She ignored the voice that said if he didn’t enjoy spending time with her here, he wouldn’t enjoy it in Hawaii either. It was Hawaii―how could anyone not be happy there?
Stepping carefully onto the second step from the top of the ladder, Leah reached to grip the gutter above her head. With her other hand, she attempted to fasten one of the clips she’d bought for hanging lights. But it slipped out of her numb fingers, clicking against the ladder before disappearing into the snow. She sighed and dug in her pocket for another.
This might be more than a one-day job.
“What are you doing?” The gruff voice startled her, and she dropped another clip. If she kept this up, she was going to have to make another trip to the hardware store before she got a single string of lights hung.
“You should really give some warning when you sneak up behind a person on a ladder.” She turned toward Austin, reminding herself that the extra kick to her heart was only because he’d surprised her.
“It wouldn’t be very sneaky then, would it?” He peered into the snow, then bent at the waist and dipped his fingers into it, fishing out the clips she’d dropped.
“How did you . . .” She shook her head as he passed it to her. “You must have eagle eyes. Did you get any sleep after you went home?”
Austin shrugged, hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt. “So what are you doing out here? Don’t you know it’s a snowstorm?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
Austin scrutinized her. “Trying to catch your death.”
She blew on her fingers again. “Every year, Hope Springs has a house decorating contest for Christmas. The grand prize is a trip to Hawaii.”
Austin watched her, face blank. Did he not see where she was going with this?
“And I thought if we won, it would be a good chance for Jackson and me to spend time together. Away from everything else.”
“Have you won before?” Austin looked skeptical.
“Of course not. I’ve never entered before.”
Austin spluttered, but she pushed on. “But I have a plan.” She climbed down from the ladder and pulled out her phone, scrolling to the inspiration board she’d created. She wanted to transform her home into a gingerbread house.
Austin’s eyebrows lifted toward his stocking cap. “That looks like a lot of work.”
“I know.” But she could do it. She hadn’t created a successful business by shying away from hard work.
“At least put on some gloves.” Austin pulled his hands out of his pockets, and before she realized where they were headed, he had them wrapped around hers. “You’re going to get frostbite.” He rubbed his warm hands back and forth over hers.
Leah scrambled for something to say. But the only thing she could focus on was his hands on hers. Why did they feel so good? So right.
Because they’re warm and you’re cold, she told herself. That’s the only reason.
She tugged her hands back and tucked them into her own pockets. “Much better, thanks. I can’t hold onto stuff with my gloves on.”
Austin’s hands went back into his pockets too, but he was still watching her.
More to escape his gaze than from any burning desire to climb the cold ladder, she reached for a rung.
But Austin held an open hand in front of her. “Pass me the clips.”
She blinked at him. “I thought you didn’t like Christmas.” But she reached into her pocket and started depositing clips into his hand.
“I don’t.” Austin shoved the clips into his own pocket and took a step up the ladder, moving cautiously. “But I like―” He turned away from her, falling silent.
“But I like to help,” he finally mumbled.
Leah watched his deft movements as he snapped the clips onto the gutter.
For a second, she’d been sure he was going to say, “But I like you.”
But he hadn’t.
Thank goodness.
Just because he’d helped hang the lights didn’t mean he liked Christmas any more now than he had before today.
Though Austin had to admit that he did like spending the day with Leah―and if hanging Christmas lights was the price he had to pay to do it, he’d gladly pay again.
Nice job following through with that whole not getting distracted thing.
Austin ignored the snarky reprimand in his head as he hung the last string of lights around the last window. He tossed Leah the end of the cord, and she plugged it in with the other ones.
“We need Jackson out here for this.” She ducked into the house to call for the boy. That kid had no idea how good he had it. Leah had spent the entire day out here―in the middle of a blizzard―to make this perfect for him.
“Austin’s here,” he heard Leah call.
Much as Austin had come to enjoy spending time with Jackson, it irked him that the only time the boy showed any interest in anything Leah said or did was when it involved him. He hadn’t done anything to deserve the kid’s respect or devotion. Not the way Leah had.
Austin heard Leah negotiating with Jackson to wear a jacket and boots. Fortunately, when the boy emerged a few minutes later, it looked like Leah had won.
“Ready for this?” Austin fist-bumped the boy. “I’ll turn it on. You two go stand on the sidewalk, so you get the full effect.”
When they were in position, he couldn’t resist doing a countdown. “One hundred. Ninety-nine. Ninety-eight.”
“Austin.” Leah’s laugh from across the yard warmed through him.
“Fine. If you can’t be patient. Three. Two. One.” He rushed through the countdown and flipped the switch.
“Wow.” Leah’s awed gasp drew his attention more than the lights. He walked down the driveway to join them, his eyes fixed on her face―the way her lips curved into a smile, the way her cheeks were pink and bright with cold, the way the lights from the house reflected in her eyes.
“It’s perfect,” she breathed as he came to stand next to her and take in the house.
