Page 21 of Under the Mistletoe

Ava nodded, and I stood and started for the kitchen. I grabbed a washcloth from the cabinet and wet it before taking a large bowl from the cabinet. I carried everything into the living room, and I was getting Ava situated when Torch asked, “Need me to do anything?”

“Could you grab the child’s Pepto and Tylenol from the medicine cabinet in the bathroom?”

“You got it.” He darted off to the bathroom and returned a few seconds later with the medicine and a spoon. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

“This should make you feel better.” I gave Ava the medicine before placing the cold rag on her head. “There you go, sweetie.”

Ava curled into her blanket and closed her eyes as I ran my fingers through her hair. Torch stood in the doorway a moment, watching us before he asked, “Can I get you anything else?”

“No, I think we’re good.”

I thought some ginger ale might help settle her stomach, so I started back towards the kitchen. When I walked past him, Torch caught my arm gently and asked, “You sure?”

The genuine concern in his voice caught me off guard, and for a second, I didn’t know what to say. “Yeah, I’m sure. Thank you. I really appreciate you cutting your Thanksgiving short and bringing us home.”

He nodded and stepped back, letting me continue towards the kitchen. By the time I got back, Ava was sound asleep, and there was no sign of Torch. I was a little disappointed that he’d left without saying goodbye. I was careful not to wake Ava as I made my way over to the other end of the sofa and sat down. It was the first moment I’d had to really think about my conversation with Torch or the kiss we’d shared.

I had waited for that kiss for almost half my life, and it did not disappoint. I brought my hand up and brushed my fingertips against my lips as I replayed the kiss in my mind. It was everything I’d ever imagined—soft but commanding, tender but full of heat—and it left me positively breathless. I’d tried so many times, but Torch had always been the one I couldn’t quite shake. He was the one I measured every other man against, and none of them had ever brought butterflies to my stomach the way he did.

And now, after all these years, he’d finally kissed me.

I couldn’t help but smile, even as a knot of uncertainty twisted in my stomach. I had no idea what that kiss had meant. It could’ve just been something he’d done on a whim, or it could’ve been something more. My mind was a battlefield of doubts and questions, but I couldn’t stop my heart from clinging to the hope that this could be the start of something between us.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, and a smile crossed my face as I dozed off. I hadn’t been sleeping long when the sound of my front door creaking open woke me. My chest tightened as I looked up and found Torch standing in the doorway. He was carrying a container full of leftovers in one hand and a bottle of ginger ale in the other. His voice was soft as he said, “Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t,” I lied. “I was just resting.”

He nodded, his gaze flicking over to Ava before settling back on me. “I brought you a couple of desserts. I know how you love Cass’s apple pie.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” I murmured, the simple gesture making my chest ache.

“I know.” His eyes held mine, and for a moment, the air between us felt heavy with unspoken words. “I wanted to.”

He carried the food into the kitchen, and I could hear him open the fridge door and place them inside. Seconds later, he returned to the living room, and his eyes immediately fell onAva. He looked concerned, so I told him, “She’s been asleep since you left.”

“I talked to Doc. He said to give him a call if you want him to come by.”

“Oh, that would be great.”

“Talked to your folks, too.”

“Oh, man. I forgot to check back in with them.”

“It’s okay. I explained the situation, and your mom said she’d stop by later and check on you guys.”

“Okay, good.”

“Anything else I can do before I go?”

“You’ve already done plenty.”

“Alright then. I guess I’ll leave you to it.” He motioned his head towards the kitchen as he said, “I left my number on the counter. If you need anything, give me a call.”

“Okay. Thanks.” I motioned my head toward the kitchen. “And thanks for the desserts. It was really sweet of you.”

He nodded, then started for the door. I wanted to call out to him and ask him to stay, but I knew it wasn’t a good idea. I had no way of knowing just how sick Ava really was, and I didn’t want to take a chance on him getting sick, too—especially after how sweet he’d been to us both.

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