“What are you planning on doing with the crispy tree?” Adam tilted his head.
I chuckled. “Okay, I know. It needs to be thrown away. It just felt wrong. It was such a kind gift.” It was turning brown, and the pine needles were falling everywhere.
Adam rolled his eyes. “It’s just a tree.” He squatted down and started loosening the bolts at the base.
I placed the flowers on the counter and walked over to him. “It’s a near-perfect tree, actually.”
“Well, I’m taking it outside. I can’t be the reason your house burns down.” He hefted the tree out of the base; needles fell everywhere. He held it out at a weird angle trying not to make a mess.
“Thank you. For the gift, and the disposal.” I rushed past him down the hall and opened the front door. He walked past. “The dumpster is over there on the left.” I pointed.
I sighed. I was really sad to see it go. It brought such happy memories.
After he dropped the tree near the dumpster, he came back toward me. I giggled. “You look like you have tree sprinkles all over you.”
He brushed off his sleeves, and pine needles fell around him like confetti.
“Here, let me help.” I went on my tiptoes to reach up to getthe ones in his hair. I wasn’t tall enough. Our eyes met and I froze. “I can’t reach your hair, you need to bend down.”
I kept all my wild fantasies to myself as he lowered his head. His hair was stiff in my fingers as I picked out the needles. He was close enough I could smell his citrus scent and feel his warm breath on my skin. My arms got goosebumps from the cold, but a jacket would ruin the look of this dress, so I chose the cold. “You ready?”
“Yep.” He walked me over to his truck and held open the door for me.
I might have flashed more leg than intended, but it was a big step into his truck. I could be wrong, but I think he noticed. Adam hopped into the truck and glanced quickly at my legs again.
He had! I held back a giggle.
This sexy man was checking me out.
“So, is Danny with your mom?” I shifted slightly and crossed one leg over the other. His eyes flicked back to my bare legs, and then traveled up the length of them. I was definitely going to be thanking Rose for the dress later.
Adam cleared his throat and focused back on the road as he navigated the familiar streets. “Sorry. What were you saying?”
I bit back my grin. “I was asking about Danny.”
Adam kept his eyes firmly on the road. “Oh, he is good, other than he felt that since it was his idea, he should also come to the dance.”
“He has some great dance moves.”
Adam chuckled. “Better than mine, that’s for sure.”
We talked for the rest of the drive. I usually hate small talk, but there was something about Adam that calmed my nerves. He pulled into the parking lot, opened my door, and helped me out of his truck. We walked into the school, my hand pressed into his elbow. Streamers flowed over the entrance as Adam led us into the dance.
The lunchroom had been converted to a dance floor, complete with Christmas lights and fake Christmas trees.There were teenagers holding hands and whispering, a group surrounded the food table, and a horrified girl gawked at the dance floor at what I assumed were her parents dancing and kissing.
“Adam.” A lady with an enormous smile and high ponytail patted his arm. “I’m so glad you could make it. Even if you were a few minutes late.” She checked her watch.
“Sorry, Danny didn’t see why he couldn’t come.”
She rolled her eyes, and then her gaze landed on me. “I’m Brandy.” She held out her hand to shake.
I shook her hand. “Hey. I’m Faith.”
“Have fun.” She winked at me and then raised her brow at Adam.
What did she mean by that? I panicked and reached for my ring. But it was gone. I started rubbing my finger where the ring usually sat.
Adam reached over and grabbed my hand in his, nodded, and led me through the outskirts of the dance floor to the far side. We walked by a dark corner where a set of teenagers were making out, and Adam kicked the shoe of the boy softly. The boy looked up, glaring daggers, but when he saw it was Adam, he immediately muttered “Sorry” and held his date’s hand, looking anywhere but at his date or Adam.
