“No, I can’t. But thanks for the invite.”

  He nodded, and she couldn’t help but feel those subtle tingles of awareness when he smiled. God, the man had a devastating smile.

  “Sure. I’ll walk Brooke over later. What time do you want her home?”

  “Is ten thirty okay?”

  “Fine with me. Thanks again for coming over. It was great meeting you, Claire.”

  “You, too, Sullivan.” She smiled at him then turned and walked out.

  When she got back to the house, she closed the door and leaned against it.

  What a fine-looking man who seemed to have all his shit together.

  So why didn’t she?

  Chapter Two

  It had taken five days, but Sullivan had the most important items in the house unpacked, and all the furniture was where it was supposed to be.

  He’d gotten Maddy to school on Monday. She wasn’t at all happy that he’d taken her to school that first day, but she’d get over it. She’d wanted to ride with Brooke, but he wanted to go to the school office to make sure all her paperwork was in order. Everything had been fine, of course, and Maddy had hightailed it out of there as soon as she’d gotten the okay. Brooke had been waiting outside the office to take her around and show her the layout and where her classes were. They were both excited to learn they shared three classes.

  Sullivan was relieved that Maddy had already made a friend, and one who lived right next door was ideal. He couldn’t have asked for better circumstances.

  Moving hadn’t been on his top five list of wants, but when Victoria had told him about the job offer, they’d discussed it as an option. She saw so little of Maddy as it was, and with her home city changing from Chicago to St. Louis, she would have seen even less of their daughter. He’d known right away they’d have to move. It wasn’t the first time they’d changed locations because of Victoria’s work, so no big deal to Sullivan, but he’d told Victoria this would be the last time. And once Maddy went to college, he wouldn’t have to move again.

  Maybe at some point, he’d put down permanent stakes someplace, this time a place of his own choosing. That would be a first. He hadn’t minded doing those moves with Victoria. He’d always encouraged her career, and frankly, with his job, he could work anywhere. But as Maddy had gotten older, those moves had gotten harder on her, until finally they’d stayed put in Chicago for the past six years. That had helped. And he could have said no to this move, but Maddy needed her mom right now. Teen girls were hard enough to raise with two parents, let alone one who did a ton of traveling.

  Plus St. Louis was a good city with plenty to do, and he’d heard great things about the high school. Maddy would be in good hands.

  Now that he’d gotten the house in order, and he’d already worked ahead on some of his deadlines, he had time to get out the Christmas decorations and start putting some holiday cheer on the house. That would help Maddy begin to feel like this place was home.

  He got the box with the lights and carried it outside. Since today was decent enough, weather-wise, he figured he’d start there before more snow or rain came in.

  He’d always liked colorful lights. He knew people mostly put up white lights or a singular color these days, but he preferred the multicolored ones. They reminded him of his childhood, of stringing lights on the house with his dad and then again with Maddy when she was little. She’d always had so much fun with it. These were good memories.

  He put on his coat and got the ladder out of the garage then grabbed the clips and the lights and went to work. It only took about two hours to string the lights around the house. All that was left was climbing up on the roof to put the lights on the ridge. That part would take a little more time.

  Fortunately the roof was dry, so he didn’t have to worry about slipping, and the job went smoothly as he stapled the lights to the ridgeline.

  “What the hell are you doing up there?”

  He frowned then looked down to see Claire staring up at him. “Oh, hey, Claire. I’m putting Christmas lights up.”

  “Are you insane? You could fall.”

  He laughed. “I’ve done this before. The roof’s dry, so it’s all good.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Do you have to put—so many lights on the house?”

  Weird question. “There aren’t that many. Just to outline the house. Hey, while you’re down there, do me a favor.”

  “What?”

  “Flip the switch on the extension just outside the door. I want to make sure everything lights up before I come down.”

  He could hear her huffing sigh as she walked across the lawn between the two houses. But in short order, the lights went on and he scanned the ridgeline. All the lights were on, fortunately, so he climbed down and met her on the sidewalk just beneath his porch. She looked pretty with her cheeks pink from the cold, her coat pulled tight around her. She wore leggings and tennis shoes that showed off her amazing calves and incredible ankles. He kind of had a thing for ankles.

  “Just getting off work?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “So? What do you think?”

  She frowned. “About what?”

  He motioned with his hand toward the guttering where the lights were popping. “The lights.”

  She gave the house careful scrutiny. “Like Christmas threw up all over your house.”

  He laughed at the grumpy look on her face. “Great. That’s exactly what I was going for. Can I help you get your lights up?”

  The look on her face was one of horror. “Oh, God no.”

  Now he got the message. “Not into Christmas?”

  “Not in the least.”

  He’d never known anyone who wasn’t into the holidays in some form or another, so this was a first. “Can I ask why?”

  “No, you may not.”

  “Okay, then. Maybe if you put up a few decorations, it might help nudge you into the holiday spirit.”

  “No holiday decoration is going to ‘nudge’ me into the holiday spirit. I just don’t like Christmas.”

