It Must Have Been the Mistletoe(6)

“I can run out and get it,” he offered. Maybe it would be best to leave her alone. After all, she’d come here to see Ettie, not to be the subject of his own personal sexual fantasies.

“Just bring the messenger bag from the front seat,” Alison instructed. “That has all my things inside.”

He grabbed his jacket from the chair near the door and glanced back at her, only to find her staring at his butt. She blinked in surprise and then blushed. Her pink cheeks said it all. She was having a few little fantasies of her own.

When he returned with her things, Alison rose from her spot near the fire and crossed the room. Their hands brushed as she took the bag from him. “Thank you,” she said.

“No problem.”

They stood so close their bodies were nearly touching. He could feel the warmth radiating from her and he found himself drawn to it, tempted to pull her into his embrace and enjoy the feel of her.

Alison wandered back to the fire and sat down, then began to rummage through her bag. “Have you ever heard Miss Ettie’s recording? I have it on my iPod.” She reached inside for the MP3 player and scrolled through the songs until she found what she was looking for, then handed it to him.

Drew held up the earbud and listened, adjusting the volume until he could hear clearly. He grinned as the older woman walked over to them. “Miss Ettie, you sound like an angel. So young.”

“I was young,” she said as she crossed to the fireplace, a tray in her arms. “And everyone wanted to hear me sing.”

Alison stood and gently took the tea tray from her hands. “May I pour?” she asked.

Ettie sat down in her rocker across from them both and nodded. “Please do.”

“Here, Miss Ettie,” Drew said, handing her the iPod and earphones. “Put this next to your ear and you can hear yourself.”



ALISON WATCHED AS DREW knelt beside Ettie’s chair and held the earphones for her. He was so sweet and gentle with her, yet somewhere beneath that calm facade was a man who probably knew exactly how to please a woman in the bedroom. Alison saw it in the way he moved, in the way he looked at her.

She rubbed her arms, her thoughts going back to the wild sensations that had rushed through her when he’d touched her. She was glad for the digital recorder taping Ettie’s words, because her own mind kept wandering back to Drew. He was, by all accounts, one of the most handsome men she’d ever set eyes on. And that she’d found him here, in the backwoods of Tennessee, was quite a surprise.

She hadn’t really thought much about men lately. Her last boyfriend had walked away six months ago, a victim of her work schedule and an uninspiring sex life, and she hadn’t been anxious to replace him. He’d been needy and bossy and intent on turning her into someone she wasn’t—a woman happy to take care of him while he focused on his academic work.

But that didn’t mean she’d put aside her desires. Right now, all that seemed to be running through her head were naughty images of Drew in various states of undress. With his shirt, without his shirt. She’d even found herself contemplating his choice of underwear—boxers or briefs?

As they sipped their tea, Miss Ettie commented on the songs she was hearing. At times, her eyes misted over with tears, or laughter bubbled from inside of her. Alison held out the recorder, capturing everything and asking questions along the way.

Every word Ettie spoke was a treasure, a new insight into the music that Alison had loved all her life. But as the afternoon wore on, she could see that Ettie was growing tired. Though she didn’t want to call an end to their time together, Alison didn’t want to overstay her welcome.

“I think maybe I have enough for today,” she said when Ettie offered to brew a third pot of tea.

“No, don’t be silly,” Ettie said.

“She’s right,” Drew agreed. “You should get some rest. You still haven’t regained your strength after being ill last month.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Alison said. “I didn’t realize you weren’t up to this.”

“I’m fine.” Ettie waved her hand. “And there’s so much more to talk about. You’ll come back tomorrow.”

Drew looked over at Alison and she nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I think that would be best.” She knelt down beside Ettie’s chair and took her hand. “I’ll come back. And I’ll bring my dulcimer. Maybe we can sing together?”

Ettie smiled and nodded. “I’d like that, dear. Tomorrow. And you come back, too, Drew. I like having you both here.”

“Tomorrow,” Alison said.

She stood and picked up her things, stuffing them back into the messenger bag. Drew grabbed her jacket and held it out as she slipped her arms into it. He smoothed his hands over her shoulders, letting his touch linger for a long moment. Alison closed her eyes and leaned back into him. Then, catching herself, she slowly turned and looked up at him with a hesitant smile. “Thank you,” she murmured.