Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
“Comforting?” she replied. “No, but I’m wondering why a wealthy philanthropist is sitting at my old kitchen table after making me breakfast. It’s a little disconcerting.” She met my gaze. “I don’t really understand this thing between us.”
“I don’t either,” I confessed. “This isn’t my usual MO.”
She sat back, picking up her coffee cup. “What is?” she asked, her voice teasing. But I saw the flash of worry in her gaze and felt her tension. “Five-star restaurants, ballroom dancing, and quick trips to the islands with leggy blondes after a long week of making millions?”
I dropped my head in laughter at her words.
“First off, no to the ballroom dancing. Not a fan. Second, my days and evenings usually consist of me and my laptop, working, listening to my assistant call me a tyrant and a bore because I rarely leave the office.” I shook my head. “My meals are normally what my housekeeper leaves me or takeout. As for the leggy blondes, those were around on occasion before, but lately, I much prefer the company of clever, sexy redheads who let me cook them breakfast.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because I think she is fascinating. Strong. Beautiful. Inspiring.”
She blinked.
“I assume you’re not used to being thought of that way.”
“Well, AJ thinks I’m awesome—most of the time. But other than that, no.”
“Get used to it.”
She worried at the plump flesh of her mouth with her teeth. I leaned forward, pulling her lip away from the self-inflicted torture. “I want to kiss that lip later,” I murmured. “Stop hurting it.”
Her eyes widened, and I tried not to groan as she kissed the end of my finger that rested lightly on her bottom lip.
“Why me?” she whispered.
“Why not you?”
“There is nothing special about me.”
“I totally disagree on that. I think you’re very special.”
“I’m ordinary. There are lots of single mothers working as hard as I am to give their kids a good life.”
I nodded. “I try to help them with my business and my money. I try to do good for a lot of people. That is important to me. As for being ordinary, I don’t think you ever have or ever will be that.”
“Why?” she asked again.
I didn’t know how to explain this feeling. How intensely I felt this connection with her. Or even why I felt it. But it was there, a living, breathing thing between us. And I refused to push it away. I needed to find out how strong it was.
“Because I think it was meant to be.”
She looked shocked at my words, unsure what to say. Right then, AJ chose to run over. “Momma, can we still go sledding?”
“Sure, baby.”
“Can I watch one more cartoon?”
She sighed and stroked his wild curls away from his face. “Only one.”
“Thank you!”
He turned to me. “You can come sledding if you want. We go to the hill by the park. It’s fun.”
“I think Asher has other—”
I cut her off. “I would love to, bud.”
He raced off, happy, and she looked at me. “You don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to.”
“You’re not really dressed for sledding.”
“I have some other clothes in the car. I often take Bonnie to the park, so I’m always prepared.”
“Your niece?”
“Yes.”
“I assume you’ll be spending Christmas with them?”
“No, they go to his parents’ place in Alberta. They’ve already gone, in fact. We’ll spend the day together when they get back and have our own little Christmas.”
“You don’t go with them?”
“I went once. It was just…too much.”
“Too much?”
“I felt like the odd man out, to be honest. All couples and families. And I don’t like my sister worrying about me. So I stay here and do what I do best. Be alone. Find places to give money.”
She frowned. “You can’t be alone on Christmas.” She looked around. “I mean, it’s not much, but you’re welcome here.”
“Not much?” I repeated. “It’s your home.”
“I’m sure compared to where you live, it’s, ah, lacking.”
“You don’t have other people joining you?”
“No. It’s only AJ and me.”
The thought of spending the day with them made me feel something I hadn’t felt in years. An elusive fluttering of happiness filled my chest.
“I would be honored to come here for Christmas.”
She beamed at me, her smile wide.
“Then consider yourself invited.”
The snow began as we went sledding, the fluffy white flakes falling rapidly. The walk to the park was short, AJ chatting incessantly. There were two places to sled, one a small slope, the other much higher. Both were fairly busy with families and kids, the noise and excitement level high.
“There’s a skating pond farther down the path,” Rosie explained.
“I don’t know how to skate,” AJ said with a frown.
“I can teach you,” I offered.
“I don’t have any skates. Neither does Momma.”
“I bet I have an older pair kicking around that would fit you,” I said. “My sister left her skates last time. I bet they’d fit your momma.”