That one kiss sent fire coursing through her veins and muddled her brain. She was going to suggest they stay at her house but couldn’t think straight.
He didn’t skip a beat. He buckled Melody in her car seat with major protests this time and hurried around to open her door. “I have the seat warmer on for you,” he whispered in her ear, tickling her hair with his breath. His hand felt warm and sensuous as it lingered just a tad too long on the small of her back as he guided her in.
Matt proceeded to chat all the way to his house. He was in high spirits, which only heightened her excitement for the day.
He pulled into the drive instead of the garage, which puzzled Anna. “Don’t you want to put these fancy wheels in your garage?” she asked. “The snow is starting to fall again.”
“No, it’s fine,” he waved nonchalantly. “Come, let’s get breakfast on, I’m starving.”
With Melody tucked safely on one arm and the diaper bag hanging from the other, he handed her the house keys and asked her to unlock the front door.
Anna swung the door wide. Her eyes bulged at the huge Christmas tree filling the two-story entrance. Melody gurgled and lurched for the shiny bulbs that sparkled before her.
“Whoa there, little one, be careful,” Matt chided as he held on tighter.
Anna whirled around in delight. “Why, Matt, what a gorgeous tree. Oh, and look at the stairs … the banister … it’s all so beautiful.
“How—” her words trailed off as her mind began to compute the change in wall color and what lay beyond the tree. The entrance turned out to be merely the appetizer. Room after room she oohed and awed, mesmerized by the transformation. Somehow his large, rambling, ice castle had morphed into a home. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Matt,” she said, throwing up her arms. “This is fantastic. To be honest, I dreaded the thought of celebrating Christmas here—”
“I know, Anna. My house didn’t thrill me much either.”
She grabbed his arm in excitement and squeezed both Melody and him in a quick hug. A quick whirl showed her delight. “What a treat!”
She stopped dead when she spotted a photo she’d never seen before. There above his fireplace was a huge picture of her rocking Melody. Her long hair flipped to one side cascaded down the left side of the picture. Matt had taken the photo without her knowledge and caught a tender moment where she had brushed her mouth against the silky top of Melody’s sleeping head.
“It’s my favorite,” he admitted.
She was moved beyond words. “Oh, Matt, it’s all beyond incredible.”
“The minute you said you would come for Christmas, I set this in motion.”
“But … but how?” Shock flooded her face at the sheer magnitude of the job and the money spent.
“I knew you hated the house, and for that matter so did I. Long story short, your place felt more like home to me than mine did. I hired an interior decorator to decorate for Christmas, and well, it morphed into a home makeover. Do you like it?”
“Like it, Matt? What’s not to like?”
Melody squirmed in Matt’s arms and arched her back in a message to be put down. Her latest achievement was to roll around, and she loved being free to do just that. He laid her on his new Persian rug.
Anna grimaced. “Grab the play-pen, Matt, she could spit up.”
He laughed at her concern but set it up anyway.
“Okay, now I feel better,” Anna said. “That rug looks pricey.”
“Really, Anna? A little bit of mess from Melody is the least of my problems, you’re a far bigger one.” He laughed and threw one of Melody’s teddy bears at her.
She caught it and threw it back. “Oh, really Matthew, you think I’m a problem?” She moved closer. “Then why go through all this work just to impress me?”
“Yeah, well don’t let it go to your pretty little head, or I’ll have to—”
She grabbed him. “Or you’ll have to do what?” And kissed him full on the mouth before pulling away and laughed at his shocked expression.
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Just getting you back for this morning.”
He went to grab her, but she squealed and lit out in a run. He easily caught her and in one swift movement had her locked in his arms up against the wall. “Whatcha going to do now?” he challenged.
He brushed an errant curl from her face before his hands slowly slipped the elastic band from her hair and pulled it free. He dropped a kiss on her brow and slid his fingers gently through her hair.
She instinctively pressed closer, trembling at the intoxication of his nearness.
“Whoa, Nellie,” he joked. “You’d better turn this stallion in a different direction or there’ll be real trouble.”
“So, you’re a stallion now?” she teased. She could feel the crazy clip clop of his heart beat against her fingertips.
He laughed and dropped his arms from around her.
Matt worked on brunch while Anna got the turkey in the oven. The babble of Melody and soft strains of Christmas carols in the background covered the awkwardness between them. That surge of desire had them both tongue-tied.
They took pictures of Melody’s first Christmas and shared in helping her unwrap her gifts, but the day felt weighted with unspoken tension. They ignored the undercurrents between them and engaged in small talk about weather patterns and the upcoming election.
Anna had a Christmas gift for Matt but held back hoping he would suggest their exchange. When he said nothing, she assumed he hadn’t thought of a gift for her. The surprise of his beautiful home and all he’d done to make the day special was gift enough, but her gift was far more personal.
Matt jumped up the minute the Christmas meal was finished. He filled the dishwasher and washed the crystal wine glasses. Then, he immediately suggested he get them
