“Layla, are you helping our visitors?” Steve Martin’s booming voice interrupts whatever the little girl was going to say, and I’m relieved for his distraction. I could tell she was winding up for another long speech.
“Yeah, Unca Steve. I was tellin’ Mr. Corser about the good trees. But he says he doesn’t want one.”
The indignant tone makes me chuckle, and Layla frowns at me. But once again, Uncle Steve steps in. “Why don’t you take Mr. Corser’s friends to the good trees. I’ll show him one of our mini trees that’s in the pots. Maybe that will work better for him.” Steve turns Layla’s shoulders, and with one final shrug of her shoulders at me, she dances off to where my friends are all standing, smiling at us.
“If you’ll come this way, Mr. Corser, I think you might enjoy the potted trees that I’ve got in the barn,” Steve says, taking my arm.
“Thanks Steve, but really, I don’t—”
“If it’s my niece you’re looking for, she’s in the barn as well,” he says in a much quieter tone.
I look at him in surprise.
“I wasn’t born yesterday, I can tell when a man has a woman in mind.”
I drop my head and chuckle ruefully. “I really am that transparent, huh?”
Steve claps his hand on my shoulder. “Only to anyone looking. Now, I’ll keep Layla busy. You go.”
Chapter five
Abby
“Thank you, have a happy holiday.” I smile as the last customer walks out, then sink onto the small stool I’ve got set up behind the counter in the barn. I’m exhausted, and it’s not because running a Christmas tree farm this close to Christmas is busier than any other job I’ve had. And it’s not because I’m a single mom of an energetic, curious, talkative little girl. Nope. And it’s not the animals that need caring for at five o’clock every morning. This exhaustion is from one thing and one thing only.
Reid Corser.
The man has haunted my dreams every night, keeping me awake with filthy fantasies playing out in my head. And the daytime is no better, as my thoughts keep wandering to him, what he’s doing, and whether he’s thinking about me, too. But every time I go to talk to Layla about him, I freeze. It’s not that I haven’t dated, but it's never been serious, and Layla has never met them. There seemed no point when it was just casual. Something tells me if Reid and I start something, there’s no way we can keep it casual. Which means I need to feel positive that she won’t be confused or upset in any way. She’s never even hinted at missing having some sort of male figure in her life, which has filled me with endless amounts of relief, seeing as her biological father was nothing more than a sperm donor who signed over all of his parental rights days after I called him to say she was born. Someday, I’ll tell her about him if she asks. But telling her I want to date Reid feels big. Really big. Because if I’m being truly honest, it will be more than just dating. Don’t ask me how I know that, I just do. And while that should scare the crap out of me, it doesn’t. It feels like, dare I say it, a Christmas miracle.
I’m laughing to myself at that cheesy idea when the rich voice that I hear in my head every night fills my ears.
“Whatever’s responsible for making you smile like that is making me jealous.”
When I turn around, Reid is filling the doorway, looking downright delicious in jeans, a dark green sweater, and a leather jacket that’s unzipped. He walks toward me with purpose, and comes to a stop on the other side of the counter.
“Hi.” God, the way his lips tip up in a small smile when he says that one word makes my insides turn to complete mush.
“Hi,” I reply, the short word coming out as a whisper. A quick glance tells me we’re alone in here, so without saying another word, I tilt my head toward the entrance to the back of the barn where we keep extras of the local crafts and canned goods that we sell. The smile on Reid’s face grows until he’s beaming. He quickly rounds the counter and follows me through the small curtain. It’s barely fluttered shut before he spins me around and presses me up against the wall, his lips covering mine in a kiss.
“God, Abby,” he groans against my mouth. I pull him in closer, until I feel his rigid body pressed tightly against mine. His hips grind into me and my head drops back in a moan. I wantmore.
“Reid,” I gasp as his lips travel down my neck. Thank God I never put on my coat, even though I was getting chilly earlier because now he’s got access to the sensitive skin of my collarbone. And who knew collarbones could be an erogenous zone. Not me, that’s for sure. But Reid’s lips are dancing light kisses everywhere, lighting me up. My leg lifts up to wrap around him, and one of his hands immediately goes to my hip, securing me there. The position brings us even closer, and if he can’t feel the heat and moisture pooling between my legs already, I swear he will soon because I’m about to combust.
The sound of voices out front breaks through the lusty haze surrounding me and I push him away. “Oh my God,” I pant, my hand coming up to feel my racing heart. He’s breathing heavily as well, and the hooded look in his eyes promises so much more. A small shudder goes through my body.
I turn to go out front and deal with the customers, but Reid stops me with a hand on my hip.
“Tell me I can see you again, Abby. Please.”
I turn back to look at him, and for the first time since Layla was born, I make a spontaneous decision without thinking of her.
“Tomorrow night.”
He pulls me back toward him and I go without any resistance. His large hands cup my cheeks as he presses a sweet kiss to my lips. “Can I pick you up here?”
That makes me wince. “No. I…I haven’t been able to talk to Layla yet.”
Reid draws back, and his eyes search mine. I can hear more people out front and I know I have to get out there soon before my uncle — or Layla — catches us.
