Page 14 of Stuffing His Stocking

“Hey, beautiful. You ready to go?” Dylan’s compliment barely registers as I gawk at him from my front door.

He looks like an A-list celebrity in a charcoal cashmere sweater, dark jeans, and black boots. Meanwhile, I’m feeling somewhat underdressed in my favorite navy wool cable knit that I paired with a chocolate-brown corduroy skirt and thick tights. I’ve never been one of those stylish girls who manages to look cute no matter what they’re wearing. Dylan, on the other hand, looks great whether he’s wearing a t-shirt and jeans or a chic sweater and expensive boots. It’s so unfair.

My gaze lands on his panty-melting smile, and suddenly I realize my mouth is gaping open like a clueless fish. I immediately snap it shut and hurriedly usher him inside.

“Did you have any trouble finding the place?” I close the door behind him and scurry around my living room, picking up random items and putting them away. Even though I’ve already tidied up, I’m nervous and need something to do with my hands.

“No trouble at all. I used to have a buddy who lived not too far from here. But he’s since gotten married and moved out tothe suburbs.” Dylan’s tone is nonchalant as he casually explores my cozy home.

I’m walking backward toward the hallway when I almost trip over my rug, and he stifles a laugh.

“Um… Just give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready to go. There’re two travel mugs of coffee on the counter in the kitchen. Help yourself!” I yell, rushing to my room to retrieve my suitcase. I take one last look around, confirming I have everything I need before rolling my luggage to the front door.

“Ready?” He’s waiting for me with a coffee in each hand.

“Just gotta put this on. Then I’m all set.” I reach for my wool top coat that’s thrown over the arm of the sofa.

“Let me help you with that.” He sets down the mugs and takes the garment from my hands. After helping me slip into it, he spins me around to face him and adjusts my lapels. He’s standing so close I almost forget to breathe. “There, that should keep you nice and warm.”

I can think of someotherthings that would keep me nice and warm too.

I open the door, then grab the handle of my suitcase, but Dylan places his palm over mine to stop me. “Let’s trade.” He hands me my coffee before wheeling my luggage outside.

“I can get my own bag, you know.”

“I know you can, but what kind of gentleman would I be if I let you do that?” He winks at me and I can’t help but smile back at him.

He waits for me to lock up, then escorts me to his black SUV parked at the curb. Leaving my suitcase on the sidewalk, he opens my door and helps me inside, then buckles my seat belt for me. I inhale his masculine cologne when he reaches across my body, and the urge to kiss his exposed neck is almost overwhelming.

“You do realize I’m not a child, right?” I tease while secretly enjoying being doted on.

He pauses and stares into my eyes, making my heart skip a beat. “I know you’re not, Liv. But I like taking care of you. I’ll stop if you want me to.”

The thought of being hands-off with him makes my chest ache. “No,” I blurt out. “I… it’s fine.” I shrug and tuck an imaginary strand of hair behind my ear. I’m not ready to admit how much I like his attention.

He closes my door and loads my suitcase into the trunk before climbing into the driver’s seat. “All set?”

“All set,” I confirm and quietly sip my coffee.

My mother’s house is about an hour away, but the time zips by while we talk about everything and nothing in particular. Surprisingly, it isn’t an awkward conversation, considering our previous limited interactions. And before I know it, we’re heading up the driveway and into one of the bays of the four-car garage.

“Wow, it’s a lot bigger than I remember,” Dylan comments after parking the car.

“Well, you only came by a handful of times. And itwasseveral years ago.”

He helps me out of the vehicle, then grabs our two suitcases from the trunk.

As we’re walking into the house, I explain why I try to come home whenever I can. “I hate the thought of Mom staying in this big house all by herself. I’m sure it’s lonely here without anyone to talk to.”

“I guess I hadn’t thought about that.” Dylan rubs the back of his neck. “My place is nice, but it’s nowhere near this size. So it doesn’t bother me too much that I’m there alone most of the time.”

For some reason, thinking of him by himself makes me sad and I want to fix it. “Not a chance I could be lonely in my small apartment. The walls are so thin my neighbors might as well be roommates.” I laugh. “It’s probably one of the reasons Mom keeps herself so busy with volunteering. She loves socializing with other people.”

“Yeah, I bet you’re right,” he agrees and follows me through to the kitchen.

“And I’m so thankful for Maggie too. She comes over once a week to help take care of the house. Mom was reluctant to accept the help at first, but it didn’t take long for her to realize that keeping up a place like this was more than she could handle on her own.”

“I can relate.” Dylan chuckles, and I’m wondering how a laugh can sound so sexy. “My house may not be much, but even I have trouble keeping up with the cleaning.”

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