Mistletoe Magic (Paradise Place #6) - Natalie Ann Page 0,29

away and then earn her another lecture from her parents about jumping too fast.

She wasn’t stupid though. She knew how she felt. She was just keeping it to herself.

“I could give you another reward later tonight,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

“Something in your eye?” he asked.

Robin snorted. She knew he was picking on her. “You’re no fun.”

“I can prove you wrong on that front later if you want.”

“I want. I want that a lot.”

And when dinner was done, the dogs fed and played with, Brian went out to his car and brought in a bag with him. “I didn’t want to bring this in right away. I had no idea if you’d change your mind and didn’t want this to put unwanted stress on you.”

“No. I’ve known what I wanted for a while. It’s all working out.”

“I want to say just like you planned, but I’m the one who came here with a housewarming gift that night.”

“You are. And it saved me from having to think of another reason to go see you. It’s not like I was going to commit a crime to hire you again. I do need to make a will. That would have been a good excuse.”

“No excuses needed.”

“Can you do my will though?” she asked. “Or is that a conflict of interest?”

“I can do it. It’s not like you are naming me as a beneficiary, so it’s not a big deal. But if you’d prefer, Molly can do it for you.”

“No, you can. I think I’d rather not go to anyone else. I’m still trying to be as private as I can about what happened.”

“A will can be pretty generic. You don’t need to list your assets or the values of anything.”

“I’m simple. It’s all going to my brother Rick, then my parents.”

“Then I can start it for you this week. No worries. Are we done talking shop?”

“We are,” she said. “How about a movie? It’s early yet. Barely seven at this point. Or we can go back upstairs. I’m not sure the amount of stamina you’ve got.”

“Very cute,” he said. “But I’ve got my limits too. I’m all for a movie before bed.”

“I’ve got this great chick flick I’ve been dying to see with Sandra Bullock.” She turned to see his reaction. His smile was still in place but his eyes lost some of the shine and she started to laugh. “I’m just joking. There’s a new Dwayne Johnson movie I want to check out.”

“Oh, so you want to look at his body?” he said.

“Every woman wants to look at The Rock’s body. That’s a given.”

“I’m starting to feel inferior here.”

“Looking and wanting are two different things. I want something that is real, not something that is unattainable.”

“Bet his wife didn’t think he was unattainable,” he said.

“Are you kidding me? She’s just as beautiful as him. They were made for each other. I wouldn’t want all those eyes on me for being with someone like that, or being that pretty.”

“You’re gorgeous,” he said to her. “Inside and out. That’s more than surface and anyone who ever told you differently doesn’t deserve to be in your life.”

“There is the smooth talking lawyer that I haven’t seen before.”

“You don’t believe me?” he asked. “I’m telling you the truth.”

“I believe you,” she said. She started to realize that she might believe anything he said to her and that was almost more dangerous.

Brian didn’t like how Robin got down on herself at times.

He didn’t see it often, but when he did he wanted to nip it in the bud.

Her ex did a number on her. He knew. He witnessed it firsthand.

And though he didn’t want to treat her with kid gloves, he never wanted her to doubt herself over anything either.

“Good. I want you to. I don’t make a habit of lying.”

“Neither do I. I think everyone does at some point in their life. Little white lies are okay. Big whopping ones are just hurtful.”

And she’d know that. She’d been hurt enough too. “Don’t ever worry about me. If you want the truth on anything, ask. I’ll always give it to you.”

She reached for his hand and threaded their fingers together, then pulled him to the couch and cuddled into his side. It was a vulnerable move but made him feel almost as big as The Rock in that moment too.

Wasn’t that what he’d always wanted to feel with a woman? That he could be their rock.

“Let’s watch our movie,” she said, picking up the remote.