Page 14 of Christmas Rings

She stared at the money. “But…but that’s too easy. You shouldn’t have done that. I mean, we barely know each other.”

He tapped the table with his fingers. “I thought you might feel that way. I mean, I thought about that after I already did it. Are you mad?”

She met his gaze. “Not mad. I’m not sure I love a man taking over my decisions.”

His shoulders rose and fell. “I’m sorry. I do that sometimes. I’m very action oriented. If I see a problem, I try and fix it.” He looked so crestfallen that her heart softened.

“I grew up with a single mom and three sisters,” she said. “We take care of ourselves.”

“I respect that, of course. But sometimes it’s nice to have a friend take care of you, right? Isn’t that what you’re doing with Sophie?”

“You remembered her name?”

He tapped his temple. “Anything to do with you, I’ve committed to memory.”

In spite of her uncertainty, she had to laugh. He was adorable.

“It feels different when I’m doing it for a girlfriend,” she said. “A man doing it for me seems wrong somehow.”

He put up his hands. “If you forgive me, I promise never to interfere in your life again.”

She returned her gaze to the cash in the middle of the table. “That will come in handy. And the car payments are not as much as I thought they would be.”

“I told you my guy would take care of you,” he said.

“Now you sound like a gangster. Maybe that illegal moonshine is still in your blood.”

He tilted his head and looked way too cute. “Do you like a guy with a little bad boy in him?”

“I do not like bad boys. Not even a little bit.”

He grinned. “Then we’re in business.” Sobering, he leaned forward, as if inspecting her for smudges on her face. “You’re beautiful. Do you know that?”

She did actually. Just then, staring into his dark blue eyes, she felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.

When Alissa arrived at work that night, there was a bouquet of two dozen pink tulips waiting in Rif’s office for her, along with a note.

Looking forward to our date tomorrow night. XO, Jed

Rif, behind his desk, placed his hands over his belly. The chair creaked in complaint as he tilted backward. “He follows directions. This is good.”

She sank into the battered love seat across from his desk. “You won’t believe what he did.” She told him the entire story, including having her car hauled off to the junkyard.

“I thought he was a good guy,” Rif said. “But I wasn’t sure he was good enough for you. This rarely happens, but I think I was wrong. He might be a keeper.”

Still dressed in her jeans and sweater, she crossed one leg over the other and pushed back her bangs. “It was a little heavy-handed, don’t you think? I’ve known him less than twenty-four hours.”

“You young women and your rules these days,” Rif said. “A man who likes you did something nice. There’s nothing wrong with that. Let him court you. Make him work for it, of course, but allow some romantic gestures.”

“What do you know about romantic gestures?” she asked.

His chair squeaked as he rocked back and forth. “I’m romantic as hell. Just ask my wife.”

“When was the last time you sent her flowers?”

“Last week for her birthday.”

She narrowed her eyes, like she did when she suspected her kindergartners were lying to her.

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