Parker apparently didn’t as he made his presence loud and clear. Annie bounced him on her knee as she attempted to eat the meticulously prepared meal.
“I don’t understand why you don’t get someone to take care of him while we’re eating,” his mother chastised his sister-in-law.
Clenching her jaw into a tight smile, Annie stood and rocked Parker on her shoulder. Poor kid was probably tired.
“I don’t want anyone to have to work on Christmas,” Annie defended. “It’s a time for family.”
“Nonsense,” his dad said, breaking into the conversation. “They’re happy to get the extra pay for the holiday.”
Blake caught Maria’s eye roll as she walked in with another tray of rolls, fresh from the oven.
“I could really use your assistance on this fundraiser, Anne.” His mother was the only one who never used Annie’s nickname.
“I’d be happy to help you with anything that I can do from home. I don’t like taking Parker out too much in the winter, especially when it’s been this cold.”
“You really should get an au pair. I’ve mentioned this before. You give them a small room and a stipend, and they’re thrilled to come to this country. And since they won’t have any family here, working on a holiday isn’t an issue.”
Annie continued to rock Parker. Her plate had barely been touched, and Blake was almost finished. Rising, he reached out for his nephew. “Why don’t you let me take him so you can eat?” Harrison should have offered, but he was still discussing business with their father and his own plate still had heaps of food on it.
“Thanks, Blake. You’re so good with him. You should have a whole brood yourself.”
“Hoping to do that someday. For now, I’ll settle on spending time with this little guy.” He didn’t go far, simply swayed back and forth behind his chair. Parker snuggled deeper into his shoulder and rubbed his eyes.
His mother’s eyes narrowed as he patted the baby’s back soothingly. “That woman you brought to the party last week, how serious are you about her?”
“Carli? We’ve only had one date: the party. I’ve been kind of busy this week, but she’s a nice woman and I like her.” No sense getting his mom riled up at this point. If he showed interest in someone she didn’t know, she’d be asking all sorts of questions and digging into her background. Carli didn’t need that kind of hassle.
Still, the disapproving look his mother sent him was familiar. It was the one she always used when he was doing something he shouldn’t. In the past, it would make him stop whatever it was, but not this time. He wasn’t planning on staying away from Carli. The exact opposite in fact.
Every time he saw her, she did something to make him grow more attached. Like at the unit Christmas party. Again, she’d jumped right in and helped out, even though it wasn’t her department. The kids loved her, and he wasn’t the only one who had a knack for knowing what they needed. Carli was a natural, too.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t stayed until the end, claiming cleaning and gift wrapping needed to happen at home. He’d wanted to drive her there and get another kiss. As it was, he’d barely been able to touch her hand as they said goodbye.
When dinner was finished, they moved to the formal living room, where the largest of the Christmas trees was decorated in white lights and silver bows. It seemed kind of boring after the festively colored lights and assortment of balls on the Jameson’s tree that had already been up on Carli’s birthday.
Harrison took Parker and set him in the portable crib Maria had brought in. That should satisfy their mother. She now had their undivided attention. She took great pride in handing out each gift, waiting for it to be opened and being showered with extreme gratitude for her generosity. Of course, he knew she hadn’t actually shopped for the gifts herself. Yes, she picked out each one, but it was up to one of her staff to do the actual shopping and wrapping.
He’d discovered that little secret about the same times he realized there wasn’t a Santa. As he opened his new cufflinks, he made sure to gush over how exquisite they were. And the Rolex, yes, exactly what he needed. Absolutely, to show off in front of those other doctors who all had them. The watch he currently had was better for taking pulses and much more comfortable, but he’d make sure to pull it out when his mother was around.
He loved his parents, and Harrison, Annie, and Parker, but he remembered the afternoon at Carli’s parents’, how relaxing and calm it was, even with the football game score going back and forth. Even with not understanding half of what was said, he felt it was okay to slouch on the chair or sit on the armrest of the couch, shoving junk food in his mouth. No one sent him a glare because of it. He wasn’t sure anyone even noticed. But he noticed. His mind drifted into wondering what Carli was doing now.
Chapter twelve
Carli bounced out on her porch as soon as Blake’s Mercedes rolled up. She’d been anticipating this day since he’d mentioned it. The car had barely stopped before she tugged the door open and slid inside.
“Eager to see me? Not that I’m complaining.” His grin showcased his dimples, sending tingles down to every nerve ending.
“I like to be punctual.”
“An excellent trait. One that should be rewarded.”
Leaning across the center console, he lifted his hand to her face. His touch did nothing to calm her nerve endings.
“I like rewards.”
“Good, ‘cause I’ve been waiting to do this. It was the first thing on my list.”
His lips caressed hers, and she melted against him. Who cared that the gear shift was digging into her ribs?
