Page 42 of A Christmas Bargain

When we were at the library holiday party, Naomi butted in and deprived me from asking more about how she and her sister took over for their dad. Then at the rec center, when she was asking me about how I liked “retirement” since Jenna’s death, Naomi insisted on Claire, not me, helping her with her coloring page. Even at sledding. When I tried to ask Claire more about her dreams of switching from commercial to residential real estate, Naomi wanted to dictate who used which sled.

I’d never considered how to balance a dating life and being a parent. Because I’d never wanted to. With Claire pretending to date me, though, it felt like a precursor to how it would go. I could never turn off my role as a dad, but I realized how much I’d crave adult time as well.

This growing desire didn’t help.

Claire was gorgeous. Sexy and fun without trying to be, so full of energy and enthusiasm. Most bubbly people rubbed me the wrong way, but Claire really was just one of those naturally happy people who lit up a room.

Seated in Stacy and Nicky’s kitchen as I dropped off Naomi, I smiled at the pictures we’d taken just yesterday. Claire and Naomi instigated a little bit of a snowball fight, and I hadn’t sat out. When Naomi and I teamed up against the woman who had a heck of a throwing arm, I ended up tackling her to the snow with Naomi’s help. Among all the laughter and giggles, Naomi grabbed my phone from where it’d fallen in the snow and took pictures of me with Claire.

I had my arms around her, her body on mine, her hair splayed out everywhere.

I’d never forget the feel of her softer weight on me, heavy enough to have substance but so light. I’d never dismiss the thrill of her rolling to face me, either, flush together despite the layers of our clothes and coats between us. Rosy cheeked from the cold and her eyes glittering so bright with mischief, she was beautiful, so alive and full of excitement.

Naomi snapped that moment, too, when Claire lay on top of me and gazed right back into my eyes.

It looked… tender.

Sweet.

And feeling the dormant pressure of desire snaking up my spine, it was then and there that the tide shifted. I wanted to let her into my life that much more. I wanted to see if we could bethiscompatible.

I’d asked her to dinner, yes, to reinforce the idea that we were together, but also because I felt too damn lonely when she got off me and returned her attention to Naomi.

“So, any big plans tonight?” Stacy asked as she came into the kitchen. Naomi was still with Nicky, looking at the works in progress in his woodshop.

“Yeah.” I looked up at my little sister and placed my phone down. Naomi had already changed the screensaver to a selfie of all three of us, Claire, Naomi, and me. We’d crashed in the snow after sledding and I took the picture. It was her “favorite”.

I caught Stacy frowning at the screensaver and I smiled. “A date.”

“Funny, Derek.” She rolled her eyes. “You need another chance to wrap presents for her or something?”

I shook my head.How can you be this against my being with Claire?“I’ve got a date with Claire tonight.”

She usually went to a game night with her girlfriends, which was why Naomi called this a sleepover hosted by Uncle Nicky, where they’d bake cookies and he’d be tortured with watching that one Christmas movie that she was playing on repeat.

“Claire?” She smirked. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. Seriously.”

“I thought you were just hiring her to help look after Naomi after school.”

I stared at her blankly.

“That’s what Mackenzie heard.”

“Stace.”

She looked up from the counter she idly wiped. “Hmm?”

“Claire and I have a date. At Gregario’s.”

“Wow.” She blinked at the mention of Preston’s finest restaurant. It was no five-star establishment, but it was a nice steakhouse and the go-to place for couples on dates.

“Yeah.”

“You really want her to be a happy employee.”

I groaned. “Cut it out.”

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