Yours for Christmas (Fool's Gold #15.5)(23)

It took a couple of seconds for her to drop her backpack on the floor, then shrug out of her coat. He saw the reindeer barrettes in her hair and felt a distinct tugging in the center of his chest. Chloe was a sweet kid and she got to him.

“How about a cup of coffee?” he asked, keeping his voice serious.

Chloe giggled. “I’m seven. I don’t drink coffee.”

“Right. Good point. Let’s go get a hot chocolate.”

Her green eyes widened. “You have hot chocolate at your office?”

“Sure. We have one of those coffeemakers with the pods. It’ll do anything.”

They walked into the break room. He showed Chloe how to use the Keurig brewer. She watched as her drink poured into a mug. There was a plate of cookies on the table. While his coffee brewed, they each picked a cookie, then took them and their drinks back to his office.

She sat on one side of his desk, while he took the other.

She blew on her drink before tasting it, then she smiled. “This is really good.”

“I’m glad. So what’s up?”

“I want to make a jewelry box for my mom,” she told him. “For Christmas.” She dug some sheets out of her backpack. It showed how to decoupage a box and then seal it. “I’ve saved money for the box and I have lots of pictures to put on it. But my friend Allison’s mom said I’ll need help to get it finished. Can you help me?”

Self-preservation meant saying no. Chloe’s big green eyes told him that wasn’t going to happen. He was in dangerous territory, but that couldn’t be helped.

“Sure thing. We can go get the supplies now, if you want. Then work on it over the next few days.”

She smiled. “Thank you. I also need to get my mom some presents for her stocking.” She shrugged. “I know there’s no Santa, but stockings are important. She doesn’t have one. Just me. Don’t you think my mom should have a stocking?”

“I do. Have you thought about what to put in it?”

“It’s supposed to be fun stuff. Candy and little toys. Maybe a lip gloss.” She pulled several crumbled dollar bills out of her pocket. “Is this going to be enough?”

She might as well have reached into his chest and pulled out his still-beating heart, he thought as he stared at what looked like three dollars and change. Kids were tough—and the best part of life.

“Yeah,” he told her, trying to keep any emotion out of his voice. “That’s plenty.”

Because he would pay for whatever Chloe wanted to get. Not just for the girl herself, but for her mom, who’d done a great job with her daughter.

* * *

“THANK YOU,” BAILEY SAID, telling herself it would be bad to start sobbing. Her real estate agent had been incredibly supportive. Breaking down in tears, however happy, would only frighten the woman.

Her agent smiled at her. “Merry Christmas, Bailey. You’re a homeowner.”

Bailey nodded and walked out of the office. She clutched her house key tightly in her hand. It had really, really happened. She officially, legally and every other l-y word she couldn’t think of right now, owned the house. It was hers. Escrow had closed.

Outside the sky was clear and the sun shining. There were holiday decorations everywhere. She wanted to stop everyone she passed and tell them the good news. She owned her own home!

But rather than frighten her fellow citizens, she walked toward through town and up toward her new neighborhood. She wanted to see the house for just a few minutes before she went to pick up Chloe from school.

Five minutes later she stood on the sidewalk and told herself to keep breathing. That this was really happening.

She stared at the house she’d bought and felt a rush of gratitude. Moving to Fool’s Gold had changed everything, she thought happily. She had a great job, friends and a future. The mayor had given her the rest of the day off, along with Monday and Tuesday so she and Chloe could get moved and settled before the holidays. A few friends were coming by over the weekend to help her paint. Chloe’s bedroom furniture would be delivered on Monday. What more could she ask for?

Right then, a familiar dark SUV pulled into her driveway. Her already thundering heart kicked it up a couple of speeds as Kenny climbed out.

“Congratulations,” he said. “You did it.”

“How did you know I’d closed?”

“Your real estate agent called me. I asked her to.”

Bailey tried to summon some indignation, but just couldn’t. “So much for her working for me.”

He flashed her a grin. “She thought I was charming.”

“I’ll bet.”

He moved to the rear of his vehicle and popped the hatch. Inside were gallons of paint, tarps and brushes, along with bags filled with cleaning supplies, Spackle and sandpaper.

She sighed. “You picked up my hardware store order for me? Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Come on. You can help me carry it inside.”

She took a few shopping bags while he grabbed three paint cans in each hand. She followed him to the front door and tried not to let her gaze linger on his butt. Although she had to admit it was a pretty impressive butt. Kenny looked great in a suit, but in jeans and a leather jacket, the man was devastating.

He bumped his shoulder against the front door.

“Oh, let me unlock that,” Bailey told him.