“Do you want me to cut the bottom?”
She stepped back, taking in the sheer magnitude of the tree. There was no room in her tiny apartment to cut it. They’d just have to make do. “It’s good just the way it is.”
Graham moved up next to her. “It is?”
“It is. Now we have to decorate it.”
He shook his head. “I’m out. I’m no good at that kind of stuff. Besides, I have work to do.”
She pressed a hand to her hip. “Don’t you ever take a day off?”
“Listen to who’s talking—”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That you work all of the time. If not at the café, you’re working here.”
She huffed. She wanted to argue with him, but it was true. She worked as much as she could to save money for her uncertain future. But she didn’t want to ruin the day arguing with him over the future of the building because day by day he was beginning to make friends with the residents of the Stirling. But would it be enough to change his mind?
“Okay,” she said. “Go do your work. I’m going to turn on some Christmas music?”
He shook his head and headed for the door.
She turned her back to him and started opening the box of decorations closest to her. She lucked out, finding it was the box with the light strands. She plugged them into the wall to make sure they still worked before she star
ted stringing them at the bottom of the tree. It wasn’t an easy task when the tree was so large. She couldn’t even come close to wrapping her arms around it.
She had made a couple of rounds when she stretched as far as she could to place the bundled light strand on the tree branch before repositioning herself to pass it around the back when her fingers brushed Graham’s. Her head jerked up, surprised to find he hadn’t left, and their gazes met. A current of attraction pulsed up her arm and set her heart pounding.
CHAPTER TEN
THE BREATH STILLED in her lungs.
For a moment, it was though time came to a sudden halt.
Alina stared deeply into Graham’s eyes. She could see the future—a future with him in it. She could imagine this was just the first of many Christmases where they’d decorate the tree together. In her daydream, she envisioned him pulling her close and kissing her, not just any kiss, but one filled with passion and...and love—
She jerked her hand back. That was not going to happen. She wasn’t going to put her heart on the line. She wouldn’t get hurt again, because she knew whoever she loved would eventually disappear from her life. And that was agony she couldn’t live through again. She refused to put her tattered heart on the line. The price was just too steep.
And once Graham got what he came for—the residents’ agreement to move out early—he’d be gone. Her apartment would be empty. And her stepmother would be right—she wasn’t worthy of love.
“I’ve got this.” Alina put a respectable distance between them.
His confused gaze searched hers. “I’d like to help. Will you let me?”
She wanted to argue the point but didn’t. Instead she nodded her reluctant agreement.
This time she made sure their fingers and any other body parts didn’t touch. However, as the silence stretched out, the more awkward it became. She glanced through the full branches at Graham. What had happened for him not to enjoy the holidays? She was curious about that and so much more about him.
“Tell me more about the holidays when you were young.” The words came tumbling out and then she froze, wondering if she’d overstepped.
He shrugged. “I already told you.”
There was something he was holding back. And by the way the muscle twitched in his jaw, it was something serious. But she couldn’t drag it out of him. She had to wait until he was ready to talk about it.
They finished wrapping the tree in lights and then sat down on the couch. Graham turned to her. “What were your Christmases like?”
She smiled as the memories came flooding back to her. “They were happy. My mother loved the holiday. She used to say she wished it was Christmas year-round.”