as he parked his car and got out. “Merry Christmas Eve.”
He chuckled. “Merry Christmas Eve to you too.”
“I just finished the last box. I’ll take this last load into town and then sweep up. Looks like you have three boxes for the auction.”
He nodded. “Okay. Do you mind if I go with you to town? I have a delivery I’d like you to help me make.”
She only paused a second before covering her surprise with a smile. “Sure.”
While she was inside getting her purse, he hid the gift basket he’d purchased in the back of the truck. When she came out, he opened the door for her and held out his hand to help her up. When she had trouble climbing in, he chuckled. “Do you want a step-stool?”
She gave him a dirty look. “Hey, no making fun of my height—or lack of it—on Christmas Eve.”
He put on an innocent face. “Just trying to help.”
“Sure.” She stuck her tongue out, but a smile flitted across her lips.
He got in the driver’s seat and turned on the engine. “First, we’ll go drop these boxes off at Goodwill. Then we’ll run my errand.”
“Sounds fine.”
When he pulled up to the back of the building, he turned to her. “I’ll unload the truck. You sit tight.”
“No, I can help.” She unbuckled.
He did not want her to see what he’d hidden in the truck bed. “Stay. I’ll get it. You can listen to Christmas music.” He turned on the radio
and that did it. She grinned.
“All right.”
He got out and unloaded the boxes. When he got back in, she was singing along to “Santa Baby,” which was perfect because her socks today were red with black buckles, making them look like Santa’s belt.
“Okay. Let’s go run my errand.”
“Where are we going?”
He shrugged and tried to look innocent. “Nowhere special. Just have to deliver something.”
She crossed her legs. “That’s fine.”
As he drove, she sang to the radio. He followed the directions that the pastor had given him this morning and pulled off the road into a neighborhood. As he pulled up to the white house, Charley looked out the window. “Is this it? What are you doing?”
“We’re delivering a Christmas basket to a family in need.”
Charley stared at him, her eyes getting wide. “Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“This house?” She pointed.
“Yes. They have three kids and the father just lost his job.”
She waved her hands frantically. “Well, don’t stop in front of the house! They’ll see us! Hurry, go.”
He pulled back out into the street. “I didn’t know. I’ve never done anything like this before. Where should I park?”
Charley giggled, growing animated. “Turn the corner, then park a block away. And we really should have done this at night so there’s less chance of being spotted, but since we’re here, we’ll do it now.”
He hadn’t thought about the time of day. “Oh. Sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s really sweet you’re doing this.” She pointed to the curb. “Okay, pull over here.”
He stopped the car and turned off the engine. “I’ll get the basket. You go run it to the door.”
She shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m not doing this alone. You’re coming with me.”
“What?” He hadn’t thought he’d be doing the ding-dong ditch. “Why?”
“Because that’s the fun part. Come on.” She hopped out of the truck and he followed suit. He lifted the basket out of the back of the truck and Charley clapped her hands. “That looks amazing!”
“I wasn’t sure what toys to put in it, so the pastor helped me. They’re just little things, but I also put a gift card in there so the parents can get them what they need.”
Charley looped her arm around his. “It’s perfect. Let’s go.”
They walked down the sidewalk and turned the corner. When they were in front of the house, Charley ducked down and tugged on his arm. “Don’t let them see you out the windows.”
He wasn’t sure how crouching down was going to make them not see him, but he did it anyway. They ran up the porch steps and he set the basket down. Charley rang the doorbell, then she grabbed his hand and they ran down the steps.
As they turned the corner, they heard a little kid yelling, “Hey, someone left this on our porch.”
Charley giggled and they ran to the truck. She opened her door and he helped her climb in. When he was in the driver’s seat, she turned to him, her eyes moist. “That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
His throat tightened as his emotions swelled. They’d just helped someone else, yet she was grateful for what he’d done for her? She was an amazing woman. “It was nothing.”
“No.” She put her hand on his. “You went through a lot of trouble, just to give me the opportunity to not miss out on this Christmas Eve tradition. That was really thoughtful of you. And I know it’s going to mean a lot to that family.”
He wasn’t sure how to respond, so he just tossed her a smile and turned the steering wheel, pulling out into the street.
“This is going to be a wonderful Christmas Eve.”
Charley couldn’t believe Alexander had set that up. He’d even talked to a pastor from a church to find a family in need. She was astounded. He did all of that to make Christmas Eve a special day for her. She tried not to sit there in the truck grinning like a fool, but it was difficult. He’d made her so happy.
When he pulled up to the house, he opened the garage and started pulling in. “Hey,” Charley said. “I still need to sweep in there.”
“You can sweep another day. Dorothy will have dinner on the table soon. Besides, I want to enjoy my garage. I haven’t been able to park in here for over a year.”
“Okay.” They got out of the car. When Charley entered the kitchen, the smell hit her and her heart swelled. “Are you making beef stroganoff?”
