“Mood.” I finish her sentence for her.
Her eyes widen as an amused smile flies across her lips. “I was going to sayChristmas spirit.”
“That too.” I grin at her.
She flips her head toward the man. “How wonderful to see you.”
Her smile doesn’t light up her eyes the way it did seconds ago, telling me it’s notwonderfulto see this man. And suddenly, I understand the reason for the forced kiss.
“It’s been a long time. I haven’t seen you since…” His words trail off, and his expression takes on a superior quality. “Well, since the last conversation we had three months ago.”
The pieces are falling together. He’s the reason for Lacee’s rough last three months. She probably had her heart broken by this douche in a fancy peacoat. I’ve got to say, though, I would never have taken Lacee for the kind of woman that falls for an older man. He has to be fifteen years her senior.
“Has it been that long since we’ve seen each other?” She looks at me, spouting off a fake laugh, then she glances back at Nicholas. “I can’t even remember.”
I applaud her effort to cover up her hurt.
He gestures to the woman next to him. “You remember Natalia.”
“Yes, of course.” Lacee’s fake smile falters, and I feel the way her body stiffens next to mine. “Dr. Fullmer, how nice to see you again.”
“Likewise.” The woman’s lips purse into a small smile.
“I’m sure you’ve heard, but last month, I proposed to Natalia.” He turns his face to the woman, gazing into her eyes the way cheesy lovers do. “We’re getting married this next summer.”
“I might have heard something about that.” Lacee looks up as if she’s trying to recall. “Things have just been so busy. I can’t really remember.”
I’m trained to know when someone’s lying, and that’s the biggest bunch of B.S. I’ve ever heard.
“And who is this?” Nicholas inclines his head to me.
“Uh…” Lacee looks at me. “This is my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Nicholas’s brows raise in disbelief. “Is that wise?”
Excuse me?
“It makes you seem desperate. Like you can’t be without a man.”
“It’s been three months.” Her voice seems strained, but there’s enough casual flare accompanying her smile that I’m probably the only one who can tell she’s fighting to keep it together.
My training has taught me a lot about reading people, but I don’t need any of it to tell me this Nicholas guy is a jerk. I can’t stand how he talks to Lacee like he’s her father. That’s exactly why I wrap a possessive arm around her shoulder.
My expression overflows with smugness. “Well, after her last boyfriend, Lacee was desperate…desperateto know what it’s like to be with a real man.”
Nicholas’s jaw tightens, and he shifts his weight uncomfortably.
My grin spreads. “I guess she used to date some old guy in the beginning stages of male-patterned baldness.”
Lacee’s biting back her smile, but I don’t miss the gratitude beaming in her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name.” Nicholas’s beady stare narrows in on me.
“Parson Brown. Nice to meet you.” I reach my hand out to him.
He frowns as if he’s trying to remember where he’s heard that name before. If he’d been paying attention to the Christmas music playing on the mall’s overhead speakers, he’d know. My gaze shifts to Lacee and her blue-eyed amusement. I think she knows I ripped the name straight out of the song “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.”
“Yes, Parson,” Lacee gestures between us, “meet Dr. Nicholas Lawrence.”
