Page 7 of Love for the Holiday

CHAPTER FOUR

Jacob and I sat at my small kitchen table with our cups of coffee. I didn’t have a need for a bigger one. The holidays were always at my parent’s house and I didn’t invite people over so a small one was perfect for me.

Today it seemed too big. There seemed like there was a mile between Jacob and me.

“How was your day?” I asked then took a sip of coffee.

“Uneventful,” he laughed. “What about you?”

“It was… interesting. I feel like an old person,” I admitted making him laugh.

“Well, hopefully, you’ll feel like yourself again soon.”

I tried to hide my cheesy smile behind my cup as I took another slow sip of the hot delicious liquid. Jacob watched me over the top of his cup as he drank his coffee. We both set our cups down at the same time.

“Taste okay?” I asked nervously when the silence between us became too much.

“Tastes great,” he smiled. “Thanks again for allowing me over and for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome. I appreciate the company.”

I appreciate the company? Really, Love! Totally lame.

“I’m making a fool of myself, huh?” My words were soft and in a form of a sigh.

“No,” he shook his head. “Not at all.” I raised an eyebrow and he laughed. “Seriously, I’m sitting over here sweating bullets worried that I’ll say the wrong thing.”

He showed me his semi-sweaty palms. I held one of his hands and with my free hand I wiped his hand with a napkin. Then I did the same to his other hand.

“Thank you,” Jacob whispered.

Fear froze me. Did I honestly just wipe a grown man’s hands with a napkin? If I was working my way to a relationship status with Jacob, I had probably just lost all points for getting to know him.

“You look like you’ve just been spooked,” he teased. I looked up at him then let go of his hands and set my hands on my lap.

“Just feeling a bit uneasy.”

“About me being here?”

“No!” I blurted. A groan followed soon after my outburst. “Ugh.” I covered my face with my hands.

“You okay?”

All I could do was shake my head. I heard his chair scoot across the kitchen floor. Before I knew it, he was helping me out of my chair carefully and wrapping his arms around me.

“Just one of those days?” he asked tenderly.

“Something like that.” It wasn’t my intention to sound like I was pouting, but it was exactly what I was doing.

So many emotions were hitting me at once. Being around men had never intimidated me before. Even when they came over to my house; yet, being alone with Jacob made me giddy, nervous, and act out of my norm.

“Would it be better if we try this another day?” he asked softly. I shook my head and looked up at him.

Wrong move. Definitely the wrong move. My eyes were locked on his. The world around us seemed to freeze. All I saw in that moment was him. Doctor Jacob Holiday.

Minutes seemed to tick by with us just looking into each other’s eyes. Neither of us moved. Even our breathing seemed slowed by the moment.

The way he was looking at me made me melt in his arms. His look was sweet, yet passionate. He was looking at me as though I was the only woman in the world.

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