“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” Dean sang.
Leo lifted their joined hands. She spun underneath before he drew her back into position. They moved into a slow turn.
“Maybe we should do forced dancing more often,” he said.
“I think you’re on to something, Professor.”
“Would you like to go dancing with me after Christmas? It would give you another reason to wear a fancy dress.”
She searched his face as if trying to uncover his motivation.
“And I’d want to throw in dinner, too.” He worked to sound relaxed instead of what he actually felt—vulnerable. “Because dancing probably makes you hungry at some point.”
“I’d definitely like to go dancing with you after Christmas.”
She would?
He twirled her again, and they fell back into step. “Aren’t you going to take a picture of the dancing?” he teased. “For Instagram?” She looked incredibly cute every time she framed a photo. She always scowled with concentration until she’d captured just the right shot.
“Nope. I left my phone at home. I’m going to have to remember this dance through memory alone. Which won’t be a problem, let me assure you.”
Had she really just said yes?
Had he really just asked her out?
Maddie spent the remainder of Mrs. Pottinger’s Christmas party suspended in a level of happiness akin to that experienced by Miss Americas directly after their crowning. She talked to people. Danced. Ate two more gluten-free Christmas cookies. And the whole time, one thought reigned supreme in her mind:Leo asked me out. The man whose understated personality clicked with her own. The man who’d been a fabulous husband to Olivia and was a fabulous dad to Charlie. The man who’d followed through on every one of his Mission:Christmas responsibilities. The man who was as reliable as he was good.That manhad asked her out.
The astonishing truth of it submerged her in excitement, despite the guilt that kept trying to interrupt her delight. Each time the guilt butted in, Maddie thrust it to the side. Now wasn’t the time to think through all the ramifications of Leo’s invitation because thinking through the ramifications was guaranteed to tarnish the pleasure.
She wanted, for this one evening, to relish the joy.
Leo Donnelly, the man she’d had a crush on for so, so long, had asked her out.
Chapter Seven
The moment Maddie opened her eyes the next morning, her misgivings about Leo and Olivia jolted her fully awake—and not in a good way.
She dashed both her worries and her comforter to the side. After padding into her apartment’s kitchen, she got a pot of coffee brewing.
Today was Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve! She and Leo were due at Kim Huntington’s house at ten this morning to unload the Mission:Christmas haul they’d carefully stockpiled for her and her girls over the past weeks.
It was going to be a busy day. A wonderful day, full of Leo and Kim and then her extended family this evening. She didn’t have time for misgivings.
When Maddie spotted Leo’s car parked in Kim’s driveway, anticipation rained through her like sparkling confetti.
Leo exited his car while she parked. She loved the way his clothes fit him. His jacket’s collar stood up, framing his neck. Simple black sweater. Jeans.
“Good morning,” he said as she approached.
“Morning.” They stood, beaming at each other under a cold white sky. Maddie wasn’t exactly sure how to interact with him now that a new understanding—we like each other—lived between them. It was an understanding brimming with possibilities.
They popped their respective trunks. When Leo spotted her trying to lift out a heavy box, he rushed over to help. “Here. Let me.” He toted the box, and she carried bags in both hands as they made their first trip up the front walkway. Kim lived in a tidy one-story Cape Cod revival style house with windows symmetrically placed on either side of her recessed front door.
Maddie rang the bell with her elbow and gave a satisfied sigh. “I love Christmas Eve.”
“It’s the second best day of the year, next to Christmas.”
“Christmas Eve may edge out Christmas Day, in my opinion. Christmas Day is full of”—she hunted for the right word—“revelation, but Christmas Eve is full of expectation. Which might be even sweeter.”Expectation is a very sweet thing indeed, isn’t it, Leo?
