Mistletoe Mischief (5 page)

On their way back to the South Shelter, Patti commented how impressed she’d been with Marissa’s teaching patience earlier. Eric had to agree she’d done a great job.

“I can’t help but feel bad she hurt her ankle when she wasn’t even supposed to be here today,” the teacher said.

“You?” Eric cast her a sidelong glance. “How do you think I feel?”

Patti grimaced. “I ‘spose. But at least you followed through.”

“I was already on my way, I just got delayed.”

“Did you get stuck behind that accident this morning? I heard about it on the bus radio. They had the highway shut down in both directions.”

Eric considered the dangerous, hectic scene from that morning.
’Stuck’
was not the first word that came to his mind, but he didn’t correct her. “Yeah, I was there.”

“Well, see, it’s not like you could’ve helped that,” Patti rationalized.

He lifted a shoulder with a wry smile. “No more than you could’ve.”

Heather bounded up from her hay bale perch when the wagon rolled around the corner and the shelter came back into view. She became a little too enthusiastic waving to get her mother’s attention, and Eric caught her right before she tumbled off the edge. Thank goodness Marissa hadn’t yet looked up from her spot against a tree.

Heather gave Eric a sheepish grin, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re bound and determined to keep us on our toes today, aren’t you?”

“Sorry.”

“Just slow down and be more careful,” he gently admonished, lowering her from the wagon when it came to a stop. Reese followed the other kids and parents getting down, and Eric jumped to the ground after them. Butch stood off to the side, saying goodbye to the kids.

Eric braced a hand on each girl’s shoulder, waiting until the crowd thinned. “Thank Santa for the ride.”

Reese and Heather sounded a chorus of thanks before taking off across the asphalt path toward Marissa. Eric made sure they reached the tree before turning around to face the older man.

“This was great. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Butch shifted his gaze toward Marissa and the girls. “So, I expect you’ll be taking the lady and her daughter home?”

“Ah…” Eric frowned, wondering where the man would get that idea.

Butch backhanded him on the arm. “Open your eyes, boy. She can’t drive with her foot all wrapped up like that.”

Eric absently flexed his shoulder as Butch climbed back up to the driver’s bench. The old guy might be…
old
, but he still packed a wallop. Then his words registered. Eric’s gaze went straight to where Marissa sat, smiling up at the girls, her foot extended in front of her. He started to smile, too, unconsciously straightening.

Santa was absolutely right.

Butch gave a merry chuckle. “Got ya thinking, now, don’t I?”

Eric reached up to clasp the man’s hand with a grin of appreciation. He’d been dreading the end of the field trip without even realizing it. Now he didn’t have to figure out a clever way to see her again to collect on the invitation from earlier. When he started to back away from the wagon, Butch tossed a handful of leaves down toward him. Eric caught them, then laughed.

Mistletoe
. Santa was handing out presents early this year. Eric eased the green sprig into one of his pockets, careful not to crush the precious gift.

Santa Butch winked at him before lifting the reins to urge the reindeer forward. Over his shoulder he called, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Chapter Five

To avoid staring across the lawn at Eric, Marissa concentrated on the girls. He was the ultimate picture of a man, standing there talking with Santa Butch. Dark hair, amazing gray eyes, sexy voice, a killer body, and a good dad. What was not to like?

And yet, she still couldn’t believe her own provocative words earlier.
I like your thinking.

Sure, he’d been staring at her still-tingling mouth, but it didn’t mean he fantasized about a repeat of the mistletoe kiss like she had been. A much more
private
repeat—especially now that she knew he wasn’t married.

But to pretty much outright invite another kiss? She didn’t do things like that anymore. Just the thought of getting involved with a man again made her heart beat faster. She’d managed not to think about it much over the past few years—kept too busy on purpose. It had been a long time, and heaven help her, as attracted as she was to Eric, it scared the daylights out of her.

Good, God, live a little! No wonder you haven’t had a date in three years.

