Dean took the plates from her and set them on the table near the kitchen then started to move the food. Wendy poured herself a cup of coffee and grabbed a water out of the refrigerator.
Once seated, Dean said a quick word of prayer, taking Wendy by surprise. She didn’t know many people who prayed out loud with someone who was basically a stranger.
“How did you get them to deliver out here? They don’t normally.” Pork-n-Stuff was her favorite, but it took at least twenty minutes to get there.
He ducked his head. “I offered a huge tip. The diner was really good. I ate there last night, which is where I heard about the loft, but I really wanted some good barbecue.”
“I eat at the diner all the time, but I understand craving this.” She took one of the buns and put some pulled pork on it before drizzling it with sauce. “It’s fantastic.”
“That’s what Gavin said.”
“Who’s Gavin?” She cut the sandwich in half to make it easier to eat.
“Gavin Parmiggiano. He and his family live in Serenity Landing. He’s worked for me for about five years.” He shook his head. “His family comes to see me in the city a couple of times a year. He and his wife have been trying to convince me to move here for a while, but I’m not sure it’s the best place.”
“Why not?” She took a big bite.
“My ex-wife is in prison in Missouri.” He sighed and stared at the sandwich he’d made. “It’s a long story, but basically, she voluntarily terminated her parental rights long before I met her. After we got married, she kidnapped her daughter because her ex refused to hand their daughter over,” he went on. “I didn’t know she’d terminated her rights and thought Gavin was keeping her daughter from her. After I found out the truth, Gavin and I talked. We hit it off, and he had skills my company needed.”
That was a lot to take in. “If she’s in prison, why does it matter?”
Something about him had seemed familiar all along, but now even more so. Had she heard about a little girl being kidnapped a few years ago?
“I don’t like being in the same state as her. It just reminds me of how I let my normally good judgment get clouded by a pretty face and great figure.” He took a bite of his sandwich but still didn’t look at her.
Wendy took another bite and thought over what he’d said. “I think we all make mistakes in judgment. It comes with being human. I know I’ve trusted people I shouldn’t in the past. Nothing quite so dramatic, but it happens to the best of us.”
In a move that surprised her, Wendy reached over and covered his hand with her own. “But I think you’ll find that most people, in this part of Missouri at least, are worthy of your trust. It might be a bit harder to open yourself back up to dating again, but the people? They’ve got your back.”
The warmth flowing from his hand to hers, up her arm, and straight to her chest, made her wish that he was ready to date again.
And that he’d pick her.
Chapter 3
Long before the star went on top of the tree, Dean decided he wanted to spend more time with Wendy.
Even though his mind tried to talk him out of it. And really, his heart was conflicted. His ex had done a number on his ability to trust any woman.
He was shocked he’d trusted her with as much of the story as he did. There was more to it, of course, but he rarely told anyone about it.
It had been all over the news when it happened - in part because of his tech empire and in part because he’d been considering a Senate run.
His ex thought that, after a single term in the Senate, he could step into the presidency with her as First Lady. To do so, she needed her daughter back.
And, clearly, the best way to do that was to kidnap her.
“There. What do you think?”
Dean looked up from where he was holding the ladder to see the star lit up on top of the tree. “It looks great.”
Wendy leaned her hip against the ladder. “What about the top section of the tree? Does it need more ornaments? Less?”
He stared at the top of the tree critically. Were there too many ornaments on one side versus the other? “I think it’s fine.” He really didn’t care that much, except that it seemed almost like false advertising to have photos of Christmas decorations then not have them. He’d be here for several more days, and it was only a week and a half until Christmas.
“Okay.” She carefully climbed down the ladder. “Now we’re going to put garland on the staircase railing with some white twinkle lights wrapped in with it.”
With a bounce, she landed on the floor. “And then, we’ll need to put up the second tree downstairs.”
“How big is the tree downstairs?” He really didn’t want to put up another fifteen-foot tree. He wasn’t sure he wanted to put up a six-foot one.
“Seven feet, but it’s a lot easier than the other one.”
He stifled a groan.
“If you don’t want to help, you don’t have to.” Wendy looked over her shoulder as she headed for one of the boxes of decorations. “I don’t mind doing it. I just haven’t had time.”
“I’ll help. I really don’t mind. It’s been years since I put up a tree of my own.”
She tilted her head. “You don’t decorate?”
“I don’t do it myself. I’ve not really noticed them much in recent years,” he admitted. “Holidays aren’t really my thing.”
Wendy perched on the edge of the couch. “How come? Do you not spend them with your family?”
Dean shrugged. “I don’t really have any family left. I’m an only child, and my parents passed years ago.”
“And you don’t have any friends who’ve invited you over?”
Did this conversation have HEA TV movie written all over it? “Nope. I spend most holidays traveling. I travel commercial and make sure to leave big tips for the people who deserve it.”
She leaned forward a bit. “What about those who don’t deserve a big tip but are still working holidays?”
He hadn’t always considered that, but did the last few years. “I usually still tip them, just not as well, but really it depends. There’s a difference between being upset or melancholy about working on Christmas and being rude and unpleasant.”
“True.”
Dean had already decided to leave her a large tip when he left. “Are you getting hungry? Is there some place nearby that I should make sure to try?”
“I’m not hungry, but yeah. There are some great places in Serenity Landing. Not as much here in Trumanville besides the diner and the bakery.” She started for the storage room off to the side. Hoisting a box in one hand and a plastic bucket with ornaments by the handle in the other, she walked toward the stairs.
Before she reached them, Dean hurried to her side and took the tree box from her.
“Thanks.”
Once downstairs, they worked together to set up the tree.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t know that trees come pre-lit these days,” Wendy told him as she plugged it in.
He couldn’t see her face, but suspected she was trying not to laugh. “I told you. I haven’t put a tree up in years. My housekeeper does it or hires someone to do it. I’m pretty sure she hires someone to do the outside lights.” It was a rooftop. It wasn’t like he had groundskeepers to do it.