(A/N-Special thanks to Lynn for beta reading this for me. And here is the last Christmas 2018 fic for ya'll to enjoy.)
"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..." Tris Prior sang to her two-year old niece Hannah, on her knee. Her reward was the toddler's laughter.
Christina, her best friend and mother to little Hannah, laughed. "You spoil that child, and I haven't got the strength to play rough games with her when you're not around." She yawned hugely, easing her position in the chair, massaging the small of her back and groaned. "I'm not sure I was this tired when I was expecting Tommy, nor when I had Hannah, for that matter."
Will, Christina's husband was a civil engineer, and currently working abroad. "Only three weeks to go until Christmas, and it's unlikely Will be home in time." Christina said to Tris.
Tris looked at her best friend, she knew that Christina was trying to keep a brave face. She knew how much Christina missed and needed Will, especially since she was about to be mom and dad to three kids.
"So, a bit of fun won't spoil Hannah. So make the most of having me around to take her and Tommy off your hands." She returned to the song.
"Never mind about the two turtle doves," Christina interrupted again. "What about your wants for Christmas? You still haven't given me a clue what I can get you."
"Oh, forget presents for me," Tris said. "Christmas is for children. Concentrate on them." And with a smile at her friend, she added. "Don't you think, at twenty-five, I'm a bit too old to be worrying about Santa Claus? Besides you don't need to be out in the stores right now with you being eight months pregnant."
"You can protest all you want, Tris. You're getting a present, might not be from what you don't have, which is a husband, or a boyfriend at the very least." Christina said giving Tris the look.
"Thank goodness," Tris said. "Men aren't exactly top of my popularity poll at the moment."
Christina just shook her head despairingly. "I do wish you wouldn't generalize just because one man let you down. One man! Most men are decent and caring and charming. And as to a present, I owe you," she continued. "I don't know what I would have done without you these last few days." Christina's doctor had ordered her to rest more if she didn't want to be taken to the hospital for the last few weeks of her pregnancy. "I know how busy you are this time of year."
"You don't owe me a thing, we're family," Tris said. "You'd do the same thing for me, if I was ever in the same predicament."
"But I know you have to be worried a little about leaving Molly in charge of your boutique, she's not the most reliable as a partner." Christina reminded Tris.
Tris had opened her boutique which catered to every extreme from the preppy girl to the rocker chick, to classy to well almost trashy. She had opened her store after gaining a lot of experience in working in several retail stores. With the help of a partner, she had opened Beatrice's Boutique.
Tris pulled a face. "Yes, unfortunately she is a bit of a pain, a rich man's daughter playing at being a businesswoman. She's hardly ever there, and when she is she isn't much help."
"You don't think she might be losing interest in the whole thing?' Christina asked.
Tris nodded. "Yes and I just wish I could afford to buy her out, but I can't...Anyway, she's gone on a skiing holiday over Christmas and New Year, and luckily we have two excellent assistants. I'll pop in to the shop from time to time, but I can trust them to take care of things. So I'm staying right here," she told her friend. "for as long as you me, certainly until you produce my next niece of nephew. Surely. Will could have arranged to be home for that? And it must be ages since he's phoned."
"He can't always get to a phone," Christina said. "Some of these sites are hundreds of miles off the beaten track."
"It's amazing how different we are," Tris said.
"How?" Christina asked.
"Well, it's not that I don't like children. You know I adore Tommy and Hannah, but marriage is something I've always relegated to the distant future." For when she had fulfilled other ambitions such as traveling around the world, establishing herself in her chosen career.
"I thought you'd changed your mind when you met, Robert," Christina said regretfully.
About eighteen months previously, Robert Taylor a successful, attractive man had come into Tris' life., introduced by a mutual friend. Tris had began to dream and plan. But her plans has been rudely shattered. Just as she was on the verge of admitting and declaring her feelings for him, Robert's true character had been revealed. She had discovered that he had been living with another woman, while he was still dating her.
Tris, caught with her defenses temporarily down, had been badly hurt, not only in her pride. Her heart too had been bruised. But once she had recovered her defenses, particularly her emotional ones, had been doubly reinforced. She was determined never to let any man deceive her again.
"I'd love to see you as happy as I am, Tris. I do wish you'd fall in love with someone." Christina said.
"I did once, remember?" Tris' tone was bitter. "Or thought I had. I had a lucky escape there."
"Yes, it's a great pity that happened. But not all men are alike. I'm talking about love. You don't know what you're missing. Maybe," Christina said jokingly, "you should put something like that top of your 'wants' list when you write to Santa, a man."
