Page 53 of Unexpected Gifts

They stood in the hallway for a moment, looking at each other. Overwhelmed with the desire to pull her into his arms, he could think of nothing to say.

“Um. Okay. Well.” She touched her fingers to her bottom lip. The expression in her eyes was one he’d not seen before. Desire? Hunger? Longing?

For him? Please let it be for him.

“Should I go?” Luke asked. “You probably have things to do.”

“Yeah, I should change and go get the kids.”

But neither of them moved. They simply stared at each other until finally she broke the silence.

“I don’t know what’s going on here, but I can’t stop thinking about you,” Abby said. “Even as busy as I’ve been.”

He realized he’d been holding his breath. “I can’t stop thinking about you either.”

“It’s terrible timing.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve wanted to meet someone and fall in love. You know, for years, I hoped to find the right person, but he never appeared. Not even close. And now here you are. Just right here. When I least expected it. I have no time or headspace to nurture whatever this is with someone as wonderful as you. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to hurt the kids. God, they’ve already been through so much, and the last thing they need is for me to introduce a boyfriend into the mix.”

“I know.”

“Yet, on the other hand, they know you. They’ve known you all their lives. Which maybe makes it worse if things were to end in disaster. It would be another loss for them.”

She was right. Everything she said was right. Why, then, did he want to argue with every point and convince her to give this a chance? He drew in a deep breath. Patience. He must proceed with thoughtfulness, not impulsiveness. “I’m not going anywhere. We have time to explore whatever this is without having to share it with anyone, including the kids. We can do fun things with the kids and all that but keep a little something for ourselves too. Don’t you think we deserve to be happy too?”

“I do. I definitely do. It’s just that I’ve never had to worry about anyone but myself. Since my mom died, it’s just been me on my own. I don’t know how to be part of a family or a couple. I’m way out of my depth here, and I’m scared. Terrified. At the same time, I want nothing more than to spend time with you. Ido. I want you around every minute. And I have no idea what to do about it.”

“I get it. My divorce took so much out of me. I didn’t think I’d ever be open to anyone again. I really didn’t. I’ve told myself that Lily was enough. And my family. We’re all so tight. And I love my work, where I live—all of it. The minute you appeared, everything changed. I couldn’t even remember why I’d promised myself that being alone was the best idea for Lily.”

“I don’t know what’s best for any of the kids,” Abby said. “But I know I want to see you. Like all the time.”

He smiled and reached for her. “We can go as slow as you need to, but at least let me take you out alone. Sneak a kiss or two when no one’s looking and see where it goes from there.”

“When you say it like that, it sounds totally reasonable.”

“I want to kiss you right now. In the worst way,” Luke said.

Abby moved closer to him, inch by inch until he could smell the sweet scent of her perfume. “I’d like that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her face upward.

He kissed her, and it was as sweet as he’d remembered.

Luke had spentthe day delivering Christmas trees, all the time counting the minutes until he could see Abby. Finally, it was time to gather up Lily and head over to pick up Abby and the kids for their pizza and skating outing. He didn’t even have to turn off the car before they all came running down the newly constructed steps toward them.

He got out and went around to open the door for Abby and the children. “Hello, hello. Are you guys ready to get some pizza?”

Three cheers from those younger than thirty. A quiet smile from Abby before she slipped into the passenger seat of his dad’s SUV. If they kept going like this, he was going to have to purchase one of his own.

Soon, they were off, driving toward town. He turned on some Christmas music, and the kids chattered and sang together in the back. With them occupied, he told Abby about the trees he’d delivered that day to three elderly households. He described how he’d set them up and how good it felt to help. “I even strung the lights for them, which took longer than expected.”

“You’re a saint. Lights are no joke, as demonstrated when you did mine.”

“There were a few unspoken curse words on my part,” he said, laughing. “I started worrying I was going to be late and disappoint you.”

“You couldn’t disappoint me, especially if I knew how you’d spent your day. I admire your generosity.”

Luke shrugged a shoulder as if it were no big thing when in fact, knowing that she thought well of him warmed him from head to toe. “I like playing the hero, I guess. I’m certain I get more out of it than any of the folks I deliver to.”

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