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“And gifts. That’s simplifying it, but yes. The idea that a little boy or girl wouldn’t wake up to gifts or a Christmas tree made me want to change all of that. I’ve always had magical Christmases. I couldn’t imagine not having them.”
He nodded, but the reaction was noncommittal at best. Not that she wanted praise for her charitable work, but she had expected a more favorable reaction. She’d always assumed Emmett considered her the shallow end of the Ferguson gene pool. Much as she’d convinced herself she didn’t care what he thought of her, she did. It was her plight.
In a dark corner of her heart, she cared what a great many people thought of her.
“You’ll be glad to know that your standard attire for work is acceptable for the dinner.”
“I’m not going.”
She blinked at his reaction.
“You’re my fiancé. Of course you’re going. What else are you going to do?” She tried a tactic she was sure would sway him in her favor—making him believe she could be in danger at the event. “I never know what kind of people could show up, so it would be nice if you were watching out for me and the volunteers. I won’t make you talk to anybody. You can be your lovely, quiet, unsociable self.”
He sat back in the booth and crossed his thick arms over his thicker chest.
“I bet you would enjoy it. It’s rewarding to give back to those who have little when you have so much.”
Since she was looking right at him she didn’t miss one of his eyes twitching or the frown between his eyebrows deepening.
She didn’t understand. What kind of person wouldn’t support a charity that provided Christmas for underprivileged kids? Had she pegged Emmett wrong? Was he truly the scrooge she’d labeled him as?
“Anyway...” she said when it was clear he wasn’t going to say another word. “Now you know the real reason I’m here. And it’s not to gallivant with my friends. I’ll just gallivant with you instead.”
It was like delivering a speech to a stone wall...one that ate chips and salsa.
“You’d be pretty if you smiled more.” She batted her eyelashes coyly, but Emmett didn’t smile. “Yeah, that line never works when a man says it to me, either.” She reached for a chip and shrugged, giving up.
After dinner, they returned to the B and B, where they passed Margaret in the kitchen. Their hostess was pouring steaming mulled cider into red and green mugs.
“Emmett and Stefanie!” she greeted. “Your timing is perfect. I was about to take a tray of drinks into the living room. There’s a fire in the fireplace, pine garlands draped over every surface and Christmas music playing.”
“That sounds absolutely dreamy.” Stefanie inhaled the scent of warmed cinnamon and clove and citrusy orange rind. “Let me take my purse upstairs and we’ll be right down.”
Around the corner at the stairs, she stopped on the second step, alarmed to feel Emmett’s palm at her lower back. She turned and regarded him curiously.
“Isn’t this a gentlemanly thing to do?”
“Unless you are trying to steady me because I had a second glass of wine, then yes.” She had to smile as she ascended the steps, his hand on her lower back before it slipped casually to her hip.
He’d been listening to her, after all.
He’d also opened the door for her when they exited Chili’s, and then he made a point not to unlock the SUV so he could open that door for her, as well.
The conversation at dinner had been mostly one-sided as she’d chattered about the charity. She was trying to be friendly, but it was hard to be friendly with someone who...was introverted? Didn’t know how to be friendly? She had no idea what Emmett’s issue was, and she was tired of guessing.
Tonight, she’d enjoy warm cider and Christmas music in front of a crackling fire.
In their shared room, she hung her coat on a hook on the wall and deposited her purse on the bed. When she turned and found Emmett untying his boots, she asked, “Why are you taking off your shoes? We’re going to the living room.”
“Pass.”
“Emmett. We’re engaged. People expect to see us together.”
“People get tired. You can tell them that’s what happened to me.” He took off his other boot and dropped it with a thunk.
“This is a perfect opportunity for you to practice being with me around people.”
He let out a grunt before standing in front of her. Almost over her. He took a step closer, his hand going to the shiny metal buckle of his belt. She watched as he pulled the thick leather through the buckle and she licked her lips, her mouth practically watering. It took everything in her not to drop her attention to his waist or lower.
