Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold #12.5)

Norman Boylan’s honor wasn’t in question. It was how he’d chosen to deal with his sons that Gabriel had a problem with. And that his mother had let her husband determine all the rules.

“I don’t want to lose you,” his mother said, tears filling her eyes. “Please tell me I haven’t.”

He drew her into his arms. “I love you, Mom. You haven’t lost me.”

It was the truth. He would always love her, but he’d found that love existed best from a safe distance.

“Are you going to stay in the army?” she asked.

“I don’t know.”

“For what it’s worth, I’d like you to get out. Settle down somewhere. Fall in love. Get married.”

“Give you more grandchildren?” he teased, mostly to distract her.

“Exactly.” Some of the sadness left her eyes. “I’m proud of you, Gabriel. You work so hard and you save so many soldiers. I know their families are grateful. But now it’s time to do what you want.”

“I like being a doctor.”

“We both know why you became one.”

He shrugged. “It was a long time ago. It’s what I know. And, as you said, I help.”

“I worry you would have been happier doing something else,” she admitted.

“I don’t.”

He’d chosen his path and there was no going back.

She rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, then straightened. “All right. I’ve kept you long enough. You need to get back to work. I’d hate to be the reason Noelle fired you.”

He chuckled. “I don’t see that happening, but okay. I’ll see you later, Mom.”

She nodded and kissed his cheek. While she got into her SUV, he turned and headed back for the store. On his way, an older woman waved him down.

“Young man! Young man! Could you help me with my packages?”

She had a couple of bags and a box. He eyed them, then her, before nodding slowly.

“Happy to help, ma’am.”

He picked up everything and walked with her to her car. But as he lowered the items into the trunk, he was careful to keep his butt faced away from her. Maybe he’d imagined what had happened yesterday, but he’d learned that in a place like Fool’s Gold, a guy didn’t want to take any chances.

Chapter 7

Once the sun went down, the temperature dropped quickly. Noelle burrowed deeper into her thick coat, grateful for the scarf she’d grabbed at the last minute. The sky seemed lower than usual, as if heavy clouds were pressing down on the town. She might not be an expert, but she would guess there was snow in the forecast.

She’d closed The Christmas Attic an hour early and raced home to change into jeans and winter boots. She’d barely finished tying the laces, when Gabriel knocked on her front door. When he’d mentioned the tree lighting and she’d said of course she was going, he’d offered to pick her up at six-thirty.

Not a date, she told herself firmly. If it was a date, that would mean they were dating. Thinking a guy was hot and wondering if she should sleep with him was very different than the whole “going out” thing.

Now, as they walked toward the center of town, she tried to figure out why the ceremony was so appealing to him.

“You don’t strike me as the tree-lighting type,” she said as they waited at the corner for the light.

“I heard it wasn’t to be missed. By the way, Melissa is great.”

“I know. When she came and asked if I still needed help, I grabbed her.” She laughed. “I actually clutched her sleeve and begged her not to apply anywhere else. When she was still in high school, she helped my friend Patience through the opening of her store and she was terrific. On time, friendly, a hard worker. She’s a dream employee.” She paused and glanced up at him. “Not in your league, of course.”

“Of course.”

Gabriel was bundled up, too, in a heavy coat and boots. But enough of his face was visible to remind her he was one good-looking guy. Those blue eyes, his mouth. Her gaze lingered on the latter. She sure could use another couple of kisses, she thought wistfully.

“Over there,” he said, pulling her hand out of her pocket and taking it in his. “Hot chocolate.” He guided her toward the stand setup and started to laugh.

“What?” she asked, seeing only a growing crowd and, in the distance, the looming shadow of the dark Christmas tree.

He pointed and she saw Ana Raquel manning the stand. “I know she’s going to ask me why I’m not married.”

“She’s too busy,” Noelle assured him, liking that a petite twentysomething made the sexy doctor nervous. “But if she says anything, I’ll tell her you’re a god in bed, and that will shift the rumor mill into a more acceptable direction.”

He winced. “I’m not sure I want that out there.”

“Of course you do. Doesn’t every guy?”

“Then I’d have a reputation to live up to. I don’t want you disappointed.”

She paused on the sidewalk and pulled her fingers free of his, then planted both her hands on her hips. “There’s an assumption.” She glanced around, then lowered her voice. “I haven’t said yes.”