Chapter 7
SEVEN
Joy
I don’t know why I suddenly feel playful, but I do. First with the dinner invitation, which he hasn’t accepted or declined yet, and then with the flirty question about being ready.
Climbing out of the cab of the truck, I meet him at the tailgate, but instantly realize I need to get the doors unlocked first. By the time I have the back entrance of the building opened, he’s there, tree thrown over his shoulder like some sort of holiday lumberjack.
“I was going to help you carry it,” I tell him, holding open the door so he can enter.
“I got it,” he insists, offering a wink as he walks inside the building.
Closing the door behind me, Burk starts to take the tree up to my apartment. It isn’t until he’s at the landing in front of the next door that I realize the issue. He’s in front of me, and I need to get past him to get that door unlocked too.
“I guess we didn’t think this one through,” I state, just as he’s realizing the issue.
“Oops,” he comments with a gravelly chuckle that makes my nipples hard and a wave of warmth rush between my legs. “Umm, can you slip past behind me?” He turns to the side, sandwiching the tree between his chest and the wall.
“I think so.” I shift to my side and carefully try to slip behind him on the stairs. Of course, my entire front brushes his back, and even though we’re wearing coats and cold-weather gear, I swear I feel the heat of his body.
Or maybe it’s just my sudden overanxious body that seems to home in on his physique and nearness.
“Sorry,” I mutter as my boobs brush against him.
Of course, I’m sure he can’t really feel them, considering the layers of clothes, but still.
I feel like an apology is necessary since the last time I saw him he had braces and skinned-up knees from wiping out on his skateboard, and I was what was referred to as a carpenter’s dream back in my teenage years.
Flat as a board and never been nailed.
I didn’t grow boobs until I was about twenty.
Of course, I wasn’t actually called that until later in high school, but whatever. I was still a skinny, awkward girl with no curves, who liked to play outside with her male best friend instead of going shopping or doing hair and nails.
“You’re fine,” he declares. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I see a smirk on his lips.
Heat stains my cheeks and there’s a touch of a shake to my fingers as I place the key in the lock and turn it.
The familiarity of home washes over me as I step inside and plaster myself against the wall to ensure he has enough room to enter.
Fortunately, the doorway opens into the kitchen, which has plenty of space for the both of us to not be all up against each other.
Or unfortunately the more I think about it.
“Umm, I have the stand set up over there,” I say, ripping off my stocking cap and pointing to the narrow floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room.
Burk moves in the direction I indicated and carefully places the tree in the stand.
He drops to his knees before I can offer to assist and tightens the screw system holding the tree in place.
Then, he removes a knife from his pocket and gets to work at cutting the netting off.
When the tree falls back out, I can’t help but smile when I see there aren’t many damaged branches, and it looks pretty good.
“Thank you,” I tell him, super excited and ready to start decorating.
“Well, it’s not a perfect tree, but I think you did a good job,” he tells me, standing back and admiring the naked pine.
“I really appreciate you helping me get it home.” I don’t know why I’m suddenly nervous. Perhaps it’s for the simple fact he’s standing in my living room, in my private space, and all I can smell is fresh pine and a hint of his masculine soap.
He reaches down and gathers up the cut netting and rolls it into a ball. “So, about earlier. You had asked me to dinner, before we were interrupted by Amy’s son.”
That nervousness inside me seems to duplicate, growing like a weed. I’ve never been super outgoing, but I’ve never considered myself shy either. I mean, I was in theater and art, for crying out loud. And right now, I feel anything but confident. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked him to dinner.
“If the offer still stands, I’d love to have dinner with you. Though, I did offer to take you out somewhere so we can catch up.”
“I love to cook,” I blurt out. Feeling heat mark my cheeks, I add, “Well, baking is more my forte, but I do enjoy making a few signature dishes. Plus, I really want to decorate my tree.”
He chuckles. “Okay, what can I bring?”
“Just yourself.”
He nods. “All right. I get off at six, and I’ll run up to the house and take a quick shower. I can be here around six thirty.”
You know the scene in Home Alone, where Kevin outsmarts the criminals by throwing a party? My heart feels like that right now. It’s as if I’m rockin’ around the Christmas tree.
“No rush. It’ll be ready when you get here.” I pray I don’t sound as breathless as I feel.
