An Unexpected Holiday Gift by Martha Kennerson

Author:Martha Kennerson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-01-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Mia stood at the kitchen sink with her aunt as they washed the Sunday brunch dishes. While she might not have been big on the Christmas season, her aunt certainly was. Since last week’s visit, their three-bedroom, traditional-decorated cottage had turned into a winter wonderland all centered around a nine-foot frosted Christmas tree placed in the corner of the room.

“Aunt Mavis, why do you insist on washing your dishes before you load them in the dishwasher?” she asked, accepting the pan she’d just washed and placing it in the dishwasher.

“That thing is only good for sanitation and drying,” she declared.

“Oh...okay.” Mia shook her head.

“So, how was your date?” her aunt asked, smiling.

“It wasn’t—”

“Child, please.” Her aunt gave her the side-eye.

Mia dropped her shoulders. “Maybe it was a date. It was fine.”

“Just fine.” Mavis gave a lopsided sneer.

A smile crept across Mia’s face. “It was great. Colby had a blast.”

“Well, it’s pretty clear that he’s crazy about Colby, but I’m asking how things between the two of you are.”

“It was nice. He was sweet.” Mia bit her lip as images of the passionate kisses they’d shared and the hopeful words he’d said flooded her mind.

“Your face is flushed. That tells me your night was more than just nice and sweet. I should know. I’m always flushed after quality sexy time,” she bragged.

Mia looked over her shoulder into the family room off the kitchen to ensure they weren’t overheard by Colby. “First, eww. Second, there was no ‘sexy time’ to be had.”

“Too bad.”

Mia’s eyes widened with surprise, although she wasn’t sure why. She was used to her aunt’s unfiltered opinions. “Auntie, it was our first date.”

“Oh, please,” her aunt said, offering a nonchalant wave. “Sexy time doesn’t have to include penetration, you know.”

Mia raised her hands. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”

“Fine. When are you seeing him again?” Mavis asked, drying her hands and starting the dishwasher.

Mia checked the clock on the wall. “In about an hour and a half.”

“Really?”

“He invited us to the grand opening of his shoe pop-up shop this afternoon.”

Mavis took a seat at the kitchen table. “That’s wonderful—”

“I’m think about canceling,” she informed her, pouring herself a cup of coffee before joining her aunt at the table.

“Why in the world would you do that?”

“We’re just so different.” Mia sipped her coffee.

“Different can be good.”

“Not always. We wouldn’t even be doing whatever it is we’re doing if he hadn’t been forced to do community service by the league.”

“You don’t know that, Mia.” Her aunt reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

“Oh, but I do. You know how many events I’ve planned for his family over the years? Way too many to count, and you know how many he actually attended?”

“No.”

“Less than I could count on one hand,” she stated.

“Sweetheart, he plays in the NBA.”

“And there is that, too.”

“What does—?”

“Not to mention his obsession with helping me find my ‘Christmas mojo,’ as he puts it,” Mia said, ignoring her aunt’s shaking her head. “All because I don’t celebrate the way he thinks I should.

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