Even as someone who didn’t enjoy Christmas, he had to admit they’d done a good job bringing Leah’s vision of a gingerbread house to life. The eaves were all outlined in white lights, while colored lights rimmed every window on the front of the house. Leah had wrapped some old wreaths in lights to make them look like candies. She’d made Austin try them in about a thousand different places before she’d decided to put them back in the first spot. Not that he’d minded. A line of lighted candy canes traced the footpath to the front porch, completing the effect.
Closer to the sidewalk, a spotlight shone on a hand-carved wooden nativity set. When Austin had pointed out that it didn’t really fit with the theme of the rest of the decorations, Leah had simply given him a look and said that without Jesus, there was no point to Christmas. Unwilling to get into a debate about religion, Austin had simply nodded and dutifully placed the heavy figures where she pointed.
“What do you think, Jackson?” Leah’s voice was tentative.
Jackson shrugged. “It’s okay.” But under the nonchalance, Austin could read it in his eyes―he was impressed.
Apparently Leah saw it too, because she clapped her hands. “How about some cocoa?”
Jackson gave a slight nod, and Leah turned to Austin, eyes questioning. “Join us?”
He should say no. He hadn’t gotten in a workout at all today, aside from climbing back up the overlook, which had been more challenging than he’d anticipated.
Plus, what had happened to not getting close?
But the idea of spending the night by himself with his weights and his resistance band didn’t hold much appeal.
“Sure.”
Weak, soldier. Weak.
He moved closer to her. “But first, there’s something I’ve been waiting to do all day.”
Leah’s eyes widened, and she took a step backward. Was she afraid he was going to try to kiss her again? Surely, she didn’t think he was that foolish?
He bent to the snow and scooped a
handful into a ball.
Leah’s shriek said she’d figured out what he was about to do.
She took two running steps into a snowdrift, but she was too slow. His lob easily hit her shoulder, and she shrieked again as snow cascaded down her coat.
Before she could retaliate, he reloaded, this time firing the snowball at Jackson. The boy didn’t quite shriek like Leah. But he did grunt and bend to make his own snowball. Both his and Leah’s hit Austin at the same time, and snow trickled down his back. But he didn’t care.
Seeing both of them smiling at the same time made it so worth it.
Chapter 17
“Ready?” The nervous buzz that had been percolating in her belly all day was ridiculous.
Austin had come over for dinner every day in the week since they’d decorated her house. And none of his actions had been anything more than friendly.
Just because they were eating at Peyton’s tonight didn’t make things any different.
She knew that.
She was sure Austin knew it.
She only hoped―prayed―that her friends knew it too.
“Let’s go.” Austin looked as nervous as she felt.
Was it too much, bringing him to her friends’ house? But it was either that or let the poor guy starve tonight.
Besides, plenty of her friends had brought new people to their get-togethers.
She tried to ignore the fact that most of them were now married to the people they’d brought. That had absolutely nothing to do with her and Austin.
Austin led the way to his truck and moved to open the passenger door. Leah forced down a fresh surge of panic. A guy could open a car door as a friend―it didn’t have to mean anything. Besides, Jackson had to get in this way too, so technically Austin had opened the door as much for the boy as for her.
Austin must have started the car earlier because it was already toasty inside.
That was thoughtful.
Leah pushed the thought aside. She had to stop reading into everything.
“How’s your brother?” Leah had avoided asking much about his brother, but she’d added him to her daily prayers.
“Haven’t heard from him.” There was an undertone of worry to Austin’s voice, though Leah could tell he was working hard to sound unconcerned.
“That’s probably pretty normal, though, right? I mean, I’m sure communication there is spotty and―” She cut herself off. And what? She didn’t know the first thing about what it was like over there. But she felt an overpowering need to offer him some reassurance. “I’ve been praying for him.”
Austin grunted. Apparently that conversation was over.
“Jackson, do you have homework this weekend?”
A grunt from the backseat. If only these two weren’t so talkative.
Still, things had been going so much better this past week that she couldn’t complain. That snowball fight with Austin last weekend seemed to have loosened Jackson up a bit. And with Austin coming over every night for dinner, Jackson had started eating at the table with them. He still only ate PBJ, but at this point, she’d take the small win. Plus, she’d only been called to Mrs. Rice’s office once this week, and that was because he’d skipped science. But at least he hadn’t punched anyone else.
As for Austin, he seemed to laugh more readily every day. And the look that had haunted his eyes―the one that made it seem like he wasn’t entirely present―had receded farther and farther into the background, so that sometimes she didn’t see it at all.
Now if they could just get through this dinner without her friends making things awkward between them.
Two hours later, Leah had to wonder what she’d been so worried about. Her friends had been on their best behavior―though Jade and Peyton did keep shooting her significant looks.
But Austin had gotten involved in a game of darts with the guys the minute they’d stepped through the door and had barely talked to her once since then. As they ate now, he sat in the living room, joining in an animated conversation with Jared and Ethan about their work as volunteer firefighters, while she sat in the kitchen with Sophie and Spencer and Ethan and Ariana and their little ones. A pang went through her middle every time Sophie wiped at her twins’ faces or Ariana made a silly face at Joy.
