Alexander awoke the next day with an energy he hadn’t had in a long time. He talked to Dorothy last night. He wanted to surprise Charley with her family’s Christmas Eve traditions, and Dorothy was on board. But in order to accomplish everything, he had to take a trip into town.

His first stop was the church. He hadn’t stepped foot in it in over two years. It felt good when he walked in the door. His next stop was the store. It took a while, but he found the perfect basket and filled it with food and other things, then had them wrap it in cellophane and put a bow on it.

It took him longer than he’d expected, but he was back by three in the afternoon. As he pulled up, Charley was loading a box into the back of his truck. She waved at him as he parked his car and got out. “Merry Christmas Eve.”

He chuckled. “Merry Christmas Eve to you too.”

“I just finished the last box. I’ll take this last load into town and then sweep up. Looks like you have three boxes for the auction.”

He nodded. “Okay. Do you mind if I go with you to town? I have a delivery I’d like you to help me make.”

She only paused a second before covering her surprise with a smile. “Sure.”

While she was inside getting her purse, he hid the gift basket he’d purchased in the back of the truck. When she came out, he opened the door for her and held out his hand to help her up. When she had trouble climbing in, he chuckled. “Do you want a step-stool?”

She gave him a dirty look. “Hey, no making fun of my height—or lack of it—on Christmas Eve.”

He put on an innocent face. “Just trying to help.”

“Sure.” She stuck her tongue out, but a smile flitted across her lips.

He got in the driver’s seat and turned on the engine. “First, we’ll go drop these boxes off at Goodwill. Then we’ll run my errand.”

“Sounds fine.”

When he pulled up to the back of the building, he turned to her. “I’ll unload the truck. You sit tight.”

“No, I can help.” She unbuckled.

He did not want her to see what he’d hidden in the truck bed. “Stay. I’ll get it. You can listen to Christmas music.” He turned on the radio and that did it. She grinned.

“All right.”

He got out and unloaded the boxes. When he got back in, she was singing along to “Santa Baby,” which was perfect because her socks today were red with black buckles, making them look like Santa’s belt.

“Okay. Let’s go run my errand.”

“Where are we going?”

He shrugged and tried to look innocent. “Nowhere special. Just have to deliver something.”

She crossed her legs. “That’s fine.”

As he drove, she sang to the radio. He followed the directions that the pastor had given him this morning and pulled off the road into a neighborhood. As he pulled up to the white house, Charley looked out the window. “Is this it? What are you doing?”

“We’re delivering a Christmas basket to a family in need.”

Charley stared at him, her eyes getting wide. “Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“This house?” She pointed.

“Yes. They have three kids and the father just lost his job.”

She waved her hands frantically. “Well, don’t stop in front of the house! They’ll see us! Hurry, go.”

He pulled back out into the street. “I didn’t know. I’ve never done anything like this before. Where should I park?”

Charley giggled, growing animated. “Turn the corner, then park a block away. And we really should have done this at night so there’s less chance of being spotted, but since we’re here, we’ll do it now.”

He hadn’t thought about the time of day. “Oh. Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s really sweet you’re doing this.” She pointed to the curb. “Okay, pull over here.”

He stopped the car and turned off the engine. “I’ll get the basket. You go run it to the door.”

She shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m not doing this alone. You’re coming with me.”

“What?” He hadn’t thought he’d be doing the ding-dong ditch. “Why?”

“Because that’s the fun part. Come on.” She hopped out of the truck and he followed suit. He lifted the basket out of the back of the truck and Charley clapped her hands. “That looks amazing!”

“I wasn’t sure what toys to put in it, so the pastor helped me. They’re just little things, but I also put a gift card in there so the parents can get them what they need.”

Charley looped her arm around his. “It’s perfect. Let’s go.”

They walked down the sidewalk and turned the corner. When they were in front of the house, Charley ducked down and tugged on his arm. “Don’t let them see you out the windows.”

He wasn’t sure how crouching down was going to make them not see him, but he did it anyway. They ran up the porch steps and he set the basket down. Charley rang the doorbell, then she grabbed his hand and they ran down the steps.

As they turned the corner, they heard a little kid yelling, “Hey, someone left this on our porch.”

Charley giggled and they ran to the truck. She opened her door and he helped her climb in. When he was in the driver’s seat, she turned to him, her eyes moist. “That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

His throat tightened as his emotions swelled. They’d just helped someone else, yet she was grateful for what he’d done for her? She was an amazing woman. “It was nothing.”

“No.” She put her hand on his. “You went through a lot of trouble, just to give me the opportunity to not miss out on this Christmas Eve tradition. That was really thoughtful of you. And I know it’s going to mean a lot to that family.”

He wasn’t sure how to respond, so he just tossed her a smile and turned the steering wheel, pulling out into the street.

“This is going to be a wonderful Christmas Eve.”

