Page 49 of Maybe This Christmas
Sabrina turned to look at her watch.“I need to get out of here.We have an end-of-the-year meeting with the Westmores tomorrow at the Pumpkin to go over Sky House’s P&L statement.”
He knew that, like many small businesses, Sky House had a rocky first year.More loss than profit.But they were hoping to enter year two stronger than ever.
“I can take it from here.I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Don’t forget we’ve got the Ellis & Daughter company Christmas party Tuesday night in the private dining room.You can bring Emma, if you want.”
He rolled his eyes.“Goodnight, Sabrina.I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She snickered and walked away.He turned back to the popcorn machine, inhaling the aroma of buttery goodness.
Soft footfalls at the door had him on alert.“I thought I told you to go home?”
“Did you?”Emma’s voice was quiet.
He turned to find her in the doorway, a somewhat bemused look on her face.
He cursed under his breath.“Sorry, I thought you were Sabrina.She’s been acting like a biddie-in-training lately.”
Emma’s cheeks were still red from the cold.“Hmm, does that mean I should ignore her invitation to the Ellis & Daughter company Christmas party?”
He slapped his hand against his forehead.“I swear to god, she’s getting coal in her stocking.Sometimes I have to remind her that it wasn’t so long ago that it was her and Brandon’s romance the biddies were intruding on.Funny how quickly she’s forgotten.”
Emma grinned.“So, you’re saying the Coffee & Knitting Society moonlights as a matchmaking agency?”
“Among other things.Ready to watch the movie?There’s a few to choose from.”He pointed toward a large binder of DVDs balanced on the back of one of the seats.
“I’m feeling adventurous.You choose.”
He gently nudged her in the side.“Are you sure?My favorite Christmas movie of all time isErnest Saves Christmas.”
Emma’s laugh echoed in the small, cozy space.“Okay, maybe I’ll choose then.”
“I can’t say that I have the most highbrow taste in films.I’m sorry.”
She clicked her tongue against her teeth.“I guess that’s fair.You must have at least one flaw.”
Before he could reply to that, she whipped out a DVD and handed it to him.“White Christmas.Appropriate, since it’s Christmas and we’re at an inn…well, a lodge, I guess.”
He blinked at Emma before taking the DVD from him.“To be fair, I have several.Flaws, that is.”
“Leave the toilet seat up?Forget to take the trash out?”
The DVD loading screen appeared.Caleb reached for the remote to lower the volume.
“The toilet seat is almost always in its upright position unless the girls are staying with me.I can be a little forgetful.My ex-wife would sometimes call me the doddering professor.I’d leave little piles in my wake.But I’d clean them up eventually.”
“I’m kind of messy, too.Or, at least I used to be, before I moved in with Davis.He had a cleaning woman come twice a week.”
“I like a little bit of chaos and clutter in my house.A good thing, since I have kids.”
Emma reached for a popcorn bucket.“Is it weird dating when you have kids?”
“Is it weird dating someone who has kids?”
Emma shook her head.“I mean, I guess it is?If dating is what we’re doing?Davis never wanted children, so I knew that was never going to happen for me.”
He took a step toward her.“I’d call this dating.But what about you, Em?Do you want kids?”