  He knew when a topic was closed, and, at least for today, this one was. “That’s fine. Feel like a cup of coffee?”

  “No, thanks. I’ve got things to do.”

  And that message he got damn clearly. “All right. Thanks for your help.”

  “You’re welcome.” She started to walk away then stopped. “You’re not going to…” She waved her hands around wildly then said, “Christmas this place all over, are you?”

  He planned on doing exactly that, but he didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with his new neighbor and the mom of Maddy’s new friend, so he gave her an innocent look. “Of course not.”

  She nodded. “Good. See you later, Sullivan.”

  “Bye, Claire.”

  He watched her walk away, wondering what it was about the holiday season that made her so upset.

  He’d just have to get to know her better, and then maybe she’d tell him.

  * * *

  Okay, so Claire hadn’t exactly gotten off on the friendliest foot with her new neighbor Sullivan. Her reaction to the Christmas lights—so many Christmas lights—hadn’t been showcasing her best self. She’d have to apologize later and explain.

  Explain what, though, exactly? That her ex-husband made her hate Christmas? Yeah, that would go over well. She’d already blurted enough information about her ex. It would be best to just tell him she’d been in a bad mood and say she was sorry and leave it at that.

  She finished making dinner and called Brooke to come down to eat.

  They dove into the chicken stir-fry and Brooke told her about her day, while Claire shared hers. It was mostly the only time of day when she could engage in conversation with her daughter since phones weren’t allowed at the table.

  “How’s Maddy doing?” Claire asked.

  “Good. She’s really great. I like her.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “Did you see that Mr. Snow put up Christmas lights?”

  Claire dug her fork into the food and nodded. “Yes, I saw.”

  Silence for a few moments, then Brooke asked, “Maybe we could put some lights up.”

  Claire tensed. “We have a tree. We put lights on it. That’s enough.”

  “If that tiny thing on the table is what you want to call a tree. Plus there’s nothing outside. Not even a wreath. It’s so not Christmasy here, Mom.”

  “You get plenty of Christmas decorations at your dad’s house.”

  Brooke let out a prolonged sigh and continued to eat.

  Claire knew Brooke was disappointed. It was always the same around the holidays, had always been like this ever since Claire and Ed had broken up. But she couldn’t bring herself to feel that holiday cheer, not when—

  No. She wasn’t going to think about Ed or what he’d done or the timing of when he’d done it. It was in the past, she couldn’t go back and change it, and there was no point in thinking about it anymore.

  But she also couldn’t continue to make her daughter pay for her father’s mistakes.

  “Maybe we could string a few lights around the front window and the fireplace?”

  Brooke’s head shot up and Claire was rewarded with her daughter’s bright smile. “That would be amazing.”

  Okay, a total win. She could tolerate a few twinkles if it put that smile on Brooke’s face. But she sure as hell wasn’t going to pretend that the holidays were anything but a dismal reminder of how her marriage had blown up in her face right when she’d been preparing for a fun and happy Christmas.

  The holidays could suck it.

  Chapter Three

  It had been a good day at the studio. Claire had taught two classes, and her staff all had full schedules. Business was going well, and for this time of year, that was a very good thing. Class size typically tended to drop off in December when people were busy shopping and getting ready for Christmas. But according to her books, the Breathing Space yoga studio was holding steady, and she was happy about that.

  She’d see a strong pickup in January when everyone wanted to work off the holiday pounds or find some stress relief, which would be awesome, but even now, things looked great, which put her in an outstanding mood as she headed home.

  She parked her car and headed up the front porch steps, frowning as she fumbled for the key. Something felt different under her feet.

  She looked down and saw a front doormat that was most certainly not her normal front doormat. She stepped off and stared down at it, unable to read it in the darkness. But she sure as hell saw freakin’ reindeers on it.

  What. The. Hell.

  She pushed the door open and flipped the porch light on so she could see better.

  Sure enough, there was a front porch doormat with reindeers and Happy Holidays scrawled over the top of it.

  “Brooke?” she hollered.

  Brooke ran downstairs. “What?”

  She pointed at the doormat. “Did you do this?”

  “That’s so cute. Where did you get it?”

  “I didn’t buy this thing. Where did it come from?”

  Brooke shrugged. “No idea.”

  Brooke sauntered off while Clare stared at the offensive doormat. She looked over at Sullivan’s house, realizing there were now two lighted reindeers on his front lawn.

  Gag.

  She went inside and shut the door, shrugged out of her coat and hung it up on the hook, and laid her purse on the table, all the while seething that her new, incredibly good-looking neighbor had blatantly lied to her.

  And not only had he lied to her, he was undoubtedly the one who’d put an unwanted, unwelcome, and holidayish doormat on her front porch.

  Decorating his house in overdone holiday decor was one thing. Violating her front porch with reindeer was another. She’d have to speak to him about it.

  She went into the kitchen and laid out the groceries she’d bought, fixed herself a cup of tea, then started making dinner. While she prepared the food, she mentally practiced what she’d say to Sullivan.

