“Yeah. They were pretty cautious and watched everything I did. Of course when you’re told your kid could die suddenly, it’s hard to not watch over every little thing.”

  She felt a shiver escape and race all over her body. “I can’t even imagine.”

  “Trust me, it wasn’t fun. Anyway, it’s in the past. What was different with you and Ryan?”

  She walked over and sat on the bed. “Typical brother and sister stuff. He was allowed a later curfew. Allowed to do more things. My father was always, ‘he’s a boy, I’m not worried about him taking care of himself, but girls have more dangers.’”

  “That had to tick you off,” he said, grinning.

  She was glad to see the smile back in place. The sexy one that made her want to push Rosie off the bed and jump his bones. “Yep.”

  He threw the covers back and stood up. “Are you hungry? We can get some breakfast and then decorate the tree. I wanted to stop in at Lane’s today even though there isn’t an event going on. I’ve got staff there today, but I like to make an appearance each day on the weekends.”

  She normally worked the weekends this time of year. She hadn’t wanted to say that to him and hoped that he’d understand that she couldn’t stay all day. She’d told her parents she’d be there in the afternoon to help out. They’d told her to take the day off, but she didn’t feel right about that.

  “That sounds good. Let me get some clothes on and I’ll go let the dogs out.”

  She grabbed her jeans and shirt from yesterday, then put on her socks and opened the double doors. The dogs took off on a mad run making her chase after them. When she got to the back door, she unlocked it and threw it open, letting them run in the fenced in yard. They’d come back when they were ready.

  She returned to the kitchen, looking around for something to eat. French toast sounded good enough, so she pulled out eggs and milk, then grabbed the bread from the drawer. She was looking for cinnamon when Brendan walked in.

  “What can’t you find?”

  “Cinnamon,” she said. This kitchen was just huge and she always felt out of place looking around.

  He walked to a slim door under the island and pulled it out showing every spice imaginable. She was going to ask if he ever used them but noticed most still had seals on them.

  She found cinnamon and nutmeg and got to work while Brendan let the dogs in and gave them fresh water and food.

  This felt very domestic to her. Something she’d always thought she’d want in her life but just never expected with someone like him.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked her.

  She hated that he knew when her mind was wandering. When she was letting things filter through her brain that maybe shouldn’t be there.

  “Just focusing on breakfast,” she said with a wide smile.

  He looked like he didn’t believe her but instead moved to the sunroom and picked the tree up. “I’m going to get this set up so after breakfast we can decorate it. I’ll go get my decorations in the basement.”

  She snorted over his basement comment. She had a basement in her house. One that smelled like mothballs to keep mice out. The place she ran down to quickly a few times a week to throw clothes in the washer, then change to the dryer. When they were dried, she scooped them into her basket and dashed back upstairs to fold them.

  Too many noises and spiders down there. No matter how many times she cleaned or sprayed or looked up ways to kill spiders, there were more webs than the day before.

  Brendan’s basement consisted of a game room bigger than her house, she was sure. There were more TVs in that room than an electronic’s store. When she questioned him, he’d said, “When we get working out bugs, we come down here and get on different systems and start playing each other. It’s better to be in one room.”

  She’d have to take his word on it. Not once had he played any video games in front of her. She just realized that.

  By the time he came back upstairs after two trips and two boxes, breakfast was ready and on the table. She’d placed his coffee in front of his seat, made the way he drank it, black and strong enough for hair to grow over his scar...if that was possible.

  “How come I’ve never seen you play any video games?” she asked.

  He looked up from pouring the syrup. “I play them a lot. There is no reason to play them when we don’t have much time together.”

  A very sweet answer and not one she was expecting. “That’s the only reason? So if I wasn’t here, you’d be playing games?”

  “No. I’d be decorating my tree. Probably checking some emails when I was done and then going to the greenhouse. Doing nothing different than I plan on doing. Why?”

  “I just find it odd you never play them.”

  “I wouldn’t say never. I do it all the time. Why, do you want to learn how to play? Ryan told me you can’t stand video games. Call them boys’ toys.”

  She laughed. “I wouldn’t say I can’t stand them. I like PacMan just fine.”

  “My heart just ached when you said that.”

  She burst out laughing. “It’s just not my thing.”

  “I get it. It’s not for a lot of people,” he said, going back to eating.

  “You can play them if you want when I’m here. I’ll just watch.”

  “Maybe I don’t want you to hear me cursing and swearing at strangers I’m playing against.”

  “I’ve watched Ryan playing games. I know how it goes.” Some of the guys she’d dated played them too. She got it was a stress reliever, but it just wasn’t something she was interested in.

  “Maybe someday,” Brendan said. “But I like spending time with you.”

  ***

  Once breakfast was done and both of them were showered, Brendan started to open up the boxes and pulled out the lights.

  He found it odd Holly questioned why he didn’t play games around her, but he wasn’t lying. He played them all the time. What he should have said was that it was hard for him to play for fun now. That he was always playing and analyzing everything he could change and make better.

