just above her shoulders.
He caught his breath.
“What?” She frowned. “Is something wrong with my sweater?” She reached for the collar and looked down.
“No. Sorry for staring, but you look beautiful.”
She stopped and her lips parted. “Oh.”
He shook his head and walked toward the kitchen. “I made you a sandwich and some hot chocolate.”
“Wow. That was sweet. Thanks.” She stepped past him and pulled a glass from the cupboard, then filled it with water from the tap. “You didn’t make yourself one?”
“I’ve eaten.”
She perched on the bar stool and took a tentative bite. “It’s delicious. I bought a sandwich for lunch today but didn’t manage to eat much of it.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He leaned against the countertop. “You were upset earlier.”
She took another bite then set the sandwich on the plate. “Jessica miscarried and I just found out about it a little while ago.” She turned to him. “My mom accused me of being self-centered and not being there for her.”
Matthew’s stomach sank for Holly. It had to hurt having an accusation like that thrust at you. “Are you going to be okay? Your mom was kind of harsh.”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine. Eventually. It hurt to hear, but maybe she’s right. I do tend to put work above everything and everyone. Maybe I’m too focused. I just can’t let anything bad happen on my watch.”
“I can understand feeling that way, but bad things happen all the time. You can’t change that.”
“But if I’m focused and not distracted I can at least rest assured I did my best.”
Matthew kept silent. Holly had a lot on her mind, and from his experience with his sister, she just needed to let it out.
Holly looked at him with pain-filled eyes. “Mom called several times this week while I was working and she didn’t leave a message, so I assumed it wasn’t important. The hospital has been super busy, so I’ve had to work overtime. By the end of each day I was so tired I forgot to call back. I finally remembered today.”
“Jessica never contacted you?”
“No.” She stared into her glass. “We used to be closer than we are now. I guess with her being married and me working full-time we’ve drifted apart. I never used to be like this before I started working at the hospital. I was actually a fun person to be around and spent time with my friends.” She buried her head in her arms.
He moved around the counter and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up over this, Holly. You’re not perfect. We all have only so much energy. Besides, now you can work at making some changes. Why not give your sister a call now? I’m sure she’d love to hear from you.”
She lifted her head, and her cheeks were tinged pink. “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks.” She paused. “I’ll call Jessica tonight for sure.” She wiped her eyes and rested her hand on his. “I can’t believe I’m baring my soul to you. We barely know each other, yet I feel like I can tell you anything.”
“Sometimes it’s easier to talk to people who don’t know you as well.” He reached out with his other hand and brushed hair away from her face. “Although I feel like we’re getting to know each other. You’ll get through this, Holly. You’re strong—always have been.”
“Thanks for saying so.” Her voice came out barely above a whisper. She licked her lips.
They were only a foot apart. His attention focused on her silky-smooth mouth. Would her lips be as soft as they looked? He wanted to find out, but she had a boyfriend.
A firm knock on the door caused them both to jump.
Holly stood. “I wonder who that could be.” She took the few steps to the door and pulled it open. “Todd.” Her shoulders slumped.
Chapter 7
W hy was Todd standing in her doorway?
Holly took a breath and let it out in a puff. One more surprise today and she might need to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head.
“May I come in?” Todd
He caught his breath.
“What?” She frowned. “Is something wrong with my sweater?” She reached for the collar and looked down.
“No. Sorry for staring, but you look beautiful.”
She stopped and her lips parted. “Oh.”
He shook his head and walked toward the kitchen. “I made you a sandwich and some hot chocolate.”
“Wow. That was sweet. Thanks.” She stepped past him and pulled a glass from the cupboard, then filled it with water from the tap. “You didn’t make yourself one?”
“I’ve eaten.”
She perched on the bar stool and took a tentative bite. “It’s delicious. I bought a sandwich for lunch today but didn’t manage to eat much of it.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He leaned against the countertop. “You were upset earlier.”
She took another bite then set the sandwich on the plate. “Jessica miscarried and I just found out about it a little while ago.” She turned to him. “My mom accused me of being self-centered and not being there for her.”
Matthew’s stomach sank for Holly. It had to hurt having an accusation like that thrust at you. “Are you going to be okay? Your mom was kind of harsh.”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine. Eventually. It hurt to hear, but maybe she’s right. I do tend to put work above everything and everyone. Maybe I’m too focused. I just can’t let anything bad happen on my watch.”
“I can understand feeling that way, but bad things happen all the time. You can’t change that.”
“But if I’m focused and not distracted I can at least rest assured I did my best.”
Matthew kept silent. Holly had a lot on her mind, and from his experience with his sister, she just needed to let it out.
Holly looked at him with pain-filled eyes. “Mom called several times this week while I was working and she didn’t leave a message, so I assumed it wasn’t important. The hospital has been super busy, so I’ve had to work overtime. By the end of each day I was so tired I forgot to call back. I finally remembered today.”
“Jessica never contacted you?”
“No.” She stared into her glass. “We used to be closer than we are now. I guess with her being married and me working full-time we’ve drifted apart. I never used to be like this before I started working at the hospital. I was actually a fun person to be around and spent time with my friends.” She buried her head in her arms.
He moved around the counter and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up over this, Holly. You’re not perfect. We all have only so much energy. Besides, now you can work at making some changes. Why not give your sister a call now? I’m sure she’d love to hear from you.”
She lifted her head, and her cheeks were tinged pink. “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks.” She paused. “I’ll call Jessica tonight for sure.” She wiped her eyes and rested her hand on his. “I can’t believe I’m baring my soul to you. We barely know each other, yet I feel like I can tell you anything.”
“Sometimes it’s easier to talk to people who don’t know you as well.” He reached out with his other hand and brushed hair away from her face. “Although I feel like we’re getting to know each other. You’ll get through this, Holly. You’re strong—always have been.”
“Thanks for saying so.” Her voice came out barely above a whisper. She licked her lips.
They were only a foot apart. His attention focused on her silky-smooth mouth. Would her lips be as soft as they looked? He wanted to find out, but she had a boyfriend.
A firm knock on the door caused them both to jump.
Holly stood. “I wonder who that could be.” She took the few steps to the door and pulled it open. “Todd.” Her shoulders slumped.
Chapter 7
W hy was Todd standing in her doorway?
Holly took a breath and let it out in a puff. One more surprise today and she might need to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head.
“May I come in?” Todd
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