mattered to him. He was sure the dinner would taste just as
delicious as if she’d made the pizza dough herself. All he had to do was look
in Sarah’s eyes and everything seemed better. Even being trapped at the beach
in a storm was starting to seem pretty awesome.
Chapter Five
The next day was just as enjoyable. It was still too nasty
to go outdoors, with very high winds and lightning. But inside, they found
plenty to do. They’d watched a movie together, read companionably by the fire,
and had taken turns cooking. Now they were settled at the dining room table,
sharing milk and cookies over Holiday Scrabble.
“Not fair!” he challenged with a laugh as she chalked up
another triple word score . “You never
told me that you were a Scrabble shark.”
“It’s how you play the game.” She playfully met his eyes.
“No mercy.” She didn’t show any either, beating him in a close match. Afterward,
they were both tired and ready to call it a day. It had been such a good one,
Sarah found herself really looking forward to another with Matt. And what was
special about tomorrow was it was Christmas Eve.
“Thanks for another fun day,” she said after they’d put away
the game.
“Thanks for scorching me in Scrabble. Something tells me I
could learn a thing or two from you.”
She laughed, feeling lighthearted. The fact was that Matt
made her happier than anyone ever had. It was a fantastic feeling, almost like
having a partner and friend who was also very easy on the eyes. Sarah cautioned
herself against thinking of partnerships with Matt. Once he knew the truth
about her, he wouldn’t be able to think of her in that way, just as her last
serious boyfriend hadn’t. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” They stood in close proximity now, only inches
apart. He stepped forward, closing the small space between them. It was silly
to think he might kiss her, but she secretly wished for it just the same. He’d
been so gentlemanly in keeping his distance since their cooking lesson, Sarah
had started wondering what she’d been doing wrong. Then she reminded herself
that things were playing out just the way she’d wanted them to. But if this was
the case, why did the outcome leave her feeling sad and conflicted? If only
there was a way to make things work, she would find it. But at the moment,
everything seemed impossible.
“Sleep tight. I hope you have pleasant dreams.”
She held his gaze, knowing her dreams would include him. “You
too.”
“The storm’s supposed to let up tomorrow,” he said, his
voice raspy.
Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. She certainly hoped not. Not
if it meant that Matt would be leaving. She was still wrestling with so much in
her heart and head, trying to sort everything out. And that was so hard to do
with him standing close enough to hold her.
“Of course, even if the roads clear,” he continued, “that
ferry won’t be up and running until late in the week.”
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief, remembering. “That’s right,
the ferry,” she said, backing up a step. “Can’t go anywhere without the big
boat.” Wow, didn’t he look gorgeous just standing there in all of his studly
beauty, a few days of beard stubble lightly framing his face? Never had a man appealed
to her so much.
He raised his brow, watching her with amusement.
“You might want to turn around. You might bump into
something.”
She held up her hand in agreement and whirled on her heels. Quickly
enough, she hoped, to disguise her rabid blush. She’d been so intent on ogling
Matt she hadn’t wanted to take her eyes off of him. Him and that beautiful body
and his gorgeous blue eyes. It must have been a subconscious desire, because
she hadn’t even realized she was doing it.
Sarah ducked behind her bedroom door, closing it with a
gasp. Christmas Day was fast approaching, and she could think of only one thing
she wanted. Having Matt take her once again in his arms.
Matt approached Sarah as
delicious as if she’d made the pizza dough herself. All he had to do was look
in Sarah’s eyes and everything seemed better. Even being trapped at the beach
in a storm was starting to seem pretty awesome.
Chapter Five
The next day was just as enjoyable. It was still too nasty
to go outdoors, with very high winds and lightning. But inside, they found
plenty to do. They’d watched a movie together, read companionably by the fire,
and had taken turns cooking. Now they were settled at the dining room table,
sharing milk and cookies over Holiday Scrabble.
“Not fair!” he challenged with a laugh as she chalked up
another triple word score . “You never
told me that you were a Scrabble shark.”
“It’s how you play the game.” She playfully met his eyes.
“No mercy.” She didn’t show any either, beating him in a close match. Afterward,
they were both tired and ready to call it a day. It had been such a good one,
Sarah found herself really looking forward to another with Matt. And what was
special about tomorrow was it was Christmas Eve.
“Thanks for another fun day,” she said after they’d put away
the game.
“Thanks for scorching me in Scrabble. Something tells me I
could learn a thing or two from you.”
She laughed, feeling lighthearted. The fact was that Matt
made her happier than anyone ever had. It was a fantastic feeling, almost like
having a partner and friend who was also very easy on the eyes. Sarah cautioned
herself against thinking of partnerships with Matt. Once he knew the truth
about her, he wouldn’t be able to think of her in that way, just as her last
serious boyfriend hadn’t. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” They stood in close proximity now, only inches
apart. He stepped forward, closing the small space between them. It was silly
to think he might kiss her, but she secretly wished for it just the same. He’d
been so gentlemanly in keeping his distance since their cooking lesson, Sarah
had started wondering what she’d been doing wrong. Then she reminded herself
that things were playing out just the way she’d wanted them to. But if this was
the case, why did the outcome leave her feeling sad and conflicted? If only
there was a way to make things work, she would find it. But at the moment,
everything seemed impossible.
“Sleep tight. I hope you have pleasant dreams.”
She held his gaze, knowing her dreams would include him. “You
too.”
“The storm’s supposed to let up tomorrow,” he said, his
voice raspy.
Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. She certainly hoped not. Not
if it meant that Matt would be leaving. She was still wrestling with so much in
her heart and head, trying to sort everything out. And that was so hard to do
with him standing close enough to hold her.
“Of course, even if the roads clear,” he continued, “that
ferry won’t be up and running until late in the week.”
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief, remembering. “That’s right,
the ferry,” she said, backing up a step. “Can’t go anywhere without the big
boat.” Wow, didn’t he look gorgeous just standing there in all of his studly
beauty, a few days of beard stubble lightly framing his face? Never had a man appealed
to her so much.
He raised his brow, watching her with amusement.
“You might want to turn around. You might bump into
something.”
She held up her hand in agreement and whirled on her heels. Quickly
enough, she hoped, to disguise her rabid blush. She’d been so intent on ogling
Matt she hadn’t wanted to take her eyes off of him. Him and that beautiful body
and his gorgeous blue eyes. It must have been a subconscious desire, because
she hadn’t even realized she was doing it.
Sarah ducked behind her bedroom door, closing it with a
gasp. Christmas Day was fast approaching, and she could think of only one thing
she wanted. Having Matt take her once again in his arms.
Matt approached Sarah as
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