  It drove his developers insane when he did that. When they played for fun at work and he started to make notes on things to change.

  “Do you like your tree decorated any special way?” Holly asked him.

  “No. I’m not into themes or anything. I’ll just hang the lights if you want to start pulling ornaments out and unwrapping them.”

  Once the lights were strung and lit up, he turned to see Holly looking at his ornaments. “There are a lot of homemade ones here. Where did they come from?”

  “A lot of the kids that get gifts from my drive have made them and given them to me as a thank you.”

  “And you put them on your tree? That’s very sweet.”

  “I’m a sweet guy,” he said, reaching for a few at random and hanging them higher. He’d leave the lower ones for her. He’d get on the stepladder to finish the top off and put the Santa hat on.

  “You are a very sweet guy. Have I told you that lately?”

  “You haven’t,” he said.

  She walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a gentle hug. There was something behind it he couldn’t put his finger on. “Then I’ll tell you right now—you’re one of the best men I know. One of the best people I know.”

  “That means a lot.” He kissed the top of her head and moved back before he said something stupid, like he was falling in love with her.

  When the tree was all done, he pulled out the Santa hat and saw her eying it. “You just put the hat over that top branch?” she asked.

  “I do. Do you want the honors?” he surprised himself by asking. He’d always put the topper on the tree as long as he could remember. Even growing up, it was his job.

  “Really? You’re okay with that?”

  “More than okay.”

  He pulled the stepladder over and held it steady while she moved up, handed over the hat, and watched as she arranged it just right with the white fuzzy ball flopped over to the side.

  “What do you think? How does it look?”

  “Perfect,” he said. “Just like you.”

  Picture Perfect

  The following Saturday was the biggest event and the last weekend of the toy drive. They’d extend on a few more days and then next Saturday was the celebration.

  As Brendan made his way out of his garage and drove to Lane’s, he marveled at the weather. Picture perfect. Forties, no wind, and big fluffy snowflakes falling now and again.

  There was no storm in the forecast. No really cold weather.

  Instead they were going to get a Hallmark Christmas card moment like one he’d always envisioned in his life.

  Would he like to be driving to Lane’s with Holly this morning? Yes, he would. But she didn’t spend the night. Rather worked late and then had to be there this morning.

  It was fine, he didn’t argue with her. He knew she was busy and would be for another week or two. She’d told him historically this was the busiest weekend for Christmas trees and he worried that his event might interfere with it.

  Her family had told him no, that it was fine, they’d planned ahead and were going to make sure they stayed out of the way of where trees were being cut down by excited families wanting to make memories.

  He pulled into Lane’s before it opened for the day, hoping to lend a hand where it was needed. He shouldn’t have been surprised to see Holly helping out here rather than her family business.

  “Hey,” he said to her. “I’m sure there are other things you need to do today.”

  She grinned up at him. “There are. I just wanted to let them in and see if there was anything they needed before I got to the main building to fill in. My mother wishes she were here today, but we kind of have our hands full.”

  “I know. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate this and all your family has done to make this come true.”

  “I’m surprised my father knew someone for the sled. Glad you could take care of the horses though.”

  Holly’s father had given Brendan a little bit of a cold shoulder a few days ago when they touched base on the last event for the drive. In the beginning Richard Lane had been as friendly as his son Ryan. He’d been helpful and he’d been invaluable during the week with instructions.

  But once he’d heard Holly and Brendan were dating, his demeanor changed to that of a protective father for his daughter.

  Brendan thought it was sweet at first and tried his hardest to assure Richard that he had Holly’s best interests at heart. That the toy drive was his baby, but Holly meant more.

  He wanted to say Holly was his heart but couldn’t say those words to Richard when he’d yet to say them to Holly.

  Nor did he think Holly was ready or even willing to hear words like that. Let alone believe them. He was kind of shocked at how fast his feelings were developing for a guy who pretty much gave up on relationships, but he wasn’t about to hold them back. Deep down he had a feeling she was still standing several paces back for some reason.

  But he and her father quickly came to terms and were back to conversing like they had before Richard knew about his relationship with Holly.

  “When your father told me that he knew someone with a big sled that could be pulled with horses, I was all over it. The kids are just going to eat this up. I thought having Santa on hand for pictures in the greenhouse was good, but this is even better.”

  “It will seem pretty magical, won’t it?” Holly said. “I can’t wait to see it myself.”

  “Are you going to ride in the sled?” he asked, reaching for her hair that was floating around her shoulder and tugging on a lock.

  “I doubt I’ll have time and it’s only for a few hours anyway. I expect there to be a mad rush with the toy donations from ten to two while they know the sled and horses are here.”

  “Most likely. We’ll be ready for them,” Brendan said.

  “When will the horses get here? How did you even find someone?”

  He laughed at her. “It’s Saratoga. There are horses everywhere, but I know a few people.”