Adopting an older child had been the right decision. She still believed that. But she couldn’t deny that every once in a while she wondered what it would be like to have a baby too. Maybe next time she could adopt a little one.
If she survived this time.
She turned toward the living room to check on Jackson. She’d packed him a PBJ, but she knew he wouldn’t eat it with everyone around. Maybe later, when everyone was involved in a game of charades or something, he’d find a quiet spot in the kitchen to eat it. She was learning not to push it. And for now, he seemed content playing on the floor with Hope.
One more sign that a little sibling would be good for him. Someday.
Her gaze left Jackson and traveled to the spot where Austin sat on the couch, right at home with her friends. His eyes caught hers, and he grinned. Her eyes jumped to the other side of the room, but it was too late.
She could already feel her face warming. Hopefully no one else noticed.
She stood, gathering her plate, along with those of her friends, and carried them into the kitchen, where Peyton was stacking a tray with Christmas cookies.
Her friend smiled. “It’s a little early, but―”
“You know I don’t mind.” Leah chose a bell-shaped one and took a bite, closing her eyes as memories of Christmases with her family washed over her. “Perfect.”
Peyton checked over her shoulder, as if to make sure they were alone. “Speaking of perfect, I’m glad you brought Austin.”
Leah snorted. “Subtle, Pey.”
But Peyton poked her shoulder. “I’m serious. He seems much more comfortable than the first time we met him. His eyes don’t keep going to the door. Though they do keep going to a certain someone.”
“Whatever.” Thankfully, there was no way Peyton could see the warmth pooling in her middle.
“Don’t be like that, Leah. It’s obvious you two are good together.”
“We haven’t been together all night.”
“My point exactly.” Peyton shot her a triumphant smile. “You guys are working so hard not to be together that it’s obvious you are together. Or you want to be.”
“You’re delusional. Go serve those cookies before you say something even more nonsensical.” She shoved Peyton toward the living room. “Austin and I are friends. But that’s all we’re ever going to be. Capisce?”
“I think you’re wrong―”
Leah held up a warning finger. “Capisce?”
Peyton gave a half nod, then shook her head vigorously and escaped the room.
“You are the most exasperating friend ever, did you know that?” Leah called after her.
The only answer she got was Peyton’s gleeful laugh.
That had been more fun than Austin had anticipated. He’d already known Leah’s friends were nice from the first time he’d met them, but he hadn’t been sure how he’d do with being in such a large crowd again. But now that he knew them, it turned out they didn’t feel so much like a crowd―more like a good-sized family.
He’d also been more than a little concerned that Leah’s friends would detect his interest in her. But he’d done a pretty good job of keeping that hidden, if he did say so himself.
Actually, he’d done such a good job that it felt a little ridiculous now as he pulled into Leah’s driveway to drop her and Jackson off.
He hopped out of the car to walk them to the door. Jackson disappeared inside after giving him a fist-bump, but Leah turned to him.
“I hope you had fun.” She could barely suppress her yawn.
“I did.” Do not tuck her hair behind her ear. “Sorry if I was ignoring you. I didn’t want your friends to . . .” He toed at the step with his prosthetic. How did he say this?<
br />
Leah looked at her own shoes. “It’s fine. It’s not like we’re a couple.”
“Right.” He yanked his hat tighter over his ears and turned toward the steps.
“Wait. Austin.”
His pulse slid upward. Was this the part where she said she wanted to be more than friends?
“There’s this thing tomorrow at Jackson’s school. Some kind of father-son event. I offered to take him, but you can imagine how well that went over.” She met his eyes, and he could read the uncertainty there. “And he could really use a male role model. So I wondered if maybe you might be willing to go with him.”
Austin swallowed against a sudden scratchiness at the back of his throat. She had so many male friends. And a brother. But she considered him a role model for Jackson?
“You know what, never mind. I shouldn’t have asked. It was silly.” Leah reached for the door, but Austin threw out a hand to stop her. Her fingers were warm under his, and he had to make himself pull his hand away.
“It’s not silly.” He cleared his throat and met her eyes. “I’d love to go.”
“Thanks.” Leah’s whisper slipped right through to his heart. He couldn’t take his eyes off hers. It would be so easy to bend down and kiss her right now.
But this was about more than the two of them. It was about Jackson. And he wasn’t going to exploit her gratitude over this to get a kiss.
Assuming she’d even kiss him―and not run away again.
Which was highly unlikely.
He forced himself to reach past her and open the door. “Goodnight.”
She stepped inside, and he pulled the door closed behind her, staring at it a few seconds longer.
Taking Jackson to a father-son event was a no-brainer. Figuring out what to do with these feelings for Leah?
That was a whole new level of complicated.
Chapter 18
Austin pulled into the driveway of the sports complex Leah had given him the address to, glancing over at Jackson. The boy hadn’t said much on the way over, but Austin understood. He hadn’t had a father either. He couldn’t count how many times he’d watched his friends hanging out with their fathers, wishing that just once he could be like them. But his mom had never thought to ask another male role model to take him to these kinds of events.
Not Until Christmas Morning (Hope Springs Book 5) Page 11
