Page 70 of A Heart of Little Faith
“Packed away with my reindeer.” Tom answered. Lily glared at him. “No, what I was wondering was exactly what scares you more—my stories or Gideon’s?”
She stood up, twirled on her heel and took the pie into the kitchen. “Cute. I’m not afraid of any of your stories, or yours either, Gideon.”
“Oh?” Tom answered. “Not even the one about when you and Daniel and I went out and you got drunk and…”
“That’s enough, Tom. Gideon isn’t interested. Does anyone want more coffee?” Lily rushed to pick up the coffee pot, but they ignored her. Coffee sloshed over the rim, splashed her wrist and dripped onto the table. She patted it dry with a napkin Gideon handed her.
“Lily drunk? Oh, I’d definitely be interested in that.” He covered his coffee cup and stroked her back as she came near him, but she retreated to her seat without acknowledging him. “Then again, maybe Tom would be interested in—”
“Oh, he wouldn’t be,” Lily hastened to say before Gideon could finish his sentence. “Doesn’t anyone want more coffee?” She rushed around to Tom’s side of the table, but he shook his head no. “Well, why don’t we play a card game? Or watch a movie? Or charades? We can play charades.” She desperately wanted to distract the men, but they weren’t buying it.
“Lily, honey, come here,” Gideon murmured. She glared at him across the table and didn’t move. He smiled at her.
“You’re enjoying this a little too much,” she said to him. “Somehow, if the roles were reversed, I don’t think you’d be getting quite so much enjoyment out of it. In fact, I seem to remember a time with Samantha—”
“Come here, please,” he interrupted. His voice was low and soothing. She rose on leaden legs and walked around the table to him. He pulled her arm and her muscles stretched. She caved. He settled her in his lap and hugged her. Somehow, no matter how angry or uncomfortable she was, being cradled in Gideon’s arms was enough to turn her to jelly. The tension she’d felt all day dribbled down her spine until she was certain she’d see it land in a puddle on the floor. Tom was smiling at her. Neither man was uncomfortable or disapproving. She leaned into Gideon’s hard chest, inhaled his scent and began to relax. As she did so, Gideon squeezed her and rubbed his cheek in her hair.
“Tom, is there any reason why you’d have a problem with us dating?” He gazed at Lily as he waited for Tom’s answer. Horrified, she inhaled and buried her face in Gideon’s neck. He stroked her back.
“Nope, not a one. Didn’t know it was my business, though.”
Her eyes welled with tears. “It’s not.” She sniffed. “It’s just, I don’t know, you were Daniel’s best friend, and I didn’t want you to be upset if I started dating, and…”
Tom leaned against the table.
“Lily, you’re right. Daniel was my best friend. But you are too. And even though I miss him terribly, you’re still here. And I want you to be happy. Does Gideon make you happy?”
Lily nodded, and Gideon squeezed her tighter.
“I told you the other night I was happy for you,” he reminded her.
“I know, but I thought it might be different, or awkward, with you seeing us together. And, I was afraid maybe you wouldn’t like each other, and it would be uncomfortable.”
Gideon kissed the side of her face, sending tingles of electricity around her neck. “You think too much; you know that?”
Chapter 24
For the first time in ages, Lily woke happy the next morning. She stretched her arms over her head. Her muscles tingled awake and she sat up, rejuvenated. Despite all of her concerns, last night’s dinner went well. Better than well. She might say wonderfully. Gideon and Tom liked each other. Gideon had been relaxed and friendly. Tom had been happy for her. She couldn’t ask for a better reaction from either of them.
Her light-hearted mood lasted for most of the day—through the prolonged, and sometimes agonizing, task of getting Claire ready for school; despite three rescheduled meetings and two conference calls; and into the evening, her first chance to relax. That is, until she examined the RSVP list for Claire’s birthday party that weekend.
Suddenly, her mood evaporated as she contemplated hosting thirty kids herself. Her neck tightened and her heartbeat increased as she imagined the chaos that would ensue. Visions ran through her brain of super-energetic six- and seven-year-olds running around with a sugar high as she enticed them to sit down.
A quick call to enlist Samantha’s help eased her mind only slightly, and she sat at the table and made a check list of all the things she had to do to prepare as she tapped her pencil on the table and swung her foot in circles. Games first, or crafts? Food before or after the activities? And how many of these parents could she con into helping? The ringing phone jarred her out of planning mode, and she answered it, still focused on her list.
“Hey, Lil, how are you?” The timbre of Gideon’s deep voice forced her lips into a smile and she reclined, relieved at the momentary respite.
“Better, now that you called.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I’m just stressing over Claire’s party.”
“Why? I thought having it at the community center would take the stress off of you. That’s why I suggested it.”
“It does.” Lily chewed her lip. “I’m just nervous. I’ve never given a birthday party for this many kids before and I hope I can keep them all entertained. Most of the parents are just going to drop off the kids and leave.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.” His voice oozed confidence.