He inwardly groaned.Really?That was the best he could come up with?
And so, as he helped her with the dog to get into the pickup, they talked about the weather.The weather.Seriously?He was better than this.
When he pulled out of the alley, he automatically turned right.
“Hey,” Holly said, “you turned the wrong direction.I live above the soap company.”
“Oh, yeah.Sorry.It’s an old habit.”He slowed the pickup to a stop at the next intersection.What was going on with him?He put on his turn signal.
Until recently, Holly had lived in her grandmother’s house next door to his parents’ place.After her grandmother died, the house had been sold.His parents were unhappy to see Holly move.
He honestly hadn’t even known there was an apartment above the soap company.He never knew of anyone living up there.He couldn’t help but wonder what condition it was in after being vacant for countless years.
A couple of minutes later, he pulled to a stop in front of the soap company.He looked at the showroom window and smiled.“I like your display.It’s very festive.”
“Thanks.”Her voice was hesitant.“It’s the first time I did it on my own.”
He could hear the pain in her voice.He reached over and squeezed her forearm.“I’m so sorry about your grandmother.Every time I visit my parents, I glance over at your grandmother’s house and expect to see her rocking on the front porch.”
“The new family… They have young children.They’ll, um…make the house a home.”
His hand was still resting on her arm.“I’m sorry you had to move.”
She didn’t look at him as she shrugged.“It was time.”
She adjusted the puppy in her arms.When she moved, his hand fell away.He wondered if that had been the intent of her movement.
He turned off the engine and got out.He made his way around to her door.A glance in the window let him know that Holly was struggling to hold the puppy, keep her hand on the leash, and release her seatbelt.
He took his time opening the door so as not to let the puppy escape.However, Tater Tot didn’t seem to want to go anywhere.He seemed quite content on Holly’s lap.Colin couldn’t blame the pooch.Holly was pretty great.
When he had the door open, he asked, “Do you want me to take him for you?”
“Uh, yes.Thank you.”When she handed Tater Tot to him, she paused to unwrap the red leash from her hand.
He had nothing to worry about.From the marks on her hand, she had a very firm hold on him.It was sweet the way she worried about the puppy.Merry had been right about having Holly care for the puppy.
With Tater Tot in his arms, Colin stepped back.When she stepped out of the pickup, her foot hit the sidewalk.One moment she was standing next to him, and the next moment, she was falling.With lightning speed, he reached out to her.His free arm wrapped around her waist and drew her to him.She landed against his side with anompf!
He turned his head in her direction.When she tilted her head upward, he realized just how close she was.If he were to lower his head, their lips would meet.He wondered if her kisses were as sweet as he was imagining.
At the last second, he realized his head had moved ever so slightly toward her.Whoa!What was he doing?He stopped and turned toward the squirming puppy.Hopefully, Holly hadn’t noticed that he’d momentarily lost hold of his faculties.
She straightened.“So sorry about that.”
He swallowed hard.“Are you all right?”
“Yes.”She reached into her purse.“I’ll unlock the door.”
He followed her to the single door next to the soap shop.She had to stab at the lock a couple of times before she got the key in and opened the door.She stepped inside and flicked on a light.
She pulled the door wide open.“Here.I can take him.”
“That’s okay,” Colin said.“I’ve got him.”
She hesitated, as though she weren’t sure what to say.The longer she stood motionless, the more he got the impression she didn’t want him to see where she lived.Why would that be?
Maybe he was reading too much into the situation.Perhaps she’d gotten shaken up when she almost fell on the ice.
