Mistletoe Magic (Paradise Place #6) - Natalie Ann Page 0,7

plumber. I do need a haircut too. Maybe I’ll check out your sister’s place, but I’m happy with my brown hair.”

“I wasn’t trying to promote them,” he explained. “And I like your hair the color it is too. Though if you wanted to change the color that is your right.”

“I know. You’re just being nice. That’s the way you are. I like that about you.”

No man wanted to be told they were only nice, but since she followed it up with saying she liked that trait, he wasn’t going to complain.

“Thanks, I think. Anyway, I got you a plant, a bottle of wine, and chocolate. Guess I was trying to cover my bases.”

“And you did. Not only that, I insist that you let me cook you dinner as a thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Not just in the fast closing, but the fast divorce. You were there for me when so many weren’t. There were days I was so embarrassed over the situation and my emotional mindset. You never let me feel it though.”

“It wasn’t an easy position to be in for you. I understood your embarrassment, but you didn’t do anything wrong. It was sad and unfortunate. But it’s not unheard of either. Sometimes people just have a hard time being who they are for others.”

She angled her head at him, her hair falling over her shoulder, her brown eyes having gone soft, and his pulse started to race. “I feel like I can be myself around you.”

“I’m glad,” he said.

3

Take Control

The last thing Robin expected was to have Brian Dawson in her kitchen with a bottle of wine and some chocolates.

She’d been completely honest with him in that she felt like she could be herself. And as much as she wasn’t sure she was ready to venture into the dating world, the devil on her shoulder said exactly what Brian did. “You did nothing wrong.”

Nope. She’d been naive. She’d been blind. She’d been made a fool.

But now it was time for her to take control of her life.

And if that meant making the first move toward the tall, dark and sexy lawyer in front of her, then she was stepping out of her comfort zone and flinging her sweats and fuzzy slippers away.

Too many times in her life she’d sat back and let others not only walk all over her, but stomp on her until she was tiny crumbs on the ground being kicked away or left for a dog to snack on.

Not this time.

“So, is that a yes to dinner?” she asked. Then looked at the clock and realized it was only three. A little early. Not only that, she was trying to take a mental inventory of the food she had. She’d run to the store yesterday to get a few things but wasn’t sure there was anything fitting for a man. This might be a colossal mistake.

“I don’t want you to go out of your way,” he said. “Looks like you’ve been busy for the past few days.”

“I had most of it done on Thursday. Yesterday I walked around trying to figure out what I needed to purchase still and moving furniture. Most things just feel right, but then some rooms I can’t decide.”

“My sister says the same thing. I guess I’m more simple. I unpacked and where things ended up that is where they’ve stayed.”

“Where do you live?” she asked.

“I live in Colonie too. North Colonie. I’ve got a small place in a quiet neighborhood.”

“I lived in a quiet area before. Too quiet. I grew up with kids running around and neighbors talking and hanging out together. I think I need to find more of what I had.”

“You’ll get that here,” he said.

“I met my neighbors in the back a few days ago. The previous owner’s new wife and daughter. They came over and brought me a plant and some cookies.”

“Cookies?” he asked. “Guess you don’t need chocolate or another plant.”

“Please,” she said. “Chocolate is always welcome. Especially Krause. The cookies were great. Do you want one? I’ve got some left.”

“I wouldn’t mind a cookie,” he said.

She couldn’t tell if he was just humoring her or not. He hadn’t said yes to dinner either and she was starting to wonder if she was making an assumption that she shouldn’t be.

She’d sort of hoped that Brian was interested in her more than as a client, but maybe she was seeing something that wasn’t there. It’s not like she was that great of