"A man? For Christmas?" Tris snorted derisively. "No, thank you. I've never been in any rush to be tied down, and after Robert...But you old married women are just the same, can't wait to see someone else in the same boat."
"Less of the 'old', if you please. We're the same age remember?" Christina said with a roll of her eyes. "Anyway, it won't be easy to pair you off. Any man you married would have to be different from the usual run of men. He'd have to be very, very incredible. Especially in bed."
"Christina!" Tris said.
"What? You need to get laid sometime," Christina said. "maybe for Christmas."
"I'm not going to get laid just to please you," Tris said.
"Auntie Tris, what is get laid mean?" Tommy asked as he walked into the living room.
Christina and Tris turned to look at little five year old Tommy. "It means, like going shopping. You just have to keep looking until you find the one you want to bring home." Christina answered.
Tris rolled her eyes at her friend. "Tommy, didn't I promise to take you to see Santa? I hear he'd just around the corner at the mall."
"Yeah!" Tommy said.
"Do you have your list ready?" Tris asked.
"Yes, can we go now, please?" Tommy asked.
"Sure, go get your coat and we'll leave after I put this one down for your 'old' mom," Tris said as Christina smacked her on the butt as she walked by with a sleeping Hannah.
************PAGE BREAK**************
"Is my daddy coming home soon?" Tommy asked as they walked into the mall.
Tris bit her lip, uncertain on how to reply. She wanted to reassure the anxious small boy, banish that worried look from his eyes. The concept of time was so hard for young children to understand. But if she told him yes, and Will didn't appear for several more weeks...he would be devastated.
"Will he, Auntie Tris?" Tommy persisted.
"I hope so," seemed to be the safer route to answer.
It was a wet murky Saturday afternoon, more like January than December. But the large stores along busy Peach Street were brightly lit and the street itself was glittering with illuminations. Garnish pink clowns tightropes juggling flashing balls vied for attention with rotund Santas and red-nosed reindeer. On the way to the mall, Tommy had behaved as an angel, but now as they neared their destination, he was getting more and more excited, dragging at Tris' hand.
And there he was, the big man himself sitting in Santa's Grotto, he sat in state, surrounded by colorfully wrapped parcels. He was a very splendid Santa, no tacky old costume here, looking as if it has been worn by centuries of Santas. In fact, it looked as if no expense had been spared to make this one of the most attractive grottoes she had ever seen.
As she and Tommy got in line she could feel how excited but nervous Tommy was. "All ready?"
"Yes," he said softly.
A few minutes later, it was Tommy's turn to sit on Santa's lap. "And what is your name little boy?"
"Tommy and this is my Auntie Tris," Tommy answered.
She listened to Tommy tell Santa what he wanted. But she kept a careful mental note of a few things she and Christina had overlooked. It wrenched her heart when to his wants he added. "And I want my daddy to come back." Tommy then told Santa how his dad was away for work.
"I'll see what I can do," Santa said.
A woman dressed as an elf, took Tommy's picture with Santa. Tris was prepared to leave when Santa said, "How about a picture with you and your Auntie?"
Tris looked at the elf who just raised her shoulders, Tris walked up to Santa prepared to stand beside him, when he told her. "I have a spare knee."
Tris carefully sat on Santa's other knee. She didn't feel like she was going to fall off, and as she looked at Santa she was struck by his beautiful blue eyes.
"And what would his Auntie like for Christmas?" Santa asked.
"She wants to get laid," Tommy answered for her. There was several chuckles at his answer.
"Tommy!" Tris closed her eyes as she knew several pairs of eyes were on her, one being the knee of the person she was sitting on.
"What did I say?" Tommy asked.
"Nothing, nothing Tommy," Tris said.
"I'll see what I can do for you too Auntie Tris," Santa said, his voice sounded different to her. And as the picture was being taken, she swore she could feel his eyes on hers.
"Come on Tommy, we need to get going," Tris said as she reached her hand out.
But instead of encountering Tommy's tiny paw she found her fingers taken in the warm clasp of a strong shapely hand. A strange sensation zipped through her as her heart set up the most unexpected thudding, and she tried to retrieve her hand, the left one, and found her efforts resisted. Santa's thumb was inspecting with deceptive casualness the ringless state of her third finger.
She wasn't getting hit on by Santa!
She couldn't be.
"Let go!" she whispered fiercely, and looked uncomfortably around her. "People are watching. Children are watching," she added, hoping this would restore him to a sense of decorum.
