Page 15 of Second Down Scrooge

Austin Graham gives me tingles, and he’s made enough passes at me for me to know he’s still interested.

But I’m scared.

I know this is my trust issue speaking out, and that’s something I have to deal with. But his track record is proven. As little as a few months ago, I found out he’d been working witha guy on defense to make life harder on Ava’s brother-in-law, Asher.

The Nashes are as good as family to me, too, after the opportunities they’ve given me. Ava and Grayson took me in and gave me a healthy compensation package at the bakery, and I’m forever in their debt. So it was one more strike against Austin. One more reason not to trust him.

I shake the thoughts out of my head as the sounds ofPaw Patrolin the family room register. Is Mia still awake? I glance at the clock hanging on the wall—it’s only nine, but she should be asleep by now. Are they watching television together?

I push off the door and walk through the house, and that’s when I spot them.

A father asleep on the reclining chair of the couch, his little girl perched on his chest—also asleep. His arms are holding her close, and his lips are planted on the top of her head as Chase barks about saving Santa on the television.

My heart swells in my chest as I stare at them.

It’s possibly the most adorable scene I’ve ever witnessed in my life, and I quietly wrestle my phone out of my purse to take a picture of the two of them so I can stare at the sugary sweetness of it any time my heart desires.

I slip my phone back into my purse, and I locate the remote. I click the television off, and that’s when Austin jolts a bit and comes to.

He doesn’t dare move so as not to wake Mia, but his eyes move to mine. “Sorry,” he mouths.

I can’t help when a soft smile lifts my lips.

His eyes move down my dress. “What happened?” he whispers.

I chuckle. “Long story,” I whisper back. I nod to Mia. “May I?”

He nods, and I lift her off of him and carry her to her bedroom. I kiss the top of her head and set her in her crib, andI sing a quick version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” I feel sad I missed her falling asleep even though I know she was in good hands with her dad.

I’m startled when I turn and find him leaning on the doorway watching me.

I jump a bit, and he whispers anothersorry.

I sneak past him, our arms brushing on my way by. “I’m just going to go change.”

“Need any help?”

I press my lips together and eye him warily, and then I head to my bedroom.

I mean…it’s not theworstidea, is it? I could just not change and walk back out to the family room naked.

I don’t.

I slip on a pair of pink fleece reindeer pajama pants and a green Santa shirt, and I’m about as unsexy as it gets as I carry my dress in my hands to deposit it into the big garbage can in the kitchen.

He’s sitting in the same seat where he was sleeping only moments ago, and he doesn’t look like he’s going to leave anytime soon.

I don’t really want him to go.

I find myself not wanting him to go a little more each time he’s here. Usually on Tuesdays, he takes Mia for the day, and he returns her after dinner time.

This is different.

It’s something I feel like I could easily get used to, and part of me is trying to rememberwhythat’s a bad thing.

“So, what happened to the dress?” Austin asks.

I clear my throat. “My, uh…dateknocked over a glass of wine, and my dress took the brunt of it.” I shrug as I head to the garbage can and toss it in.

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