The smile he gives me makes my entire body come alive with need, and even though I should be embarrassed for reacting this way because he’s my friend, I can’t help it. He’s just so…adorable.
“I better get back to the farm before they send the cavalry,” he jokes, but I know there’s a little truth to his statement. They may not come looking for him, but they’ll definitely wonder what’s taking so long.
As he moves to the door, I reach out my hand. “I can take that and throw it away.”
He places the balled up netting in my palms, and I swear the moment his fingers brush against my skin, some sort of explosion happens. Like sizzling sparklers on the Fourth of July.
“See you in a little while?” he asks when he makes it to my door.
“Yep.”
He flashes me another panty-melting grin before exiting my apartment, leaving me in a puddle of eggnog and faulty Christmas lights. I’m going to get shocked. Bad.
He’s just a friend…
I keep repeating that over and over as I prepare for Burk’s arrival.
He should be here any minute, and I’m excited.
That’s the only way to describe it. I’m anxious to continue getting to know the man he’s become.
What little time we’ve spent together over the last couple of days has been enjoyable, and it seems easy to fall into the same state of friendship we used to have back when he lived here.
The only problem is, what I’m feeling for him isn’t quite so friendly, if you know what I mean.
I’m completely attracted to him.
I give the slow cooker contents a quick stir and replace the lid.
Garlic bread is in the oven, and the table is set.
I prepared one of my favorite chicken pasta dishes tonight, one I don’t make as much as I’d like, mostly because it makes enough to feed an army, and while I don’t mind leftovers, I don’t want to eat it for a week straight either.
A distant knock sounds on the back door, so I quickly move to my apartment door. Just as I’m pulling it open to wave him up, Burk is stepping through the lower doorway and glances up. “Hey.”
“Hi,” I reply. “Usually, I keep that door locked.”
He nods in understanding and engages the locks, both the knob one and the deadbolt, before returning his attention my way and climbing the stairs. It’s the first time I notice one of his hands is holding a plant, and I can’t help but smile.
As he reaches the platform in front of me, he grins and extends his hand. “This is for you.”
The small potted poinsettia plant with its beautiful white leaves is a stark contrast against the dark coat he’s wearing. The red and white ceramic vase resembling Santa’s coat will look perfect in my holiday decorated apartment. “Thank you,” I reply as I take the pot. “Come on in. Dinner’s ready.”
My apartment seems so much smaller with Burk inside. He’s tall, sure, but everything around me just feels tighter with him here. It’s not unwelcome, not in the least. In fact, his presence is the exact opposite. I want him here. With me.
I place the potted poinsettia on the counter and check the garlic bread in the oven. “You haven’t decorated your tree.”
I turn around, knowing this was going to be one of the first things he’d notice. “No, I, uh, hoped you’d be willing to help me.”
“Really?” His brown eyes are wide with anticipation.
I shrug and reach for a hand towel, wringing it in my hands. “Yeah, well, it would be nice to have some help with it. You’re tall, you know. You can wrap the top of the tree with the lights,” I state with a chuckle.
He grins. “I’d be honored to assist.”
“Great,” I beam back just as the timer goes off.
Pulling the warm bread from the oven, I quickly place our meal in the center of the table. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Just water, please,” he states, moving toward the table. He doesn’t sit, however, just waits for me to join him.
I can tell he’s waiting for me to take a seat first, so I place two glasses of water on the table and pull out my chair. Only when I do that does he take the available seat across from me. My table is a small two-seater, but it fits the space and my lifestyle perfectly.
The gentleman that he is, Burk offers me the spoon and waits for me to place a scoop of the Italian chicken pasta bake onto my plate before taking some for himself. “This smells amazing,” he tells me, placing two hearty spoonfuls on his plate.
“Thank you. It’s a pretty simple recipe, but it just makes so much. If you like it, I may be sending some home with you for leftovers,” I reply with a chuckle, grabbing a piece of garlic bread and holding the plate out for him.
“I wouldn’t say no to that,” he replies, grabbing two pieces of bread. “Gram has been cooking for all of us, but she usually spends dinners at the hospital with Gramps, leaving me to fend for myself.”
“How’s he doing?” I ask, even though I got an update from my dad earlier today.