Then to her relief, he let go. Tommy came to her and clutched her hand and she hurried away, embarrased and angry again, aware of the off glances she was receiving from other customers. As they headed home, her hand still seemed to tingle from the contact with warm male fingers.
When they got back to Tommy's home, he went to freshen up for dinner. And during this time Tris told Christina about what happened at the mall.
"I told you to get laid by Christmas, not by Santa," Christina said.
"Oh shut up. It doesn't matter anyway, I'll never have to see Santa again," Tris said.
******************Page break************************
Back at the mall, Santa was making his way to the changing room, and speaking to his PA as he did so. "I don't care what you have to do, find her."
"But, Mr. Eaton, how am I supposed to find this one woman?" she asked.
"That's what I pay you the big bucks to do," Four Eaton, CEO of Eaton Enterprises, reminded her. "Get in touch with the owner of the mall, make him hand over the video tape from tonight. Then give it to Zeke Pedrad, he'll find out exactly who Auntie Tris is."
Four watched as his assistant quickly hurried off, obviously intimated by his tone. He didn't care. He changed from his Santa suit, he had volunteered to be Santa at the mall this year. He had donated the toys that were handed out to the children as well. He had known what it was like growing up and knowing that there would be no Christmas present for him. Back then Christmas was just another day that his father would drink too much and lash out at him, literally.
Four had lost his mother when he was younger and when he graduated high school, he had moved out and with the help of his childhood friend, Zeke Pedrad, he had found out his mother's parents were alive and they had asked Four to move in with them. Four had accepted their offer and with his Grandfather's leadership had steered Four into a technical career. And after many years of hard work, Four now owned his own computer software company. He had hired Zeke as one of his assistants, not just because he was his best friend, but also the best at what he did.
If anyone can find this Auntie Tris who had captured his attention, it was Zeke. He wanted to ask her out for dinner, spend time with her and find out if that spark was a one time thing, or could it be the start of something?
"I can't wait to see you again, Tris," Four said.
*******PAGEBREAK************
Monday found Tris receiving a note from Santa telling her that he was sorry if he came across too much to her. She saw that the letter had been typed up obviously by a secretary, and she also saw that the letter had Eaton Enterprises, she had heard of that tech company before. She shook her head and threw the letter away and went back to her work.
Tuesday morning came with flowers, a huge bouquet of them, their warm exotic scent filling the room.
"Red Roses!" one of her assistants Alice said. "At this time of year they must have cost a fortune. Who is your secret admirer? What does it say?"
Tris removed the card and read, "Just to reinforce my apology, and in the hope that we may become better acquainted, Four."
"Four? As in Four Eaton? Of Eaton Enterprises?" Alice asked.
"Yes," Tris answered.
"I think that's so romantic," Alice said. "You must have made quite an impression on him."
"I think you're reading too much into this," Tris said.
Alice eyed her curiously. "Do you intend to go on warding off men's advances forever?"
"This advance from someone I don't know, yes. He could be married for all I know." Tris said.
"Which is making you more cross?" Alice asked. "His attentions, or the fact that you don't know if he's free?"
Tris didn't answer that. "I just don't like the presumption from men I don't know."
"All the en you do know you treat them the same way as you treat your women friends." Alice reminded her.
"It's for the best," Tris said. "Good friends, no romantic nonsense, just mutual respect and consideration. We're all individuals, not looking to be paired off."
"Well, I have a feeling you'll be getting to know Four Eaton much better before too long," Alice indicated the flowers. "I bet he'll be following those up in person before too long."
"He better not," Tris said.
"Come on Tris, just because one man turned out to be a bastard, you can't let that ruin your whole life, make you afraid of falling in love again," Alice said.
"I'm not afraid," Tris denied. "It's just that I don't want to be caged, possessed."
"I wouldn't mind being possessed by Four Eaton," Alice said as she walked away.
Tris shook her head and went back to work. With the afternoon almost over later, she left work early and ran by Christina's to see how she was doing, and after hearing Tris' story was with Alice on Four Eaton.
"Give a guy a chance, Tris. He's obviously flirting with you and would like to get to know you better," Christina said. Tris ignored her and went to check on Tommy who was tired and wanted a nap. She sat as she heard his prayers for his daddy to come home in time for Christmas. It broke Tris' heart to hear that.
The doorbell rang as she was coming out of his room. "I'll get it!" Tris called as she went to answer it.
