Page 14 of Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope
“You never doubt yourself?”
“Not that I’ll admit to.” He grinned sheepishly. “Women don’t like wishy-washy men.”
“I heard that you rarely dated. Guess now I know why,” she teased, surprising herself. And, Good Lord, why had she just said that she knew he rarely dated? That was as good as admitting that she’d been talking about him. Which she had been, but she didn’t want him to know that. Next thing you knew she’d be telling him she missed him, and she hadn’t.
His grin was positively wicked. “I date.”
Everything within her lit up at his claim. Don’t read too much into what he’s saying, she reminded herself. He’s just flirting. That’s what guys did, right? Although, if Suzie was to be believed that wasn’t Andrew’s usual as he was normally straightforward.
“Good for you,” she managed to say. “I don’t.”
She added the last part as much for her benefit as to make sure he understood he was wasting his time if that was what he wanted.
“I get that you’re not into firefighters. Truth be told, I’m not into dating single moms,” he continued, his gaze not leaving hers. “Since I’m not interested in anything serious or long term, I don’t feel it fair to Greyson, or any kid, to allow them to get attached and hope for something more.”
So, he really did tell women upfront that he wasn’t interested in commitment. Morgan respected his honesty.
“But, I am always on the lookout for new friends. A man can never have too many, especially with the lot I’m stuck with,” he continued, his eyes friendly. “I think Greyson would enjoy it if we all went to lunch at Lou’s next Saturday and then made a day of it.”
“Greyson, huh?” Greyson was at the top of the reasons why she shouldn’t say yes. She didn’t need to encourage her son’s fascination with Andrew. She could only hope that he’d come back from his ride in the fire truck and be totally into Cole rather than the man eyeing her as if he could read her every thought.
He grinned sheepishly. “I’m positive you’d enjoy it if we went to lunch at Lou’s next Saturday and made a day of it, too, Morgan. Surely, being new in town, you’re on the lookout for new friends, too?”
Andrew was asking her and Greyson to spend the day with him. Why did that make her want to do cartwheels and air high-fives and funny little dances of excitement? And smile. She really wanted to smile. But at the same time, the invitation also scared her as she wasn’t ready to even begin to consider spending the day with a man, not even as friends. So why did a part of her want to say yes? Her conflicted feelings were proof of why she had to say no. She wasn’t going to go to lunch with him. She opened her mouth to tell him so, but he continued before she got out the first word.
“I should remind you that we’ve already established that you shouldn’t go too long in between seeing me.”
She arched a brow. “‘Too long’ being five days?”
He faked confusion. “Is that all it was since I met you at the school? It seems so much longer.”
It had to her as well, but she wasn’t admitting to that, either. Or to how his sparkly eyes, frequent grins, and humor made her wonder what would happen if she said yes to his invitation.
“After lunch, we could take Greyson to Harvey Farms. It’s the first weekend of their transformation for Christmas. There’s a sleigh ride—actually, it’s a decorated wagon—and a bonfire with hot cocoa afterwards.” He painted a picture that was tempting. “Greyson would like that.”
A sleigh ride did sound fun. No doubt Greyson would love it. And the time spent with his firefighter idol, though that would be draw enough.
Morgan eyed Andrew and couldn’t resist pointing out, “You do realize that next Saturday is a week away? That’s seven days. Your premise that I was deprived when I had to go five days without seeing you was your argument on why I should say yes. Now you’re suggesting I go a full week. You’re really going to have to get your story straight.”
She couldn’t argue with him that seeing him again did feel like a privilege, though. One that filled her insides with excitement and anticipation and a lot of awareness of everything about him. Things like the way his frequent grin made her want to smile, too. And the way Greyson smiled around him. Not that she was going to go, but if she did, she suspected he was right and that she’d have fun. She knew Greyson would. Maybe she and Greyson could go to Harvey Farms on their own or with some of her family.
“Good catch,” Andrew admitted, his grin cocky as ever. “Beauty and brains. I like that.” The admiration in his eyes suggested he really did. “Seven days.” He shook his head as if the time frame were unfathomable. “Just imagine how horrible it’s going to be if you have to go longer?”
“It boggles one’s mind,” she stated with mock solemnity, reminding herself that no matter how cute his grin was, no matter how much Greyson would enjoy the outing, she wasn’t ready for such an event to occur.
Even if it was only as ‘friends,’ she couldn’t, wouldn’t, go with him.
He was the first person she’d met since losing her husband who’d made her even think about dating or feel aware that she was still a young woman capable of enjoying a man’s attention. Spending time with him just felt too dangerous.
“Okay,” he gave an exaggerated sigh, eyes still sparkling with that hint he knew her every thought. “You convinced me that I shouldn’t make you wait that long.” His gaze held hers and he leaned a little closer. “How about I take you and Little Man to dinner at Lou’s on Monday evening, only two days away, and then we’ll make a day of it on Saturday still, too? Maybe grab something to eat at the sandwich shop at Harvey Farms before going on the sleigh ride?”
She had to admit, Andrew kept pulling off the perfect requests, as he included Greyson in both invitations.
“I work a twelve-hour shift at the Pine Hill Assisted Living Center on Monday,” she said. Then realizing what she’d done, she quickly added, “Not that I would have said yes, but it’s a moot point, because I can’t.”
He regarded her for what felt like an eternity but couldn’t have been more than a few seconds. His eyes filled with compassion she didn’t need or want. “Tell me, Morgan. Why wouldn’t you have said yes to doing something we both know you want to do when it truly would be just as friends?”
Her breath caught at how he was looking at her, at how the warmth in his eyes made her insides feel alive again, at how he was so close to her she’d swear she got a whiff of spicy aftershave that had her wanting to deeply inhale, and at how he was calling her out on the fact that she did want to say yes. If she spent time with him, would she be able to remember that ‘just friends’ part?
