The Texas Christmas Gift (17 page)

“I think I know which one she likes,” he said eventually.

A doll with light skin, red hair and blue-gray eyes.

Eve had seen Tiffany go back to that one again and again. “You want to find a clerk?” The models that were out were only for display.

Derek nodded. He handed Tiffany over to Eve. “I’ll be right back.”

Eve snuggled Tiffany close, the now-familiar weight in her arms feeling as good as her sweet baby smell. Tiffany enjoyed the cuddling, too. “Mommy,” she said, patting Eve’s cheeks.

Eve was about to correct her, when behind her, she heard a strident feminine voice. “Well, as I live and breathe. Eve Loughlin, I knew you’d succumb to the joys of motherhood, just like the rest of us!”

Eve turned to see a former college classmate. Linda Brashear had been the president of the women’s business club until she’d left school to get married. She was one to never let anything—or anyone—go without putting in her two cents.

Eve forced a smile. “Linda, hi.” The two women hugged, Texas-style. “It’s been forever,” she said.

Linda beamed. “Hasn’t it?”

“Mommy,” Tiffany repeated even more joyously, once again patting Eve’s cheeks.

“I didn’t know you got married,” Linda continued, her eyes widening in surprise.

“I, um, haven’t,” Eve said uncomfortably, just as Derek rejoined them.

“Daddy!” Tiffany said, arms outstretched for him.

“Well,” Linda said, still seeming a little shocked as she looked Derek’s big, strapping form up and down, “I can see why you’d be willing to forgo the legalities. Although,” she sniffed, “now that you two have a little one, I would think—”

“We probably should get married,” Derek interjected. Sensing correctly that she was ripe for rescue, he wrapped his arm around Eve’s shoulders and tugged her close to his side.

Linda, who had never been shy about voicing an opinion on anyone’s love life, heartily agreed with him. “You-all really should. Although—” she elbowed Derek playfully “—I have to congratulate you for getting her this far. Because Eve always said she was never ever going to have kids.”

* * *

“
W
ANT TO TALK
about it?” Derek asked quietly half an hour later. Clearly, Eve thought, he felt they should.

Their purchase completed, they were sitting in the doll store bistro housed on the upper floor of the enormous space. Specially designed for little girls, the elegant restaurant sported white linen tablecloths and dinnerware that was ultrafeminine and still child-friendly.

Happy to be away from the crowds and chaos below, Eve busied herself cutting up the mini pretzel balls from the appetizer plate for Tiffany to munch on. She slid them over onto the toddler’s high-chair tray.

If only they hadn’t run into Linda Brashear! Ever since Eve had known the other woman, she’d had a reputation for being a real busybody.

Not that Eve could keep something like this from Derek forever.

Still feeling a little chagrined by her former friend’s disclosure, Eve forced herself to lift her chin and meet his eyes. “What do you want to know?”

Seemingly as on edge as she felt, Derek helped himself to a baby carrot. Eventually, he asked, “Is it true? Did you vow never to have kids?”

Eve wanted to lie, even though she knew she couldn’t. “Yes. I did.” She took a strawberry-and-cheese kabob for herself.

He sent her another guarded look. “Why didn’t you want children?”

Tiffany lounged back in her seat and contentedly watched the other diners. Aware how much of a family they felt at times like this, how much she had grown to love it, Eve swallowed. Would Derek think less of her if she told him everything? Finally, she said, “It’s complicated.”

His blue eyes glimmered with interest. “I’ve got time.”

Of course he did. He always did. Aware they were about to enter an emotional minefield, she chose her words carefully. “I guess I’ve never really seen myself as being lucky enough to find a guy who would love me forever. It doesn’t really run in the family, you know? And I didn’t want to go the route my mother went and be a single mom.” Eve took a sip of peppermint tea, then shook her head. “It was just too hard.”

Derek studied her with the kindness she had come to rely on. “For her or for you?” he asked.

She flashed a rueful smile. “For both of us. My mom was always working. I always wanted more of her time. It seemed like neither of us ever got what we wanted and needed from each other when I was growing up. And—” her voice caught “—I didn’t want to put a child through that.”

Too late, she realized the implication of what she’d said. Derek himself was a single parent—at least half the time, anyway. Eve stared at him in chagrin. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be talking like this.”

