Page 19 of Capturing Hearts

Lily steels her eyes. “Well, then I’ll just go ask the employee if you’re lying.”

Annie’s eyebrows rise a half inch. “Lily, is it?”

The boyfriend and I share a look.

“Just out of curiosity, Lily, what made you notice us?”

“What?”

“Why. Were. You. Watching. Us?” She’s asking like she already knows the answer. I wish I knew where she’s headed; I’ve got no clue.

“I saw… you were expecting, and my eyes were naturally drawn to…” She quiets as though she’s said too much, her eyes giving away something only women can see.

Annie looks around the lot, like the subject is closed. “That’s what I thought. Well, luckily there are a lot of trees still here…”

“There aren’t that many,” Lily argues.

“…so why don’t you go pick anothertree, be nice and easy to get along with, so your boyfriend here will want to give you one of these, too.” Annie points to her pregnant belly with both index fingers. I stifle a snort.

“What did you just say to me?” Lily cries out, aghast.

Annie takes a step closer. “Look. I’m nine months in. Baby was due last week. My patience is zip and my manners? Shot. My apologies for saying it like it is, but this is how it is: be nice, you get one of these, and keep one of those. Be a frowny-faced, tight-lipped Nazi, he will go running for the hills before you can say Happy New Year.” She points to the guy whose face is now as red as his hair, the truth having been told aloud. Annie announces, without malice, “He looks like a keeper! Why don’t you take his lead?”

Stunned speechless, Lily lets her boyfriend guide her away, gently reassuring her, “We’ll get another tree. That’s their tree. It’s fine. Okay?”

“Okay, I’m sorry. I just…” she trails off, dumbfounded.

“It’s okay. Let’s just forget it.” He glances back to me and guy-to-guy, I can see he’s more than a little bit grateful, if not amused.

Eying my badass wife, I ask, “Was it worth it?” as soon as they’re out of earshot.

Annie shrugs. “I’ve got a problem with authority. You know that.”

“The second she demanded the receipt...”

Annie shrugs, trying not to feel guilty. “...It was over. I can’t stop myself. But come on! She was so rude!”

Not bothering to argue, I’m regarding the scope of this tree. “How are we going to get this bad boy home now that we’ve got it?” I glance down. She meets my eyes with a helpless look.

“Uh oh.”

“Yeah.”

She stares at it, looks at me, stares at it some more. Then one corner of her mouth tugs up. “You want to tell them they can have it?”

“No way!”

We look at it some more, until she announces, “No, really! That’s the best thing to do anyway. Go give it to them. Tell them we changed our minds. Here, I’ll do it!”

As she turns, I grab her around the waist and turn her to face me. Even with this baby-belly, she’s like a small paperweight to me. She gasps at the speed with which I’ve managed her body, and I lean in closely, holding her eyes. “This is the tree you wanted. We’re getting this tree home. I want you to have the best Christmas you’ve ever had.”

“By stealing a tree from someone?”

I kiss her nose, repeating as I nod, “By stealing a tree from someone.”

“Isn’t that bad karma?” she murmurs against my lips.

I kiss her softly. “You should have thought of that before. Now let’s see if they deliver.”

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