“Right,” he says and quickly steps back, moments before I ignite and burn the entire lot down. We walk to the display, and Liam comes and greets us.
“Hey Josie,” he says, and his jaw drops when he turns to Brody. “Brody Tucker,” he says. “I heard you were in town.”
“Hey man, how are you doing?” Liam stands there, completely star-struck, so Brody carries the conversation. “We’re here for a tree, obviously,” Brody says. “Nice lot you have here.”
Liam shakes his head, and I can’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, right sure. Just holler if you need any help. Wait, do you think I could get an autograph sometime?”
“How about right now?”
Liam produces a pen and a piece of paper and Brody scribbles his name. Liam is like a giggling child when he hands it back.
“We’ll find our own way,” Brody says. Liam is still standing there, a goofy grin on his face, as Brody takes my hand and gives a tug.
“Is it always like that for you?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I don’t mind. I’m nothing without my fans.”
I nod, liking that about him. We move through the lot, and every now and then, Brody stops to have his picture taken with some people. I stand back and watch him. He’s especially good to the kids, dropping to the ground despite the cold snow, and chatting with them eye to eye.
He finishes up and shoves his hands into his coat as he walks back to me, a smile on his face, and a gleam in his gorgeous eyes.
“You’re good with the kids.” He shrugs like it’s nothing, but I’m not buying it. I nudge him, and he turns the conversation to me. “Do you like kids?”
I nod. “Sure.”
“You want kids of your own?”
My throat tightens, pain making it hard to talk. “I used to envision a future with kids.”
“You don’t now?”
I give a fast shake of my head and redirect. “You’ll be a good dad.” He makes a face like I said something so ludicrous, he doesn’t know how to process. “What?”
“I know nothing about being a dad.”
“Kayley told me your dad is an NHL hall of famer.”
“She’d be right.” He walks toward a tree and touches the needles. Even with his back to me, I can sense the hurt in him. I guess he and his dad aren’t close and that explains why he’s at his friend’s house for Christmas instead of being with his own family, and I’ll never forget the hurt he was trying to hide when he talked about all the ‘Moms’ in his life. My heart tightens and the sudden urge to give him an amazing holiday comes over me. I didn’t really celebrate last year, after losing my husband. Celebrating felt wrong, living and enjoying life felt wrong, but maybe I can do this for Brody. He glances back at me. “What do you think of this one?”
“Come on.” I grab his hand and tug, and take him to the back of the tree farm where they keep the biggest and fullest trees. His eyes go wide.
“We’ll never fit any of these into your place.”
/>
“Oh, ye of little faith.” I point to the biggest Douglas fir. “I like this one right here.” I lean into him, and he glances down at me. “I think it’s perfect.”
“Perfect, yeah,” he says, his eyes on me giving me the sense he’s talking about me, not the tree. A fine shiver goes through me and he tugs me to him to keep me warm, but the shiver had nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with the man gazing at me, making me remember what it was like to really live, to be happy. Joy wells up inside of me, taking me by surprise, and tears threaten to fall, my emotions all over the place today—because of Brody.
But I can’t fall for him. Not only is he only here for the holiday, he’s a man with a reputation, and I’m a woman with a late husband. I barely know Brody. Sure, he’s staying with me, and sure he makes me laugh and feel alive again. I don’t believe in love at first sight, and our first meeting was nothing to write home about. It could be a funny story down the road for the grandchildren. Brody was right about that. That thought brings on a small smile, but I quickly wipe it away. This is wrong. Just so wrong.
Then why does it feel so right?
7
Brody
Four days until Christmas Eve: