“We’re seeing Justine and her family tonight. It’s just going to be Jack and me for Christmas Day.”
“Exactly. The two of you don’t need a third wheel.”
“It wouldn’t be like that,” Olivia protested. “I hate the idea of you spending Christmas alone.”
Will sat back. “What makes you think I’ll be alone?”
Olivia raised her eyebrows. “You mean you won’t?”
He gave a small noncommittal shrug.
“Will.” She breathed his name slowly. She didn’t want to bring up past history, but in her view, Will wasn’t to be trusted with women. “You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?”
The fact that Will was being secretive didn’t bode well. “Come on,” she urged him. “Tell me.”
He smiled. “It isn’t what you think.”
“She isn’t married, is she?”
“No.”
That, at least, was a relief.
“I’m starting over, Liv. My slate’s clean now and I want to keep it that way.”
Olivia certainly hoped so. “Tell me who it is,” she said again.
Her brother relaxed and folded his hands on the table. “I’ve seen Shirley Bliss a few times.”
Shirley Bliss. She was the artist who’d created the dragon, breathing fire and pain and anger.
“Shirley,” she whispered. “The dragon lady.” Olivia hadn’t even met the woman but sensed they could easily be friends.
“She’s the one,” Will said. “We’re only getting to know each other but I’m impressed with her. She’s someone I’d definitely like to know better.”
“She invited you for Christmas?”
Will shifted his weight and looked out the window.
“Well, not exactly.”
Olivia frowned. “Either she did or she didn’t.”
“Let’s put it like this. She hasn’t invited me
“Good grief, Will! It’s Christmas Eve. If she was going to invite you, it would’ve been before now.”
“Perhaps.” He grinned boyishly. “Actually, I thought I’d stop by her place around dinnertime tomorrow with a small gift.”
“Will!”
“Hey, you can’t blame a man for trying.”
“Will she be by herself?”
He shook his head. “She has two teenagers, a daughter who’s a talented artist, too, and a son who’s in college. I haven’t met him yet.”
Before Will could say anything else, Goldie arrived at their booth, carrying two chicken pot pies. She set them down and came back with two huge pieces of coconut cream pie. “Make sure you save room for this,” she told them.
“I’d like to remind you I didn’t order any pie,” Olivia said, pretending to disapprove.
“I know,” Goldie returned gruffly. “It’s on the house. Think of me as your very own elf. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you, Goldie the Elf.”
Will reached for his fork and smiled over at Olivia.
“I have the feeling it’s going to be a merry Christmas for us all.”
Olivia had the very same feeling, despite—or maybe even because of—their unexpected visitor.
7
Linc gritted his teeth. It was after two, and the traffic through Tacoma was bumper to bumper. “You’d think it was a holiday or something,” he muttered sarcastically.
Mel’s eyebrows shot up and he turned to look at Ned in the backseat.
“What?” Linc barked.
“It
“Don’t you think I
“Okay, okay.”
“You’re going to exit up here,” Mel said, pointing to the exit ramp for Highway 16.
Linc sighed in relief. They were getting closer, and once they found Mary Jo he intended to give her a piece of his mind. She had no business taking off like this, not when her baby was due in two weeks. It just wasn’t
