Alexander stood in the driveway, gaping at Charley. She was the most aggravating woman. He’d told her not to be out after dark. And what was that? Did she wink at him? He hadn’t been able to respond. She had this way of disarming him that he couldn’t understand.

He let out a grunt and stalked into the house after her. The smell in the kitchen stopped him. Dorothy shooed him into the other room. “No sneaking any food. It’s almost ready. Why don’t you and Charley get situated at the table?”

Since when did his help boss him around? His house was falling apart. Alexander scowled at her but did as she said, taking his seat at the head of the table. When Charley walked into the room, he motioned to her chair. “I guess Dorothy wants us seated.”

She grinned at him, and he noticed for the first time she had a dimple on her left cheek. “Great. I’m so hungry, I could eat a house.”

“Don’t you mean horse?”

Charley wrinkled her nose. “I’ve never liked that saying. Who wants to eat a horse? They’re smelly and have all this hair. What an unappealing thought.”

He couldn’t figure out if she was crazy, or if she was playing with him. “You’d rather eat a house?”

She shrugged, her gaze dipping to the table. “It would have sounded lame had I said I was so hungry, I could eat a hamburger.”

Alexander couldn’t help it. He laughed, and the biggest smile appeared on Charley’s face, along with the dimple again. “Oh my gosh, I wasn’t sure you could laugh.”

Had he been in that foul of a mood since she arrived? He sobered. “Of course, I can laugh.” He didn’t mean for it to sound so irritable, but he couldn’t take back his words. But he did soften his voice when he spoke again. “I simply have lots of work to do and I don’t see a need for lollygagging.”

“Did you just say the word lollygagging?” Her laughter rang out, echoing through his house. “Why do you talk like an old man?”

He gasped at her, but her giant smile erased his annoyance. Why was it hard for him to stay mad at this woman? He tried to keep a straight face, but he felt his lips twitch. “I was raised by my grandfather, and I was taught to speak proper English. And I’m often busy, so I don’t have time to mess around.”

“What is it you do, if I may ask?”

“I have a company I run from this house. I’m in software development.” Alexander had never realized how boring his job sounded until this moment. Charley nodded as Dorothy came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with their food on it.

As they ate, Charley chatted about how much she was looking forward to finding treasure in the boxes in the garage and how excited she was for Christmas. She had an energy about her that he had never seen in a person. When she laughed, she did it with her whole being. It was like she couldn’t wait to go out and experience life. Had he ever felt even a small part of that? He doubted it.

When they were finished eating, Charley looked out the window and gasped. “It’s snowing! Oh, my gosh. Come on.”

She tugged on his arm and he stood, unable to refuse her. “Where are you going?”

“Outside, of course.” She pulled him toward the front of the house.

“Wait.” He took her elbow. “This way.” He led her to a sliding glass door that opened to the back deck. She grinned at him then walked outside without her coat.

“Look at this.” She stared up at the large snowflakes coming silently down, her hands out as if to catch them. “Isn’t it magical?”

He made a conscious effort not to frown. He hated the snow. Hated everything about winter, but she obviously was enchanted, so he didn’t say anything. He stepped outside and slid the door shut, joining her on the deck.

“It’s so quiet out here,” she said, her voice almost reverent. “I love how peaceful it is. You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful home. I love Florida, but there’s constant street noise. Don’t you love the quiet here?”

He hadn’t thought about it, but maybe she had a point. It was nice. He nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I suppose.”

She pointed to the deck chairs in the corner. “Do you come sit out here when the weather is nice?”

Not anymore. He used to enjoy the deck. He’d sit out here with his wife and they’d watch the birds. But that was a long time ago. He clenched his jaw. “No.”

She peered out at the trees. “What are you planning on doing for Christmas? Are you having any family over?”

“I have no living family.”

She turned to him, her eyes wide. “Oh. I’m so sorry.”

The last thing he wanted was her pity. “Don’t be. I’m fine here by myself.” He slid his hands into his pockets.

A sadness entered her eyes. She turned away. “So, you’re not going to go anywhere for Christmas?”

“I prefer being alone.”

“Oh.” She was silent for a few moments before she rubbed her bare arms.

“Let’s go inside. It’s cold.”

She didn’t move. Flakes of snow were starting to stick to her dark hair. “In a minute. I want to watch the snow a little longer.”

He shrugged out of his suit jacket and placed it over her shoulders. She smiled up at him. “Thanks, Mr. Norris.”

“It’s Alexander.” He stepped back, surprised at his own words. Why had he said that? What was wrong with him? He didn’t want her calling him by his first name, did he?

She nodded, her smile widening. “Thanks, Alexander.”

He frowned and took another step toward the door. “You can stay out here as long as you’d like.” He didn’t wait for her to answer. He slipped inside the house and walked to his office, shaking his head. What was that all about? He was being stupid.

Now she was going to be more informal with him. Not that she’d been particularly formal before. But now she was going to think he was encouraging her behavior. Which was not the case. She was just the hired girl. She would do her job and then leave. It was stupid to think anything could transpire between them. Not that he was thinking of her that way.

He opened his office door and the black kitten scampered over to him, letting out a tiny cry. He bent and picked her up. She’d been half-frozen when he’d found her behind the house. Luckily, she was old enough to eat food. He opened another can of cat food and set her on the floor with it. She attacked the meal like she hadn’t been fed that morning. He chuckled and crossed the room to his desk. “Don’t eat it so fast. You’ll get a stomach ache.”

The kitten ignored him, and he sat down on his leather office chair. He woke his computer up and clicked to check his email. The screen blurred as his thoughts swirled around in his head. He was going to regret allowing the woman to stay on, he knew it. But there was nothing he could do now. It was like watching a train wreck. He was powerless to stop it. All he could do was watch it happen.