Starlight in Her Eyes (17 page)

Colin had pulled the covers over her sleeping daughter.

Was he singing? His voice was nice and slightly off-key which endeared him to her even more. She didn't recognize the song but it sounded like a lullaby. Touched by the tenderness of the scene, she listened.

When Colin kissed Lily's forehead and then rose from the bed, Serena backed out the room. She hurried into the spare bedroom on the other side of her master bedroom. Moving to the bookcase, she searched for a book. Finding it in seconds, she pulled it out and tucked it beneath her arm.

Colin waited for her at the base of the staircase. “I wondered where you'd gone.”

“I was listening to the most enchanting lullaby.” Serena made her careful descent and he took her hand as she reached the bottom. “I really wasn't eavesdropping, but I'm glad I heard it.”

“Grandmother Nell used to sing that lullaby to me. And I knew you were there. Your dress rustled a bit. Plus I caught the scent of you. A very sexy combination in an odd way.”

Colin's gaze made a leisurely path from her hair, her face, and then all the way down to her toes, heating Serena with an intense awareness of this man, the slow-burning passion hovering between them, and the lateness of the hour. A yearning stirred within her.

She offered him the children's book. “Here. I'm loaning this to you. A bedtime story, if you will.”

In some respects, it was a good thing the driver waited outside. Likewise the woman asleep on the downstairs sofa. She and Colin were adults, but the temptation was great, especially tonight. Colin was right. They needed to honor the Lord in every aspect of their relationship.

With a quirked brow, Colin took the book from her and turned it over. “
The New Adventures of Curious George
. You've mentioned something about this book before. Let me get this straight and make certain my brain's not foggy.” He gave her a wide grin. “You want me to read a children's book?”

“Yes. I think you'll see why once you read it.”

“I'll be sure and bring it with me to work on Monday and we can have a book discussion over lunch.”

Serena motioned for him to turn it over again.

He did and skimmed the book description. “Ah, right. The yellow hat. You mentioned that to me in the midst of that crazy chase during my first city segment outside Independence Hall. Now I'm more curious than ever.” He chuckled. “Appropriate, I suppose, considering the book title.”

Slipping his arm around her waist, Colin drew Serena close as he slowly walked with her to the front door. “This night has been the most incredible evening of my life. As close to perfection as I can imagine.”

“I'm in full agreement,” she murmured. “I hate to see it end.” Her wedding had been an overwrought ordeal complicated by dramatics from one of her bridesmaids as well as an overzealous wedding planner. This night had been altogether lovely by comparison.

“Want to try to make the late service together in the morning?” he asked.

They'd discussed attending a church halfway between downtown and her townhome.

With the book still in his hands, Colin opened his arms.

She walked into them and glanced up at him. “I think that's a great idea, but I'll need plenty of coffee first.”

“How about I swing by and get you and Lily and take my two best girls to breakfast? Either before or after the service?”

“Call me in the morning,” she said. Her lids were heavy and she stifled a yawn. “Make that later this morning. On second thought, let's go to brunch after the service.”

“Count on it.” Colin's lips met hers for a delicious kiss, sweet yet full of simmering passion. “Good night, love. Thank you for sharing the moment.” He opened the door and then disappeared from view.

“Good night, Colin.” Closing the front door, Serena leaned back against it and released the deep sigh she'd been holding.

“I thought it was warm in here before, but now it's positively scorching.” Trina waved her hand in front of her face. “I imagine Colin is quite the kisser.”

“No comment.” Serena glanced over at Trina with a smile. “Thanks for being here with Lily tonight. Everything go all right?”

“We had a grand time. Hair, makeup, brownies, and movie watching. Perfect evening. That girl of yours is a pistol and cute as a button. Fair warning, though. Don't be shocked when you see her blue fingernails. Marla wanted to put a matching streak of blue in Lily's hair, but I talked her out of it.”

Serena laughed quietly. “Thank you for that. Why don't you stay on the sofa tonight? Or I could make up the bed in the guest bedroom for you.”

