his hand was clasped around hers in a tight hold. It was clear he had no intentions of letting her take flight from him after their kiss. The thing that she couldn't figure out was why she didn't want to.
As they walked down the brick path, they passed a store window displaying an assortment of gift-wrapped packages under a silver-limbed Christmas tree. Although the red and green ornaments were festive and shimmered under the display lights, it held little charm.
"That's the saddest tree I've ever seen," Kyle said, staring at the display. "I like cranberries and popcorn, myself."
She looked up at him in awe that he was thinking the same thoughts as her own. "And gingerbread cookies with gold ribbon," she added.
He smiled. "Scotty made a star out of aluminum foil in pre-school a few years back. You should see his face when Mom puts it on the tree."
"Hey, that's a good idea. We don't have a tree topper. I'll have to remember that when we put up our tree. Oh, look!" Lauren dropped Kyle's hand and raced to the toy store display window a few yards away.
Behind the glass was a magical winter wonderland. A pair of moving Santa and Mrs. Claus figurines stood in the center of the display surrounded by miniature elves buried in a sea of fake snow. A toy train, set on tracks suspended from the ceiling, disappeared into a tunnel before coming back to the display for the outdoor viewing.
But the thing that caught Lauren's attention was the magnificent antique dollhouse. It was every little girl's dream come true, from the Farmers porch with swing, to the miniature furniture and people all set up inside. The house opened on hinges, giving ample space for a child of any age to sit and re-arrange the pieces. She could just envision her and Kristen sitting on the floor of her bedroom, playing with it for hours.
"Krissy would just love that." Lauren kept her eyes on the dollhouse and felt Kyle's hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"I've got the feeling you would, too," he said softly. "Let's go inside and take a look." Kyle led her to the double doors, opened one, and waited for her to proceed inside.
Pulling the scarf from her neck, Lauren groaned and trudged to the display. There was no sense falling in love with this dollhouse, she thought with a sigh. Without even looking at the price tag, she knew that it was far beyond her reach.
"Beautiful detail," Kyle said in admiration as he bent down and pulled the white tag, holding it out for her to inspect the price.
Lauren’s shoulders sagged when she read the numbers. Just as she expected, it was well beyond her financial reach. She would never be able to afford spending an entire month's rent no matter how perfect a gift it would make.
As if reading her mind, Kyle offered, "What do you say I pick it up as a gift for Kristen?"
She glared at him, angrier with herself for not having the means to enjoy giving such a luxury than at his attempt at charity. Piqued, she knotted her scarf around her neck. "We've already been through this, Kyle. I won't take your money."
She spun on her heels and pushed through the store door with force tantamount to her anger. When she reached the sidewalk, he caught her arm and twisted her around to meet his gaze head on.
"Hey, this is no big deal. Why won't you let me do something for you?" he huffed. His drawn expression told her he was hurt by her rejection, not angry.
Seeing his reaction defused some of her anger, but did nothing to squash her pride. "It is to me. I should be able to give my child what she needs without any help from you or anyone else."
Damn, but she's stubborn, Kyle fumed inwardly. If it wasn't for the fact that he knew her pride would be destroyed, he'd run right back into the store and buy the dollhouse despite her protest. But he knew she'd hate him for it. And he couldn't bear that.
His mind raced. If she won't take the money from
As they walked down the brick path, they passed a store window displaying an assortment of gift-wrapped packages under a silver-limbed Christmas tree. Although the red and green ornaments were festive and shimmered under the display lights, it held little charm.
"That's the saddest tree I've ever seen," Kyle said, staring at the display. "I like cranberries and popcorn, myself."
She looked up at him in awe that he was thinking the same thoughts as her own. "And gingerbread cookies with gold ribbon," she added.
He smiled. "Scotty made a star out of aluminum foil in pre-school a few years back. You should see his face when Mom puts it on the tree."
"Hey, that's a good idea. We don't have a tree topper. I'll have to remember that when we put up our tree. Oh, look!" Lauren dropped Kyle's hand and raced to the toy store display window a few yards away.
Behind the glass was a magical winter wonderland. A pair of moving Santa and Mrs. Claus figurines stood in the center of the display surrounded by miniature elves buried in a sea of fake snow. A toy train, set on tracks suspended from the ceiling, disappeared into a tunnel before coming back to the display for the outdoor viewing.
But the thing that caught Lauren's attention was the magnificent antique dollhouse. It was every little girl's dream come true, from the Farmers porch with swing, to the miniature furniture and people all set up inside. The house opened on hinges, giving ample space for a child of any age to sit and re-arrange the pieces. She could just envision her and Kristen sitting on the floor of her bedroom, playing with it for hours.
"Krissy would just love that." Lauren kept her eyes on the dollhouse and felt Kyle's hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"I've got the feeling you would, too," he said softly. "Let's go inside and take a look." Kyle led her to the double doors, opened one, and waited for her to proceed inside.
Pulling the scarf from her neck, Lauren groaned and trudged to the display. There was no sense falling in love with this dollhouse, she thought with a sigh. Without even looking at the price tag, she knew that it was far beyond her reach.
"Beautiful detail," Kyle said in admiration as he bent down and pulled the white tag, holding it out for her to inspect the price.
Lauren’s shoulders sagged when she read the numbers. Just as she expected, it was well beyond her financial reach. She would never be able to afford spending an entire month's rent no matter how perfect a gift it would make.
As if reading her mind, Kyle offered, "What do you say I pick it up as a gift for Kristen?"
She glared at him, angrier with herself for not having the means to enjoy giving such a luxury than at his attempt at charity. Piqued, she knotted her scarf around her neck. "We've already been through this, Kyle. I won't take your money."
She spun on her heels and pushed through the store door with force tantamount to her anger. When she reached the sidewalk, he caught her arm and twisted her around to meet his gaze head on.
"Hey, this is no big deal. Why won't you let me do something for you?" he huffed. His drawn expression told her he was hurt by her rejection, not angry.
Seeing his reaction defused some of her anger, but did nothing to squash her pride. "It is to me. I should be able to give my child what she needs without any help from you or anyone else."
Damn, but she's stubborn, Kyle fumed inwardly. If it wasn't for the fact that he knew her pride would be destroyed, he'd run right back into the store and buy the dollhouse despite her protest. But he knew she'd hate him for it. And he couldn't bear that.
His mind raced. If she won't take the money from
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