Her jaw dropped.
You all right? David narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her.
Oh, please, please, dont let him be able tell. Did he know her well enough to guess that she was unbelievably, unmistakably aroused? She was mortified. Was she one of those emotionally stunted people who only wanted someone they couldnt have? Why was she having this inconvenient reaction now?
Maybe it was a Pavlovian response. After all, he was the only man shed been with in years, and her body hadnt yet adjusted to the idea of never touching him again. Never kissing him, never waking in his arms, never-
Hildie barked, mercifully interrupting the mental tangent. Circling the dog, Rachel spoke in a nonstop, cajoling murmur, forcing herself to stand patiently as Hildie got closer. Inch by irritating inch. Rachel waited until she knew with absolute certainty that victory was in her reach before she pounced, catching the wiggling puppy in her hands. Hildies brown eyes were wide as she licked Rachels cheek.
Dont bother with the cute, Rachel warned. You are in big trouble, young lady.
David met her halfway, giving her the other leashes along with a curious once-over. So, youre settled in okay at Winnies?
Rachel nodded. Yeah, Im good.
Really?
No, not really. But she had to learn how to stand on her own two feet again. She moved her shoulders in a noncommittal shrug.
He bent at the waist, doing a few stretches in preparation for resuming his run. Well, maybe well meet like this again.
She laughed ruefully. I hope not! Somehow I dont think morning walks are going to become a habit.
Guess not. His smiled had faded. See you at my parents on Friday?
The whole family was gathering to trim the Christmas tree. She could make an excuse to get out of it, except shed skipped it last year. As she recalled, that had been the day shed learned she wasnt pregnant-again-and the thought of pretending to be in a festive, holiday moodNot that this would be her most festive year, but it would be her last Christmas as a Waide. Was it selfish to want these final precious memories, to store them away in a mental scrapbook?
Maybe one day she could reexamine those memories and remember just the warmth and good times, without the paralyzing grief.
Ill be there, she said. Theyd also see each other on Saturday, but thered be a bigger crowd at the party for Lilah and Tanner so maybe it wouldnt be too awkward. Who are you kidding? Shed be attending a couples shower with her estranged husband.
Ill be there, she said. Theyd also see each other on Saturday, but thered be a bigger crowd at the party for Lilah and Tanner so maybe it wouldnt be too awkward. Who are you kidding? Shed be attending a couples shower with her estranged husband.
David nodded. See you this weekend, then.
As he started off again, she added, Thanks for your help. Im grateful our paths crossed.
He smiled over his shoulder, but didnt answer. She stared after his back, wondering how he felt.
Down the road, would he be glad that their paths had crossed five years ago, that hed overcome her laughing protestations that she was only in town for a short while and had no plans to get involved with someone here? Or would he end up wishing hed simply stayed on his side of the street and let the woman from South Carolina pass by without disrupting his life?
DAVID GRIMACED as he reached for the canister of coffee high in the supply cabinet. His sore muscles protested. Maybe he didnt need caffeine that badly after all. Maybe what he needed was to stop pushing himself as if he were an indestructible kid half his age. After his encounter with Rachel, hed sprinted a double circuit through the subdivision, trying to outrun the effect of seeing her.
Shed looked disarming and maddeningly adorable, all bundled up. Her eyes had been bright, almost silvery, and spots of color had livened a face that had been far too pale for far too long. This morning shed reminded him of the woman hed married, not the much quieter, pinched version shed become. Seeing the improvement one night had made, he was forced to conclude that shed been right-she was better off without him. A groan of enraged despair rumbled in his throat.
David? His mothers voice, lilting in question, startled him. Hed thought he was alone in the employees-only hallway behind the store.
Mom. His arms dropped quickly to his sides, as if shed caught him reaching for forbidden cookies. I didnt know you were in this morning.
Brought over some more ornaments for Ari to display. You do a great job running the store, just like your father always has, but neither of you excel when it comes to decorating for the customers.
Decorating. He thought about his house, which was completely devoid of holiday cheer. Their first year of marriage, Rachel had barely waited for Thanksgiving before she started asking if it was too soon to put up Christmas lights. Shed seemed so happy then, as hed promised her shed be if she moved here to Mistletoe, enthusiastic to build their life together.
Susan brought him back to the present. Why were you growling in the hallway?