"Hello, Tris," Just the two words, but the voice rang a warning chord, and as he moved into the light from the hallway she saw him clearly. Four Eaton. All at once she was very much aware of him and the way he towered over her.
With a purely instinctive reaction of self-protection she made to shut the door in his face. But a large foot and a strong hand prevented her from doing so. "I'd hoped," he said, "for a warmer welcome than that."
Tris gave up the unequal struggle with the door. She was no weakling, but he was far stronger. She was slightly breathless as she said, "I don't know what you're doing here, and I wish you wouldn't-"
"Tris, who is it?"
She turned. Christina had come out into the hall, her expression contorted with anxiety. "You're not a policeman, are you?" she asked. "Nothing's happened to..."
"No," Tris reassured her quickly. "No, he's not a policeman." She vacated her defensive position in the doorway and moved to Christina's side, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "This, is Mr. Eaton."
"Oh!" Christina moved forward, regarding hi with interest. "So you're the one who sent Tris flowers?
"Guilty," he agreed.
"Yes, I think I would have recognized you from her description. I've been dying to meet you," Christina said.
Tris felt uncomfortable. Now Four Eaton would get the impression that she had been interested in him enough to give her friend an itemized account of his appearance. She wished Christina would go and sit down again and leave her to deal with this intrusion.
"Do come in, Mr. Eaton," Christina invited him.
As he walked in his head brushed the overhead garlands. Tris saw that he was now standing just under the mistletoe that was hung up. He followed her gaze, saw the object of it and smiled, but to her relief he made no comment about it, going up a slight notch in her estimation. A lot of men would have made some remark about it.
"Please call me Four," he told Christina as he followed Christina.
"We were just about to eat, now that the kids are done," Christina said. "Would you like to join us?"
Tris knew her face was giving it away what she thought of that. What did Christina think she was up to, encouraging this man? To her relief her declined the invitation. "Thanks, but I've already eaten. Sorry if I called at an inconvenient moment." And to Tris, "I just wanted to make sure my roses had arrived safely."
"Yes, thank you. You shouldn't have bothered," she said gruffly, aware of how stiff and ungrateful she was sounding.
He considered her reflectively. "It doesn't sound as if they achieved the desired effect." And as she made no reply, "Wouldn't you like to know why I sent them?"
"No," she said quickly. She was afraid he might be about to tell her anyway. Her heart has begun to beat most erratically. Cowardly, she edged towards the door. "I didn't assume anything. Christina, wasn't that Tommy I heard?" she muttered hopefully, but received no support from her.
"No. Once he's asleep he never wakes up. Look, Four, since you've already eaten, why don't you come around tomorrow evening instead?" Christina asked.
Tris could cheerfully have throttled her friend. But again Four was shaking his head. "Much as I would like to, I have a previous engagement. Maybe I could take a rain-check?" At last he was moving back into the hallway. Tris could hardly wait for him to be gone so she could take Christina to task.
On the threshold he turned. "Next time I see you," he told Tris. "I'll explain something to you." And, as she looked at him not comprehending his meaning. "I'll tell you exactly why I sent you the roses." And before she could tell him no, tell him that he wouldn't be seeing her again, he was gone.
******PAGEBREAK*******
The moment the door closed behind Four, Tris turned to glare at Christina.
"What on earth possesed you?" Tris demanded. "Inviting him in, and inviting hi for a meal?"
"I liked him," Christina said. "He's just the kind of-"
"Well, you can have him," Tris said.
"Thanks, but I just want Will." Christina said looking depressed. Tris felt bad after her words.
"I'm sorry Christina. I'm a bad-tempered bitch."
"No, you're not. But Four has really got to you, hasn't he?" She looked curiously at Tris. "And I can't help asking myself why? It's not like you to lose you cool, and especially where a guy is concerned. Could it be, that you're attracted to him, but don't want to admit it?"
"Of course not. I just don't like pushy people," She was aware that, as an excuse, it was a pretty feeble one.
"He's certainly not backward in coming forward," Christina agreed. "But maybe that's the sort you need, to break down those barriers of yours."
"For heaven's sake, can we just forget about him?" Tris asked. Easier said than done, because as she finished up at Christina's, her mind was on Four. Something about him made her feel vulnerable and a little afraid. Afraid of what? Immediately she knew the answer-afraid of being hurt again.
*************PAGEBREAK************
The next evening she was about to leave Christina's when Christina said. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, I received a letter today."
"Okay," Tris said.
"And guess who it's from?" Christina asked.
"Oh no," Tris mumbled.