***

CHARLEY COULDN’T BELIEVE Alexander had set that up. He’d even talked to a pastor from a church to find a family in need. She was astounded. He did all of that to make Christmas Eve a special day for her. She tried not to sit there in the truck grinning like a fool, but it was difficult. He’d made her so happy.

When he pulled up to the house, he opened the garage and started pulling in. “Hey,” Charley said. “I still need to sweep in there.”

“You can sweep another day. Dorothy will have dinner on the table soon. Besides, I want to enjoy my garage. I haven’t been able to park in here for over a year.”

“Okay.” They got out of the car. When Charley entered the kitchen, the smell hit her and her heart swelled. “Are you making beef stroganoff?”

Dorothy nodded. “Yep. A special order from the master of the house.”

Charley turned to Alexander and threw her arms around him. “You did this for me too?”

He smiled, his laugh lines crinkling. “I didn’t know I would get such a reaction.”

She let go of him, suddenly embarrassed with the way she’d thrown herself at him. “Sorry. I’m just excited.”

“Then let’s see what you do when you find out about the shrimp cocktail.” He gave her a devilish grin and her heart stuttered a bit in her chest. Why did he have to be so handsome?

“Get. Out,” Charley said, hitting his arm playfully.

“They’re chilling in the fridge,” Dorothy said.

“You guys are the best.” Charley gave Dorothy a kiss on the cheek.

“I just thought since I didn’t have any Christmas Eve traditions, that we’d take on yours.”

“Then I guess we get to watch a Christmas movie tonight?”

Alexander nodded. “Whatever movie you want.”

“Even Die Hard?”

He made a face. “Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie.”

“I beg to differ.”

“I guess you can pick whatever you want,” he said, shaking his head. “We can stream it.”

She grinned at him. “I’m feeling the power.” She turned to the cupboard. “Do you need me to set the table, Dorothy?”

“That would be nice, dear.”

Alexander reached up and grabbed the plates from the cupboard. “I’ll help.”

Charley pulled open the drawer to get the silverware. As they set the table, she watched him. The change in him over the past nine days had been astonishing. When she first arrived, she didn’t think he’d ever smile. She wasn’t sure he was capable of laughing. And now, to look at him, he wasn’t the same person. He had a different countenance. And it made him even more hot. She had a hard time being in the same room with him without going weak in the knees. He could totally get a job as a fashion model.

He raised his eyebrows at her as he set down a plate. “What?”

Ooh, he caught her staring. Not cool. She casually walked around the table. “Nothing. Just thinking.”

“About me?”

Now what was she supposed to say? It had to be obvious. She was staring at him. She could feel her cheeks turn pink. “Maybe.”

“Good thoughts, I hope.”

Her face flamed. Maybe she should change the subject. “Yes. How about those Yankees, huh?”

He gave her a weird look. “I don’t follow sports.”

“Neither do I,” she said under her breath. “Is it hot in here? Because I’m a little hot.”

“I can adjust the temperature.”

“No, I’ll be fine.” She fanned her face. She just needed to stop staring at him and thinking about how good-looking he was. That’s all.

Charley was able to control herself better during dinner. The food was delicious, as usual, and she gave Dorothy a huge hug afterward for being such a dear to make her family’s traditional meal. Then she and Alexander went down to his basement to watch a movie.

“Have you picked what you want to watch yet?”

“Let’s see what’s on Netflix.”

Alexander sat down on the couch and picked up the remote. She sat next to him and tucked her legs under her. He scrolled through the holiday movies until Charley pointed to the screen. “That one.”

“Elf?”

“Yes. That’s the one. Haven’t you seen it?”

“Nope.”

“Then we definitely have to watch it. You’ll love it. You’re a funny movie guy, and this one is the funniest.”

He grabbed the fleece blanket and put it over her before he clicked to turn on the movie. She snuggled into it. “Thanks. How did you know I was cold?”

“It’s chilly in this basement.”

“Do you want some of the blanket?” She didn’t wait for his answer but put half of it over him.

“Thanks.”

The movie was hilarious, but before she knew it, the early morning got to her and her eyelids began to droop. The next thing she knew, the room was silent and she was laying on something warm. Had she fallen asleep? She must have. She had that sleepy foggy head thing going on.

Where was she?

Oh, no. She remembered she was in the TV room. And the only thing she could be laying on was Alexander. She opened her eyes and he smiled at her, his arm on her shoulders. “Have a nice nap?”

She opened her mouth to answer when she felt something down the side of her chin and she froze. Dear heavens, it couldn’t be, could it? Had she drooled? Please, no. Not that. She casually wiped her chin. Mortification heated her cheeks. It was, indeed, wet. She prayed he hadn’t seen the disgusting drool slipping down her chin. “Sorry. I didn’t realize how tired I was.”

“That’s okay. I didn’t mind being your pillow.”

She looked to make sure she hadn’t left a puddle of drool on his shirt. Luckily, there was nothing there. She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Did you like the movie?”

“It was great. Thanks for suggesting it.” He looked like he was holding back a chuckle.

She chose to believe he was laughing about the movie, and not the slobber on her face.