| |
Once the trees were set up in their stands, Dakota brushed the pine needles off her hands, sighed over the sticky sap and stood back looking at what they’d accomplished.
“Bill, you’re a legend. These trees are beautiful.” The pungent smell of pine filled the small ballroom, making the impending approach of Christmas seem even closer. Excitement built in her chest and she had a hard time keeping the smile off her face. If she closed her eyes she could almost see her tree decorated.
Warm breath fanned over the back of her neck. “Ready to take this on?” Adam rested his chin on her shoulder and she shuddered under his touch. Even though he claimed he didn’t want a relationship, he seemed to be easing into it.
Breathing in and out for calm, she shook her head. “I’m excited but I might have taken on more than I can handle to be honest.” Now the trees were in front of her, the real fear of not having enough decorations loomed.
“I promised to help you string your tree and I will. You have me for two days and then I have to leave, go back to Seattle and take care of things.”
Panic rose in her chest and she turned her head to look at him. “You’re going to get tested?”
“Yes. You’ve given me the confidence to go ahead. I have to sort it out once and for all.”
“I’m proud of you and you know I have my fingers and toes crossed that everything will be fine.” She blinked, emotional tears filling her eyes.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
How could she tell him that she was terrified? Not only about how the test results would go but if they didn’t find anything wrong, did that mean he was going back to his life? Either way her world would change. Again. She couldn’t tell him. It wouldn’t be fair when he was so worried himself. “I’m scared.” She looked at the trees, anything to avoid falling apart in front of him.
He tilted his head until they were facing each other, noses touching. He gripped her by the shoulders. “You can do this, okay? Don’t start doubting yourself now.”
“But...” He thought she was scared about decorating her tree.
“No, Dakota. Even I can see you’ve been putting on a brave face ever since you moved to Cherry Lake. You’re trying to prove to yourself that you’re good enough. After all you’ve been through I get that. Even with all the psycho-babble talks you’ve given me, I figured most of it was also still relevant to you.” He kissed her softly on the lips, his subtle aftershave overriding the smell of pine, if only for a second.
Breath stole from her lungs, her heart pounded, pushing the blood racing through her veins giving her a swoon-worthy head rush.
As fast as it had started, the kiss stopped. Her brain screamed out for more but she was too stunned to react. She opened her mouth to speak but the words stuck in her throat.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, not while everything is so up in the air. It’s not fair to either of us but I couldn’t help myself.” Adam pulled her against his chest, his breathing ragged.
Dakota rested her head on his shoulder as his arms wrapped around her. He was almost right. It wasn’t her accident or the losses she’d suffered business-wise that made her feel sick to her stomach. It was her feelings for this man that were getting out of control. If he left her and went back to his previous life, how would she cope? In such a short time he’d become too important to her and that was what ate away at her gut. Being tired didn’t help her nerves at all, in fact it only amplified her fears.
She lifted her head enough to answer him. “I’m terrified I’m going to make an idiot of myself. Just getting the decorations made has been much harder than I thought it would be.”
“But you did it. You have them all done now.”
She frowned at the trees, looked from the base to the tip almost kissing the high ceiling. “Maybe. They’re bigger than I thought they’d be.” Much bigger in real life compared to looking at a measuring stick.
“I told you around ten feet.”
“Yes but you never said they’d be so...so full and wide like.” She flapped her arms and gave up when they didn’t come close to the width of the tree.
Adam burst out laughing, and let her go. Bill ambled in and Adam sent an apologetic glance in his direction. “Have you ever been told your trees are too fat, Bill?”
He chortled and shook his head. “Always thought that was a good thing, myself.”
Dakota dropped her arms. “It is. Don’t listen to me. I’m having a mild panic attack here looking at what I’ve taken on.”
Mari walked out of a storeroom with a box of white curtains she’d ordered to hang between the trees. “Dakota, you can stop worrying. You’ve amazing talent and if your tree fails miserably, which I highly doubt, I’ll buy it at auction myself.”
Adam reached for Dakota’s hand, gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I think you might have a fight to win that battle, Mari.”
Dakota’s heart pounded. He was making it hard to not fall in love with him when he acted like this. How she wished he’d made that kiss last longer.
“Thanks, Son. I appreciate it.” His mother passed him a cup of coffee. “I know if you don’t get up and clean out the gutters and trim back those trees, your father will do it and that’s the last thing we need him doing. He was making noises about it yesterday, that’s why I called you.” She folded a tea towel over her hand, opened the oven door and pulled out a tray of cookies.
The aroma of warm oatmeal and raisin made Adam’s mouth water. “As if I’d let him anywhere near a ladder ever again.” He leaned over and snatched a hot cookie, bouncing it from one hand to the other before taking a quick bite. “Still the best cook ever.”
“Away with you.” She blushed and put another tray into the oven.
“Anything else you want me to do before Dad gets it in his mind to do himself, tell me now.”
“Would you mind checking the woodpile too? I know he did a load a month or so ago but I’ve been keeping the fire on because it’s getting so cold. You know your father won’t let me get anyone to come over and help out. Stubborn old fool that he is.” She poured herself a coffee and leaned against the counter. “Have you given any more thought to your future?”
“I’ve decided to go to Seattle to get tested and then I’ll make up my mind.”
She pulled out a chair and sat down beside him. “Please don’t think I’m being negative here, Adam, but you’re getting older. How many injuries have you had, serious injuries?”
He frowned and looked away. “Two.”
“I bet you haven’t told us half of it either.” She pursed her lips. “I know you probably think I’m being a downer and I apologize if that’s how I come over.”
“You don’t, Mom.”
“But I want what’s best for you and to me, staying in the game until they carry you out on a stretcher isn’t good enough. It’s foolhardy and such a waste of a life. You don’t need the money anymore, Adam.” Her hand covered his.
He looked at her, the cookie now a lump of concrete in his gut. “Everything you say, I’ve said to myself. Many times too. Dad’s heart attack brought it all home and I’ve tossed over so many ideas in my head I no longer know what I want. I need to hear what the doctor says before I make a decision.”
“What about Dakota?”
He looked away again.
“I may be old but I’m not blind or deaf. You’ve looked happier than I’ve seen you since you got home and I’ve heard the whispers about her. She’s very pretty and smart too. I hear you two have been seen together quite a lot. Of course people are going to talk. It’s a small town.”
“Mom, we’re friends, nothing more.” As much as he would like that to change. He drained his coffee cup and got up. “Let me get on with the jobs or I won’t be able to go and do my bit at the hotel setting up tomorrow before I leave. I don’t want anything left for Dad to do outside.”
“You’re a good man, Adam, even if you won’t tell your mother what’s going on in that head of yours.”