  “I’m sure you know a lot more than a few people,” she said, squinting one eye at him.

  Not the first time she’d done that. Made comments about people he knew. “And I’m sure you can say the same thing.”

  “Not of your caliber.”

  “Why does the caliber matter when it’s for a good cause?” he asked.

  “Good point.”

  He looked at his watch, saw it was fifteen minutes before eight. “The horses will be here around nine so we can get them set and on a few test runs to make sure it’s all good. Your father has them coming in through another road or driveway or something.”

  “Yes. There are a lot of other paths on the farm and it will be easier for their truck and trailer. My father will be back there when it’s time and go on a few rides to direct them on what land to stay on.”

  “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I hope it’s not an inconvenience for anyone. Or it’s not in the way.”

  “It’s good. Our business is making record sales, getting all sorts of publicity, and the kids in the community are going to make out. It’s a win win for everyone.”

  “I’m glad to hear you say that when in the beginning I got the feeling you weren’t so keen on this.”

  She laughed. “I wasn’t, but you managed to sway me.”

  He pulled her in close for a quick cuddle. “I hope I swayed you on a few things other than letting me hold my toy drive here.”

  “You know the answer to that,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “Now I need to get to work and you’ve got your own stuff to do.”

  “Meet me back up here at closing?” he asked.

  “It’s a date.”

  ***

  Holly walked away from the greenhouse and went in search of her father to tell him the time the horses would be arriving. She found him in one of the barns working on a tractor.

  “Hey, Dad. Brendan said the horses will be here around nine. I told him to make sure he didn’t leave any horse shit around.”

  Her father laughed. “You wouldn’t have said that. And I’ve talked to Brendan about it all anyway. It will be good fertilizer.”

  “What’s wrong with the tractor? You won’t need it today, will you?” This tractor was more for hauling and pulling stumps and roots, not for when they had to cut trees down and bring them upfront. They were stocked up pretty good for the day and if they needed more, they’d get them out of the barn, not out of the woods.

  “I wanted to make sure it was running good just in case the horses don’t work out. I can pull the sled with this.”

  “You’d do that? Take time away from work to help out?” She shouldn’t be surprised and was stunned she’d actually asked that question of her father.

  “Of course. The kids are expecting it and, to be honest, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for years. But time and manpower always put it on hold. Maybe next year we’ll do it one weekend as a little event to get people here as a promotion.”

  She was happy to hear her father say that. “You’re taking over part of my job. The funny thing is, I thought the same thing.”

  “Family comes first. The business second. But you know the business is always on our minds and if we can make this into a family day and help the business then we all make out in the end.”

  “Family is always first,” she agreed. “Brendan is a good guy.”

  “He is,” her father said, looking her in the eye. “I guess I should have talked to you about this more. Are you happy?”

  “It’s only been a few weeks.”

  “That didn’t answer my question. You’ve been down this road before with Jack. You thought you were happy then too.”

  “Don’t ruin my day by bringing up that jerk’s name. I’m over him.”

  “I know you’re over him, but are you over what happened?”

  She had to be. She told herself she was enough times. Even if that was what caused her to hold back so much with Brendan. “Life happens to the best of us. I learned my lesson.”

  “Just don’t let it come between you and Brendan.”

  “It’s only been a few weeks,” she repeated. “We aren’t nearly at any stage where our past is going to come between us. I’m just hoping things don’t fizzle out after next weekend when the drive is done.”

  “It won’t,” her father said. “Trust me.”

  “I guess I need to learn to trust someone.”

  So Different

  Brendan had guessed the toy drive was going to be massive this year. The biggest ever. But this had far exceeded his expectations.

  He didn’t know if it was the atmosphere of the location or the hard work of everyone involved. Probably a little of both.

  It didn’t matter what the reason was, he’d collected forty percent more toys than his biggest year ever. He had thousands of toys to hand out and not just little ones that cost a few dollars, but more than ever that were over three digits.

  The generosity of the community, his employees, and the Lanes hadn’t shocked him. It’d touched him.

  And tonight was the night he got to give back to some of those people.

  He’d always held the after party at the toy drive location. This year, instead of something fancy, he was going old world charm like he’d been doing all along.

  No dresses and champagne. No band or DJ. No waiters with stiff ties and women wearing heels while they walked around with sparkling jewelry blinding everyone in sight.

  Tonight it was in the greenhouse with white lights and Christmas music being pumped through speakers. Snowflake decorations were hanging from the ceiling. Two more tents were set up outside with heaters and the same decorations.

  One of the bigger tents would hold everyone for his speech, but a smaller tent and the greenhouse would provide space for everyone to mingle, to eat, to talk, and to have a good time.

  Multiple charities were on hand that would receive the gifts. Three of the hospitals always had staff and some higher-ups ready to celebrate. Many looked forward to this event and he hoped they weren’t disappointed it wasn’t the flashy party he’d done in the past.