Page 79 of Noel Secrets

“Sounds great.”

They both got their food and sat at the table. Addie said a prayer. Price put honey butter on the cornbread and tried it first, complimenting her on it.

She thanked him quietly as she ate a bite of chili. He followed suit. It was zesty and hearty. He told her how much he liked it.

There was silence as they ate bites of salad and drank some water. She didn’t even know he was keeping things from her and still he was messing this all up. Price had failed at the one romantic relationship that had mattered to him. Was he destined to fail at loving Addie?

He scoffed at himself. This wasn’t love. Not yet. But he wanted it to go in that direction.

Price watched her eat, trying to swallow bites himself. The food was delicious, but he didn’t like her thinking he was out ofher league and he hated what he was keeping from her. At least he could try to clear the one issue up. He prayed he’d say it right.

“Addie …” Her gaze lifted to his. He cleared his throat, took a drink of water, and thrust out the words. “I have no idea where you got the misconception that I’m out of your league. If anything it’s the opposite. You are far out of my league.”

He’d never said such a cheesy line in his life. River would be on the ground laughing. He didn’t care.

Addie studied him as if checking if he was sincere, and then … her radiant smile burst out like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. “Thank you, Price,” she said. “You’re a superhero to me. I guess I got a little intimidated after watching you spring from the darkness and rescue me.”

“I’m no kind of superhero.”

“You’re my hero. You are what my teenage niece Laynee would call ‘super hot, a baddie for sure’.”

Price’s chest swelled and he chuckled. He wanted to be her hero, and more. He wanted to be part of her life.

Could he bury his conscience and kiss her again or did he need to wait until she knew the truth? Her sister would probably tell him to kiss her, after she told him another corny joke.

He ate another bite of chili, confused and longing to tell Addie the truth and then kiss her for a very long time.

If he told her the truth, she might be furious and broken and they’d never get a chance to develop a relationship.

Daphne had more knowledge about her sister than he did. She definitely had an insider’s track into how women and relationships worked. His client’s instructions were to get Addie to fall for him and then sort out the truth.

It made his gut churn with uncertainty. He wanted to grow closer to her, but he loathed lying to her. He prayed for help. Would he mess this up like he had his marriage? Cold sweat pricked at his skin.

Daphne knew Addie better and promised waiting to reveal that he’d been hired to watch over her was the best path. He’d have to trust Daphne. He didn’t trust himself where relationships were concerned, and a relationship with Addie was suddenly his highest priority. Right next to keeping her safe.

Please help, he begged heaven above.Give me the path and the words to protect Addie, gain her trust, and if it be Your will … someday love her.

Chapter Nine

Addie was ecstatic about the way dinner with Price turned out. He’d sweetly told her she was out of his league. That was far from true but had made her heart swell. The way he looked at her made her feel like a million bucks.

They sat side by side on her couch, savored the banana pudding he’d brought, and talked about her family and his, her college and work experience, and some of his experiences in the military. It was after ten, the gas fireplace warming the room but Price warming it more, the Christmas lights twinkling merrily when she asked, “Have you ever … been in a serious relationship?” It was a little silly to ask as he was forty. He wasn’t some overly suave and charming guy, but he was successful and handsome and incredible to talk to. Of course he’d been in serious relationships.

“Yes.” He shifted and studied the fireplace. “I was married for five years.”

“Married? Oh wow. I was thinking, you know, serious like getting Disney T-shirts that read, ‘I’m with Minnie’ and ‘I’m with Mickey’.” She hoped her teasing would go over well. She couldn’t imagine a world where Price wore a Disney T-shirt, but dang he’d look good in one.

Price smiled and turned toward her. “Guess I jumped right past the Disney T-shirts.”

“Pole vaulted over that one.” She smiled, but it slid away thinking of Price … married and doing all the married stuff. A jealous knot tightened in her chest. It was irrational, but she still felt it. “Did you have children?”

“No.”

She waited. Was it appropriate to ask?

“You want to know what happened,” he guessed.

“Nosy and a voracious consumer of banana pudding. What can I say? I have a lot of flaws.” She lifted her hands.