No Christmas Like the Present by Sierra Donovan

Author:Sierra Donovan [Donovan, Sierra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2014-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

“You’re hoarding the tape again.”

Lindsay looked down to her left, and sure enough, the roll of adhesive tape was on the carpet beside her, right where Fred couldn’t reach it. Unable to think of a snappy retort, she settled for a mock glare and tossed it back over to him where he sat, suitably enough, at the foot of her Christmas tree. Fred snatched it from the air with his free hand, then secured the green-and-gold flap on the present he was wrapping.

The shopping had gone better than she’d ever expected, despite the insane crowds at the mall. Crowds seemed to have a way of thinning for Fred, lines got shorter, and the harried clerks at the register tended to brighten after one look at him. Lindsay couldn’t say she blamed them. He’d been making her laugh all evening. She could almost chalk the successful shopping up to Fred’s natural charm, and a bit of good luck. If she didn’t think about it too hard.

She found she didn’t want to think about it too hard. It felt too natural to have Fred helping her in the perennial ritual of scissors, tape and ribbon, and he made it much more fun. Even her qualms about Jeanne’s engagement had faded, for now at least. Maybe she’d just been projecting her own experience with Steven, after all.

The TV tray full of cards still stood in front of her sofa, looking down at them like a disapproving sentry. Tonight, Lindsay refused to worry about it. She was so late with them now, one more night of neglect barely seemed to matter. She probably wouldn’t feel that way tomorrow. But she felt that way tonight, under the influence of the Christmas carols on her stereo, a successful evening’s shopping, and the bright red and green wrapping paper strewn around her living room floor. Not to mention the presence of a relentlessly jolly man named Fred.

He hadn’t even mentioned Steven. Lindsay entertained a flicker of hope, probably a naive one, that he might have given up on the subject.

“Who else is left on your shopping list?”

“Well, Jeanne. I suppose I should make it some kind of engagement present.” Lindsay concentrated on the box she was now wrapping for Phil, a kitschy clock in the shape of a ship’s wheel. “And then there’s Matt—”

Fred snorted. “He’s not getting what he wants.”

Lindsay felt herself blush. She’d nearly forgotten Fred’s comment the night of the Christmas party. “You were wrong about him, you know. The one he’s got a crush on is Jeanne.”

“I never said he didn’t. Men are notorious window shoppers. I still say that given the least bit of encouragement, he’d—” He lowered his head and busied himself fixing the already-perfect gold bow on his package. “Never mind. You can’t fault a man for having good taste.”

Lindsay’s heart responded with an unexpected thump of excitement. She held her breath.

Fred held up the box for her inspection. “There. How’s that?”

She felt her face go a deeper red. “Beautiful.

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