Dorothy nodded. “Yep. A special order from the master of the house.”
Charley turned to Alexander and threw her arms around him. “You did this for me too?”
He smiled, his laugh lines crinkling. “I didn’t know I would get such a reaction.”
She let go of him, suddenly embarrassed with the way she’d thrown herself at him. “Sorry. I’m just excited.”
“Then let’s see what you do when you find out about the shrimp cocktail.” He gave her a devilish grin and her heart stuttered a bit in her chest. Why did he have to be so handsome?
“Get. Out,” Charley said, hitting his arm playfully.
“They’re chilling in the fridge,” Dorothy said.
“You guys are the best.” Charley gave Dorothy a kiss on the cheek.
“I just thought since I didn’t have any Christmas Eve traditions, that we’d take on yours.”
“Then I guess we get to watch a Christmas movie tonight?”
Alexander nodded. “Whatever movie you want.”
“Even Die Hard?”
He made a face. “Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie.”
“I beg to differ.”
“I guess you can pick whatever you want,” he said, shaking his head. “We can stream it.”
She grinned at him. “I’m feeling the power.” She turned to the cupboard. “Do you need me to set the table, Dorothy?”
“That would be nice, dear.”
Alexander reached up and grabbed the plates from the cupboard. “I’ll help.”
Charley pulled open the drawer to get the silverware. As they set the table, she watched him. The change in him over the past nine days had been astonishing. When she first arrived, she didn’t think he’d ever smile. She wasn’t sure he was capable of laughing. And now, to look at him, he wasn’t the same person. He had a different countenance. And it made him even more hot. She had a hard time being in the same room with him without going weak in the knees. He could totally get a job as a fashion model.
He raised his eyebrows at her as he set down a plate. “What?”
Ooh, he caught her staring. Not cool. She casually walked around the table. “Nothing. Just thinking.”
“About me?”
Now what was she supposed to say? It had to be obvious. She was staring at him. She could feel her cheeks turn pink. “Maybe.”
“Good thoughts, I hope.”
Her face flamed. Maybe she should change the subject. “Yes. How about those Yankees, huh?”
He gave her a weird look. “I don’t follow sports.”
“Neither do I,” she said under her breath. “Is it hot in here? Because I’m a little hot.”
“I can adjust the temperature.”
“No, I’ll be fine.” She fanned her face. She just needed to stop staring at him and thinking about how good-looking he was. That’s all.
Charley was able to control herself better during dinner. The food was delicious, as usual, and she gave Dorothy a huge hug afterward for being such a dear to make her family’s traditional meal. Then she and Alexander went down to his basement to watch a movie.
“Have you picked what you want to watch yet?”
“Let’s see what’s on Netflix.”
Alexander sat down on the couch and picked up the remote. She sat next to him and tucked her legs under her. He scrolled through the holiday movies until Charley pointed to the screen. “That one.”
&nbs
p; “Elf?”
“Yes. That’s the one. Haven’t you seen it?”
“Nope.”
“Then we definitely have to watch it. You’ll love it. You’re a funny movie guy, and this one is the funniest.”
He grabbed the fleece blanket and put it over her before he clicked to turn on the movie. She snuggled into it. “Thanks. How did you know I was cold?”
“It’s chilly in this basement.”
“Do you want some of the blanket?” She didn’t wait for his answer but put half of it over him.
“Thanks.”
The movie was hilarious, but before she knew it, the early morning got to her and her eyelids began to droop. The next thing she knew, the room was silent and she was laying on something warm. Had she fallen asleep? She must have. She had that sleepy foggy head thing going on.
Where was she?
Oh, no. She remembered she was in the TV room. And the only thing she could be laying on was Alexander. She opened her eyes and he smiled at her, his arm on her shoulders. “Have a nice nap?”
She opened her mouth to answer when she felt something down the side of her chin and she froze. Dear heavens, it couldn’t be, could it? Had she drooled? Please, no. Not that. She casually wiped her chin. Mortification heated her cheeks. It was, indeed, wet. She prayed he hadn’t seen the disgusting drool slipping down her chin. “Sorry. I didn’t realize how tired I was.”
“That’s okay. I didn’t mind being your pillow.”
She looked to make sure she hadn’t left a puddle of drool on his shirt. Luckily, there was nothing there. She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Did you like the movie?”
“It was great. Thanks for suggesting it.” He looked like he was holding back a chuckle.
She chose to believe he was laughing about the movie, and not the slobber on her face.
Chapter 21
Alexander paced in his bedroom, a dress shirt and a sweater on his bed. He had no idea what to wear. It was Christmas day. He’d put on his navy blue slacks, but he wasn’t sure if he should dress up or not. Charley seemed to like it when he dressed casually, but he didn’t want to be too casual on a special day. He scratched the back of his neck, undecided.
A Christmas Collection: Four Sweet Holiday Romances Page 24