Maybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan Page A

did that before.” Élise put the weights down. “Did it work?”
    “No.” Suddenly, it felt difficult to speak. “He’s in my heart so wherever I go, he comes with me.”
    “Oh, Bren, don’t say things like that.” Kayla’s eyes filled, and she lifted her hand to her mouth. “You’re making me cry, and I never cry. You are
not
moving away. You can’t! Don’t even think of it. You’re an essential part of the team.”
    “Yes, without you, Kayla would turn into a lazy sloth.” Élise’s eyes were a little brighter than usual. “She needs you to help her keep that tight butt of hers. Without you, she’d sit at a desk all day.”
    “Crap.” Kayla brushed her cheeks with the palm of her hand and sniffed. “Promise me you won’t do anything rash. Somehow we’ll fix this.”
    Knowing Kayla’s formidable abilities to make things happen, Brenna came close to a smile. “Thanks, but even you can’t fix this.”
    “Tyler hasn’t started seeing anyone yet. It might not happen.”
    “It’s going to happen. He’s been putting his own needs second because of Jess, but if she’s encouraging him, then it’s going to happen. He’s gorgeous. Women are all over him.” She’d had to watch it her whole life. The way they looked at him. The lengths they went to get his attention. “I’m being stupid and pathetic. Ignore me. I’m tired. In fact, I think I’m going to skip the rest of our workout this morning.” She stooped and picked up her bag as Kayla exchanged looks with Élise.
    “But you never skip our workouts. Never. You always say there isn’t a single thing in life that exercise can’t help with.”
    “It can’t help with this. I need to get going and organize today’s lessons. I’ll see you later.”
    There was no solution; she knew that.
    She could move away, she could take another job on the other side of the world, but how did she get Tyler out of her heart?
    * * *
    K AYLA WAITED UNTIL the door closed behind Brenna and then breathed out heavily. “Look at me! I’m a mess.”
    Élise looked. “
C’est vrai.
You are a mess. I thought you were a cool Brit who never cried. Your eyes are the color of tomato salsa. Or maybe purée.”
    “Why does everything in your life have to have a culinary reference?” Kayla selected the camera app on her phone and checked her reflection. “Crap, you’re right. I’m never wearing makeup to have a conversation with Brenna again.”
    “I have never seen her this emotional. She is a very calm, controlled person. It is the first time she has ever admitted her feelings.”
    Kayla slid her phone in her bag. “It must be hell being in love with a man who isn’t interested. And when she said that bit about him being in her heart—” Her eyes filled again, and Élise glared at her in frustration.
    “
Merde, j’en ai assez,
enough! What use is all this howling and sobbing? We need a plan.” She muttered something in French and spread out a yoga mat. “And he’s interested.”
    Kayla sniffed. “I must admit I thought so, too. Did you see the way he took over in that meeting when Jackson suggested she go and teach in the school? I almost melted on the spot. The man would slay a dragon for her, and she can’t see it.”
    “Mmm.” Élise looked thoughtful. “Fillet of dragon, dragon burger—”
    “Stop thinking about food for five minutes! What I’m saying is that he is
so
protective, and he isn’t like that with anyone else. When I fell over on the ice the other day, he laughed and stepped over me, so why doesn’t he do something? Why hasn’t he made a move? He isn’t shy with women.”
    “I don’t know why.” Élise twisted her body into a shape that could have been yoga or Pilates. “I don’t claim to understand the way a man’s brain works. Other parts, yes. But not the brain.”
    “Maybe he doesn’t see her like that. He grew up with her. She’s like a guy to him.”
    “No one could see Brenna as a guy.” Élise changed her