“Can I bring my Legos?” Alex asked on Saturday while Merry packed the things they’d need at the Festival of Trees.
“Only if you’re willing to risk losing some of the pieces. You wouldn’t want a sad-looking city with gaps in your buildings.” She glanced at the snacks again and added some extras since they’d likely be sharing with Carlisle and Grace.
Merry had to take a slow breath and attempt to calm the fluttering of her heart. She wasnotsupposed to be responding to the man’s simple presence like this. She was almost twenty-eight-years old and the mother of a five-year-old son. With so many adult responsibilities, she didn’t need to be distracted by Carlisle Wyndham.
Or his daughter. Merry was getting as bad as Alex when it came to the little girl. There was something so precious about the child with her guileless enthusiasm for everything. When Carlisle uprooted her from Huckleberry Falls, Merry and her son would miss them both terribly.
Earlier in the week, when they’d attended the lighting ceremony, all Grace had talked about had been the Christmas activities the town sponsored. She’d been upset that Carlisle’s office wouldn’t have one of the twenty-four decorated windows. On the days Merry had seen the little girl at the daycare, Grace had still been lecturing her father to be sure to have a window next year for his business. Carlisle had looked a little weary of the topic.
Would they move back to England when he completed his project? The thought of the two of them leaving Huckleberry Falls bothered Merry more than a little. And, it bothered her even more that it bothered her so much.
“Mama, are you mad?” Alex asked, his little face scrunched with concern.
“No. Why?”
“Because you were frowning. You look kind of sad too.” Her sweet little son threw himself at her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I’m fine.” Merry brushed his hair back from his face. “I’ll be trusting you to keep an eye on Grace. You twohaveto stay behind the table and not wander off without an adult. Both her father and I will be busy with the public.”
“Iknow, mama. I’ve done this before.” His superior attitude made her smile. She had a feeling she’d be in for it when he became a teenager.
“I love you, my little man, but it’ll be different from helping at Grammy’s booth.” She gave him a quick hug. “Let’s get going, so I have time to set up everything.”
Later, when Merry was satisfied with the salon’s display, she and Alex had plenty of time to check out the booths. They stopped at her mother’s last.
“Can I help with anything?” Merry asked while Alex threw his arms around his grandmother and gave her a quick hug.
“I have plenty of help, but when I was coming in the last time, I noticed Carlisle pull up. He looked a little overwhelmed.” Her mother arched her brows knowingly. “I’ll bet he’s going to need some help.”
“Mama, let’s go help Grace’s papa.” Alex was already tugging on Merry’s hand.
“I guess I’ll see you later.” She sent her mother a disapproving glance, which only made her laugh.Meddling mothers.
Merry had to pull Alex back a few times to keep him from running off into the growing crowd. Saturday, which was the last day of the festival, was always the busiest. People came from all over the state, plus Idaho and Utah, for their festival trees and frequently stayed the night in one of the town’s hotels to take part in other Christmas festivities.
“There’s Grace.” Alex broke free and ran ahead.
Merry hurried after him, but slowed when she noticed a pretty woman with amazing dreadlocks helping Carlisle set up a display board. The two were talking like they knew each other well, and Merry wondered who the woman was.
He glanced up then and noticed Merry approaching. He smiled, and her nervous system went wild. It was like the more she told herself she couldn’t be attracted to him, the harder her mind and body worked to make it a lie.
Carlisle said something to the woman at his side, and she turned around. The assessing look the woman gave Merry could have been both intimidating and insulting, but then the woman grinned and said something low to Carlisle. He flushed. What was that about?
“Grace noticed right away that you’ve already set up your booth,” Carlisle said. “Merry, I think I may have mentioned my assistant Nia before. Nia Morris, this is Merry Hurst.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Nia said. “Little Grace talks about your son all the time. He’s been good for her.”
She raised on her tiptoes to whisper something to Carlisle. Once again, his cheeks darkened, and a crease appeared between his brows. The woman gave a soft laugh, patted him on the arm, and waved at Merry and the children before leaving. The apparent relationship between Carlisle and his assistant reminded Merry of the kind her mother had with her employees. They were as much friends as anything else.
Could there be something more than friendship between them? Irritated at the twinge of jealousy, Merry turned to the children.
“Let’s get the two of you set up for the day.”
“How would you like to do this?” Carlisle asked, stepping closer to Merry.
She caught a whiff of him. Dang, but he smelled good.
“We’re fortunate they didn’t give us corner booths along a thoroughfare. This way, we have a nice space in the back between our booths which can be the children’s play area.”