"Oh yes," Christina said. "Four Eaton. He said he would like to call in his rain check this weekend if it's alright. He asked that I invite you as well."
Tris said nothing, she didn't know what to say at first.
"Well?" Christina asked.
"Well what?" Tris asked.
"Shall I invite him?" Christina asked.
"It's your house," Tris said.
"And it's your life." Christina said, clearly exasperated. "You know, I have a feeling that, once he's in it, you won't get him out so easily."
Tris snorted derisively. "That's what you think. Ask him to dinner if you want, but it won't get him anywhere."
******PAGEBREAK********
When the weekend came along Tris found herself at Christina's. As she was in the kitchen she heard Christina, "You've been in the kitchen long enough, shouldn't you think about getting yourself ready? It's you he's coming to see, after all."
"He can take me as he finds me. I don't want him to think I'm anxious to impress," Tris said.
"Oh I don't think he'd having any trouble taking you," Christina said as Tris gave her a dirty look.
Half an hour later the doorbell rang and Tris went to go answer it. As she opened the door, there was a enormous cellophane-wrapped bouquet. Behind it was Four Eaton.
"I wish you wouldn't do this," Tris said. "I don't think you should be spending money on me. I-"
"I haven't," Four said. "These are for my hostess, your friend."
"Oh." Feeling foolish she stood aside to let him enter. "Christina will be out in a second. As she walked she knew he was right behind her. As she sat down on the couch, she watched as he set the flowers down.
"The flowers weren't for you," he said again, moving towards her. "But this is." He held out a small wrapped package.
Tris shook her head. "Oh, no...I can't. It's not right, I hardly know you."
"It doesn't carry any strings," he told her. "Call it an early Christmas present if you like."
"There's no reason for you to be giving me Christmas presents now or then," she told him. "Presents are for family, close friends..."
"By the tie Christmas comes, I hope we will be close friends," he said calmly.
"We won't. I..."
"Oh come on. If I really believed that, I should be greatly disappointed." He smiled, one of those charming smiles of his, and Tris was glad she had chosen to sit. His smiled were decidedly knee-weakening. "I hate disappointments," he went on. "Here," he sat down beside her and pressed the package into her pal, closing her fingers around it. "I'm not taking it back, I wouldn't like having to admit that my girlfriend refused it."
"I'm not your girlfriend,"
"But you're going to be," he said with cool assurance.
Tris stared at him in frustration. How did you argue with someone like this, someone who absolutely refused to be dissuaded? Abruptly she stood up and set the package down on the table beside the flowers.
"Aren't you going to open it?" he asked.
"Maybe...later."
"Sorry, but that's not good enough. When I give a gift, I like to see them open them." Four grabbed the package and opened it to reveal a small jeweler's box. He flipped the lid and held it out. On a cottom wool lay a charm bracelet with a small charm. It was very beautiful, but the charm was...?
"Mistletoe," he said, as if that explained everything. "It will have to do until I can persuade you to join me underneath the real thing. Here let me put it on you." With deft fingers for such large hands he carefully placed the bracelet on her wrist. Feeling his touch, she felt the warmth of his hands on her. As she looked up, she was caught in those startling blue eyes of his.
Tris swallowed nervously. He exuded lethal attraction. The scent of him came to her nostrils, compounded of warm male, of expensive masculine cologne. There was sensuality in those eyes, in the full lower lip of that mouth of his. As though he senses her discomfort at his proximity he smiled widely, revealing even white teeth, and the grasp of his hand tightened on her hand, seemed to bring her closer to him.
"Get Four a drink, Tris," Christina said. Tris wrenched her hand free, color running up under her normally pale skin.
She left the room to go to the kitchen, she leaned against the counter, trying to gather herself to hide her reaction from Four. Damn the man, in the house two seconds and already he had disrupted her planned composure, completely disconcerted her. A few minutes later she was helping to bring the food to the table.
"I gather you've done the cooking tonight," Four said as she walked in. He and Christina were seated at the table, deep in conversation. "I'm flattered, I..."
"Don't be," Tris said. "I've been cooking for Christina because she needs her rest."
"My lucky day then, if your cooking is as splendid as everything else about you," he said.
Tris felt the color warm her cheeks. But before she could think of a reply, he went on, "Except for your attitude towards me. That leaves a lot to be desired, don't you think? But that cane be remedied, I'm sure. I know, deep down, you like me." And he smiled, blue eyes dancing, his mobile mouth inviting her to respond in kind.
Christina choked on her food, but after looking at Tris, she mounted a rescue operation. "Tell me, Four, have you always loved technology?"
