Page 135 of The Blessings of Christmas
She’d done that without being asked, and he felt bad about that.
Maybe Betsy and Phyllis were right. He'd let his work consume him. His personal life was in sad need of CPR. And he hated to admit that the only person he wanted to resuscitate him was Victoria. His chuckle filled the small office. How weird was it that the one woman he thought would be totally wrong for him...now seemed intriguing and fun?
After a quick knock, Betsy stuck her head in the door. “What are you laughing about?”
Snagging a tie from a top drawer, he looped it around his neck and worked on a Windsor knot. “Do you think I take myself too seriously?”
“Yes. I'm glad you finally realize that. Does this mean you’ll try to catch up with the whole Christmas thing?”
“What do you mean? We have a Christmas tree here and one at the clinic.”
“That isn’t enough. Christmas is about people. About good cheer.” Easy for Betsy to say. She was a mother with two children and she adored her husband.
“What's been going on at the clinic?” she asked.
“Busy times. We’re always a little behind on the bills.” He started to button the lab coat. “It’s amazing how far people drive. Just when we’re about out of medications or when we need more walkers and canes, another donor pops up. Victoria wrote an article about the clinic, which should run in this Sunday’s paper.”
Hearing boots clicking in the hall, he didn’t even have to look. He knew the rhythm of her walk. In his mind he could picture the red or black boots, the subtle sway of her hips. Was her hair up or down?
Betsy chuckled. “From the look on your face, I guess that’s Victoria.”
When she poked her head in, a saucy blonde ponytail fell over one shoulder. “Are you ready?”
He drank her in. “Yep. More than ready.”
Coming into his office, Victoria looked around. When she shook her head, that ponytail bobbed. “Maybe we’ll take the shot out in the hall.”
“I guess that means my office doesn’t measure up.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Could be.”
“No problem.” He stepped into the hall, its silence echoing off the blue walls. “We should make it snappy, though. Things could get busy any minute.”
“Okay, lean.” And with that Victoria gave him a gentle push.
That one touch of her hand sent him to the wall, in more ways than one. When had Victoria gotten this power over him?
Too bad Betsy was watching the whole thing. He was going to hear about this.
“Do something.” Victoria waved one hand in the air, as if she were directing an orchestra.
“Like this? He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “Don’t get my boots in the shot.”
“Why not?” Grinning, she aimed her phone right at his feet and snapped.
“Hey, that’s not professional.” He looked down with disgust. The leather was scraped and worn.
“Shows you’re human but maybe you’re right.” Nipping her bottom lip between her teeth, she glanced around. “We need a prop. Something for you to hold.”
Whisking a folder from the desk in the nurses’ station, Betsy handed it to him.
“What is this?” He flipped through the pages.
“Christmas Carols,” Betsy told him. “There’s a carol fest down on the square in a few days.”
“Can I come?” What had gotten into him? “Maybe Victoria can join me.”
The phone flew out of Victoria’s hand, and he scrambled to catch it. “Let’s not break the phone until you send in the picture.” He handed back the phone, enjoying the slide of her soft skin on his.
