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Dianna took a seat on one side of Mathew and Tristan sat on his other side. It was momentary, like flashes of a falling star, but in that second as Dianna met his eyes, he could imagine this was what a life with her could be like.
Wishful thinking, that’s all that it was.
Maybe not even that.
There was a part of him that hadn’t quite come to terms with being a single parent even after all these years. He rested his hand on the back of their makeshift seat, behind Mathew, and when the sleigh lurched forward, Dianna’s arm flew to grasp the back of their wooden seat. Her hand grazed his and her eyes darted once more to meet his. Quickly, she returned her hands to her lap but not before he noted the way she pressed her lips together like she wanted to hide a smile.
He cleared his throat and settled against the uncomfortable seat. If it wasn’t completely inappropriate, he might have tried asking her out. If she wasn’t his kid’s therapist, and if he even had the time to date, he wouldn’t have thought twice about it.
The snow-covered woods passed by them, the scenic view the perfect backdrop for the holiday. The bells attached to the reins jingled as the horses trotted along the path. The farther into the woods they got, the stronger the scent of the pine became. Mathew snuggled closer to him, resting his head against his side.
Though Dianna wasn’t looking at him, her smile grew a little more. Tristan secured his son to his side by wrapping his hand around Mathew’s shoulder.
“Do you pick out a live Christmas tree every year?” Dianna asked over the sound of the horses and bells.
He shook his head. “Usually I put up a small artificial tree and we make homemade ornaments.”
A stunned expression flashed across her face. “Really?”
“Why is that so surprising?”
She shrugged. “I just—”
He wasn’t sure with the cold, but he could have sworn she blushed.
“That sort of thing is usually something that kids do with their mothers.” She dipped her head and let out a soft laugh. “That sounds terrible, doesn’t it?”
Tristan laughed with her. “It’s notsoterrible. I probably overdo it trying to fulfill both roles for Mathew.” His voice was soft, so much so that he didn’t know if she even heard him very well.
Her hand reached out and touched his forearm. “I think it’s wonderful—not that you should feel obligated to do such a thing—but there’s not a doubt in my mind that Mathew knows how much you love him.”
Mathew nodded and craned his head around. “I love you, too, Dad.”
Dianna tossed back her head and laughed. For Tristan, it was the most beautiful sound he’d heard in a long time.
“There’s no getting anything past him, is there?” she said.
“I don’t believe there is.” Tristan chuckled, then kissed the top of his son’s hood-covered head.
The sleigh slowed and came to a stop. The driver turned around, flashing them all a smile. “Any tree with a red ribbon is up for grabs. If you need help, let me know.”
Mathew jumped up from his seat and hurried toward the sleigh steps. “Come on, Dad. Come on, Miss Dianna. We hav-ta get a tree. It’s gettin’ dark.” He clambered down, jumping with both feet into a pile of the freshly fallen snow.
Tristan’s gaze locked with Dianna’s for what felt like the millionth time. He gestured for her to take the lead. She scooted past him, careful not to make contact with him. After their accidental touching before, it appeared she wasn’t as interested in him as he was in her. One more reason for him to get his head on straight.
He climbed down from the sleigh and watched as Mathew hurried ahead. “Stay on the trail, Mathew. I don’t want you to get lost.” He walked side by side with Dianna, but he kept about two feet between them for her sake. “What about you?”
She peeked at him. “What about me?”
“What traditions do you have this time of year?”
Dianna smiled. “We get a fresh tree every year. I like reading by the fire every evening in December.” She looked up at him. “I love making Christmas treats to share with friends and family. But I don’t get a chance to do that as much these days.”
His brows furrowed until realization dawned on him. “Please don’t tell me that I’m keeping you from—”
She laughed. “Of course not. Things around my family have been pretty busy. Need I remind you of my father lifting his rules for his daughters.”
“Right. The dating rules.”
