Zach studied her for a few seconds before shrugging.“Sure, let’s check them out.”
Relief swept through her, glad that he didn’t push for more.For the next fifteen minutes, she and Zach examined the trees until they stopped in front of one.“This is beautiful,” she said, admiring the fir tree Zach was holding.“It’s going to look great in my house.Let’s take it over to the counter and ask them to hold it while we look for your tree.”She was excited about finding the perfect tree.
“I’ve been thinking.I’m not sure I need a tree.”
Tilly waved off Zach’s protest.“Stop thinking.You know you want one.”
As much as he said he didn’t want a tree, his actions told a different story.He’d examined them closely.He’d listened as she mumbled to herself about the merits of each tree.How he gently touched the needles.He wanted one, but he just didn’t know how to come out and say it.
“I suppose there’s no harm in looking.It might be nice to see one in my apartment,” he said, and Tilly mentally high-fived herself.But she wasn’t going to gloat.
“There’s a corner of the lot that has smaller trees.I think that’s where we should look for yours.”
She gave a little yelp when she was grabbed and yanked against Zach’s hard chest as two kids came barreling down the aisle.If Zach hadn’t pulled her out of the way, they would’ve hit her, and all of them would’ve ended up sprawled on the ground, bumped and bruised.
Beneath her cheek, Zach’s heart pounded loudly and he rubbed his hands up and down her back.“Are you okay?”
Tilly lifted her head and looked up at him.“I’m fine—thanks to your quick thinking.I didn’t even see them.”
“They darted out from between the trees there.”
She looked at where he pointed.“They came through that gap?”It wasn’t very wide, and she was surprised none of the trees were damaged, especially considering how fast they were moving.But they all looked fine.
“It’s amazing the spaces kids can get through.They’re wily sometimes.”
“Yeah, I guess they are.”Tilly was aware that she was still ensconced in Zach’s arms.His warmth seeped through the layers she wore.She should pull away, but found it difficult to do.“Um, I guess we should continue on.”
“I guess we should,” Zach murmured, but his attention was on her lips, and she moistened them with her tongue.
Did he just groan?
Is that what she heard?
Tilly didn’t have a chance to think more because Zach’s lips landed on hers.They were cool from the air, but it wasn’t long before they warmed up.With her hands pressed against his chest, she wished that he wasn’t wearing a thick coat so that she could feel him better.
The noise from the people picking their trees faded, and all Tilly was conscious of was her heartbeat and Zach’s mouth on hers.Slowly he pulled away, as if he didn’t want to stop, and she didn’t want him to.
He took a step back, and she mourned the loss of his warmth, but his fingers entwined with hers and gave a small squeeze.She returned the gesture, happy that he didn’t appear to want to break their connection either.
Hand in hand, they walked to the area with the smaller trees.Some of the townspeople were watching them, but she didn’t care.She was buying Christmas trees with a handsome man.She would enjoy this moment to its fullest.
Chapter Thirteen
The tree glowedin the corner of his living room, giving it a homey feel.Zach stared at it, unable to comprehend how one inanimate object could bring so much warmth and happiness to his space.
Decorating it with Tilly had been fun.He’d never laughed so much, or so hard, watching her try to get the lights around the tree, only to end up tangled in them.Her laughter had been infectious, and it had taken all his iron will not to haul her close and kiss her senseless.He’d almost lost his mind when he’d kissed her at the Christmas farm.Fortunately, part of him had been aware of where they were and had ended the kiss before it had taken too much of a hold on him.He hadn’t been able to let her go, though.Holding her hand had felt so right, as if they belonged together, but he knew it wasn’t possible.He couldn’t drag her into the world that lurked around the sidelines of his life.
The right thing to do would be not to see her after they’d finished their Christmas show.Yet he was finding the idea abhorrent, which was how he was standing in his living room, looking at the tree they’d decorated together and waiting for her to arrive.
Tonight he was cooking her dinner.A repayment for all the times she’d prepared a meal for him.It was nothing fancy.Just spaghetti and meatballs, but he’d made the meatballs himself as well as the tomato sauce.The aroma of garlic permeated the air, along with the scent of baking bread.He didn’t make the bread, though.Just bought a bake-at-home loaf.He’d set his table with a single yellow rose and had used cloth napkins.Blues music played in the background, and even though he hadn’t tried to make the evening romantic, all the elements put together gave it a special ‘date night’ feel.
Should he change things?Should he get rid of the flower?Put the main light on instead of the two lamps he had?The tree, well, he couldn’t turn those lights off because if he did, it would be the first thing that Tilly would notice and comment on.
His phone jangled in his pocket and he pulled it out.Lost in his thoughts about Tilly, he didn’t look at who was calling and just accepted it.“Hello.”
“Oh, Zachary, it’s lovely to hear your voice.”The lilting cadence of his mother’s speech filled his ear, and now he wished like hell he’d looked at the screen.
“Mom.”
