Alexander opened the car door for Charley and she slid into the passenger seat. He wasn’t sure what had changed between them, but the feeling in the air was different. She was different. But how, he couldn’t quite tell.

He climbed in behind the wheel and started the engine. “Do you know where you’d like to go?”

“Nope. I have no clue. What do you think?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t usually go out driving after dark. I have no idea where the good displays are.”

“Then let’s head into town and see if we find something.”

He put the car into reverse. “Okay.”

After he got out on the highway, Charley shifted in her seat, leaning on the armrest of the door. “Why don’t you like driving after dark?”

He swallowed. He didn’t like to talk about it, but if he didn’t say why, Charley might think he was odd. He stared out of the windshield. “Sadie died in a car accident. It was dark out and she hit a patch of black ice.”

“I’m sorry.” Charley placed her hand on his arm. “I understand. That had to be terrible.”

He was glad she understood because he couldn’t really say much more. His throat swelled shut and emotions surged in him. He pointed at a cluster of trees as he drove down the winding road. “It actually happened there,” he said, his words coming out softly.

Charley sucked in her breath. “Oh, no.”

“It was snowing, and the roads were dangerous.” He pushed away the memories as his stomach tightened. He didn’t need to be thinking about the accident. He was trying to get over the past, not dredge it back up again. “But let’s talk about something else.”

“Okay,” Charley said, her voice carrying a hint of false cheer. “What is your favorite Christmas tradition?”

“Maybe something else, else?”

“Else, else? That’s not even correct grammar. I expected more from you, Mr. Norris. What, with you speaking so formally all the time.”

He shot her a withering look, but he was sure there was a hint of a smile on his lips. “Fine. Let’s talk of summertime.”

She laughed. “I can’t. Not when there are only six more days until Christmas.”

“Why is Christmas so important to you?” He didn’t mean for it to come out so grumpy-sounding.

She turned to him, her eyes sparkling. “It’s such a magical time. Everyone is nicer around Christmas. Haven’t you noticed?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Well, that’s because you barely leave your house. If you were around people more, you’d notice. There’s kindness in the air. People do nice things for each other. Charities help those in need more. And everyone is out buying gifts and trying to find things that will make their loved ones happy.”

He gripped his steering wheel, the thought of family giving him indigestion. “Maybe that’s my problem,” he said quietly. “I have no loved ones to make happy.”

Charley frowned. “Sure you do. You have Thomas. And Dorothy.”

He let out a mirthless chuckle. “They’re not family.”

“They care about you, I’m sure,” Charley said. “Do you exchange presents with them?”

He snorted. “No.”

She stayed silent for a moment, staring out the window. Then she put her hand on his leg. “Then we need to remedy that. Let’s go shopping! We can find something nice for Thomas, and Dorothy.”

He cocked his head to the side. “I don’t know. That seems weird, doesn’t it? Giving gifts to the staff?”

“Nonsense. I gave a gift to my dentist last year.”

Alexander laughed. “Your dentist?”

“Yes. I had an appointment on the 23^rd. It only seemed right to give him a little something.”

“What did you give him?”

She paused. “What I gave him isn’t the point.”

“I know. But I need to know what you gave him if I’m going to think of something to give Dorothy and Thomas.”

She pulled up her socks. Today she wore black socks with colorful packages on them. He thought he’d seen them all, but every day she wore a new pair. “Just something little.”

Now he was insanely curious. “Tell me. I want to know.”

She exhaled. “All right. It was a tiny stocking with candy in it. He looked at me like I was insane, giving candy to a dentist, and I grew quite embarrassed over it. But like I said, what I gave him wasn’t the point. It was the thought that counted.”

Alexander laughed. “You gave your dentist candy?”

“Go ahead. Make fun of me.” She said it like she was upset, but she then smiled and gave herself away. “It was stupid, huh?”

He sobered. “No. It was thoughtful.” He had never met a girl like Charley before. She would do something like give a gift to her dentist just because it was almost Christmas. He wished he was more like that.

“Well, thanks.” She stared down at her hands.

“Okay. Let’s go Christmas shopping.” Maybe if Charley helped him, he could find something both of his staffers would like.

“Yay!” She clapped her hands together, her dimple showing as she smiled. “I know just the place to go too.”

He grew suspicious and glanced at her. “Where?”

“The mall.”

He inwardly groaned, but he couldn’t back out now. He was stuck. “All right. I’ll drive to the mall.”

When they got there, he parked and then opened her door for her. Charley took his hand and he helped her out of the car. She bounced on her toes. “Let’s go. I know where we need to start.” She wrapped her hands around his arm and started toward the door.

The front of the mall had a large wreath on the front, a red bow stuck to it. As he opened the door, he knew this had been a bad idea. Christmas music blared from the speakers and a huge display with Santa Claus and his elves sat in the middle of the walkway.

One of the elves approached them. She had a pointy hat and shoes that curled up at the toes. “Do you two lovebirds want a picture with Santa? We’re having a special today. Twenty-percent off. They’re very popular with the couples this year.”

