More than Once

17

“No. Maybe.” He yanked his jeans on, and I knew it was really over. He threw on a polo shirt with a stomping Godzilla for the logo, which was so Andy it made me smile. Once he was fully dressed, he turned back to me and brushed hair away from my face with gentle hands. “I’m sorry. I just… I need some time to get over Tara. It wouldn’t be fair to you otherwise.”

I nodded. He’d asked a girl to marry him yesterday and been turned down. I couldn’t expect him to recover from that right away or to be completely over his ex after only a day. I liked Andy a lot, but I didn’t want to be his rebound.

“I understand,” I said. “I’m kind of a mess right now, too. But maybe once we’re both settled in Dallas, we can get together again.”

“That’s a good idea.”

We traded phones and entered our contact information in them. While Andy finished packing, I quickly got dressed and gathered my things. Neither one of us talked. Our magical night together was over, the mood ruined with the morning sunlight and thoughts of days to come.

And then it was time to go.

We stood at the door, neither one of us opening it, like we both didn’t want to leave. He touched my cheek, rubbing his thumb over my lower lip. “Becca, last night was incredible. Thank you for everything.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” I said, leaning into his touch. He had the most amazing hazel eyes. I could gaze into them for hours, picking out all the different colors and watching the way they changed in the light. Would I ever see them again?

“I do.” He lowered his mouth to mine and gave me a long, lingering kiss. I clutched at his shoulders, not wanting him to let me go. But this kiss wasn’t desperate or hard or rough—he was back to nice guy Andy this morning and something about this kiss felt final.

“I’ll call you,” he said as he grabbed his suitcase.

But we both knew he wouldn’t.

CHAPTER TEN

ANDREW

Christmas Eve dinner was just as excellent as Becca had said it would be, and then it was on to dessert. Trish and Evelyn had been baking all day, and now they brought out five different pies for us to choose from. I was already full, but I asked for a tiny slice from each, which made both ladies smile.

“These are all amazing,” I said. “I can’t decide which is my favorite.” The ladies beamed even more.

“I want more cider,” Hannah said, as we dug into our pies. “More, more, more!”

“Sorry, baby,” Trish said. “Grandma said you only get one glass. You can have milk now instead.”

“But I want more! Mommy, pleaaaaaaaaaase. It was a present for me. Mr. Brett said so.”

“Just let her have it,” Matt said. “It’s Christmas Eve after all.”

Trish glared at him. “And what about when she’s up all night bouncing around the house? Are you going to get her to sleep?”

“She’ll be fine.”

“Right, because you obviously know better than I do, even though I’m home with her all day long.”

Matt’s eyebrows furrowed. “Please let’s not talk about that now.”

“Patricia, is everything all right, dear?” Evelyn asked, looking back and forth between the two of them.

“Everything’s peachy,” Trish said, crossing her arms.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t realize the cider would be a problem.”

“It’s not your fault,” Trish said with a sigh.

Becca twisted in her seat to lean close to Hannah, then whispered something in her ear. The girl scrunched up her face as she listened, and then her eyes widened. She nodded at Becca and then loudly proclaimed, “I’m ready for bed now.”

“Now?” Matt asked.

Hannah nodded quickly. “Becca says the sooner I go to sleep, the sooner Santa will come down the chimney with presents.”

“That is true,” Trish said with a faint smile.

“C’mon, let’s go get Santa some milk and cookies,” Matt said, standing up, his pie untouched.

“Okay!” Hannah said, and the two of them disappeared into the kitchen. The table seemed to collectively relax as soon as Matt was gone.

David cleared his throat. “What are you doing for Christmas tomorrow, Brett?”

“I don’t have any plans, really.”

“No plans?” Evelyn gasped. “It makes me sick thinking of you all alone on Christmas. You must come over again tomorrow. We’re going to open presents in the morning, and then we’ll have brunch together before heading to Austin to visit with my parents and my brother’s family.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I couldn’t impose on your kindness again. Besides, I’m supposed to go in to work tomorrow.”

“Work?” David asked. “That’s just not right. Not right at all. It’s Christmas!”

“It’s no imposition at all, dear,” Evelyn said, smiling at me. “We would love to have you.”

I hesitated. It was tempting and it’s not like I had any other real plans, but Becca had only invited me for one night. I glanced at her, silently asking her what I should do.

“Yes, you shouldn’t be alone tomorrow,” Becca said as her hand slipped under the table. A second later I felt it on my thigh, a warm pressure through my jeans. I gave her a sideways glance, but she smiled at me innocently while her hand crept higher and higher. “You should definitely come.”

I didn’t miss the hidden innuendo there, especially with her fingers inching up my thigh.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure he will,” Trish said, giggling.