“Just come to the tea shop today, and I’ll show you why. Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.” He turned to Oreo. “Come on, girl. Let’s run some more.”
Mitch watched the teenager he’d come to love, so like his mother, play with the dogs and sprawl in the snow. Such innocence, such youth, and such a kind heart.
Neal, man, you did good, buddy. Now it’s my turn to dance.
******
“Thanks, come back again.” Becca turned to the next person in line, only to see she had none. Finally.
Talk about a rush. From three to four, there had been nonstop customers. Ruth and Zoe busted their tails making teas while she took orders. They’d already run out of gingerbread men, and Becca decided to make more dough tonight for tomorrow’s sales.
She wiped down the counter, then the few empty tables. Outside, the sky looked a dark pink, and snow fell in a light dusting, covering the footsteps left on the shoveled walk. White lights twinkled in the trees, and the low hum of Christmas music in the teahouse, as well as the flickering gas-lit fire, had her humming along.
Becca felt happy, hopeful, and in love.
For once, she didn’t care about anything but enjoying the sensation.
These last two weeks with Mitch had been magical. She and Simon had spent the past weekend at Mitch’s house, and darned if she hadn’t felt the family atmosphere to her toes. Despite Mitch’s bachelor pad beginnings, the large home had a warmth that had nothing to do with the heat and everything to do with its owner.
Mitch had paid someone to decorate, and Becca had walked around in wonder, feeling as if she’d stepped into a home and garden Christmas makeover. It made her house feel amateur, but Mitch had said he liked her place better, because her decorations had history and meaning, while his had nothing more than a price tag.
A lie, because she’d seen a few old photos of his family and the many, many Christmas cards he’d strung up over the foyer.
At first being with Mitch in Simon’s presence had been awkward. Her son had smirked—a lot—and asked pointed questions about the sleeping arrangement. Mitch had left her to answer the boy. Though she’d had no intention of being found sliding out of Mitch’s bed in the morning, Simon had caught them leaving the room together yesterday in his supposed search of a bathroom.
Considering he had a bathroom attached to the room he’d used, she’d found his excuse more than ridiculous and had called him on it. But he’d only smiled with pleasure, staring from her to Mitch, then searched out food in the kitchen.
When Mitch had said to make themselves at home, her son had taken him at his word.
“Honey, I like Simon,” Mitch had said. “He can have anything I have in the house. Well, except for my Super Bowl rings. Those are mine.”
Simon had stared at Mitch’s trophies and gloried in stories from Mitch’s times playing. The pair had even watched a few old games together, and Becca had overheard Mitch coaching Simon on certain plays, while Simon ate up the attention and went back for more.
She might have felt jealous at Simon’s obvious hero worship, except Mitch continued to try to include her in everything.
Sitting in his hot tub, she’d wondered why she kept fighting it. Her feelings for him had been growing since she’d first laid eyes on the man. But how much of it was real, and how much was her reaction to his wealth and impressive possessions?
She’d laughed at herself then, and she did again now, wiping down the last table.
Becca had never been impressed by wealth. She’d also never been poor or desperate. Despite her lease going up and her son continuing to grow out of his clothes while he never stopped eating, she’d provide for him. Heck, if she had to manage two jobs to make ends meet, she would. She’d never been afraid of hard work.
And that worried her a little bit, because she could too easily see Mitch trying to ease her financial burdens. She didn’t want him for his money, just for himself…which made her wonder if their differences were too divisive to get over. Becca Bragg wasn’t famous or gorgeous. She’d never been on the cover of a magazine, didn’t have millions, and had never seen a trail of men hanging around, hoping to be noticed by her.
Mitch had women constantly fawning over him, and yes, it bothered her. But then Neal had been the same way, handsome, strong, charming. Women had wanted him too, but he’d had eyes only for Becca.
She thought back to Mitch’s text, spelling Neal’s name. Had Neal been sending her a message? Or was she crazy to read into it?
“No doubt. I’m crazy.”
“Talking to yourself, Becca? That’s not a good sign.” Linda Madison had come in with the Smith sisters.
Joy.
The Smiths ignored her and went straight to the counter, where Ruth waited on them.
“It’s been a long day,” Becca said, pasting on a smile. “How are you, Linda?”
“Impressed.” Linda shook her head. “I hadn’t figured you for a savvy woman, but then, you did manage to nab Flash when the rest of us couldn’t. Kudos, Becca.”
