You and me both, kid, she wanted to say.
“Do you two want to stay for lunch? We happen to have much more to offer than we did earlier today, thanks to my dad.”
“We should probably go. I have some things to do before we head over to Haven Point for the bridal shower this afternoon.”
“I have to go potty,” Lydia said suddenly, looking around the room as if she thought she might find a convenient toilet in a corner.
“Come on. I’ll show you where the bathroom is,” Audrey said, reaching for her hand.
“Thank you,” Holly said as the two of them left the room, leaving her alone with Ryan.
Had he really wanted to kiss her earlier? It felt like something she must have imagined, especially since he seemed once more remote and unapproachable.
“I really am grateful for all your help. I’m pretty clueless when it comes to decorating a house in general and decorating a house for Christmas in particular.”
“Yet you hung those lights like a champion. If the helicopter pilot thing doesn’t work out, you could go into business hanging other people’s outdoor decorations.”
“Good to know. I might need to keep that in my back pocket.”
“Are you looking for another career? I thought helicopter pilots were the Swiss Army knives of the sky.”
“We are. Unfortunately, this one is currently a little bent.”
He gestured to his leg, the one she knew he had injured in that accident that had shaken Kim so badly.
“I’m not sure if the navy will still want me in the air if thisdoesn’t heal. And I’m sure as hell not willing to spend the rest of my career behind a desk, where I’ve been for the past two months.”
“Kim has been really worried about you.”
He looked disgruntled at that information. “I’m curious to know what else my sister might have told you about me.”
She couldn’t resist the urge to tease him a little.
“Hmm. Let’s see. She had to sit with you on the school bus every day until you were in second grade because you were afraid of the older kids. You were something of a genius when it came to math and science, unlike her. And you don’t date any woman for longer than a month, always careful to make sure she doesn’t get the wrong idea and think you might be serious about her.”
He frowned. “She makes me sound like a player. And like a prize ass.”
“I never had that impression at all. Kim adores you and would love to see you find someone special.”
“I’m afraid she’s going to be waiting a long time for that.”
He gave her a sly look. “Besides, I have found someone. You. I can’t believe you forgot that we’re madly, embarrassingly in love. That’s what you want your ex-in-laws to think, right?”
She pushed away a sudden, wholly inappropriate yearning. “Why is it that our supposed relationship becomes more intense every time we talk about it? Next you’ll have us engaged and planning our own wedding.”
He grinned and Holly completely understood why so many women went out with him. That smile was lethal.
“All done, Mommy. I even have my coat,” Lydia announced from the doorway, where Audrey was helping her with the sleeves. “I just need my boots.”
“You do. It’s cold outside. We don’t want you to freeze your toes off.”
Lydia giggled and the sound was a blunt reminder to Holly that her daughter was the only thing that mattered to her. Not a man with devastating good looks and a smile that made her want to fall into him and never climb back out.
Chapter Ten
NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME, HOLLY REFLECTED THAT SHE WASprobably wrong to regret losing her former in-laws more than she regretted losing her ex-husband.
Holly smiled at Stacy Pacheco, Troy and Kristine’s older sister, as she grabbed another bacon-wrapped shrimp off the plate of appetizers on the table.
