Harlequin Holiday Collection - Four Classic Seasonal Novellas

She beamed at him. “I really do appreciate it, though.”
    “No problem.”
    Yes, he argued silently. It was a problem.
    She was a problem.
    The last thing he wanted to do was set himself up for a fall.
    Unfortunately, it felt like he was already falling.

Chapter Four
    “Maybe it would look better over here.” Olivia hurried to move the chair from the corner.
    Jacob patiently relocated the six-foot tree and its stand to the corner she’d cleared.
    She smiled. “That’s perfect.” The scent of evergreen permeated her tiny apartment, and just seeing the naked tree standing proudly next to the window made her heart glad.
    Not to mention the handsome man so generously lending his aid.
    She was suddenly starving. It was nearly eight o’clock. Good grief! She hadn’t even offered him anything to drink. “I didn’t realize the time. I absolutely have to make you dinner.” She made a quick mental scan of the offerings in her pantry.
    He held up both hands as if pushing away the idea. “That’s not necessary.”
    “I insist.” She’d had to ask twice for his coat when they’d first arrived before he’d grudgingly shed it. Enticing him to stay for dinner would likely take an act of Congress. “I won’t be able to sleep tonight if you don’t let me do something to make up for your patience and kindness.” Before he could say no, she added, “You really went above and beyond the call. Please. It’s just dinner.”
    He plowed his hand through his hair. “I suppose that would be…okay.”
    She couldn’t hold back a grin of victory. “Great.”
    In the kitchen, she checked her fridge. Thank God. She had salad dressing. A quick salad with last night’s leftover chicken would be perfect. She made coffee and poured her guest a cup. “Cream? Sugar?”
    “Black is fine.”
    She placed a steaming cup on the counter for him. He sat on the living room side of the bar, probably using it as a boundary between them. She hoped her jittery excitement wasn’t coming off as juvenile. It was just so nice to have company.
    “You have family in the Four Corners area?” she asked to break the silence.
    He cradled his coffee mug as if his hands needed warming. She thought of all the ways she could warm those long-fingered hands…. Stop! If she kept thinking like that it would show on her face and he would be out of there in a heartbeat.
    “My family’s in Durango.”
    “Are you going home for Christmas?” The thought had her heart sinking.
    A quick shake of his head sent her hopes rising again.
    “Then you absolutely must have Christmas dinner with me.” She gave the fridge door a shove with her hip to close it. “If you don’t already have plans, I mean.”
    It would have been nice to see his eyes, to maybe get some take on what he was thinking, but he stared into his coffee. “I don’t usually bother with the whole Christmas thing.”
    “No tree?” Christmas was…well…Christmas. Not having a tree was positively Scroogelike.
    “I can’t remember the last time I had a tree.”
    There was something in his voice when he made the statement that told her there was a story behind that decision. She didn’t dare ask.
    Thankfully she had the good sense to let silence settle between them. She busied her mind with the presentation on the plate. For some reason getting it exactly right was immensely important. She held up two bottles of salad dressing. “What do you want? Ranch or Caesar?”
    When he looked up at her question, there was no way to disguise the grimace. He wasn’t comfortable here…with her. She had been too forward. Darn it.
    “Whatever you’re having is fine.”
    “Ranch it is.” She drizzled the dressing over his salad and placed it in front of him, then quickly prepared her own. “Water?” When he nodded, she poured two glasses of water and freshened his coffee.
    Opting not to crowd him, she pulled up a stool on the kitchen side of the bar. If she hoped to be friends with Jacob Webster, patience was going to be key.
    She paused, fork halfway to her mouth. Who was she kidding? She didn’t want to be friends with him…she wanted him .
    As if her thought had reached out and tapped him on the shoulder, he lifted his gaze to hers. There was no time to wipe the desire from her mind or her eyes.
    “This is…” his gaze dropped to her parted lips “…very good.”
    She licked her lips. Couldn’t help herself. “Thank you.”
    He aimed his attention back at his plate.
    That