His eyes darkened with a mixture of compassion and sorrow. He leaned toward her and captured her hand. “Why not?”

“Because...” She looked down at their intertwined fingers, taking comfort in both his strength and his refusal to let her drift away, as she was otherwise likely to do. “I don’t want you to think that your situation will be as tough as mine was, because our situations aren’t the same.” Wary of stepping in where she didn’t belong, Eve treaded carefully. “You have Carleen, and Craig and their kids, and your extended families. Tiffany is going to have plenty of people in her life who will be there for her. She’s never going to feel like a burden.”

There was no judgment in his eyes, only curiosity. “Is that the way you felt? Like a burden?”

Eve released the breath she’d been holding. How was it Derek could see what no one else did? Reluctantly, she conceded, “Sometimes, but that’s as much my fault as hers. I know my mom did the best she could under what were very tough circumstances. She gave me a good life and I owe her a lot.”

Derek’s hand tightened on hers. He seemed to understand that she loved her mom very much, and always had. “Do you still not want to have kids?”

Eve was beginning to want it all. And that scared her more than she wanted to admit. “If I was married, then yes, I would definitely want children.”

He paused. “But not as a single parent.”

She conceded with a nod, withdrew her hand from his and said emphatically, “For me, it would be just too hard.”

Again, he understood. His lips crooked ruefully. “Having done it on my own, even half the time, for the past year, I agree.” His deep blue eyes met hers. “It is hard raising a child on your own.”

Aware, as always, that Derek had options most people did not, Eve suggested, “You could always get a nanny for backup.”

He shook his head. “That’s not the same as having a mommy and a daddy in residence.”

Eve had certainly missed having both. “True,” she said with a sigh.

She looked at him, and realized this was striking a chord with him. She thought back to that conversation when he’d confided his desire that Tiffany have equal love and happiness in both households where she lived.

“Which is why,” Derek continued, even more firmly, “one day soon I intend to get married again.”

Chapter Twelve

Eve stared at Derek in shock. Once again, he knew he had pushed her too hard, too fast.

“You can’t just decide that without having anyone in mind,” she declared, aghast.

Who says I don’t have anyone in mind?
Derek thought to himself. But aware it was far too soon to be hammering Eve with that, he shrugged. “Getting married again in the very near future is still one of my goals.” She looked so indignant, he couldn’t help but tease, “Like not getting too involved is one of yours.”

Her lips curved ruefully as his joke hit home. “You’re cute.”

“Thank you.” Derek preened comically, while Tiffany giggled and waved her baby spoon at both of them. “I’m constantly being told so.”

Eve rolled her eyes.

Derek smiled, although he wished she had said that, like him, she was looking forward to tying the knot sooner rather than later.

The waiter appeared with their entrées: macaroni and cheese for Tiffany, quiche Florentine and salad for Eve, a chicken pot pie for Derek.

Derek sobered. He wanted to nail down their next non-date, or two or three. “So what are your plans for tomorrow?” he asked.

Eve mugged at Tiffany, who mugged back. Then, still grinning, she pulled out her phone and checked her calendar. “I’ve got appointments all day.”

“Clients?”

She nodded and continued scrolling through the day. “A quick dinner with my mom at cardiac rehab, then shopping tomorrow evening.”

He widened his eyes, intrigued.

She grinned at his continued teasing, and explained, “I have to get a dress for the gala.”

“Hmm. I could help with that.”

Amusement lit her eyes, along with a hint of desire. “I bet you could, Mr. McCabe. But no. Thanks, anyway.”

She just wouldn’t let them get close, Derek thought ruefully. “That’s okay. I like to be surprised.” Letting her know with a glance that he wasn’t about to give up on either her or them, he flashed a smile. “So what time am I picking you up on the seventeenth?”

Eve fed Tiffany a little more of her macaroni and cheese so Derek could concentrate on his own entrée. “Seven-thirty okay with you?”

He nodded, ready to be as patient as he needed to be. “Seven-thirty is great.”
Any time I’m with you is great.

As comfortable as if she really was the “mom” in this equation, Eve turned back to him amenably. “How’s your house renovation coming, by the way?”

Derek imagined her living in the house with him. Making love every night, waking up in the morning wrapped in each other’s arms. “I’m set to move in on December 18.”

