“Where’s the little guy?” Enrique, the guy who’d held the door for me and invited all our classmates to my place, asked as we walked outside after the exam. My arms and legs shook—an adrenaline reaction, no doubt. I’d just finished my education. No matter what happened, I’d graduate in a week with a master’s degree.
“At home with my roommate.”
“Ah. Want to grab some coffee?”
I shook my head, trying to ignore his eager expression. “Thanks for the offer, but I need to get back to my son. Have a joyous holiday.”
His shoulders slumped. “Yeah. You, too.”
I watched him hurry to catch up to sneer girl and her friend. All three of them laughed about something, and then they were going around the building’s corner. I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Let the holidays begin.”
* * *
My family was vaguely Jewish, meaning that we’d celebrated the major religious holidays. Wanting to pass along those traditions to Hudson, I stopped by the large department store the next day to get the appropriate supplies for Hannukah. After considering Jamieson’s—no, Dr. Finch’s—suggestion, I purchased a stroller, too, which made getting around much easier.
I’d unpacked my mother’s menorah after my final. We’d light the first candle from the bag stored in the stroller’s basket tonight.
“We’re going to party it up,” I told Hudson as I pushed him toward our door.
“You are? With whom?” Dr. Finch asked from where he leaned against the wall.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, gaping like a fish.
“I wanted to see you now that I’ve turned in my grades for your class. You were one of two A’s. Now that you’re no longer a student, I wanted to ask you and Hudson to join Escher and me for dinner.”
I just stared, wide-eyed, my mind blank. Jamieson…definitely Jamieson, fidgeted a little at my silence. He cleared his throat.
“Unless, of course, you’re too busy partying. With Enrique Munsen, perhaps?”
My mind still struggled to catch up to this new data Jamieson had just added to my life. Dinner? With his son? Did Jamieson think I was dating Enrique? My nose scrunched at the thought.
“N-no. Enrique’s a friend, but we’re not…I’m not…I have ababy!”
“Who looks adorable in his bear outfit. Clothing has come a long way since Escher was an infant.” Dr. Finch peered up at me, a slight smile on his face. “Do you have dinner plans?”
“I…no…but I couldn’t possibly intrude…”
“I invited, so it’s not an intrusion.”
I sucked in a breath, trying to wrap my mind around this turn of events. “Dr. Finch—”
“Jamieson.” Oh how I loved the sound of his name. Loved it so much I wanted to roll around on my bed saying it over and over…
At my choked sound, Jamieson stepped in closer, and I inhaled his aftershave. Woodsy. Clean. Masculine. My thighs clenched.
Something wasn’t right. “But you…the other day…after class…”
He rubbed the back of his neck and peered at me through those thick-framed spectacles I found unbearably sexy. “I couldn’t be seen having favorites, could I? Plus, I wanted to catch the end of my son’s soccer match.”
“Oh. Yeah. That’s makes sense.”
I frowned but made no move to head into my apartment. He’d sought me out. Asked me to join him for dinner. My heart pattered in my chest as a blush warmed my cheeks. I knew I was too quiet, too willing to fade into the background to ever be considered stunning. Normally, I liked it there, but knowing that Jamieson Finch saw me and wanted to know me…I was so flattered.
“I love how you look at me, Libby,” he murmured. He raised his fingertips to run them along my jaw. “Adore it, actually. I’m pretty sure when you say my name, I’m going to struggle to control my need to kiss you.”
I licked my lower lip and tightened my hands on the stroller’s bar. “Jamieson…”
