Page 25 of Cooped Up for Christmas

“I don’t need any help.”

He ignored me and took what I had, so I went back for more. When I met him at the table, I frowned. “I don’t need help.”

“I know. I just want to spend a few more moments with you before I head out with the guests.”

Naturally, I eyed him warily. “Why?”

“Maybe I enjoy your company? Would that be so impossible to believe? Or maybe I just really want to reconnect with an old—”

“There’s that word again.”

“Friend.” He leaned against the table and grinned. “I really have missed you, Vic. Always wondered what might have happened…”

Yeah. He let it trail off like that.

“Kind of a moot point, isn’t it?” I asked as I started laying out the silverware. He tried to help but he put the spoons on the wrong side.

“Why?”

I shrugged. “That was then. This is now.”

He tapped his chin. “I think I read that book in junior high.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.” He cocked a head and peered at me. “Here we are, together, attracted to each other. Both single. You’re sure you’re not married?”

I set my hands on my hips and huffed a sigh. “Grant told you I wasn’t.”

“You never confirmed it.”

Confirmed it? Was he serious? “No. I am not married.” Heaven forbid.

“Just checking.” He started setting goblets above the knife, but I had to stop him because he wasn’t wearing gloves and he was getting fingerprints all over the glasses.

“I think I would have mentioned I was married the first time you kissed me, don’t you?”

He shrugged and watched me buff off his stupid fingerprints. “You never know, these days.”

I glared at him. “You should have asked if I was seeing anyone. That’s what you should have asked.”

“I didn’t care if you were seeing someone. I just wanted to see you again. To know…”

“Right,” I finished for him. “If it’s still there.”

His gaze seared me. “It is.”

I couldn’t disagree, but thankfully, I didn’t have to, because Mungo came to my rescue, poking in his head into the great room and telling Coop they were ready to start loading gear.

Is it pathetic that I breathed a sigh of relief when he sketched me a wave and took off?

Chapter Seven

The guests woke up late, but I didn’t care. I just hunkered down by the breakfast buffet and tried to focus on something other than my swirling emotions.

Let’s face it, Coop had made his interest in me more than clear. I had an open invitation if I wanted one. So what was holding me back?

Certainly not Dirk.