  She’d be nice but firm. No sense in making an enemy of her neighbor. She’d tell him that while she appreciated his intentions, she did not want any holiday decorations on her porch or anywhere on her property.

  That sounded good. Polite yet to the point. He’d understand.

  Once dinner was ready, she and Brooke sat down to eat, and she caught up on her daughter’s day.

  * * *

  “Oh, after dinner, can I go over to Maddy’s house? We’re going to work on our government class papers together.”

  “Sure.” Then it hit her. “I’ll go with you.”

  Brooke arched a brow. “You want to do homework with us?”

  “No. I want to return the welcome mat that Mr. Snow left on our front porch.”

  Brooke leveled a look of disbelief at her. “Mr. Snow put it there?”

  “I’m sure he did. We were discussing holiday decorations the other day and I made it clear we would not be having any. He obviously misread what I said. So I’m going to return it.”

  “Mom. You are not. That’s rude.”

  “It was rude that he thought I’d like it. And I didn’t ask him to put it there.”

  “It was a gift.”

  “I told him I don’t like Christmas. He did it anyway.”

  “We’re keeping it. I like the reindeer. Besides, it’s just a freaking doormat.”

  “Brooke.”

  “Mom.”

  She was about to argue then thought better of it because maybe Brooke was right and she was blowing the whole thing out of proportion. “Fine. We’ll keep the stupid reindeer doormat.”

  Brooke grinned. “Great.”

  After dinner, Brooke helped her with the dishes then grabbed her backpack and ran next door. Claire paid a few bills and settled in to stream a show. When she got up to make herself a cup of tea, she realized how late it was. Brooke wasn’t home yet, so she called her.

  No answer. Irritated, she called again. No answer again.

  “Dammit,” she muttered then slipped on her boots and grabbed her coat to walk next door.

  She rang the bell and waited, tapping her foot in annoyance.

  Sullivan answered, looking utterly delicious in jeans and a navy-blue sweater, a steaming cup of something hot in his hands.

  “Hey, Claire, come on in. It’s cold outside.”

  “I was just coming to get Brooke.”

  “She’s in the dining room with Maddy.” He motioned with his head. “Come on.”

  She had planned to just holler for her daughter but then realized how rude that would be, so she stepped inside. “Thanks.”

  “Let me take your coat.”

  She shrugged out of her coat, and he took it from her and hung it on the rack. As she stepped into the living room, she recoiled at all the Christmas decorations. The tree, the lights, the stockings on the mantel, the knickknacks and holiday fuss in every corner.

  It was like the Vegas version of Christmas.

  “Wow,” she said. “You’ve certainly settled in fast. You’ve even…decorated for the holidays.”

  “I wanted Maddy to feel like this was home.”

  It was nauseatingly holidayish. “It’s definitely homey.” Like something you’d see on one of those decor magazines that tried to convince you that every corner of every room needed to have a tchotchke or standing Santa or a snowman or pine cone logs or some frippery of some kind. She couldn’t avert her eyes from Christmas no matter where she looked.

  It was her worst nightmare come to life.

  “How about a cup of coffee?” he asked.

  Dragging her gaze away from an upside-down elf hanging from the ceiling, she shook her head. “No, thanks. I just finished some tea. I had called Brooke to come home but she didn’t answer.”

  “Oh.” He smiled. “That’s my fault. I make them turn their phones off when they’re doing homework. House rule.”

  “Really. I’m surprised Brooke went for that. Her phone is like an appendage.”

  He laughed as he led her down the hall and into the dining room. “I think she’s more interested in hanging out with Maddy than what’s going on with her phone right now.”

  That would be a first. If Brooke’s face wasn’t in her phone sixteen hours a day, Claire wouldn’t be able to recognize her. Yet, when she turned the corner into the dining room, there was her daughter, her chair next to Maddy’s, papers and books spread out on the table, the two of them deep in conversation about…homework?

  “Your mom’s here, Brooke.”

  Brooke looked up. “Oh, hi, Mom.”

  “I called you because it was getting late.”

  “You did? Sorry. I turned my phone off because it’s a rule around here, and Maddy asked if I wanted to take part in her art class holiday project, so after we finished homework, we started brainstorming some ideas for the project and I guess I lost track of time. I should have called you.”

  Art class? That was new for Brooke. But a good thing.

  “It’s okay. You should wrap it up now, though. It’s after ten.”

  “It is?” Maddy asked. “Wow, we got some work done tonight. That’s great. Oh, and ask your mom about the sleepover while she’s here.”

  “Oh, right. Maddy’s having a sleepover with a bunch of our friends Saturday night, Mom. Can I come?”

  Claire glanced over at Sullivan, who nodded. “It’ll be fine. A few of Maddy’s new friends are coming. We’re having pizza and the girls are making brownies. I’ll be here the whole night.”

  “It’s bonding time, Mom,” Brooke said, giving her a pleading look.

  “And you’re welcome to come over and check on Brooke anytime you like,” Sullivan said.

  It was right next door. Claire could pop in to check on her. It wasn’t like she could have some wild party without her knowing about it. And Sullivan would be here to supervise them.