A Family Under the Christmas Tree by Terri Reed Page A

vision with her, he explained his idea for a finger sensor on electronic device platforms to monitor hydration levels. “Do you see how this might be a useful app?”
    Enthusiasm brightened her face as she looked at his design. “Yeah. I’m so impressed. If you can pull this off, your app could help the elderly, athletes . . . everyone. Water is such an important part of our lives.”
    He couldn’t stop the way his chest expanded with her praise. “I wish I could say I was the one to first think up the idea. But I might be the first to actually make it happen.”
    â€œSo that’s what you’re working on here.” She pointed to the desk.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen you don’t need to go into the office?”
    â€œI haven’t the past two days, but I’ve got meetings scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.”
    â€œWhat are you planning to do with Troy?”
    Acid churned in his stomach. That was a quandary he’d been wrestling with for the past week. “I’ll have to take him with me.”
    â€œCan you reschedule the appointments until after the holidays?”
    He shook his head. “No. Each meeting is with a big client. I can’t afford to put them off. I need to secure the business before the end of the year.”
    She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth. She seemed to be struggling with something. Her gaze moved to the table. She let out a small gasp and picked up his sketchbook.
    He sucked in a sharp breath. The etching he’d drawn of her stared back at her from the pages of the sketchbook.
    â€œYou did this?” She lifted her luminous eyes to stare at him.
    He straightened. Oh, no. He hoped she didn’t think that was strange. “I’m sorry, I hope you don’t mind—”
    â€œIt’s beautiful,” she said.
    She was beautiful, he thought. But what he said was, “I studied art as well as computer science in college.”
    â€œWhere did you go?”
    â€œDigiPen in Redmond, Washington.” The technology school was world renowned in the gaming and software world.
    â€œYou’re good.” She continued to stare at her image. “I could watch Troy for you while you take your meetings.”
    Wait. Did she just say what he thought she said? “You’d do that?”
    Setting the sketchbook back on the table, she lifted her chin. “Yes, if you promise to take the rest of the two weeks off.”
    â€œWow. I don’t know what to say.”
    â€œSay yes. Troy needs you right now. This will be the first Christmas without his parents.”
    The reminder punched him in the gut. The burn of grief stung his eyes. He blinked rapidly to banish the tears. “Yes. Christmas will be hard. For both of us.”
    She touched his arm. “I’m sorry. Of course you’re grieving, too. Maybe you need the time off for yourself as well.”
    Touched by her concern, he put his hand over hers. “I’ll take that into consideration.”
    She slipped her hand from beneath his. “Okay, now that that is settled, we should head to Grandma’s.”
    As she stepped past him, he snagged her hand and drew her closer. The glow from the dining room ceiling lamp sparked in her eyes, highlighting the crystal blue irises rimmed in a darker hue of blue. A man could lose himself in those serene pools of color and light. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how blessed Troy and I are to have you and Louise in our lives.”
    Her breath hitched slightly. She licked her lips. He tracked the movement, and his gut clenched. “We’re happy to help you out.”
    He wanted to kiss her. The thought tore through him like a flash of lightning. Yearning built in his chest. He felt a magnetic pull toward her.
    He knew he should resist. Knew it wouldn’t be smart or gentlemanly to give in to the desire to kiss her. He leaned toward her and managed by