“Don't bother. I'm fine here if you're sure you don't mind.”

“Not at all,” Serena said. “Let me get some blankets and pillows.”

Trina yawned and stretched. “Sounds good to me. Thanks. I'm so stinking happy for you, Serena. You and Colin are such a great couple. You both deserve this.” She shifted her position and stifled another yawn. “Be sure and invite me to the wedding.”

“I'll be right back.” Serena couldn't resist her smile as she went upstairs. Speaking of marriage seemed premature and yet her thoughts had already veered in that direction more than once. She couldn't imagine a man she would love more than Colin, and whom her daughter could adore any more.

She slipped out of the dress and laid it out on the bed. Wearing the gown had made her feel like a princess for the night, and Colin had made her feel like a queen, but the night was over. Time to get back to reality. After pulling a nightgown from the dresser, she tugged it over her head. She retrieved a pillow and a blanket from the hall closet and ran them downstairs to Trina. She was already asleep again, so Serena left the pillow on the sofa and covered her friend with the blanket.

After hanging her gown in the closet and storing the corsage, Serena checked on Lily one more time before climbing into bed. Lily had a smile on her face, and so did she as she headed back down the hallway. She might not have many hours to sleep, but she hoped her dreams would be sweet. At least her daydreams would be fabulous.

16

Monday Morning, Four Days before Christmas

After asking the blessing, Colin opened the brown paper bag on the table and handed a sandwich to Serena. “Smoked turkey with mustard on wheat.”

She'd brought lunch for them both last week, so he'd offered to bring this week's offerings.

He watched as she pulled away the plastic wrap on the sandwich, and wondered if she'd notice the special touch he'd added.

“Colin! What's this?” With one finger, Serena traced the heart he'd painstakingly cut into the bread. She gave him a quick kiss. “Thank you! What a thoughtful thing to do. Did you use a knife?” She crossed her eyes. “That sounded pretty strange, huh?”

He lifted a brow with a mock frown. “Please don't feel guilty as you devour my handiwork knowing it took me ten minutes to etch that rather crudely drawn heart into the bread.”

“They have cookie cutters to do the same thing,” she said. “I use one on Lily's sandwiches sometimes. And I won't feel in the least bit guilty eating this sandwich.” Serena grinned and took a quick bite. “Hmm. Tastes great.”

Colin grunted. “I'll have to get one of those cookie cutters. It certainly would have made it a lot easier.” He took a bite of his pastrami with Swiss cheese on rye bread, a new favorite. Eating much simpler fare on a regular basis—with the added attraction of sharing lunch with Serena—was a no brainer, especially after eating the rich foods at some of Philadelphia's best restaurants early on after his arrival in town.

“I loved sitting with you in the church service yesterday,” Serena told him as they ate. “Lily wants to go back again soon. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that you were with us.”

Colin nodded. “We will. This Sunday we'll attend church in Starlight and then fly back later in the day. I'll make the reservations this afternoon. My apologies for not making them yesterday.”

“I hope we can still get seats,” Serena said with a frown. “The flights are generally booked this close to Christmas, plus the prices will be exorbitant. I can't imagine what the roads might be like at this time of the year, but maybe we should drive instead?”

Colin shook his head. “No worries. It's much too far to drive. Besides, this is something I want to do for you, love. If you'd like, consider it as part of my Christmas gift to you and Lily.”

“Thank you, Colin. I don't know what to say. That's unbelievably generous.”

“Starlight won't be the same without you and Lily. I would have asked you the day I brought the soup and muffins to you, but I felt it a bit premature.”

Although he knew she'd heard his comment, Serena bypassed it. “Colin, I'm not going to mention the trip to Lily just yet. If she knows about it in advance, she'll never stop talking about it. I think the element of surprise is best.”

He nodded. “As you wish. What?” he said when Serena's blue eyes grew wide.

“That's not what you told Lily before we left for the ball was it? When you whispered in her ear?”

“I hadn't asked you yet, so no.” He gave her a sly grin. “That whispered secret had more to do with the fact that I love her and her beautiful mum.”

