Right. Normally the idea of a quiet Sunday afternoon was alluring, but the idea of putting his tree up alone seemed rather depressing. And yet the ebullient Charlie seemed excited about the prospect.
“Sure.” He knew it was a lackluster reply. He really should go. But then there was the fact that this marked the official end of their date and he had to decide how exactly he wanted to leave things. With a simple good night? A hug?
A kiss?
She was standing close enough he only had to reach out a little to put his arm along her back and pull her close. She put up her hands and they stopped her progress into his arms, pressed against his chest as her chin tilted up …
There was no way he could not kiss that pert little mouth. He didn’t want to come on too strong so he tempered the heat that flared in him simply from holding her close, and took his time, sweetly exploring her lips as he held her body against his.
He let it end after a single kiss. He’d promised a date and nothing more, and he tried to keep his promises. Which was why he rarely made them.
“Thank you for the wonderful day,” he murmured, his voice husky in the silence of the foyer. “I hope we can do it again, Charlie.”
He nearly reconsidered as she ran her tongue over her lower lip, and he wondered if she could taste him there. “I hope so too, Dave. I had a good time.”
He was moving in for a second kiss when the baby started crying. They both froze in mid-move, and he was gratified to hear Charlie sigh. Did that mean she was as disappointed as he was?
“I’d better go,” she said quietly, stepping away. “Somebody’s not very happy.”
He got out of there while he still could, with the picture of her dark eyes and soft, kissable lips still in his mind. The whole drive home he wasn’t sure if he was happy for the first time in months or if he’d just made a huge mistake and if Daniel hadn’t just done him a huge favor. Despite Dave’s best intentions, he was falling for her.
*
Charlie stared at her decorated tree and frowned. The lights were fine, the garland looped perfectly, the ornaments sparkling in the sun that filtered through the windows. She should be happy with it, but she wasn’t.
She couldn’t stop thinking about Dave, the way he’d looked at her yesterday, how he’d kissed her good night, all soft and swoony. He was over at his place now, with his own tree and brand-new decorations. Was he feeling as lonely as she was?
It was the first Christmas she didn’t have any plans of any sort. Up until this morning she thought she was okay with it. But now, staring at the tree, she knew she wasn’t. There would be a present from her parents and one from Lizzie. She’d open them all by herself. And then she’d heat up a takeout turkey dinner from Breezes.
Tears stung her eyes.
“Enough of feeling sorry for yourself!” She said the words out loud and reminded herself that she was cozy and comfortable in a snug little cottage while there were others out there far worse off. She looked over at Daniel, on his back on a blanket, waving his little arms and legs and smiled. Well, maybe she wasn’t completely alone. She was falling for this little baby head over heels, and she had to remind herself that this was only a temporary situation. She couldn’t let herself get too attached … and yet she couldn’t seem to help it either.
She knelt on the blanket and played with the tiny fingers and toes, cooing to him in nonsensical syllables. He was still too little to laugh, and she kept looking for a smile. It wouldn’t be long. Days, maybe a week or two, and he’d show her that first smile. She’d looked it up …
Definitely getting too attached, but she couldn’t find it in herself to be sorry.
It was a beautiful afternoon, so after they’d both had lunch she decided they’d take a walk. The sun was out, and it made the snow and trees glitter like a fairyland. There was no self-delusion at work. As she pulled on her heavy boots and retrieved a hat and scarf from the tiny entry closet, she knew she was heading toward Dave, probably with an idea of giving him a hand with his tree if he hadn’t finished it already.