A Secret Christmas Wish--A Clean Romance by Cathy McDavid

Author:Cathy McDavid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-08-16T15:44:45+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

“I’LL WALK YOU to your car,” Brent said, needing something—anything—to distract him from thoughts of kissing Maia.

She beamed at him. “Thank you, kind sir.”

“You’re welcome.” He grinned in return, his attempts not to flirt entirely unsuccessful.

They headed in the direction of the parking area where their two vehicles sat a short distance apart. TJ continued to sleep, a plush rabbit clutched tight to his chest.

“Sorry if I talked your ear off,” Brent said in the least flirty tone he could muster. But saying the word ear caused him to think about nuzzling hers.

“No apologies necessary. You took my mind off my woes, and I needed that.”

“Something happen?”

She groaned. “I made the mistake of calling TJ’s dad on the way here. I stupidly thought he might want to see TJ over Christmas. But no. He still wants nothing to do with his son.”

“That must have hurt.”

“It did.” She sniffed and blinked her suddenly damp eyes. “A lot.”

“TJ’s a great kid. I can’t understand not wanting to see him.”

“He is a great kid. And I shouldn’t let his jerk of a father annoy me.” She glanced away. “Sorry. I don’t usually resort to name-calling.”

“I think in this case it’s warranted.”

She shrugged. “That’s my sad story, and now I feel much better because of you.”

They reached her SUV and stood, neither of them seeming in a hurry to part ways. If anything, they moved closer together. Maia exuded an attraction impossible for Brent to resist. It didn’t matter he had nothing to offer her, that she deserved better than him, and their employment contracts with Your Perfect Plus One prohibited fraternizing. The pull was too strong, fueled by a deep admiration.

Maia had battled the hard knocks dealt her and emerged a better, stronger person. She’d set goals for herself and was determined to achieve them. She was smart and hardworking and immensely talented.

That wasn’t all. She had a way of bringing out the best in Brent. She made him want to try when, until meeting her, he’d been content to give up without a fight.

“I should go.” If he remained with her any longer, his will to resist would dissolve as it had at the wedding. “And it looks like your partner there is tuckered out.”

She glanced tenderly at TJ. “He’s had a full day. We both have.”

After lifting him from the stroller, she laid him against her shoulder and opened the SUV’s rear passenger door.

“Drive careful,” Brent said, turning to go. “Lots of traffic from tourists in town for the holidays.”

“Wait a second. There’s something I forgot to ask you.”

He halted, not trusting his waning willpower.

She finished loading TJ in the car seat. He did no more than sigh softly during the entire process. Next, she collapsed the stroller and, with Brent’s help, placed it in the SUV’s rear compartment. With the press of a button, she lowered the door.

“Okay if I’m a little late for Snapple’s training session tomorrow? TJ and I have an appointment at the pediatrician’s.”

“Sure.” Why did

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