Trading Christmas - Debbie Macomber [92]
The movie was as good as Cait remembered, better, even—perhaps because Joe was there to share it with her. She half expected him to make the occasional wisecrack, but he seemed to respect the artistic value of the classic animation and, judging by his wholehearted laughter, he enjoyed the story.
When the show was over, he released Cait’s hand. Hurriedly she gathered her purse and coat. As they walked out of the noisy, crowded theater, it seemed only natural to hold hands again.
Joe opened the truck, lifted down the step stool and helped her inside. Dusk came early these days, and bright, cheery lights were ablaze on every street. A vacant lot across the street was now filled with Christmas trees. A row of red lights was strung between two posts, sagging in the middle, and a portable CD player sent forth saccharine versions of better-known Christmas carols.
“Have you bought your tree yet?” Joe asked, nodding in the direction of the lot after he’d climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“No. I don’t usually put one up since I spend the holidays with Martin and his family.”
“Ah.”
“What about you? Or is that something else you save for Christmas Eve?” she joked. It warmed her a little to imagine Joe staying up past midnight to decorate a Christmas tree for his nieces and nephews.
“Finding time to do the shopping is bad enough,” he said, not really answering her question.
“Your construction projects keep you that busy?” She hadn’t given much thought to Joe’s business. She knew from remarks Paul had made that Joe was very successful. It wasn’t logical that she should feel pride in his accomplishments, but she did.
“Owning a business isn’t like being in a nine-to-five job. I’m on call twenty-four hours a day, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love what I do.”
“I’m happy for you, Joe. I really am.”
“Happy enough to decorate my Christmas tree with me?”
“When?”
“Next weekend.”
“I’d like to,” she told him, touched by the invitation, “but I’ll have left for Minnesota by then.”
“That’s all right,” Joe said, grinning at her. “Maybe next time.”
She turned, frowning, to hide her blush.
They remained silent as he concentrated on easing the truck into the heavy late-afternoon traffic.
“I enjoyed the movie,” she said some time later, resisting the urge to rest her head on his shoulder. The impulse to do that arose from her exhaustion, she told herself. Nothing else!
“So did I,” he said softly. “Only next time, I’ll be the one to pay. Understand?”
Next time. There it was again. She suspected Joe was beginning to take their relationship, such as it was, far too seriously. Already he was suggesting they’d be seeing each other soon, matter-of-factly discussing dates and plans as if they were longtime companions. Almost as if they were married…
She was mulling over this realization when Joe pulled into the parking area in front of her building. He climbed out and began to gather her packages, bundling them in his arms. She managed to scramble down by herself, not giving him a chance to help her, then she led the way into the building and unlocked her door.
Cait stood just inside the doorway and turned slightly to take a couple of the larger packages from Joe’s arms.
“I had a great time,” she told him briskly.
“Me, too.” He nudged her, forcing her to enter the living room. He followed close behind and unloaded her remaining things onto the sofa. His presence seemed to reach out and fill every corner of the room.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes, but Cait sensed Joe wanted her to invite him to stay for coffee. The idea was tempting but dangerous. She mustn’t let him think there might ever be anything romantic between them. Not when she was in love with Paul. For the first time in nearly a year, Paul was actually beginning to notice her. She refused to ruin everything now by becoming involved with Joe.
“Thank you for…today,