“Your dad is fun.”

Heather’s words registered on Marissa’s conscious just as Reese replied, “I know. I wish I could stay with Daddy all the time.”

Marissa tore her gaze away from Eric at the dark haired little girl’s plaintive words. The two had moved away a few feet and were talking to each other in their own little world.

“I live with my mom ‘cause my dad’s always busy,” Heather said matter-of-factly. “He never bothers with stuff like this.”

“Daddy works a lot, too. Mom says he doesn’t have time for me and that’s why he only comes to see me every other weekend.”

Marissa’s heart ached for both little girls who so obviously needed their fathers. She usually made excuses for Ted to Heather to spare her daughter’s feelings and protect her. Judging by Heather’s choice of words, Marissa hadn’t succeeded—or maybe it was that Ted hadn’t fooled her? Either way, she didn’t like it.

The fear she’d tried to squash moments ago breathed new life. Things were so different from her college years when she’d dated and had fun. There was so much more at risk now than just her heart.

Her gaze strayed to Eric, who backed toward them, still in conversation with Santa Butch. He appeared the perfect dad today. Except from the sound of Reese’s words, it was nothing but an act to look good in front of everyone. Hadn’t she seen the evidence when he couldn’t be counted on to show up on time to fulfill his responsibilities? When he didn’t even bother to apologize to his daughter or the people he’d inconvenienced?

Considering her past experience, she should’ve seen it coming instead of being blinded by physical reactions. A picture of Ted flashed in her mind. These damn men had no clue what they were doing to their kids. Or if they did, they sure as hell didn’t seem to care.

Across the grass, the school bus pulled into the parking lot. A quick glance at her watch confirmed it was time to go home. A weak wave of relief gave way under an overpowering swell of unwelcome disappointment.

Exasperated at the second emotion, Marissa yanked her bag from under her calf. She grimaced when her foot hit the dirt, but the jolt of pain to her ankle mirrored the reality check she’d just received.

Yes, Eric Riley was sinfully good-looking, and yes, thank God he’d saved her daughter on the giraffe platform, but even that only served to point out the danger in losing her focus on what was important—
Heather
.

Slinging the handles of her bag over her shoulder, she pushed up off the ground. Thanks to inconsiderate people, she still had a lot of work to do tonight and—

“Let me give you a hand.”

Eric’s deep voice reached her ears just before his boots and camouflaged pants entered her peripheral vision. She had no time to protest as one large hand grasped her elbow, another slid along her waist; both lifted. Sensation rocketed through her at his mere touch. Awareness heightened when she stood beside him, her shoulder against his chest. He’d released her arm, but the warm hand on her waist slipped low to rest on her hip.

The elusive pine scent from earlier teased her nostrils. Him, her imagination, or the tree they stood beneath? She inhaled discreetly. Clean, fresh pine unspoiled by underlying chemicals of cologne left her unable to confirm the origin of the fragrance. The only way to be sure would be to bury her nose against his skin. Her gaze zeroed in on the tan column of his neck, and she swayed slightly.

“Mom, do we have to go home now?”

Eric’s hand steadied her. Marissa jerked her head toward her daughter.

“You good?” Eric asked in a low tone close to her ear.

His warm breath stirred her hair, sending a shiver down her back. When she realized he’d asked if she had her balance on her uninjured foot, Marissa nodded, not trusting her voice for fear it would betray her like the rest of her body. The fingers on her hip flexed briefly before they fell away. She missed his touch almost immediately.

She clenched her jaw in frustration. How ridiculous. He was just a man. So what if he was sexy as hell, she’d decided years ago never to depend on the male species again. Especially one who wasn’t there for his kid.

She limped a step away from Eric and turned to Heather. “Yes, honey, it’s time to go home.”

“Aw, mom, I want to play with Reese yet.”

“You’ll see Reese at school on Monday,” Marissa said.

