Page 37 of Welcome Home for Christmas
Allison rolled her eyes. “My mother was right about him, though. She’s been right about them all.” Allison glanced over at Troy. “I wonder what she’ll find wrong this time.”
Julie cocked her head. “What if she doesn’t find anything? Would you date him for real?”
“I don’t know. I’m not really looking for anything real right now.” Except ever since the auction, she’d suddenly felt a crater-sized void in her life. Maybe it was time to start putting herself out there again.
She looked at Julie. “I don’t even need to consider that option. Because my mother always uncovers the hidden flaw in a man. I swear, if I ever want to get married I’ll have to keep my mother and future husband separated. Indefinitely.”
Julie laughed. “My mom is the opposite. She thinks Lawson hung the moon and stars, and I swear if she were younger she’d be trying to steal him away.”
Allison laughed, and then saw Troy stand from the corner of her eye.
She waved.
He waved.
Then he and his mother walked out into the dark night.
Some part of her was ready for her mother to reveal his big bad flaw, because every time she saw him her heart did this little dance. Her crush grew ten times its size. One more round of making out with him—although last night had been a lot more than making out—and she’d be cooked.
After dinner and an hour more of shopping for the children of Mercy’s Place, Allison dropped Julie off and returned home. She slipped out of her shoes and stumbled tiredly down the hall toward her bed, which made her think of the man in question. He’d been invited to her bed last night, but he’d shown restraint even though his eyes relayed that he’d wanted her as much as she wanted him.
She set her cellphone on her nightstand and collapsed with a heavy sigh onto her mattress. She didn’t intend to move again until morning. Then her phone rang. She planned on ignoring it but decided to answer at the last minute. “Hello?”
“What’s the favor?” Troy asked.
“Can’t wait until tomorrow, huh?” A smile curved her lips.
“Nope. And unless you want me to trigger your new alarm system, I suggest you open your front door and tell me.”
Allison’s eyes widened. “You’re at my door?”
“Yep.”
She sat up. “Why?”
“I told you. I need to know the favor. Also, I’ve been patrolling your neighborhood.”
She headed toward the door feeling that familiar tumble of her heart. She tapped in the security code and then opened her front door.
“Hi,” she said, suddenly feeling breathless.
“Hi,” he said in a low sexy voice.
Everything about Troy was so,sosexy.
“Want to come inside?” she asked.
He took a step closer. “Yeah.”
