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“Hi, Lawson,” greeted Hanna, emerging from the kitchen. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and it looked like she might have had a streak of flour in it. Grinning, she went on to say, “Thanks for offerin’ to help my guys. It’s taken meweeksto talk ‘em into this.”
“Christmas is in eight days. I’m not convinced there’s a point now,” muttered Dobbs.
“Stop bein’ a grinch. We haven’t had a real Christmas in ages. We’re gonna do it right,” she insisted just as a timer sounded. “I’m makin’ cookies,” she explained to Lawson. “Y’all can have some after you get the lights up on this house.”
She hurried back to the kitchen as Moretti appeared from the mouth of the hallway. “Hey. Thanks for coming,” he greeted, crossing the room. He shook Lawson’s hand then nodded at Dobbs as he said, “The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get some lunch.”
Even though none of them had hung outdoor Christmas lights on a house before, they managed to get Hanna’s stamp of approval after only two hours. When they were finished, she had a plate of sandwiches ready for them, which they ate—with more than a few cookies—around the kitchen island.
“Oh, Lawson, are you free next Friday? Tell me you’re free next Friday,” Hanna gasped.
He paused, a bite of chocolate chip cookie melting on his tongue. “Can be. Why?” he mumbled.
“Jill and I decided we’re havin’ a company Christmas party. I talked to her just this mornin’. It’s going to be at her and Leo’s place Friday night. Are you in?”
He finished his bite before he asked, “I’m assumin’ I can bring someone?”
Hanna’s eyes lit up as she propped her fists on her hips. “Of course. I didn’t know you were seein’ anyone.”
“Me neither,” Moretti muttered.
“I am now. This party kid friendly?”
Moretti coughed out a laugh. “Interesting.”
“What? What’d I miss?” asked Hanna, looking between her man and Lawson.
“I’ll fill you in later, beautiful.” He was speaking to his fiancée, but his eyes were still pinned on Lawson. “Bring ‘em both,” he said with a jerk of his chin. “We’d love to meet them.”
Lawson hung around with Moretti and the Dobbs twins for a while longer before he took his leave. Rather than return home right away, he took advantage of the fact he was out and did a little Christmas shopping. Like most of the men he knew, it wasn’t an activity he found particularly enjoyable, but he was appreciative of the time it killed.
When he finally returned to his apartment, it was late enough to justify a short stay. It was almost five o’clock, and he’d been waiting all day for the early dinner hour. He freshened up for the company he intended to keep, then made his way back to his truck, pointing it toward what was rapidly becoming familiar territory.
Upon arrival, he knocked on Nora-Jean’s door and waited expectantly for Evelyn’s voice to greet him from the other side. He wasn’t disappointed and was soon granted entrance by his new friend.
“Is it time to go look at lights now?” she asked before he could even shut the door behind him.
“Evie-B, I know you’re excited, but I need you to slow down a little. You’ve barely given him a chance to come in and say hi,” said Nora from where she stood in the middle of the living room.
“Sorry,” Evelyn murmured sheepishly. She then peeked up at Lawson through her eyelashes and said, “Hi.”
“Hi,” greeted Lawson, amused. “And to answer your question, I’m gettin’ hungry. I think we should go out to dinner first.”
“We’re goin’ out to eat?” she gasped, all traces of her mild manner gone in an instant. “Can we have pizza?”
“I think pizza’s a great idea. We can’t leave without shoes, though.”
Grinning, she informed him, “Be right back.”
Nora-Jean sighed as her daughter fled from the room, and Lawson looked her way just as she was pulling her fingers through her hair.
“What?” he asked with a half-cocked grin.
“You don’t have to give her whatever she wants whenever she wants it you know?” He frowned in silent confusion, and she breathed a laugh as she rolled her eyes. “Pancakes for breakfast, pizza for dinner…”
“Oh,” he muttered, making his way toward her. “I’ll work on that,” he promised. When they were toe-to-toe, he slid an arm around her waist and leaned in for a quick kiss. It still felt indulgent to touch her, like he’d been waiting for permission for years. “How was your day?”
She shrugged, leaning into him a little. “Fine.”
