Page 7 of Holiday Grief

Still, he didn't stop.

Didn't turn his car around and head home like he should.

It was like the universe kept drawing him to her.

Adam turned his car into the driveway of the Christmas Farm and headed straight for Jasmine’s place.

It was becoming a habit, bordering on an addiction. He just couldn’t seem to stay away from the woman.

There was something alluring about her. It wasn’t her looks because he’d seen plenty of pretty women in the past, he’d been married to one. It wasn’t that he felt sorry for her, although of course, he did feel empathy for the fact that she had been violated in her own home.

To be honest, he wasn’t quite sure what it was.

Maybe her vulnerability?

Her loneliness?

Or it was the fact that a light flicked on in her huge green eyes every time she saw him.

Those first few times he’d popped by to see her, make sure she was coping because she didn't seem to have any family there for her, her eyes had been dull. Empty. Lifeless.

Somehow, it had become his mission to change that. At first, he’d just wanted to coax out a smile, then a laugh, then he’d wanted to make her feel safe, and now it had grown into something more.

He was falling for her.

It was crazy. She’d been raped and beaten just three months ago and was in no place to be considering a relationship. Add in the fact that she’d been reclusive even before she was assaulted, and he thought he was probably fighting a losing battle here.

Thing was, it was a battle he wanted to fight. To win.

Just as he was parking outside her place the front door opened and a blur of fur came speeding out.

By the time he was out of the vehicle, Fauna was spinning in excited circles, waiting for the pet and the treat she knew she was going to get.

Crouching down, Adam ruffled the puppy’s silky coat then handed over a unicorn toy, squeaking it and making the puppy yip in excitement. What good dog didn't love a squeaky toy? Next, he handed over the dog cookie. It was in the shape of a bone and covered in pink sprinkles. Fauna licked his hand in thanks and then took the cookie, promptly running a few steps away to protect her treat.

“You spoil her rotten,” Jasmine said from where she stood in the doorway leaning against the frame. She looked good, more relaxed than he’d seen her since the assault. Her long legs were pale, telling him she still wasn’t spending much time outdoors, but the denim shorts and tank top hugged her slender frame telling him that at least she was taking care of herself and eating regular meals.

“No more than you do,” he retorted as he picked up the unicorn and carried it toward the door.

“You keep bringing her a new toy every time you come by and I'm going to have to buy her another basket to fit them all in.”

“Hey, I'm only responsible for half of the toys.” When Jasmine arched a brow he amended, “Three quarters.” The arched brow didn't lower. “Eighty percent? Ninety? Ninety-five?”

“At least.”

“You’ve bought her some too.”

“Two. She has like thirty toys. I think that means you pretty much gave her ninety-five percent of all her toys.”

“Math nerd,” he muttered teasingly.

Jasmine swatted at his shoulder as he brushed past her and into her house. It wasn’t the first time she had initiated contact and as it did every other time his heart did this weird little stutter in his chest.

Falling for Jasmine was so incredibly stupid and yet he couldn’t stop himself even if he wanted to, and he definitely didn't want to.

“Just because I liked math doesn’t make me a nerd,” she told him as she whistled for Fauna, who came trotting up the porch steps and into the house.

“Sure it doesn’t.”

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