Chapter 16

16

DIANNA

D ianna fidgeted as she stood beside the large Christmas tree in the main area of the country club. There were tables and chairs set up around a small-ish dance floor, but the DJ hadn't completely finished setting up. People were arriving in a trickle, and she was just glad that she wasn't the one on a date with Shane.

Brielle was playing her role perfectly. If pressed, Dianna would have said that Brielle loved the attention far more than she'd let on. For all her complaining over having to be on a date with Shane, she sure seemed to be enjoying herself.

Her arm clutched Shane's tightly and she didn't move from his side. She played the dutiful date of a wealthy man well.

"Seems like they're getting along, don't you think?"

Dianna jumped and faced Tristan. Her heart refused to slow even as he offered her a glass of eggnog and turned his attention to the couple who were welcoming the newcomers. She took a sip of her drink and nodded. "I knew she'd be a good fit. Not because they'd make a good match but because if anyone knows how to play a part, it's Brielle."

Tristan moved beside her and suddenly her mind went blank. All she could think about was how good he looked and how nice he smelled. She must not be a strong person if it only took a few weeks to change her mind about relationships. If there was anyone she wanted to try one out with, it was Tristan.

His arm brushed against hers and those pesky goosebumps exploded all up and down her arms. She shivered, which only drew his attention.

Goodness gracious.

Tristan removed his suit jacket and she sucked in sharply, trying to hold in a cough as she shook her head and waved him off. None of that worked. Before she could tell him it wasn't necessary for him to give her his jacket, he'd draped the item over her shoulders. His adorable smile reminded her of Mathew. He looked so proud of himself.

"Thanks," she murmured. The silence between them continued to grow as they watched her sister and his friend like a couple of awkward teenagers on their first date.

"What do you do for work?" Dianna asked.

"Besides drawing, what else do you like to do?" Tristan asked at the same time.

They stared at one another before they both laughed.

"You first," he insisted.

She cleared her throat and glanced at him quickly before turning her focus to her drink. "I love to read."

"Yeah?"

Dianna nodded. "There is nothing like escaping into a good book."

"What do you like to read?"

Heat seared her cheeks and she bit down on her lips, pressing them together. She shook her head.

"Oh, that means it's good. Now I'm curious."

Dianna let out a soft laugh. "I'm kinda a big nerd. You might change your mind about me when I tell you."

Tristan faced her. "I guarantee there is nothing you could say that would make me think poorly of you."

She peeked at him. "You first. What do you like to read?"

He tossed back his head and laughed. "I feel like if I say anything other than classic novels, you're going to be disappointed."

Dianna shook her head. Much like his sentiment, she didn't think there was ever going to be a possibility that he'd make himself appear in a bad light. "I don't have anything against any reading material. The way I see it, the majority of people don't read for pleasure these days. So if you like to read even a little bit, you're already on the right side of things."

"Fair enough." He leaned his shoulder against the wall they stood beside and tilted his head to look at the ceiling. "My favorites cover a wide range of stuff. I like Stephen King. Ender's Game is another favorite. But the ones I like the most have to be crime thrillers."

She squinted. "Really? I didn't peg you for that kind of stuff."

"But at least I read, right?" There was amusement in his eyes that made every muscle tighten as her stomach turned over and remained upside down.

"Right," Dianna murmured.

"Okay, your turn. I'm guessing that you're just placating my son when you read the stuff he's into."

She laughed. "I like those kinds of books. I love horses too you know. I'm always up for learning. But my guilty pleasure is epic fantasies."

Tristan's eyes narrowed. "You mean stuff with witches and knights?"

The blush returned to her face. There was a wide audience for such stories, which was why several movies had come out over the years. She nodded, hating the way her face gave away her embarrassment. She was supposed to be this person who was smart and a good influence on his son.

"What's so bad about that?" He shifted so he was closer to her.

Too close.

His voice lowered so that only she could hear it. "Like you said. Anyone who reads is already a step above the rest of us. And from what I understand, those books are the hardest reading material out of all the fiction genres."

She couldn't stop staring at him. Tristan had phrased that so perfectly. He'd made her feel validated, even if it was for something so insignificant as her reading choice. None of her sisters read as much as she did. They were all too busy with their chores and spending time out in the fresh air. Dianna finally looked away, unnerved by the way he continued to inspect her. "Well, I guess I'm glad you approve. I have to admit, I've always been a little self-conscious about what I enjoy reading."

He tucked her hair behind her ear with his finger. "Never feel ashamed of what makes you happy."

It was a small gesture, but one that resonated within her nevertheless. Dianna swallowed hard. She didn't want all this focus on her. She needed to change the subject or her anxiety might get the better of her. "Your turn."

"My turn?"

"You haven't told me what you do for work."

His hand dropped to his side. "Right. Well, I do computer coding for the company where I work. It's nothing special. They tell me what they want and I make it happen."

Her brows lifted. "That's impressive."

Tristan shrugged. "It's a job. I can do it without much thought and usually when Mathew is otherwise entertained. It works with my availability, and they give me a lot of flexibility when it comes to projects coming due. I wouldn't have been able to come out here with Mathew if I didn't have the job I do."

"It sounds amazing." She'd never considered doing anything related to computers, mostly because of the family business that needed her. "When I was younger, I thought working with math and numbers might be fun."

"Fun?" He chuckled. "You must have really been a nerd."

She gasped and gave him a little shove. "If I'm a nerd, then you're a geek."

He nodded with a smile on his face. "That's fair. I guess we're a match made in heaven then, don't you think?"

Dianna stilled. This wasn't where she had anticipated this conversation going. But now that it was here, she didn't know what to say.

