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“Of course not. I love that you’re so good with him. And now that I know why, it just makes me feel…” He shrugged. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. I’m glad you were able to diffuse the situation before he had a meltdown.”
“It just takes a different approach. You’ll get better at it.”
“I’ve been at it for seven years,” he said without humor. “How much longer do I have to practice before I start seeing results?” Tristan dropped her hands and smiled at her. His eyes didn’t match the way the corners of his mouth quirked up. She’d seen that look before with her sisters but had never really understood what it meant until now. He was trying to put on a brave face even though he didn’t feel like doing so. She could only remember a handful of moments when she’d had to do the same, and it had been incredibly difficult.
She should probably say something to comfort him. But the words escaped her. There was nothing she could tell him that would make him feel better other than what she’d already said. The oven dinged, offering her an excuse not to fumble over any wrong words she might say to ruin the evening.
When she pulled the cookies from the oven, she turned around to find him over by Mathew’s artwork. He picked up a piece of paper and stared at it with a pointed focus. His eyes flitted to her, then back to the paper.
She grabbed her spatula and began removing the cookies from the tray. Whatever Mathew had drawn must have been…
Her head snapped up and heat burst from her chest up onto her face like a volcano. She’d been drawing before dinner. And she’d left her sketch on the table.
Tristan’s eyes locked onto her and he flipped the paper around, showing it to her. “I didn’t realize you could draw this well.” She’d only managed to block in his face before she completed his eyes. But just the pair of eyes was enough for him to know exactly what she’d been drawing.
Her blush deepened and she let the spatula clatter to the stovetop before she darted around the island and to his side. She grabbed the drawing and took a look at it. “It’s not even that good.”
He attempted to reach for it, but she spun away from him. Tristan laughed. “You can’t be serious.”
She shook her head. “Okay, well, it’s not done.”
“But it’s me, right?” He laughed again, attempting to grab the picture.
Dianna stepped backward. “You weren’t meant to see it.”
“Why not? It’s amazing.” His features sobered. “Really, Dianna. You’re very good. Have you ever considered doing it professionally?”
She clutched the paper tighter. “You don’t think I should keep working for Shane?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I’m beginning to see what you mean when you say you look at things differently. I think you could do both.” Tristan slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. His touch immediately melted the stiffness from her body. He dipped his head closer to her ear, his whisper sending goosebumps up and down her arms. “Have I told you that I think you’re amazing?” He pressed a kiss to the sensitive area beneath her ear.
Dianna sucked in sharply and the paper slipped from her fingers. The fluttering in her chest seemed to be speaking its own language—one she couldn’t understand. These flutters, the goosebumps, and every tantalizing thought that tripped through her mind only fed the thrill she experienced.
Tristan’s warm breath was far more scintillating than she expected. Her whole body reacted to it, from her lightheadedness to her quaking knees. He brushed gentle kisses along her jawline before finding her lips. This kiss was sweeter than the first, a way for them to explore this new-found feeling they shared.
For the first time, she allowed herself to give in—to step outside of the box she had built around herself. It had taken more effort than she’d expected, chipping away the walls that protected her heart. It wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be. But then again, being with Tristan felt a lot easier than she expected.
Dianna broke off their kiss, her heart hammering more than it should. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her cheek against his shoulder. It was suddenly making a lot more sense why her sisters were so happy in their relationships. What had appeared to be something not worth any amount of risk, was now something she valued.
Beneath her cheek, she could feel the quick thudding of Tristan’s heart as it beat in time with hers. Was this experience something that would continue even after they got married?
Marriage.
Only a week ago, that thought would have made her laugh.
Now it sent fresh, excited tremors through her body.
But that excitement quickly waned, and she hid her frown into his shoulder. She really shouldn’t be thinking about something so serious. They weren’t from the same town. She couldn’t assume that Tristan would want to stay here after the holiday. And to even consider the possibility that he would expect her to move to the city caused new waves of anxiety. She’d never left Copper Creek. This was her home and the only place where she fit.
Tristan moved to take a step back, but she clung to him with a firmer grip. His arms moved around her, holding her steady. “You okay?”
She nodded into his shoulder. He was too perceptive. He’d know something was wrong if she didn’t push past her darker thoughts. Though she wasn’t ready, she released him and quickly turned toward the cookies. “I’m going to pack these up and put them in a container. Mathew can decorate them tomorrow.”
“I’m sure he’ll love that.”
Tristan shifted behind her. When she chanced a glance over to him, she found him scooping up the paper she’d dropped. It wouldn’t do any good to try to get it back. He grinned at her.
“I might have to commission you to draw one of Mathew.”
