Her Wish Before Christmas (Holiday Hearts) by Kimberly Quinton Page B

“I’m not going to be any help at the store without a nap now.”
    His gaze lingered on her mouth and she fought the urge to brush her hand through his hair and caress his smooth-shaven cheeks.
    “Your mother must be so proud of you,” he said.
    “Hardly.”
    His expression changed from open and easy to still and serious. Apprehension slid up her spine, drowning out the warm comfort that had settled over her. The mood shifted, increasing her self-consciousness.
    “She wanted you to find your passion, and it seems you have.”
    “She wanted me to find my passion in Laurel Cove, not traveling around the world. She’s pretty much disapproved of all my choices. I’m too much like my father, I guess. Nona was the one who was the most proud.”
    A flash of something crossed his features. Anger? Connor had a lot to be angry about when they were together, and she’d been an expert at reading his moods.
    “What about your parents? Their son becoming a doctor. What parents wouldn’t love that?”
    She smiled through the awkwardness filtering into their companionable bubble.
    “They never could agree on anything so if one is happy about something, the other makes an excuse to dislike it. Same goes for my being a doctor. Mom can’t understand why I would come back here, and Dad can’t understand why I haven’t found a wife yet.”
    The waitress placed their check on the table, giving Genny time to recover from the turn in conversation. The shift to words like “wife” made her earlier discomfort return.
    He pulled the check toward him. “I owe you. More than what one lunch can make up for.”
    What does he mean by that? Another devastating grin sent her mind careening in a whole other direction. Her heart slammed against her rib cage as he stood and held out his hand to help her with her coat. He slid the soft wool over her shoulders. Ripples of awareness pinged every nerve ending when the tips of his fingers caressed her neck. He slipped his hand under the collar, pulled her ponytail out, and gently smoothed it down her back. The intimate act stoked a need so intense she leaned into his touch, her body begging for closer contact. She could simply turn her face to his and kiss him, show him every unsaid emotion. Satisfy the almost undeniable urge to lose herself in his embrace.
    The hostess walked in to seat a large group, shattering the moment. Genny stiffened but Connor’s hand never left the small of her back as he ushered her toward the exit.
    “Have a good day,” he said as they passed the newcomers.
    Tongue-tied from embarrassment, Genny nodded and mumbled something similar to “good day.” What the hell was I about to do?
    They walked to the front of the restaurant, the pressure of his hand burning straight to the skin underneath. He stopped to pay at the counter, and Genny kept going out the door.
    Cold air rushed into her lungs, the shock calming her briefly. The pounding of her heart practically vibrated through her making her hands and lips tremble. She was no less confused about what to do. They had talked about all kinds of things, but had avoided the main issue between them. She needed to make a decision about her job that day. Her heart was telling her to give him a chance, but her mind was telling her to run.
    She was half-a-dozen steps from her car when he called her name.
    “Hey, don’t run out on me now. Please.”
    Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Shoving her hands into her coat pockets, she took another step toward her car.
    “This is all a little overwhelming.” I will not start blubbering like a child. I will hold myself together .
    “Hey. For me, too. Can we do this? Can we take this one step at a time, together?”
    In two long strides he had covered the distance between them. His warmth blocked the cold breeze. Genny didn’t back away this time. He was enticing, offering her what she had been missing.
    “I have so much I want to make up to you.” His warm hands cupped each