“Really?”

He nodded in anticipation. “Want to come over and celebrate our first night in the new home with Tiffany and me?”

Excitement sparkled in Eve’s amber eyes. Still, it took her a moment to say yes. “What should I bring?”

The only thing he really wanted and needed, Derek thought. He smiled again. “Just yourself.”

* * *

“
H
OW SERIOUS ARE
you about Derek McCabe?” Sasha asked Eve several days later.

Eve walked out of the conference room, where she had just signed another post-holiday home listing. “Why?”

“He called this morning and was fishing for information on what kind of gift you might like for Christmas.”

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“I am not kidding.”

“Was it— Was he—?”

Sasha grinned. “Use your words.”

Eve tried again. “Are we in the category of a thank-you-for-helping-me-buy-a-house gift?”

“I don’t know. Does jewelry fall into that?”

She sucked in a breath. “I don’t suppose we’re talking costume jewelry.”

“Hmm.” Sasha struck a thoughtful pose. “The man makes millions.” She considered some more, then straightened. “I kind of don’t think so.”

Eve flushed in embarrassment. “Well, I can’t accept anything extravagant!” It would mean... Well, she wasn’t sure what it meant, but nothing casual, of that she was certain. Derek did not do casual, in his work or personal life. He was either all in or all out.

The office manager tilted her head. “Calm down.” She patted Eve on the back. “He hasn’t given anything to you yet.”

Sasha was right. Eve knew she was overreacting. Determined not to be so transparent with her emotions, she drew a deep breath and went back to her desk, where yet another stack of messages awaited her. Knowing how busy he was, she imagined it was the same for Derek. “Did he say anything else?”

The other woman grinned and handed her a few more papers, all relating to another listing about to close. “Besides wanting to know what your birthstone was, you mean?”

Birthstone? That sounded better. Eve breathed a sigh of relief. “You told him garnet?”

“Duh.” Sasha smiled as she adjusted the blinds on the window. “He wanted to know what kind of diamond you prefer, too.”

Was it hot in here or what? Eve fanned herself with the stack of papers in her hand. “Holy...”

“Moly, I know.”

She had heard of women being romanced this way. Many of her well-heeled clients had been. But it had never happened to her. Eve tugged the neckline of her silk blouse away from her collarbone. “Maybe he’s just...”

Sasha peered at her, sensing as accurately as Marjorie had that something was up between Derek and Eve. Or had been on several occasions now. “What?”

“I don’t know.” Eve brushed a hand through her hair and sank down in her chair. Just thinking about Derek in that capacity made her heart race and her knees go weak.

Sasha lingered a moment longer. ‘What are you getting him?”

Eve fanned herself again. “Um, some sort of housewarming gift for the get-together, when he moves into his house.” A get-together that as far as she knew included only three people: Derek, Eve and Tiffany. How family-oriented was that?

Sasha walked back to the break room and returned with two bottles of water. She handed one to Eve. “You’re getting him a plant?”

Eve uncapped the bottle and took a long drink of the ice-cold water. She waved an airy hand, glad she didn’t have to meet with a client right this minute and instead could take the time to compose herself. “He doesn’t really seem like the watering can kind of guy.”

Sasha quirked her lips and perched on the windowsill. “I didn’t think so, either.”

Feeling even more uncomfortable, Eve rocked back in her desk chair, muttering under her breath, “This is the part of Christmas I hate.” Deciding there was something wrong with the ergonomic adjustments, she reached under the seat to alter the forward tilt. To no avail. It still seemed...off-kilter, somehow.

Sasha watched as she stood up and looked under the chair. “So you
are
dating?”

Frustrated, Eve got down on her knees. “I don’t know what we’re doing.” That was the problem. But now she had to get him a gift. At least for the housewarming. And probably Christmas as well, unless she wanted to look like the kind of person who took and never gave back.

But what? What could she get him? Should she get Tiffany something, too?

Just because she and Derek had made love a few times—and he intended to get married again someday soon—did not make them an item. They weren’t even dating yet. It was all too complicated. Way too complicated. Although buying a present for Tiffany would be easy. All Eve would have to do was go to the doll store at the Galleria Mall and pick out an accessory for her new baby doll. Derek was another matter.