Page 38 of The Christmas Door

She glanced at Luke again and sensed something inside him was at war. She just wasn’t sure what.

Did this have something to do with his adoption? Was he still struggling with forgiveness for the secrets his parents had kept?

The holidays could bring out all kinds of emotions. She knew that better than anyone.

She took a step closer to him, studying his face. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I’m just . . . thinking.” He didn’t meet her eyes.

A strange ache unfurled in her chest.

Was it foolish to hope he’d feel something between them too? Maybe she’d imagined all of it.

Maybe this was better. Distance was safer. Less complicated.

Still . . . part of her wished he wasn’t pulling away.

Should I simply let him build this imaginary wall? Or should I try to find out what hurts he’s trying to hide?

She wasn’t sure about the answer.

But in a few minutes she would drive him back to his car, so she needed to decide soon.

Luke’s phone rang, and he glanced at the screen.

Linda.

He needed to take this.

He excused himself from Amayah and stepped toward her car to answer.

“You’re still digging into Amayah, right?” she demanded.

“I just wrapped up another part of my interview.”

“And?”

And . . . he still had no idea which direction to take.

“She’s not what you think,” he said quietly as he paused near Amayah’s car. “She doesn’t see herself as some saint. She’s just . . . living her conviction.”

“No one’sthatsincere, Luke. Don’t get caught in the glow. Your job is to expose. Keep pressing—or start polishing your résumé.”

His résumé? She meant the words, didn’t she?

If he didn’t deliver with this article, then he’d lose his job.

Where would he go from here? So many papers were hurting now—or shutting down.

Was this career even for him? Maybe he should have gone into law enforcement like his dad had encouraged. There would always be a need for cops.

But that wasn’t where his passion lay.

“So?” Linda asked. “What’s it going to be?”

Luke clenched his jaw. “I’m working on it.”

There were other influencers he could interview, he reminded himself. Why was Linda obsessed with Amayah?