Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses(57)

Abbey looked up at Nick. He had curiosity on his face again. “I suppose so,” she said.

Richard put the window down as Nick approached the car. “Would you wait here a few minutes please, Richard? I’m going to go inside with Abbey and help her pack. Keep the car running,” he said as he popped the trunk and grabbed the flashlight. He put the groceries in the trunk. “The food back here will go in one of the refrigerators in the kitchen when we get home. And have a few of the guys get coolers out of storage and pack up Abbey’s refrigerator and freezer in her apartment for her. I’ll have her leave you a key.”

I can’t believe this is happening, Abbey said to herself while they climbed the stairs. What in the world would she and Max do all night in that huge house with barely enough time to think through her packing? Would Nick feel like he had to entertain them? Would she feel guilty pulling him away from his work again? She felt uneasy at the thought as she fumbled to unlock her door in the dark.





Chapter Fifteen





By the time they’d packed, arrived at Nick’s house, gotten in and settled, and she’d given Richard her key to the apartment, it was after eight o’clock, and Max was really tired. She’d tucked him in to bed upstairs in the bedroom that she’d decorated with the framed picture, and met Nick back downstairs.

“Is he asleep already?” Nick asked.

“Yes. He must have been exhausted.”

They stood together in the open entryway, the silence of the night surrounding them. The staff had all gone home, and there was no one else there.

“You were quiet tonight. Would you like to tell me what’s been bothering you?” he asked.

“Let’s go into the ballroom and sit,” she said. She started toward the ballroom and he followed.

He sat down beside her and turned toward her, concern on his face.

“You’ve been spending time with both of us—me and Max, and I really like having you around.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“You’re going to Daddy Day for Max,” she said. “It just makes me worry. He likes you.”

“It worries you when I reach out?” he said.

Abbey sighed, wondering if she was making too big of a deal out of things. “None of this is your fault. It’s my problem. I’m just protective of Max.”

He looked at her for a long while and she waited with anticipation for what he had to say. “What are you afraid of?”

Her nervous energy was getting the better of her. She didn’t want to say it. She got up and walked over to the piano and tapped a few keys. He followed and sat down beside her. She looked up at the mistletoe above them but his eyes were on the keys and he hadn’t noticed. Her fears were mounting and she didn’t want to say what she was going to have to tell him.

“I’m afraid he’ll fall head over heels for you, and he’ll have to experience what it’s like to not receive that affection in return.” She was speaking about Max, but thinking, too, about herself. “I feel like things are moving quickly. He’s just asked you to do something very personal—his Daddy Day at school—and you’ve accepted. I don’t want to take things this far without any promise that they’ll continue.”

Nick’s face dropped in contemplation, and he put his hands on her arms, rubbing back and forth to try to soothe her. “I’m sorry,” he said in a quiet whisper. “I was just excited. You forget that for a while now I’ve been by myself too. I’m not used to having to think of others before I make decisions. I just said yes because he asked me and I didn’t mind going. But he’s your son. I should’ve put him off until I spoke with you. I promise to do that next time.”

“Thank you,” she said, relieved and interested at the same time. Next time?

“Can I get you anything? A glass of wine?”

“That sounds nice.” She took in a deep breath to settle herself. “And I still have to make the casserole and pinwheels for Adrienne’s party.”

“I’ll help. Let me show you where the ingredients are.”

He led her down the hallway to the kitchen, which she’d seen but not spent much time in. She entered the room and was floored by the number of cabinets that ran along two of the walls. There were so many that they almost looked like walls of paneling. Nick opened one that stretched nearly to the ceiling, and to her surprise, hidden behind the cabinetry was a refrigerator.

“Your cold items are in here,” he said, shutting the cabinet. There were so many that she hoped she could remember which one it was. He opened another cabinet. “Your other things are here.” He closed the door. “Let me get you that glass of wine.”