She flashed him another glance as though assessing whether or not he meant it and seemed to deem him sincere.
“Having to wear these crazy costumes has brought back so many memories of my mom wearing them when I was growing up. I’m writing down ideas as fast as I can between shifts. It’s probably silly and nothing will ever come of it. I mean, doesn’teveryone want to write a book these days?”
“That doesn’t sound silly at all. Will you illustrate your stories as well?”
She focused on the road as a car passed them and nodded. “Yeah, but for now it’s just a dream. Maybe one day.”
He heard the wistfulness in her tone. “Dreams can become reality. You just have to pursue them. Tell me more about your mom. What’s she like? You said she was in an accident?”
She nodded as they bounced along the road. “My mom isenergyin human form. She never stops moving. I’d…just left Raleigh and moved back home when my dad called about the accident. Some idiot texting and driving while flying down the road. Momdiedon the surgical table during the first operation.”
Shock and pain radiated off her at the words. “I’m so sorry, Sara. But she’s doing better now?”
Her grip tightened on the wheel, and she swallowed audibly. This wasn’t exactly Christmas-spirit-inducing conversation, but he wanted to know more about her. Wanted to know everything. And while he could get the details from an investigator’s report, he’d much rather hear it from the source.
“Yeah, but she’s been in ICU all this time. They only just moved her to a regular room. When Dad mentioned the tree lot and having to break the contract to stay with her, I heard his heart breaking all over again. So I volunteered to cover the lot because it was the only thing I knew I could do to help since I couldn’t even get in to see her at the time. It means so much to them, tobothof them, to keep the contract. And then I lost the cashbox.”
He watched her shake her head and frowned. “You didn’t lose it, sweetheart. It was stolen. Big difference there, and it could’ve happened to anyone, especially when they’re as worried and distracted as you are about your parents. Turn right up here and keep going straight.”
She slowed the truck and made the turn, handling the gears like a pro as she pointed the truck toward the Atlantic.
“Thanks for saying that.”
“I meant it. Things happen, and we have to roll with the punches.”
“I suppose. We’re running out of houses. Which one is yours?”
“Just keep going straight.”
“Straight leads right to that hotel.”
“It does. Pull up to the side there,” he said, pointing to the left.
Sara sucked in a sharp breath and jerked her head toward him, her gaze wide as she looked at him. “Something wrong?”
“You’re Rhys Lachlan.”
ChapterSeven
Rhys saw the change in Sara’s expression, in her body, when she put two and two together. Only it wasn’t the reaction he’d expected.
People tended to change around him in ways that set him on edge. Fake politeness, greedy smiles. Whatever it took to be a friend who’d get the benefits of his family’s wealth in one way or another.
And the women… Women turned flirtatious, coy—even predatory. But Sara?
She turned distant, like a wall went up right in front of his eyes. The warmth and light in her expression faded, and her eyes took on a wary coolness. “I am. Is that a problem?”
She made the final turn and rolled the rumbling truck to a halt, drawing the attention of everyone on the street.
“No, not at all. It’s just not every day a billionaire wants to slum it in a Christmas tree truck.”
His gaze narrowed at her tone and her choice of words. “Maybe I’m more than what the media makes me out to be. Does it matter who I am? To you?”
She glanced out at the gathering crowd and huffed. “Of course not. I just…thought you were a normal guy, buying trees as someone crazy about Christmas or as part of your job or something.”
“It is part of my job. The resort needs to be decorated for the holidays.”
“Youknowwhat I mean.”
