“Guilty.” He picked up the most expensive tube of cinnamon-flavored toothpaste, but when she lifted her brow, he set it back on the shelf and gestured for her to select one. “But in my defense, malls are just consumer prisons where they pipe in music with subliminal shopping messages and where the lights are so bright they convince you that whatever you’re trying on looks good on you.”
Jenna picked up a tube of toothpaste next to a sale sign and moved on to the toothbrush display. “Next you’re going to tell me about conspiracy theories and grassy knolls.”
“A little before my time, don’t you think?”
He had smiled at her comment. Finally. A success. She thought back to all the times he’d regaled her with stories from documentaries about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy or the sinking of the Titanic, realizing now that she’d only half listened. A better friend would have listened more closely as he spoke about his interests. Note to self, she thought.
Jenna selected two adult toothbrushes on a two-for-one deal and picked two junior-size brushes for the boys. “I still don’t understand why you assigned us to the clothes committee when you hate clothes shopping.”
Dylan pulled one of the toothbrushes from her hand and tapped her on the head with it. “Are you kidding? How could I not pick the shopping committee when I was working with the crowned queen of shopping? That would have been a waste of your talents.”
Jenna laughed, and for a second, it seemed like old times between them as he grinned at her. She smiled in return, and they just stood there for a moment until Dylan seemed to catch himself. He quickly turned away.
Jenna grabbed a container of dental floss and crossed it off on the list before moving on to the razors and shaving cream.
“I bow to your expertise here.” She waved toward the merchandise. “Just watch your prices.”
“At least I’m good for something here.” He pulled shaving cream, a reasonably priced razor and a pack of replacement blades off the shelf, even grabbing a set of disposable razors for Kelly.
“Do these meet your specifications?”
With all the items checked off on this first list, they went through the checkout line and headed to the car. If the others had accomplished as much as she and Dylan had, they were well on their way to a successful project.
“Whew,” Dylan said as he pulled on his seat belt. “Now that was an ordeal.”
Jenna didn’t say anything for a moment. He might think it had been challenging shopping with her, but if he thought that tomorrow she would agree to working separately on different portions of the project, then he had another think coming. They were making progress. She could feel it. And she wasn’t going to give up.
“You know we’re not done, right?” she asked.
Dylan looked at her with what she hoped was mock dread.
“After we meet with the boys tomorrow to help them write their Santa’s lists, we’re headed to the mall for Christmas shopping. You better rest up if you thought today was tough.”
Dylan groaned and leaned his head on the steering wheel. She reached over, laughing, and gave him a quick pat on the shoulder. He didn’t even stiffen at her touch.
Yes, they’d definitely made progress.
Chapter Four
Dylan followed the enthusiastic chatter into his mother’s formal dining room. Already from the cars parked outside, he had no doubt they were the last to make it back to the house. And if all that laughter was any indication, they’d all had an enjoyable afternoon.
Had he? He wasn’t prepared to answer that question.
Stowing their coats in the closet, Dylan led Jenna down the hall to join the others. Last night he’d wished for any excuse to avoid the family reunion, but now he was anxious to join the crowd. He needed a break from spending time alone with Jenna before he said something he’d regret, something that put him right back where he was before he’d cut her out of his life.
All day he’d tried to work with her and keep his distance at the same time, a tough enough challenge without her making it even harder by being sweet and funny. Combine all that with the fact that he hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her, and he had every reason for the exhaustion he felt now. He’d thought he could tuck away his personal battle and handle the work without breaking a sweat, but compartmentalization like that took practice.
“Aunt Jenna and Uncle Dylan are here,” Lizzie announced as they stepped into the doorway. “We went shopping today.”
“You did? Did you buy lots of food?” Dylan heard the false-sounding enthusiasm in his voice and grimaced. He would have to try harder if he planned to convince everyone that all was well in his corner of Markston.
“Even yucky stuff like peas.”
The look of horror on the child’s face had the whole table laughing.
“You’re just in time,” Amy said as she came through the swinging door from the kitchen, carrying two steaming bowls of Dylan’s favorite beef stew.
“Here, Jenna, you sit next to Haley.” Amy gestured toward a vacant space. “Dylan, you take your usual spot. We were just about to say grace.”
Dylan felt a flash of annoyance when he discovered that he’d been seated next to Caroline and not Jenna. He chose not to dwell on that thought. Caroline acknowledged him with barely a nod. He wasn’t the only one who’d realized they were matchmaking targets, and she was keeping her head low.
Matthew’s enthusiastic prayer of thanksgiving made him curious, so as soon as he released Caroline’s hand on one side and Mrs. Scott’s on the other, Dylan leaned forward. “So it sounds like we’ve had some success today. Does anyone have a report?”
“Why don’t you two go first?” Haley suggested. “What were the Dentons like?”
Jenna had just started to take a bite, but she lowered her spoon. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. “They were amazing. And those boys were so cute. I just wanted to hug them to pieces.”
Logan didn’t miss a beat. “Haven’t they had a hard enough week already?”
The sound of Jenna’s laughter made Dylan feel warm inside—too warm. If today was any indication, he’d be crazy by the time the holidays were over. “They even volunteered to help with whatever they can, but I don’t know what that would be,” he said.
“We know exactly how they can help,” Caroline declared before suddenly looking Dylan’s way. “I mean…if you think it’s a good idea.”
Dylan couldn’t help but grin. Even the Scott family’s resident control freak had given him a vote of confidence. “Okay, what’s your plan?”
“Matthew convinced one of his friends to allow the Dentons to stay in one of his rental properties rent-free for one year,” Caroline announced.
A chorus of cheers erupted around the table, with Logan throwing in a whoop for good measure.
“That’s amazing, you guys.” Dylan breathed a contented sigh. If all their plans fell together this easily, they would have the Dentons sipping cocoa by their own fireplace by the first of the week.
Matthew lifted his index finger. “There’s one caveat. The house is one of Kevin’s new purchases. It’s going to require work before it’s even inhabitable. Kevin’s willing to split the cost on the materials, but we’ll have to supply all the elbow grease.”
Dylan