Free Be Mine for Christmas by Alicia Street, Roy Street Page A

he was thinking, too?
    He sat next to her on the bench. Ellie fought her spontaneous reaction to the heat and power of this man being so close to her, reminding herself that a guy this gorgeous would already be taken, and she had no time to get involved in a relationship anyway.
    Except she found herself looking at his large, calloused hands. Merely admiring a rugged man who worked outdoors, of course. Her survey had nothing to do with noticing the way his sensual fingers wrapped around his mug. Or that he wore no wedding band. “Is that your son? I mean…” Oh geez. It just popped out of her mouth.
    “Nah. I’m not married. Tommy’s my nephew. He works here every Saturday during the season. My brother-in-law tells him he’s got to earn his share of the new BMX bike he got for his birthday. But that’s just so the boy can hold onto his tough guy image. Truth is Tommy loves designing evergreen decorations. He’s a born artist. Makes beautiful stuff.”
    Ellie sipped her cocoa wondering how she’d be able to manage the subtle tricks of raising a boy without having a father around. At six, Brandon was already making it clear he didn’t want to be coddled by a woman. “That’s a lovely kissing ball Tommy’s working on now.”
    Reece leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, the corners of his mouth tweaking. “We put mistletoe in all of our Christmas kissing balls. So, be careful where you stand, or you might get kissed.”
    She felt her face flush with heat. Was he flirting with her? She usually had no trouble delivering a cute comeback, but being under Reece Madsen’s gaze drove all thought from her head.
    Gulping down her drink, she stood and said, “I’d better be going. Thanks again for your help.” As she walked toward the table, Ellie couldn’t help wondering how she looked to Reece if he was observing her from behind. Her parka was short and her jeans more snug than they used to be before she gained a few extra pounds. “Okay, Brandon. Time to leave.”
    He bounced off the wooden stool and looked at Reece. “Gonna get our tree now? The one I showed you?”
    Ellie clenched her jaw. “I told you. We’re not taking that tree.”
    “Reece said I could have it, Mom.”
    She turned, fuming, but kept her tone polite. “Your trees are lovely, but we only came here to see Santa.”
    Reece walked forward. “The boy says you need a tree for Christmas.”
    “We have one, thanks.”
    Brandon burst into stomping mode. “A junkie fake tree that doesn’t even come up to my knee! How cool is that?”
    “Stop it, Brandon.”
    “He picked out a really great balsam fir,” Reece said. 
    Ellie rounded on him. “It’s a seventy-five dollar tree. I’m not saying it isn’t worth it, but I happen to be out of work right now.”
    “So I’ll make it a gift.”
    “What? Why should you do that? You don’t even know us.” Ellie couldn’t believe she’d just blurted out the humiliating news of her financial troubles to this man. The last thing she wanted from someone like him was charity and pity. 
    Reece shrugged “I like to give things away at Christmas.”
    Her mouth went on speed-dial. “That’s very generous of you, but I can’t accept. Christmas is still three weeks away. I’ll have a job by then. In fact, I’ve been offered a very big job that I’ll be starting soon. Maybe even tomorrow.”
    She grabbed Brandon’s hand. “Don’t you worry, Bran. Mommy will get you a beautiful tree for Christmas,” she said, promising herself she’d make it happen somehow.
    It was no use trying to tell a six-year-old to just be grateful for the food and shelter he had. That’s exactly what her mother used to say to her every time she asked for something they couldn’t afford. Ellie didn’t want her son to be a worried kid like she had been, dwelling on survival needs instead of happy Christmas wishes.
    But she also didn’t want Reece Madsen looking at her like a weak and pathetic woman needing to