Page 65 of Welcome Home for Christmas
“There’s something about that type of man that makes a woman want to tame him. Sometimes women feel like that restlessness and untamed spirit is a bad thing. Not consciously, of course. Those qualities are the very thing that attracts us to men like that. But there’s some part of us that thinks a man will be happier if you snuff out that restlessness. A man like Troy sometimes makes a woman want to change him. To make him settle down. But I assure you, after years and years of talking to women who have fallen for that kind of man, it never happens. A man like Troy likes to have fun. Not a bad thing unless you’re the woman who’s falling in love with him.” Her mother lifted a brow even as her eyes softened. She held up her hands. “I know you don’t want my advice anymore. But I’m your mother. I can’t help myself.”
Allison stared at her, feeling like the wind had been knocked out of her. “You’re always right. You were right about all the others. But this time you’re wrong, Mom. Troy isn’t like that.”
“And you always say that,” her mother chuckled softly.
Allison steeled her emotions; they were all coming at once. “If I’m going to start dating again, which is what you say you want, then I need to be able to trust myself to choose a man who is good for me. A man who makes me laugh, who makes me feel like there’s no one else in the world he’d rather be with.”
A man like Troy.
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt, and I can tell that you’re already developing deep feelings for this guy. I want you to go into this relationship with your eyes open.”
Allison took a shuddery breath. “I am. And I know it’s only because you love me, but you can stop worrying. I know exactly what I’m doing.”
Her mother stepped toward her and braced her hands on Allison’s shoulders, prompting her to look into her eyes. “Someday you’re going to find a man who will love you the way you need to be loved.”
Interpretation: Troy wasnotthat man.
Well, as much as Allison valued her mother’s opinion and trusted her instincts, Allison was going to trust her own instincts this time, even though they’d led her the wrong way many times before. She was different now. She’d learned from all those times she’d followed her heart down a dead-end road.
She sucked in a calming breath, then turned as the door to the kitchen opened.
Troy smiled at her and her heart lifted.
“We finished cleaning up the living room and the dining room,” he said, smiling brightly. She knew exactly who this man was, even though they’d just met two weeks ago. When she looked into his eyes, she knew him. He would never hurt her.
Allison looked back at her mom. “I think we’re finished here, too.”
“Yes,” her mother responded, forcing a smile. “Go home and rest. Tomorrow’s Christmas.”
Allison grabbed her cardigan from the back of a chair and walked through the house to get her coat. She and Troy then slipped out into the night, back to his truck to drive home.
Troy carried the conversation as they drove. When he finally stopped talking, silence filled the truck.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You’re being awfully quiet all of a sudden.”
She glanced over in the dark truck. “Just tired, I guess.”
“What were you and your mother talking about while I hung out with your stepdad?”
She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “I asked her what to do about Henry,” she said honestly. “I’ve decided I’m going to go visit him after Christmas. He’s a good guy who just lost his way. I want to help him find it again.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
Allison had to laugh. “You’re the one who put Henry in jail. Remember? I don’t think he’d be too happy to see you.”
“Right,” Troy said. “You’re probably right. So, uh, how do you feel about me staying over tonight? For your protection, of course. I hear there’s an old man in a red suit that makes a habit out of breaking into people’s houses on Christmas Eve.”
Allison laughed again. “I have a baseball bat by my bed, remember? And a new alarm system. But I could use a warm body to keep me warm.”
“It’s cold outside.” They pulled up in front of her house and he turned off the truck engine. “I’m your man.”
Allison liked the sound of that. Because all she really wanted for Christmas was Troy. And despite her fear that her mother would ruin what they had going, Allison had remained strong. She hadn’t let her. There was nothing standing in their way now.
—
Troy followed Allison back to her bedroom and shed his clothes. Then he worked on helping Allison out of hers. While he’d been efficient in getting himself naked, he took his time unwrapping her body, savoring it like a present under his tree. With each reveal of new skin, he leaned in and kissed her, taking note of her response. She writhed as he kissed her sides, purposely scraping the stubble that was already forming on his jaw across her ribs down to the soft curve of her waist. Ticklish and sexy. He worked meticulously until she was clothed only in the moonlight scattered through the window. Her hair splayed along the pillow as he kneeled over her.
“Where do you want me?” he asked.
