Part 44 (1/2)

The only problem was he didn't know if he and Holly were going to stay friends. She filled his life with joy. Even more, she filled the empty hole in his soul. He'd only known her a short time, yet he couldn't imagine his world without her. That would be trouble for both of them. He didn't want to hurt her; he didn't want to be hurt himself.

So where did that leave them? He had no answer to the question. He would simply have to take each day as it arrived and hope for the best. For today Holly was with him, and that was enough.

”Oh, my. These can't be for me,” Holly said, drawing him back into the conversation.

He glanced up and saw Elizabeth and Sandy pa.s.sing out presents. There were several boxes stacked in front of Holly.

She looked up at him. ”Jordan?”

He shrugged. ”Don't ask me. I'm always the last to know.”

She counted. ”Fourteen boxes? This is crazy.”

Elizabeth paused by her and touched her hand. ”It's not crazy. They're gifts. We all wanted to get you something.”

”But I can't accept. It's too much.”

”You don't even know what it is yet,” Craig said, and pointed. ”At least open a couple so we can all see.” He glanced at his wife. ”I bet you already know what it is.”

”Of course,” Jill said, then rested her hand on her belly. ”The women always know everything.”

”Don't you hate that?” Craig said.

”Yeah,” Travis grumbled. ”We need to think up some secrets to keep from them.”

Elizabeth kissed him briefly on the mouth. ”It would never happen, but it's sweet of you to want to try.” She returned her attention to Holly. ”Please open one of the boxes. If you really don't want the gift, you can tell us then.”

Jordan understood Holly's confusion. She hadn't known everyone was going to get her a gift. He hadn't known, either, or he would have warned her. She'd baked cookies and pa.s.sed them out, but he knew she wouldn't think that was equitable.

He leaned forward and put his hand on her shoulder. ”They're trying to be nice. It means they like you.”

She nodded, then reached for one of the packages. When it was unwrapped, she opened the plain brown box and removed a white china cup and saucer. The old-fas.h.i.+oned design reminded him of some of the dishes he'd seen in catalogs she'd brought home from the store.

Sandy pointed. ”We know you lost everything when your apartment was wrecked,” she said. ”So we got together and bought you new china. Each box is a place setting, and the other two are the completer set and some serving pieces. Please say you like them.”

”They're beautiful,” Holly said, sounding a little sh.e.l.l-shocked. She held the cup up to him.

He took it and touched the soft, cool piece. He could see this cup in Holly's capable hands. His mind filled with the image of her in bed, dressed in satin and lace, sipping her morning coffee. Even more terrifying, he could see himself there, too.

Longing twisted his gut until he couldn't think about anything else. He wanted her. He needed her. If only there was a safe way to keep her in his life.

”Just be polite and say thank you,” he told her. ”You'll make my family happy, and you'll get some plates out of it, too. Not a bad deal.”

Elizabeth drew her eyebrows together. ”We were trying to help. I hope you understand.”

Holly nodded. ”You're all so wonderful. Thank you. I love my gift.” She leaned over and hugged Elizabeth.

”I think it's great,” Kyle said, ”but twelve place settings seems like a lot for one person. Of course, if she marries-”

He stopped talking suddenly as Sandy jabbed him in the ribs.