Tristan held up a hand. "Don't worry. I'm not expecting anything. We're just here to have fun." Then he grimaced. "Oh, and Mathew wants you to visit so you can read him a bedtime story."

It was funny. Mathew's request was all it took to make Dianna relax. That sweet little boy's face flooded her mind. Maybe it was how much she admired him for thriving in this world the way he already had. Or it could be that little voice in her head telling her that he only got this far because of the man in front of her.

If there was anyone who could accept her quirks for what they were, it would be a guy like Tristan.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea."

By now the majority of the guests had arrived. The refreshments were served on a large buffet table, but there were also several servers bringing out small snacks on trays. Brielle hadn't left Shane's side, and there were more than a few women who eyed her with jealousy.

The DJ put on "I'll be Home for Christmas" and Tristan held out his hand toward Dianna. "Would you like to dance with me?"

She stared at his offering. "I don't really dance."

"There's a first time for everything." He gave her a crooked grin and there was no way she'd be able to decline his offer.

Dianna placed her hand in his and let him lead her toward the dance floor. He took one hand in his and placed the other on the small of her back, pulling her gently against him. His scent wrapped around them like a warm wool blanket on a snowy morning. He smelled like peppermint and coffee, and up until this point she hadn't realized just how much she liked that combination.

She rested her chin on his shoulder, swaying to the music, her pulse thundering in her ears as if dancing to the beat.

For all her pushing against finding love, she couldn't help but let her thoughts linger on the man who held her in his arms. Had she been fighting a relationship because she truly didn't want one? Or was it more than that? Was she fighting it because she was scared that she wasn't meant to have one?

With her father's rule no longer being held over her head, she had the opportunity to make that choice without worrying how it would affect her younger sisters.

The longer she thought about it, the closer she came to one single realization.

She didn't want a relationship.

Dianna wanted a future.

A future with Tristan.

She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the emotion that threatened to burst from inside her. It wasn't a sadness she tried to hold in. It was something different. Something foreign. There was a possibility that she could end up just as happy as every couple currently dancing tonight.

Even Brielle seemed to be enjoying herself, allowing Shane to spin her around the dance floor. Maybe her sister had finally found the person who had eluded her all these years.

Dianna grinned at the thought. All it had taken was getting set up with a man who Brielle had insisted wasn't worth it.

The music came to an end and the DJ switched the music to something more upbeat. "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" blared through the room. Tristan still held her close, his mouth right next to her ear so his whisper only served to refresh the goosebumps that had settled down. "Would you like to go for a walk?"

She nodded, rubbing her nose with the hand she'd placed on his shoulder. Before she could pull back to look into his eyes, her focus shifted toward Brielle and she froze.

Brielle leaned against a doorjamb, her hands holding the frame behind her. Shane was incredibly close to her, his lips curled into a flirtatious smile that was only rivaled by Brielle's. He pointed up and she tilted her head, then laughed. Mistletoe hung overhead, plain as day.

Without warning, Brielle wrapped a hand firmly around Shane's neck and pulled him in for a kiss.

Dianna gasped, causing Tristan to pull back. "What?" He turned around, looking for what had startled her, but by then Brielle and Shane had slipped down the hall and disappeared.

A soft giggle bubbled up from Dianna's chest. "I think I successfully ended Brielle's insistence on remaining a bachelorette."

Tristan frowned. "What? How do you know?"

Dianna looped her arm through Tristan's arm and propelled him toward the back door. "I'm not going to jinx it."

"Come on, you can tell me." Tristan grinned. "I can keep a secret."

She laughed again. "It's not about secrets. It's the fact that Brielle has dated so many people here that it's surprising she hasn't been out with Shane before now."

Tristan looked over his shoulder. "Shane? Do you really think those two could make it work?"

Dianna shrugged. "Who knows? But I'm not going to jinx anything, so stop asking." She rested her head on his shoulder, sidling up next to him. If Dianna could find love when she didn't think it was possible, and if Brielle could find love unexpectedly, then maybe Christmas magic actually existed.

She snickered to herself. Magic wasn't real. As much as it was nice to believe in that sort of thing, the fact remained that Christmas magic was only real when people were willing to put forth the effort to make it happen. People might be guided by God to do the right thing, and it might happen a lot more during the month of December, but that's all it was.

Still, it was a nice thought.

They stepped out into the cold and wandered down the back steps. The trail they walked on would lead them near the barns, paddocks, and corrals, then toward the cabins. Their steps were slow and neither one of them spoke.

The silence should have felt strained, but for once, Dianna hadn't been more comfortable in the presence of another person. Tristan's hand tightened around hers and he pressed a kiss to the temple of her head.

"So, we're really doing this?" Dianna asked.

Tristan slowed and stopped completely. They stood in the middle of the trail, far enough from the country club that people wouldn't be able to see or hear them. The only light that shined on them was that of the moon overhead. "If that's what you want." He placed his palm on her face and brushed her cheek with his thumb. "This isn't the first time I've had these feelings about you. If it were only up to me, I'd pull you into my arms and kiss you senseless. You'd know without a shadow of a doubt how I felt about you and the extent of my interest."

"Aren't you worried that your interest in me has more to do with your son than?—"

He shook his head vehemently. "Don't get me wrong, you are amazing with Mathew. I'm constantly in awe of you. But this is so much more than that. I want to see what my life could be like with you in it."

She blinked, her whole body vibrating with an energy she'd never before experienced—not with high school crushes, not with anyone. "Then why don't you?" she rasped.

"Why don't I what?"

"Kiss me."