The summer school teacher detoured in their direction on the way to the bus with her group of kids. “Eric, is it safe to assume Reese will be riding home with you?” Patti asked.

He put his hands on Reese’s shoulders. “She will. Thanks for checking.”

Patti turned to Marissa, her expression contrite. “I can’t thank you enough for your help today, though I’m very sorry about your ankle.”

“It’s not your fault. And I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me,” Marissa assured her. “I had a great time with the girls today.”

Not to mention one heck of a kiss under the mistletoe
, a small voice in her head reminded.

Patti smiled, her glance swinging toward the idling bus. “Ultimately, that is what matters most. We’d better get going before they leave without us. See you on Monday.”

“Bye.” After the teacher left, Marissa took a deep breath to face Eric. Time to say goodbye to him too, before she went completely insane and forgot she’d changed her mind about him. The moment she met his smiling, smoky gray gaze, her pulse jerked. Too bad her body hadn’t gotten the memo from her brain yet. “Maybe we’ll see you at school sometime.”

Bewilderment clouded his eyes at her intentionally casual statement. And no wonder after the way she’d flirted before the reindeer wagon rides. Embarrassment warmed her cheeks with the remembrance.

“Actually,” he said, “I’m thinking you two need a ride home.”

Heather clapped in excitement. “Please, Mom, please?” she begged. “Can we ride home with them?”

“Please, Mrs. Wilder?” Reese added.

Marissa resisted their enthusiasm; somewhat annoyed he’d make the suggestion in front of the girls. She forced a polite smile to her lips and said pointedly to Eric, “I have my car here, remember?”

“You can’t drive with a sprained ankle,” he countered. When she opened her mouth to argue, he quietly added, “It wouldn’t be safe for Heather.”

She shut her mouth and stared toward the parking lot. He was right. She might not be able to slam on the brakes if something unexpected happened, not to mention accelerating wouldn’t be too fun, either. How had he known to bring up Heather’s safety before anything else?

Any good parent thinks of their child first.

Maybe she should give him the benefit of the doubt…

Marissa stomped on that thought. Damn it,
no
. She wasn’t going to overlook the fact that his daughter needed him more than he made himself available. Just because she made excuses for Ted’s irresponsibility to spare her daughter’s feelings didn’t mean she accepted him constantly letting their little girl down. It was no different with Eric.

“How am I supposed to get my car home?” she argued half-heartedly, knowing they’d be riding home with him and Reese no matter what.

“I’ll get a ride back here tomorrow to get yours and then I can drop it by your house.”

It made perfect sense, but, gol-darn it, why’d he have to be so nice about it when she’d rather argue?

“It’s the least I can do after messing up your whole day.”

See? His consideration joined forces with her physical attraction, chipping away at her defensive indignation for his daughter. It didn’t help that both girls waited expectantly, Heather’s expression reminiscent of the one she wore every Christmas morning.

“Since it sounds like everything’s settled, I guess we should get going,” Marissa said.

Heather and Reese let out whoops of joy and raced toward the parking lot.

“Slow down,” Eric called. “Wait by the edge of the grass.”

Marissa tried to ignore her unwelcome anticipation and limped after them.

“Is everything okay?” Eric asked from beside her. “You seem upset for some reason.”

She kept her gaze focused on the ground. “I’m just a little tired.”

Coward
. If she were smart, she’d tell him exactly what she thought of him and get rid of any attraction once and for all.

“I’d be happy to carry you,” Eric offered, his tone a little deeper than before, even though she could hear a grin in his voice.

Her stomach did a somersault and she quickly snapped, “I’m fine.”

He didn’t speak the rest of the way to his truck, his confusion tangible in the silence. She did her best not to feel guilty, because, really,
she
had nothing to feel bad about. After lifting the girls into the back of his extended cab and making sure they were buckled tight, he stepped out of the way so she could climb up, but didn’t offer assistance. Marissa told herself that was fine with her. He closed her door and walked around the front to settle in the driver’s seat.