An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods Page A

let’s talk about your dream house. What would it look like?”
    “I haven’t really given it a lot of thought,” she claimed.
    Matthew was skeptical. Didn’t women start thinking about that kind of thing about five minutes after they started imagining the kind of wedding they wanted?
    “Really? Heather certainly knew exactly what she wanted Driftwood Cottage to look like when Connor was having that remodeled for her. Uncle Mick said she had a whole folder crammed with pictures. And, believe me, Susie had very specific ideas for her house with Mack.” He regarded her doubtfully. “You sure you’ve never thought about this?”
    “I’ve thought about what I don’t want,” Laila admitted eventually. “I don’t want a house that’s so big and formal that people are scared to have fun in it.”
    “Like your parents’ house,” he guessed.
    “Exactly,” she said with a shiver. “I’m still surprised at the way Caitlyn and Carrie tear through the place without giving my mother a breakdown. I certainly never felt I could spill anything or leave my toys or schoolbooks lying around.”
    “How do you like Susie and Mack’s place?”
    Her eyes brightened. “What’s not to love? The views of the water are completely awesome. You did an amazing job of making the rooms airy and bright, yet incredibly cozy.” Her expression turned wistful. “I’d give anything to have a house on a piece of property by the bay.”
    Matthew smiled. “Good to know.” Fortunately he had his own piece of property just like it a few feet down the shoreline, thanks to a very wise investment his father had made years ago. The land had been held for Susie, him and Luke. Now he knew exactly the kind of house to put on his lot, something similar to Susie’s, but distinctive in its own ways.
    He reached in his pocket for an ever-present piece of paper and pen, then began to sketch. “Something like this?” he asked, shoving the paper in Laila’s direction.
    Her eyes widened. “How did you do that with just a few strokes of a pen?”
    “You like it?”
    “Of course. It’s amazing. I really love the porch and the huge sunroom.”
    “Anything you don’t like?”
    She shook her head. “You’re a wonderful architect, Matthew. I’m sure it will be incredible. Where are you building it?”
    “Next door to Susie and Mack.” He held her gaze. “Eventually.”
    Once again, she looked startled. “You own the land next to theirs?”
    “Technically Dad does, but he’s giving each of us a piece of it. There will be a sizable lot for Luke whenever he’s ready. Of course, if he persists in thinking he’s crazy about Kristen Lewis, living two doors down from Susie and Mack could be awkward.”
    “When will you build your house?” Laila asked, her gaze still drawn to the sketch.
    “When the time is right,” he said evasively, then grinned. “That could be just around the corner.”
    “Matthew,” she cautioned.
    “Not getting ahead of myself,” he insisted. “I’m just saying the property’s there and, thanks to you, I have a rough idea of what to build on it.”
    “Sometimes you scare me,” Laila said candidly.
    “That’s not my intention.”
    “I know that. It’s just that you seem so certain about the future, about what you want, what you think is going to work out. How do you get to that place?” she asked wistfully.
    “Do you really want to know?”
    She nodded.
    He touched a finger to her chin, forced her to meet his gaze, then said with quiet sincerity, “I look into your eyes. That’s all, Laila. That’s the secret. I look into your eyes and see everything I ever wanted.”
    Her throat worked at his words. A tear leaked out and spilled down her cheek.
    “How am I supposed to resist you when you say things like that?” she whispered in a choked voice.
    He smiled at her evident frustration. “You’re not supposed to,” he told her. “You’re supposed to fall madly, passionately in love with me and live