Page 102 of A Whim and a Prayer

“Maybe,” he said with a familiar tweak of her neck, “but all I see is fifteen, going on sixteen, kiddo.”

She tried to slap at him, but he dodged her with a braced arm as he stood to his feet. “I gotta get up and move, guys—two hours of sitting and demoralizing my best friend and her cousin calls for a quick break.” He gave a wide stretch while lobbing a grin Teddy’s way. “Besides, I think the losers need to catch their breath, don’t you, Abs? Before we take them down again in a game of Sorry?”

Abby rubbed her hands together. “Oooo, yeah. I love Sorry because that’s what ol’ Teddy and Winnie will be when we’re done with them.”

“In your dreams, McGuire, and you too, Campbell!” Winnie said, gathering the cards together to put them back in the box.

Teddy laughed as he rose and pushed in his chair. “Sorry it is, then, but first, I need to build my strength with another piece of cobbler.”

“If there’s any left.” Abby upended her Coke. “Keep in mind that the uncles are fond of seconds.”

“Or thirds, if we’re talking about my own sweet dad.” Winnie exchanged the deck of cards for the board game of Sorry from the temporary shelving of games her mother always set up for holidays. She wiggled her brows. “He’s especially fond of cobbler.”

Abby jumped up. “Come to think of it, I could use some more fudge, so I’ll join you, Ted, in raiding the kitchen while Winnie sets up the game.” She glanced at her watch. Back here in ten?”

“Sure,” Beck said, pushing in his chair. “I need some air.” He stretched again, this time with a twist of his waist as he stared at Winnie. “Wanna join me? I can give you your Christmas present.”

Winnie glanced up, throat suddenly dry. “Okay.” She took a quick glug of her Coke and rose, glancing at the Monopoly table. “Hey, Will, don’t let anybody take our table, okay? Teddy and I need to teach Abs and Beck a lesson with a game of Sorry.”

“You bet, Win.” He winked, shooting Beck a grin. “If anybody can make Beck sorry, it’d be you, Cuz.”

“More than you know,” Beck said for Winnie’s ears alone, then laughed outright when she turned bright red.

“I’ll get your present, Campbell, as soon as I set up the game, then I’ll meet you outside on the swing,” she said in a rush, figuring if she stalled, she could eat up some time so presents were all they could do.

“Take your time, Pooh. I’m used to waiting.” He tossed a grin over his shoulder as he took a leisurely stroll toward the door, as if he knew that’s exactly what she’d do.

She swallowed hard, thinking about the conversation Beck would want to have after their month-long arrangement. Not to mention that he’d seen her in her birthday suit in the most humiliating moments of her life. At the thought, another blast of heat scorched her cheeks, so she slowed her pace until it could subside.

No, she didn’t want to have this conversation, but it had to be done. And although she was pretty sure he wouldn’t be thrilled with her present, she hoped—and prayed—he would understand since Mama had talked to him per her request.

Taking her time to meander to the Christmas tree where his rectangular present lay unopened, Winnie stalled by talking to Pop and Alex, biting back a tease when she saw Alex was winning at chess. Pausing to give Pop a hug, Winnie grinned when she passed Grandma Marcy, snoring softly with Katie’s and Luke’s baby, Amy, in her arms, who was doing the same.

When she felt she couldn’t put it off any longer, she snatched her coat off the rack and took her time buttoning it before opening the door and slipping outside. All she saw was Beck’s tall silhouette at the end of the porch, hands braced to the railing while he stared up into a night sky studded with stars.

Inhaling a crisp draw of air, she slowly moved forward, stomach tumbling when his gaze turned her way, so potent, she stopped dead in her tracks.

“Uh, you can’t stall anymore, Pooh,” he said with a chuckle as he turned to sit on the railing to face her, arms in a casual fold. “You’re out here now, and I want my present.”

Somehow, that relaxed her—both the absence of that husky voice he’d always used when he’d wanted to date, and that platonically affectionate smile she’d longed for from her best friend. “Ha! You never did have any patience when it came to presents, Campbell,” she said with a sassy lift of her head, sashaying over to hand him hers at the railing, praying he would open it there.

Her prayer worked! He turned it over to look at it while still perched on the railing, finally holding it up to his ear to shake it. “Can’t be a pen and pencil set because you gave me that last year. And it’s too heavy for a tie unless you got a bunch of woolen ones on sale.” He glanced up as she positioned herself at the farthest edge of the swing, the twinkle in his eyes glittering like the stars overhead. “And it can’t be a money clip because I don’t have much left since I spent it all on you and your present.”

“Just open it, Campbell,” she said with a grin, “you may like it. You never know.”

“Sure I do.” He slowly untied the ribbon, carefully pulling apart the wrapping paper in his usual methodical way. “I’ll like it no matter what, Dennehy, because it’s from you.” Stuffing the paper and ribbon in his pocket, he reexamined the rectangular box once more, the gleam in his eyes brighter than ever. “Unless it’s the bum’s rush.”

Shaking her head, she nodded toward her gift. “Just open it, will ya? I’ll take it back if you don’t like it, I promise.”

“Okay …” Lifting the lid off the box, he gingerly uncovered the tissue paper on top and when he saw it, he never said a word, his head down and face in the shadows, so she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

Her stomach turned over. “Well … do you like it? Or do you want me to take it back?”

Chapter Seventy

Did he like it? Yes and no.

Was it what he’d hoped for? No.