“Lead the way,” she murmured, her tone wry.
He walked into a jewelry store, pointed to a pair of diamond solitaire earrings and said, “I’d like to see those, please.”
The first pair he was shown didn’t please him. The second pair did. “These will be fine. Do you gift wrap?”
Rachel glanced at all the busy shoppers scurrying around them, looks of harried desperation on their faces as they tried to find something for everyone on their lists. Lucas had been shopping for just over an hour—most of that time spent standing in line—and he’d already accomplished his goals.
“I thought I’d pick up a nice bottle of wine for Bobbie and Caleb,” he said to Rachel, tucking Emily’s earrings into the bigger bag that held his other gifts. “I’ll send Emily and Wade a wedding gift later.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “Is there anything else you need me to help you with?” she asked very politely.
He lifted an eyebrow. “Is something wrong?”
“You knew exactly what you wanted to buy everyone on your list. You didn’t need my help. Why did you want me here?”
He returned her look blandly. “I don’t like to shop alone.”
Two children in a hurry for a last-minute visit with the mall Santa pushed past Rachel, followed closely by their weary mother. Still looking at Lucas, Rachel ignored them. “Do you have anything else to buy?”
“No. I think I’ve fulfilled all my Christmas obligations.”
“Then let’s have lunch. I skipped breakfast and I’m hungry. And by the way,” she added, thinking of how casually he’d just spent a rather sizeable chunk of money, “you’re buying.”
He laughed. The rusty sound seemed to surprise him almost as it did her. “You’re on.”
Lucas refused to eat at the food court or one of the crowded chain restaurants in the mall. They chose, instead, to drive their separate vehicles the short distance to a locally-owned Italian restaurant that had been in business for many years. Judging from the number of cars in the lot, it was still quite popular. And it was still a bit early for the real lunch-time rush.
“There will be a twenty-minute wait for a table,” a perky young hostess informed them.
Lucas nodded. “We’ll wait in the bar.”
Christmas carols played softly from hidden speakers as Rachel and Lucas sat at a tiny table. The bartender had recommended his special hot cider in honor of the holiday, so they had decided to try it. Rachel was glad she did as she sipped the rich, steaming brew. “This is delicious.”
“It’s good.”
“Your family will probably have a huge dinner tonight.”
“Emily was already cooking when I left. If everyone else brings as much, there will be enough food for most of Honoria.”
“And what are your plans for tomorrow?”
“Wade and Clay are staying over tonight. Emily wants to see Clay open his gifts from Santa Claus and then we’ll have a big Christmas breakfast. I offered to clear out tonight so it would just be the three of them in the morning, but Emily wouldn’t hear of it. She claims she needs me there as a chaperone. My sister,” he added ruefully, “inherited her full share of the McBride obstinacy.”
“After being separated from you for so long, I’m sure she wants to spend as much time with you as possible before you leave again.”
“That’s what she says.”
Rachel searched his face. “Why do you find that so surprising?”
“Emily has every reason to resent the hell out of me for leaving the way I did. Our father was a cold son of a bitch who was incapable of showing her any real affection. All the old meddlers in town loved to rehash the stories about Nadine’s running around, about the fights I got into, and about the speculation that I’d had something to do with Roger’s death. After I left, there were apparently other scandals in the McBride family, so Emily bore the brunt of the gossip.”
“From what I’ve heard, the townspeople are very fond of Emily, for the most part—despite her McBride blood.”
Lucas nodded. “She’s made a place for herself. I’m afraid she’s had to swallow her pride a few times to stay in the town’s good graces, but she doesn’t seem to regret her choices. And she tells me she’s learning to take up for herself when it’s necessary.”
Rachel twisted her cider mug between her hands. “When are you going back to California?”
He shrugged. “I promised to stay through Christmas. I’ll probably clear out first thing on the twenty-sixth. Emily has a lot to do to get ready for her wedding next week, even though she’s keeping it simple. I don’t want to be in her way.”