He locked the shed, and we headed toward the driveway. "I'm on my way to church with my family. Want to come with us?"
"Oh, I couldn't intrude."
"It's the more, the merrier with my family. We eat at my parents afterward. Then I can help you with the bike after Ayla's in bed."
I chewed my lip. "I was going to make cookies so Ayla had some for Santa."
"Mom made a ton of cookies. She'd give you some to take home."
"I don't know?—"
He held up his hand. "Will you come, please? My mom will be upset if I don't bring you once she finds out why I'm late for church."
I huffed out a laugh. "I don't want to upset your mother."
He grinned, and I wondered if he'd counted on that reaction. "Then it's settled. Hop in my truck, and we'll get Ayla."
I got into the passenger side. "Are you sure your parents won't mind that we crashed their family thing?"
"I told you she'd be upset if I didn't invite you. You're living in my house, and don’t have any family nearby. This is the right move."
I let out a breath. "I can't believe we're going to church. We haven't been since Ayla was little."
"We only go at Christmas. It's a tradition now, and it feels weird when we don't go."
"That's nice." I loved that his family had traditions. "I should probably start some with Ayla."
He smiled at me. "Maybe you are, starting with a Sterling Christmas Eve."
I couldn't help but laugh. He was so relaxed tonight. So unlike the man I'd first met. "I wonder if Ayla will mind the change of plans."
He flashed a smile at me. "She seems like a girl who'll appreciate a surprise."
"She certainly enjoyed your surprises this week."
He nodded. "And she'll love this one."
"You're so confident."
"I think I won her over with those lights. She'll be my buddy forever now."
She'd talked about nothing since. How cool it was that Hudson and his brothers had surprised her with Christmas lights. "Why do you want to win my daughter over?"
"I enjoy her company, and I genuinely want her to like me. But I also want to get in good with her mother."
"You said something like that the other day."
"I asked you what I needed to do to winyouover."
He'd surprised us with a tree and lights, and he'd come to my rescue with the bike. "I'd say you're on the right track."
He looked over at me, his expression vulnerable. "Really?"
"I'm not used to people surprising me or being there for me when I need them."
He glanced over at me. "You think it's because you don't let them?
"That's a possibility."