He frowned. “No.”

Charley tugged on his arm. “Come on. Let’s get a picture. I’ll buy it.” She grinned at him.

“You still have flour in your hair.”

She giggled and swiped at her hair. “So, what? We’ll remember this day. Come on.” She dragged him over to the line. He didn’t want to argue with her, so he shut his mouth and went with her.

As he waited behind a mother carrying a small child who looked like he was about to bust up crying, he leaned closer to him and said, “I know how you feel, kid.”

The child just stared at him, his eyes wide.

Charley laughed and hugged his arm. “You’re terrible. This isn’t so bad. Don’t be so grumpy.”

He hated it when she called him grumpy, so he forced a smile. “How’s this?”

She swatted him on the shoulder. “Don’t do that. You look like an evil clown when you smile like that.”

He let out a sinister-sounding laugh and grabbed her side. She let out a squeal and jumped. “You’re terrible,” she said, shoving him.

The kid continued to stare at him until an elf took him away from his mother to sit on Santa’s lap. Then he took one look at Santa and let out a wail. The elves ran around, trying to make him smile, holding up toys and candy canes. “Look at the camera,” the elf wearing large ears said. Finally, they got a good shot and shuffled the child back to his mother.

“Next.” A girl elf ushered them down the candy path to Santa’s workshop.

Alexander stood there, feeling like an idiot. “I’m not sitting on his lap,” he whispered to Charley.

“Come on. Don’t be a sour pants.” Charley turned to Santa and pulled Alexander toward him. “This is Alexander. He’s a bit shy today. If you promise him a candy cane, he might perk up and be a good boy.”

“Ho, ho, ho. Don’t be shy. Sit right here on my knee and we’ll take the picture.”

“No offense, but I’m not sitting on your lap.”

Santa just sat there smiling at him.

Charley gave him a shove. “Oh, come on. It will look nice for the picture. You can do it.”

“No.” He folded his arms across his chest.

“Please?” Charley batted her eyes at him. “There’s a line forming. Let’s just get it done.”

He stared at the line of people waiting. He wasn’t going to get out of this, was he? Alexander sent Charley a glare before sitting on Santa’s knee. Charley stood on the other side of Santa, grinning.

“Look over here,” big ears said, pointing to the camera in the belly of a cardboard snowman. “Smile.”

He forced a smile and the camera clicked. Then an elf shuffled them over to where they could pay. He nudged Charley in the ribs. “Thanks for that.”

“What?” She looked up at him with innocent eyes. “That was fun.”

“You totally did that so I would have to sit on Santa’s lap, didn’t you?”

A giggle bubbled out of her. “Okay, maybe a little.”

They handed them the picture and Charley bought a frame to put it in. “This is going to go on my dresser.”

“Well, at least it won’t be where people can see it.”

“Ooh, you’re right. Maybe I should put it on the mantle.” She gave him a sly grin.

He just rolled his eyes at her. “Whatever.”

She slid the photo into the frame then put it in the sack they gave her. “Let’s go find some Christmas presents.” She took his hand and pulled him away from the Santa display. Her hand felt warm in his and he couldn’t help but feel a bit of disappointment when she let go a second later. Which was preposterous because he was not dating her. She didn’t think of him like that at all. Stupid.

She dragged him around the shops and they looked at lotions and perfumes, but he didn’t think any of them sounded like something Dorothy would like. But when they came to the book store, he grinned. “She loves books.”

Charley nodded. “Yep. Let’s go get one she can talk to Paul about.”

They chose one Charley was sure Dorothy didn’t have yet and paid at the register. Then she turned to him. “What do you want to get for Thomas?”

“I don’t know.”

“What kinds of things does he like?”

He shrugged. “I’ve never asked him.”

Charley gave him a frown. “Really? How long has he worked for you?”

Alexander was embarrassed to admit it. “Twenty years.”

Charley gaped at him. “Twenty years? Surely there’s something you know about him.”

He rubbed his temple. “Well, he does like baseball. He’s always watching it on the weekends. It’s his favorite sport.”

She grinned. “Perfect. I have the best idea.” She tugged him out into the mall again, and they walked to the other side where she stopped at a little shop with stamps, coins and baseball cards in the window. “Here.”

“Great idea. But I don’t know who his favorite players are.”

“Let’s just go in and look around. Maybe something will jump out at you.”

He walked with her through the shop, not seeing anything until they came to a display with a Colorado Rockies jersey. He pointed to it. “This. I think he’d love this.”

“All right, then. Let’s get it.” Charley picked up the jersey and they took it to the register. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

He smiled at her. “No. You’re right. It was fun looking for gifts.”

“Great. Let’s go drive around and look at the lights, and then we’ll finish up the cookies.”

He nodded, feeling an excitement for the holiday that he hadn’t felt in a while. Since when did he get to be such a stick in the mud? He’d celebrated Christmas with Sadie. Why had they never bought gifts for Dorothy or Thomas? He couldn’t wait to see how they liked them.