I, uh, cant reach the coffee.
She skewered him with a raised eyebrow, then turned to open the janitorial closet behind her, revealing a small step stool that hed known perfectly well was there. God knows I love your brother and how spirited he is, but he was the one more likely to stubbornly pursue the impossible with no real plan on how to achieve it. You were the solution-finder.
Really? Because David was fresh out of solutions. Feeling foolish, he picked up the stool and retrieved the coffee. Lack of caffeine makes me grouchy. And stupid.
Susan Waides gaze was steady, all-knowing in that way mothers have. Want to tell me whats really wrong?
Thanks, Mom, but its nothing that can be fixed with a step stool.
You and Rachel?
His pulse pounded. How much of the truth had she guessed? Is it that obvious that wevehit a rough patch?
Oh, darling. She ruffled his hair, even though she practically had to stand on tiptoe to do it. I cant imagine how difficult it was for her to lose that baby, but shes been withdrawn for months. And youve been tense, short-fused. Not at all the boy I know.
He missed the man hed been, the one who had never questioned his wifes love and their ability to work through any problem.
Every couple has difficulties, Susan continued. Lord knows your father and I have. Its healthy even. Once you work through to the other side, youll be stronger for it.
He opened his mouth, then closed it. His biggest fear was that for him and Rachel, there was no other side. I shouldnt have let her go. He could have convinced her to at least sleep on it or maybe see a counselor together. Would fighting for her now be the right thing to do or merely the selfish?
Mom. He hugged his mother, his voice ragged. It was nearly impossible to spit out the question. What if-what if I cant fix this?
Nonsense. Youre my son. Besides- she smiled up at him -youre forgetting that its Christmas. The season of miracles.
HEREYA GO, Chloe. Rachel passed the box of business cards over the counter. Why dont you take a peek at the first few and make sure theyre to your satisfaction?
Oh, Im sure thats not necessary. Chloe Malcolm glanced at the sample card stapled to the outside of the box. You always do a great job.
Once, Rachel had helped create regional ad campaigns for a major company. Now, it was an exciting day if she got to help someone lay out business cards-except that Chloe, who ran her own small company as a Web designer, rarely needed help. Shed brought in her file on CD, all ready to be printed. There was nothing at work challenging enough to distract Rachel from her embarrassing encounter with David earlier. Of course, there was the special project she should be working on for Lilah and Tanners rehearsal dinner, but she doubted that would improve her mood.
Rachel shook her head. You couldnt even have left a formatting error I could resolve?
Pardon? The brunette blinked at her.
Dont mind me. Midday blahs, she told Chloe. Im waiting for May to come back so I can take my lunch break. To tell you the truth, the day so far has been pretty monotonous.
Not too much action going on in Mistletoe, huh? Chloe sounded wistful, which was surprising. Gifted with computers, the young woman was also incredibly introverted; shed always given the impression she might panic at the first sign of action.
They both glanced reflexively toward the door when it opened, and Rachels co-worker May Gideon swept inside, accompanied by a winter-edged breeze. The pungent odor of a fried fish sandwich wafted from Mays white paper bag, and Rachels gut clenched. Her hand shot to her mouth.
Whoa. Chloe was blinking again. You look really pale.
I, uhI- Terrified that she was about to humiliate herself far worse than she had that morning with the runaway puppy, Rachel bolted for the employee restroom. After splashing some cold water on her face and taking a couple of deep breaths, she managed to quell the intense nausea. It was gone almost as suddenly as it had come. Still, she waited a few minutes to make sure.
When she returned to the front of the print shop, she saw that May had completed Chloes transaction and was now arguing with Mrs. Nugent, who wanted them to make a personalized photo calendar as a Christmas present for her mother, but refused to accept that they werent allowed to reproduce copyrighted pictures of her kids.
After what that studio charged me for the darn things, I should be able to wallpaper my whole house with them if I want to!
Mays patient expression didnt waver. So long as you understand that we cant print the wallpaper for you.
This seemed like as good a time as any for Rachel to take her lunch hour. With a guilty half wave in Mays direction, she crept toward the door, not wanting to get caught up in Mrs. Nugents righteous indignation over the highway robbery of professional photography. Once Rachel was outside and contemplating where to go for lunch, she admitted to herself that food was the last thing she wanted.