Page 30 of Enduring Christmas

"Luke has a soft spot for Christmas."

Not anymore. He was done. His goose cooked.

"Some of us don't have the luxury of spending our Christmas with a man who probably loves you and a little girl who adores you. I wish I could have something that bad to complain about."

"Wow," Xenobia replied. Luke stroked his beard, all of a sudden feeling exhausted.

"I'm sorry." Luke heard Callie say in a rush of words. "I had no right. Its just-you might be the highlight of my Christmas Eve. And that's a shame."

Luke had the same thought for a very different reason.

"No," Xenobia said. "I apologize for being a Grinch™." Shiloh would be heartbroken when Xenobia left. He refused to assess his own feelings.

"You're all better. Your exam is within normal limits. Follow up with me if anything changes."

Wow, he'd hung his mistletoe over the wrong door again. This time he'd cut his losses.

When Xenobia emerged from the exam office minutes later Luke kept his eyes on Callie. No sense in looking for a light that didn't shine for him. Yeah, Christmas pretty much sucked again.

#

CALLIE'Swords took on new meaning for Xenobia. This morning she'd been terrified to acknowledge her true feelings for Luke. That he’d loved her so thoroughly that she felt unsure about rising to meet his expectations. Not physically, but emotionally. She’d never felt that intense connection with Rook. She wanted Luke to be happy but wondered if she might be the one to fall short this time. Callie's had used the words, all better. And she was. Xenobia was all better because of Endurance, a grumpy man whose kisses straightened her hair and a little blonde headed doll who curled her lips up into a smile. Luke, Shiloh, and the people of Endurance were all wrapped in her newfound. She loved this town, the sense of community, the genuine concern for a neighbor, and the simplistic love of a good man.

Luke waited by the door, her coat in hand. He usually did the chivalrous thing and helped her into her coat. This time he just handed it to her without saying a word to her.

She gave him a peculiar look, but then she realized his focus was over her head.

"Thanks, Callie," he muttered.

The nurse practitioner tilted her head in acknowledgment of Luke's gratitude.

"You're welcome, Luke. And, Merry Christmas."

"Come by No Limits after you close up here. The party will be great, and Shiloh would love to see you."

Was Luke flirting with another woman in front of her? Xenobia glanced between the two; sure more was being communicated than what she heard. Okay then, what was her part in this silent movie?

She grabbed Luke's hand, giving his knuckles a pat. "Yeah, Callie. You should come." Awkward, she thought.

The ride back to the cabin was unusually silent. Xenobia had asked Luke more than once if something was wrong. And she wasn't done.

"Tell me what's going on in that head of yours." Something was very wrong at a time when she felt like everything could be right between.

He kept his eyes on the road. "You basically told Callie I'm a nuisance."

"I said no such thing," she insisted.

"Not once did you tell her you are my girlfriend," he snapped. "That you're into me."

"Luke," she said reaching for his hand.

"Don't Luke, me! I'm not toying with you, and I for damn sure am not about to let you string me and Shiloh along."

"You have to know I wouldn't do that."

"Why not tell her the truth, huh?" She didn't have an answer. "Leaving yourself a way out when the tree comes down and the magic is gone." He made a Jazz hands gesture, something Shiloh had taught them.

"That's not fair."