Page 49 of Carpenter's Christmas Bride

“Yes, just missing my parents,” she said, shaking her head and feeling like a child, as usual.

“Will they be back in time for Christmas?” he asked.

“They thought I’d be wrapped up with The Nutcracker until Christmas Day,” she said, shaking her head. “We normally do our Christmas thing the week after, so they didn’t think twice about booking their trip.”

Aidan only nodded thoughtfully.

She waited for him to say something sympathetic or something that would encourage her to look on the bright side, but he didn’t. Somehow, it made her felt seen and listened to in a way she hadn’t realized she was craving.

Walt dashed back to them from where he had been looking at a display of Cinderella among the poinsettias with a couple of other children.

“Now what?” he panted happily.

“How about the market?” Aidan asked.

Walt nodded with a surprisingly happy look on his face. Kenzie didn’t remember liking the market when she was little.

When they got inside, Walt showed Kenzie all the beautiful fruits, homemade treats, and a display of wooden puzzles and trains she didn’t remember from her time there. Aidan filled a cart with poinsettias and produce while they looked at the fun stuff, so that they could be ready to check out before Walt got bored.

He’s a really good dad, Kenzie thought to herself, watching the two of them smiling and talking quietly in line beside her.

By the time they were back in the truck and headed home, Kenzie was feeling relaxed, sleepy, and happier than she’d been in a long time. They drove home in comfortable silence, with everyone clearly feeling a little worn out from the adventure.

“Wait there,” Aidan told her again when he pulled into her driveway.

This time she braced herself when he lifted her up and set her gently on the ground, leaning across her to grab the crutches.

But his scent and his warmth still lingered. There was something about his larger-than-life presence that made her feel safe.

“I have something for you,” he told her as she stood there, gazing up at him like a fool.

“Okay,” she said.

“Go on around to the back,” he told her. “I’ll meet you back there.”

She did as she was told, hearing him reassure Walt that he was just walking something around to the back of the house.

When she reached her own back door, she waited, her imagination going wild, making her think that maybe, just maybe, the thing he wanted to give her out of Walt’s line of sight was a kiss.

But he appeared a moment later, a gorgeous pot of scarlet poinsettias in his arms.

“This one’s for you,” he told her. “Should I put it by the door?”

“It’s beautiful,” she said, feeling melty again. “Thank you so much. By the door is great.”

He set the pot gently on the ground. When he straightened, she held her breath. Aidan’s eyes were so intense, and his jaw was tight again, almost like he was angry. But he couldn’t be angry.

It hit Kenzie that the job was done. Once he walked away, he’d have no reason to visit her anymore. Unless he asked her out. Which didn’t seem likely.

“I… I should get back to Walt,” he said, looking down at the plant.

So that was it then.

“Sure,” she told him, trying not to let the hurt show in her voice or face. All those years of performing were helping her now.

Aidan looked like he was about to go, but then he shook his head and looked up at her with a wry smile.

“My aunt and uncle wanted to bake cookies with Walt tomorrow,” he said. “Do you want to do something?”

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