Page 94 of The Twelve Months of Christmas
“No, but it does make life easier, and I’d sure like to do that for you. I am, by the way.”
“You are...what?”
“A millionaire. Although these days a million dollars doesn’t go nearly as far as it used to.”
She began to laugh.
“No, really. I’m not kidding. I know I don’t dress like it. Or at least I didn’t until I wanted to impress you. I guess that has a lot to do with the clothes upgrade and new car I’m getting. I’ve come to realize it’s time to start living a little, and I want to do that living with you, girl,” he finished with a smile.
She stared at him. “You’re not kidding.”
“I’m not. I was never one to run around showing off. But I do have a boat. And a place in Playa del Carmen. I rent it out most of the year, but I like to go down and fish, usually in November.”
“How come this is the first I’ve heard of this?” she demanded, still sure he wasn’t making all this up.
“I wanted us to get to know each other, wanted to make sure you could love me for me.”
“That’s not hard to do, but this is a little hard to take in,” she said.
“I know. Believe it or not, there are a lot of men like me—men who worked hard, were careful with their money and made some smart investments. Ever read a book calledThe Millionaire Next Door?”
She shook her head.
“Well, it’s about guys like me. I’m an average Joe who worked a blue-collar job. But I took some night classes, read some books, started with a small money snowball and kept it rolling until it turned into something big. Granted, I’m no Bill Gates, but I’ve made some smart investments over the years, and I’ve got enough dough to last us both a lifetime.”
“I thought you were...living on Social Security.”
“Don’t need it, but I take it since I paid into it all those years. Most of that gets given to my church.”
“So now you’re just...”
“Keeping busy doing some odds and ends. Got a rental here in town, and I’m living in a nice condo over by the ferries.”
He made that sound like nothing. She sat staring at him, too busy trying to digest everything he was telling her to pay attention to her burger.
“I’m a simple man, don’t spend money on showy things. But that doesn’t mean I won’t treat you well or give you anything you want. You deserve it.”
“I don’t want anything,” she protested.
“Not even me?” The smile on his face was teasing, but his eyes showed his insecurity.
She shook her head at him. “Of course, you. But I don’t want to rush into anything.”
He nodded, his smile a ghost of what it was a few moments ago.
“How about we say we’re serious?”
“Serious, as in I stand a chance?”
She smiled, reached across the table and took his hand. “You stand a very good chance. I just want to be sure. And I need time. I owe that to my family. I owe that to you.”
“Okay,” he said. “Meanwhile, to prove I’m not making all this up, I’ll take you in to Canlis for dinner tomorrow.”
“Canlis,” she echoed in shock. “That’s the most expensive restaurant in Seattle.”
“I’m going to prove to you that I am willing and able to spoil you,” he said. “Or if you want we can run up to Victoria for the weekend. You’ll have Memorial Day off, right?”
She just stared at him. “I don’t know what to say.”
