Chuckling at her surprise, he leaned over and plugged in the cord. The tree lit up with a rain of tiny sparkling lights.
He reached for the box and fished out an ornament with a picture of him as a gap-toothed first grader on it. He walked over and hung it on the tree they had yet to decorate. “When I was a teenager, I found this photo hideously embarrassing.”
Ally sauntered closer. “And now?”
He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “It brings back memories. Good ones.” He paused. “I guess this isn’t so great for you, though.” He started to remove the ornament. “Maybe we should just stick to the decorations I bought at Neiman Marcus.”
Ally looked over at the shopping bag he had brought home days before. “We can use those,” she told him happily, returning to the hatbox full of memories. “But let’s use these, too.” It was fun, hearing his stories. Learning about his childhood made her feel closer to him in a way she hadn’t expected.
Hank studied her with concern. “It’s not really fair to have a tree for us that says everything about my childhood and nothing about yours, though.”
For us. She liked the sound of that.
Ally raised a hand, promising cheerfully, “We can rectify that. Wait here.” She darted upstairs, anxious to surprise him, too. She came back several minutes later with a cloth-covered shoebox, and opened the lid. Inside was a collection just as unique.
His dark brow furrowed. “I thought you said your family didn’t celebrate Christmas.”
Ally sent him a wry look. “They didn’t.” She unwrapped a paper chain and another of artificial popcorn and cranberries, aware she was sentimentally attached-to every ornament of her youth, as he was to his. She smiled, belatedly realizing that “Christmas” was found in the unlikeliest of places. Like here, with Hank.
“But the teachers at school did,” she continued, surprised to find herself eager to share her past with Hank. “And when I was younger, we made stuff in art class, too.” She had tucked it all away, in the very back of her closet, where it would be safe.
Hank’s eyes locked with hers.
“I used to get it all out and look at it over the holidays,” she confessed.
He gathered her in his arms, intuitively giving her all the comfort and reassurance she needed. “That’s…sad.”
She had thought so, too…until now. “Not really.” Ally had a brand-new way of looking at things. She lifted her chin. “Not when you consider how much joy these little trinkets brought me.”
Tenderly, he drew a knuckle across the bow of her lips. “So there is a heart inside that Grinch exterior, after all.”
Ally grinned and wound her arms about his neck. Playfully, she went up on tiptoe. “Just don’t tell anyone about it.”
He regarded her in a way that left no doubt they would be making love again very soon. “Not to worry,” he whispered. “Your secret is safe with me.” As if to prove it, he captured her lips in a kiss that was so unbearably tender it had her melting against him. “Although,” Hank drawled finally, smoothing a palm down her spine, “you may not be able to keep it secret much longer…”
Ally chuckled and splayed her hands across the warmth of his chest. “Just decorate the tree!”
An hour later, they had all the remnants from their youth hanging next to the beautiful glass ornaments from Dallas’s top department store. It was an eclectic tree, rife with meaning. Ally knew she had never seen anything more beautiful.
Hank stepped back to admire the pine. He braced his hands on his hips. “All we need now is something for the top.”
Suddenly, Ally wanted to do more than just be dragged into participating. “Why don’t you let me handle that?”
“Sure?” Hank teased her with a kiss to the brow. “Wouldn’t want to ruin your rep as a holiday curmudgeon.”
She rolled her eyes. “Trust me, there’s very little chance of that!”
“I don’t know…you’re looking awfully happy right now.”
Her heart pounded against her ribs. “I’m feeling awfully happy.” Which was odd, given the fact that she was about to lose the puppy and the mama dog she had fallen in love with. Closer still to unwillingly forfeiting her job and selling the home she’d had since birth. By all rights, she ought to be flat-out miserable tonight, and crying her eyes out. She wasn’t. There was only one reason for that.
He knew it. And was coming closer once again, to claim her. Fully, this time. Hank took her into his arms, lowered his mouth to hers. Their lips were just about to touch when his cell phone rang.
Hank grimaced, looking very much like he didn’t want to answer the call. Then again, it was late, and generally people didn’t phone at eleven at night unless it was important…
He let her go reluctantly. “This will just take a second. Hank McCabe…” He listened intently, frowned some more. “You want to meet now?” he asked, his tone incredulous. “Of course…I understand. Time is of the essence. Fifteen-twenty minutes okay? See you then.” He ended the call. “I’ve got to go into town.”
“Let me guess.” The words were out before Ally could stop them. “Lulu again?”
To his credit, Hank didn’t back away from the facts. “She’s an integral part of my plan to buy Mesquite Ridge.”
Ally’s heart sank. “I heard she got a lot of money in her divorce settlement.”
Hank acknowledged that with a brief nod, but did not comment, before once again glancing at his watch. “I’ve got to go.” He paused, the inscrutable look coming back into his deep blue eyes. “I’m not sure how long this will take.”
Jealousy and anger twisted inside her. “Don’t worry.” Ally flashed the most nonchalant smile she could manage. “I won’t wait up.”
HANK WAS OUT THE DOOR a few minutes later.
Ally paced the room. The tree that had seemed so festive moments earlier appeared flat and unexciting now.
She guessed the old saying was right-beauty was in the eye of the beholder. The question was, how did Hank see Lulu? As his savior?
Ally didn’t have a big bank account. If she did…
But she didn’t. She might not even have a job.
She glanced at the clock again. It was late, but chances were, Porter was still up. She went to get her phone. Seconds later, her call went through, and her colleague answered on the first ring. “Hey, stranger,” he said. “About time you returned any one of the half-dozen calls or email messages I left for you.”
“Sorry. I’ve been a little busy. How are things with you?”
“Glum. The current job market in Houston is bleak. I might have to go back to Phoenix, where I grew up.”
“Do you have a lead?”
“On several things, as a matter of fact. With all the retirees still moving to the Sun Belt for their golden years, the demand for financial analysts and advisers is growing every day. I can give you the name of the recruiting firm I’m using. It might not be so bad if we both got jobs and moved there at the same time.”
To Arizona? “I don’t know, Porter. I’m a Texas girl, born and bred…” To date, she had never thought much about it. But now…? “I’m not sure I want to live anywhere but the Lone Star State.”
“Look. You don’t have to decide anything tonight. Just send in your résumé and a cover letter to the contact I emailed you this morning. Think of it as insurance. Chances are, if a firm in Arizona gives you an offer, you won’t lose your job in Houston.”
Chances for success were definitely better if they had multiple options, instead of just the one. Ally forced herself to be practical. “I like the way you think.”
Porter chuckled. “Thank you.”
She paced back and forth. “Any further word on the layoffs?” Unlike her, Porter always had his ear to the ground for workplace gossip. If there was something to know, her friend would be aware of it.