A Family Under the Christmas Tree by Terri Reed Page B

sheer will to stop halfway, allowing her the choice to close the distance between them or to turn away. He hoped she would close the distance.
    She ducked her head and tugged her hand free, then stepped around him. “Uh, Troy’s waiting.”
    He straightened but couldn’t speak. His tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth as humiliation flooded his system.
    What had he been thinking?
    She was way out of his league. A world traveler, a sophisticated photographer who probably had rich, good-looking men falling over themselves trying to gain her attention.
    He gave a mental snort. That’s the thing. He hadn’t been thinking. Apparently that was today’s theme. Wow! For a smart man, he was acting like an idiot.

    Sophie’s pulse pounded in her ears as she hurried across the driveway toward Grandma’s house. David was right behind her. She could feel his presence in the prickling of her skin and her heightened senses. His musky scent wrapped around her, chasing away the chill of the December evening.
    She tried not to think about what had just happened, but the memory wouldn’tleave her mind. First she’d found the charcoal drawing. Was that really how he saw her? She’d been flattered and flabbergasted.
    Then to realize David wanted to kiss her . . .
    And had nearly done so, but then he hadn’t. He’d hovered just out of reach, like forbidden fruit.
    At first she’d been confused and hurt, thinking he’d suddenly realized what he was about to do and had changed his mind. But then she’d realized he was letting her make the choice whether to kiss him.
    Why, oh why, hadn’t she kissed him?
    She wanted to. Ached with the desire to press her lips to his. To feel his arms around her and to snuggle close to him. But it wouldn’t be wise. Right now, she and David were both in strange places in their lives. She was on the cusp of realizing a dream and he was struggling to figure out how to parent his nephew while running his company. It would be far too easy to get caught up in the feelings bouncing around her heart and head. Too easy to think that this handsome man could be the “one,” as Grandma hoped.
    Sophie wasn’t sure there was a “one” out there for her. Someone who would accept her, flaws and all. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to find the one—not if it meant giving up her dream job or her career.
    No, she needed to keep things between her and David on a neighborly basis. Friends. Especially since she would be caring for Troy. The last thing Troy needed was to get his hopes up that she and David would ever be together. She was leaving after New Year’s for the job she’d been working toward her whole life, and nothing short of a natural disaster could keep her away from that.
    With that thought, she opened Grandma’s front door and ushered David inside. Troy scrambled down from the dining room table and raced across the living room to launch himself into David’s arms.
    David held his nephew against his chest. “I’m sorry I’m late, buddy.”
    â€œI thought—” Troy buried his face in David’s neck.
    â€œI’m right here,” David cooed. “And you were safe with Louise and Sophie.”
    Troy nodded and leaned back. His eyes shone with tears and his lip quivered. “We made Christmas cookies. Though some of the shapes aren’t Christmasy but I put red and green frosting on them. Now they look like Christmas. I made a tiger and a bear and the waffle tower.”
    Sophie chuckled. “ Eiffel Tower.”
    â€œThat’s so exciting.” David set Troy on his feet and gave Sophie a tight smile. “We’ll get out of your hair now.”
    Grandma rolled up, nudging Sophie aside without so much as a how do you do. Sophie eyed Grandma with suspicion.
    â€œDavid, we’d love for you and Troy to stay for dinner,” Grams stated firmly.