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Every time she was tempted to revise her plans, she reminded herself she wasn’t going to be making decisions based on a guy. She had to know what was right for herself and herself alone. If only her mom was here. She would know exactly what to say to help Shaye make the right decision.
In a way, Kathy reminded her a little of her mom. She was kind and strong, with a sense of humor and an inner compass.
“You’ve had a very blessed life,” Shaye said impulsively.
“I have. Oh, there have been sorrows, but all in all, I’ve been very lucky.”
They chatted for another half an hour about nothing in particular, then the doorbell rang.
“That would be your young man,” Kathy told her.
The old-fashioned phrase made Shaye smile. “It would be.”
She walked to the front of the house and opened the door. Lawson stood on the wide porch, a picnic basket in one hand.
“Hi,” she said, taking in the dark jeans and the tailored gray shirt. He’d left the collar open and rolled up the sleeves to his elbows but was still dressed more datelike than she’d seen him before.
“Hi, yourself. You look beautiful.”
He leaned in and lightly brushed his lips against her cheek. She felt tingles all the way down to her toes.
“You said there would be music,” she said with a smile. “Christmas music or regular?”
He laughed. “It will be both. Regular until about a half hour before the tree-lighting, then it switches.”
“I can’t wait.”
His dark gaze locked with hers. “Me, either.”
She invited him in while she collected her sweater, handbag and the bottle of champagne she’d bought that afternoon and then had put in the refrigerator.
“Have fun,” Kathy told her with a laugh. “I won’t wait up.”
“I’m ignoring that,” Shaye told her, waving before she returned to the front of the house. She held up the champagne. “I thought tonight felt like a celebration.”
“I like your style.”
He tucked the bottle into the picnic basket, then put his hand on the small of her back as he escorted her outside. Once they were on the walkway, he took her hand in his, and they started toward The Wreath.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“Good. Still busy. The steady stream of tourists is impressive. I’ve never lived in a town with so many visitors. My hometown wasn’t interesting enough to get people to come and stay.”
“There are even more in the winter, and more things to do. We only have a few activities in July, but come Thanksgiving, all bets are off. There are all the outdoor sports along with the seasonal celebrations. Plus the daily Advent calendar. They set it up in The Wreath. On the first of December, there’s a big party as the first box is opened. It’s usually something fun like a sing-along or ice-skating. After that, the daily boxes are opened in the morning. They can say anything from Go shovel someone’s driveway to Bake cookies with someone you love.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“There’s always at least a couple of service projects.”
“Paisley and Dena were telling me there’s a day of service on Saturday. I’m going to be doing that with them.”
He smiled at her. “You’ll have fun.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
He mentioned a few other holiday traditions in the town. Shaye enjoyed listening to him talk. Not just the sound of his voice but also what he said. There was a confidence in his tone and his words.
She hadn’t known him long, but she had the sense she was getting to know him well. He wasn’t the kind of man to use a woman for sex until something better came along.