“Oh.” He adored how Serena's cheeks flushed pink.

“Now, about this children's book,” he said. “I read it yesterday afternoon. To recap, the little monkey lives in Africa until he's captured by a man who has a strong affinity for yellow hats. After which the man brings him on a ship to the big city to live in a zoo.” Colin took another bite of his sandwich. “I'm puzzling over why you wanted me to read that particular book. The only similarity I can see between the monkey and me is that we both have adventures in the big city.” He grinned. “Unless you're making the implication that, in coming to America, I somehow ‘escaped' my native country. Or, in the alternative, that I'm an animal who should be caged in the Philadelphia Zoo.”

“Keep going.” Serena's eyes sparkled as she took another bite of her sandwich.

“Not to take away from the literary significance of the story, but are you being purposely obtuse, Miss Monroe?”

“Not at all, but don't overthink it,” Serena said.

Colin chuckled. “Says the woman who overthinks most things in life.”

“I'm trying to do better.” The slight frown surfaced again between her brows.

“Oh, no, you don't.” He ran his thumb over her frown line, smoothing it. “It's almost Christmas. No frowning allowed. So, continuing on, the monkey escapes from the zoo, and then the man finds him again and takes him to live at his house.” Eyeing Serena, Colin took a drink from his water bottle and waited as she did the same. “I might be going out on a limb here, monkey pun intended, but are you saying you want me to come and live in your house? With you and Lily?”

Although he was teasing, the idea sounded more appealing every day. He wanted to marry Serena and adopt Lily, but he needed to wait. He'd been praying the Lord would let him know when the time was right. Sooner rather than later would be good and he wanted to get on with the rest of their lives together, but who was he to tell the Almighty what to do? Patience wasn't Colin's long suit.

Serena smiled. “When I told you to watch out for a man in a yellow hat in your adventures, I honestly believe it was subconscious on my part. I believe I was equating the situation with being caught by…” Serena's cheeks flushed as she hesitated.

“Love?” he said. Trying to figure out the mind of a woman always fascinated him, Serena in particular. She was both complex and straightforward, an intriguing combination. “You realize the man wouldn't have looked for the monkey and taken him home to live with him if he didn't care. In the alternative, were you perhaps warning me against falling in love? That if I saw a man in a yellow hat, I should run in the opposite direction?”

“I think it's more the idea that we shouldn't feel confined by love,” Serena said. “Even when he got to the man's house, the monkey still continued his adventures. No matter what, I hope you'll always maintain your adventurous spirit, Colin. You embrace life with open arms like no one I've ever met. You've taught me a lot in the past month, and I can't begin to tell you how much I've learned from you about living to the fullest. It's…freeing in many ways.”

Colin moved one hand over his heart. “You and Lily have shown me what it's like to be a family. I know one thing. I'll always remember this discussion and I shall forever hold curious little monkeys in high regard. Imagine that.” He took another bite of his pastrami and licked his lips.

“Me, too. You've definitely shown me how to live a ‘God bless us, everyone!' life instead of ‘Bah! Humbug!'”

“I'm good for a few things,” he said, stealing another kiss.

Serena winked. “More than a few.”

~*~

Later That Same Afternoon

“Hello, Serena.”

Serena glanced up to see Paulina Kovach standing in the doorway of her office. Wow. She was the last person Serena expected to see. Of course, she had her hand in the box of truffles delivered to her earlier that morning, compliments of Colin. No time to savor the truffle she'd popped in her mouth only a second before Paulina's appearance. Her one vice and she'd been caught in the act, so to speak. Serena quickly chewed the candy and then swallowed it down.

“Hi, Paulina. May I help you with something?” She lifted the box of chocolates, offering it to Paulina and knowing her own cheeks must be flaming red. “Truffle?”

“No thank you.” After closing her office door without invitation, Paulina crossed the room in her dangerously high heels. Leaning forward and planting her hands on the edge of her desk, the other woman's steely, gray-eyed gaze bore into Serena's. “I'll make this brief.”