"Yes, since I was a little boy." Four answered.
Tris dug into her food and throughout the rest of the meal, Christina continued to draw Four out on the subject of his work. Not that he needed much encouragement to talk. He spoke rapidly, fluently. He was an interesting conversationalist, his speech loaded with witty remarks and amusing stories about life running a tech company. Once or twice Tris found herself laughing aloud.
When the meal was over, Christina got up and left to go and check on the kids. Left alone with Four in a room only softly lit by background lamps and firelight, Tris knew a distinct sense of unease. She was aware that he was looking at her, but she steadfastly refused to meet his gaze, keeping her head averted so that her face was in shadow to him.
"I don't bite, you know," he said suddenly, breaking the tense little silence. "So you needn't sit there looking as if you've been left along with a Vampire."
Despite her inner tension an involuntary chuckle escaped her.
"That's better," he said approvingly. "You're beautiful whatever your expression, but a smile brings life and warmth to the picture. You know," he added rising from his armchair and walking to her, "yours is a very unusual beauty, quite new in my experience."
She was sure he had tons of experience. He looked the sort to have had a string of women in his life. She stiffened her wavering resistance with the thought that he was probably the love em and leave them bachelor.
He sat down beside her on the couch. Tris shifted uneasily, but he checked her instinctive movement towards flight. "Don't go," he said softly, his hand on her arm. "Don't run away from me. Let me look at you. Until now I've only had fleeting glimpses, tantalizing, unsatisfying, like a mirage in the desert to a thirsty man."
He had a way with words. But then all thoughts left her as his hand grasped her chin, turning her face towards hi so that the flickering, firelight illuminated it for him. He leaned forward, studying her, the movement bringing him too close. He was invading her space. And yet, as she had already had occasion to realize, it was not a distasteful experience, as it could be with some people.
"You are a lovely, wistful, haunting beauty. At least, it's haunted me, from the first moment I saw you," he said.
She said nothing.
"And those eyes of yours, they give nothing away, no clue to your thoughts. I get the feeling of you being far away, elusive. Please don't elude me." He said huskily. "Let me get to know you."
"You're...you're talking absolute nonsense," Tris said. "It's just lines you probably say to all the girls."
"Only to you," he said. "We're all looking for someone, whether we admit it or not."
"Speak for yourself," she said. "Perhaps you don't know your own mind. I do."
"Oh, I know my own mind," he said, and with heavy significance, "I also know what's it's set on at the moment."
"Then get used to disappointments," she said.
He was silent for so long she thought she had finally quelled him, and her heart rate settled back to normal. But because he was regarding her, the silence became oppressive. She jumped up. "Will you stop staring at me?"
Because she had risen, he must also. But he ignored her complaint, slowly shaking his head. "Tell me Tris, what have you got against men?"
Damnit! Why did he have this uncanny knack of continually putting her on the defensive?
"Not men in general," she said. "Just some. I particularly dislike the arrogant, presumptuous kind."
He raised an eyebrow. "And is that how you see me?"
"Do you blame me?" she asked. "I've made it as clear as I can without being rude that I'm not interested. But you..."
"Loosen up a bit. Life's too short. Why don't you let your hair down, literally?" he asked. "The first time you had it down. It's the kind of hair a man would love to bury his face in."
"You're not going to make a fool of me," Tris said.
"Is that what you think I'm doing?" Four asked. "You do. You're wrong Tris, I want to get to know you. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot, maybe we should start over?" He grabbed her hand in a warm clasp.
"Look, whatever you may think you want..."
"Still running away," he sighed. "Look, Tris, I don't think, I know. But we needn't be more than two people enjoying each other's company. I can guarantee you a great time, if you possess the sense of fun you lay claim to."
At that moment, Christina walked in. "Before you left, I wanted to thank you for the flowers and everything tonight."
"I enjoyed my evening and I'd like to return your hospitality. May I take you both out for a meal some time?" Four asked.
Christina smiled. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm so close to D-Day with this one. But do take Tris. She..."
"I couldn't possibly," Tris said. "I'm here to keep you company."
"I'm sure I can get someone to come in for one evening," Christina said.
"Well, Tris?" Four asked.
It wasn't fair. He shouldn't be able to exert such potent persuasion. And it was irritating that she, who had been so determined not to succumb, was affected by that potency. Four Eaton, could be very dangerous, she realized. He was a man determined to have his own way where she was concerned.
Even so, "All right," she said.
Surely she could stand him for one more night?