Page 18 of A Christmas Bargain

Claire blinked, taking a slight step back. It almost seemed like she hadn’t expected me to speak to her. Or that she hadn’t wanted me to. “Um.” She shook her head, smiling but confused. “What?”

“The drugstore. We can walk you down there,” I offered.

Claire frowned, staring at me smiling. “Oh. Um. Well…”

“We can get hot cocoa on the way,” Naomi said, smiling up at me.

“Who…?” Stacy furrowed her brow, glancing again at Claire. “Hi. Um, we’re actually heading that way.” She pointed in the opposite direction down Main, leading away from where the pharmacy was.

“Hot cocoa.” I clapped my hands together. “Yes. Let’s.”

What the hell am I doing?

Meeting up with Mackenzie was the last thing I wanted to do. Dealing with Stacy’s matchmaking goals didn’t appeal. Still, it shocked me when I realized I was taking the initiative with Claire, that this could be seen as making a move.

I didn’t like that I was basically using her as a prop, as an easy out away from my sister. Naomi had suggested it, though, not me. It washeroffer to show this relative newcomer around downtown Preston. I was only going along with it.

“Do you like hot cocoa?” Naomi asked Claire.

She grinned. “It’s a crime not to,” she replied.

Shoot.I bet Naomi wouldn’t detect it, but Claire sounded uneasy. Hesitant, but she tried not to show it.

Was I screwing this all up somehow? I wasn’t pushy and in her face, like Mackenzie and other women were to me when they asked me out. My daughter inviting her to a walk was hardly my asking Claire out.

I hadn’t made a move on anyone since Jenna, and it seemed I was rusty if she was this iffy about it.

Wait. Shit. I’m just assuming too much here.She was too gorgeous to be alone.

“Sorry,” I said. “Are you here with others?”

“No, no. Just me.”

“Or did you lose them?” Naomi teased.

Claire pretended to do a littleba-dum-tisswith imaginary drumsticks. “Funny. No. I didn’t come with anyone here to lose them.”

“I’m sorry. What did you say your name was?” Stacy asked, frowning.

“Babe, I wanted to show you these wreaths that would look great on the front door,” Nicky said, steering Stacy away.

“Daddy promised me hot cocoa,” Naomi said as she walked back toward the sidewalk. “First, reading glasses, then hot cocoa.”

“I don’t remember promising hot cocoa,” I said as I followed the woman with my daughter.

“You said weshouldget hot cocoa,” Naomi emphasized. “Same thing. And since Claire should have assistance on the way to the pharmacy, we could accomplish both missions at the same time.”

“My, how would I have ever gotten by without your help?” Claire said, pretending to walk astray.

Naomi giggled. “Over here,” she called, patting her thigh.

“She’s not a dog,” I quipped.

Claire snorted a laugh.

“Do you have a dog?” Naomi asked Claire.

The woman smiled easily, walking with us but still previewing the contents of the stands we passed by. “No. I don’t. Do you?”

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