Waving at his mother, he pushed Faith out the door before his family could embarrass him more.  The story she had told him in the kitchen had touched his heart; it made him realize why she was the way she was, but more than anything, it pissed him off.  Who was so malicious that they would actually treat someone like Faith that way?  If anything, the woman was too nice.  Sure, she didn’t like to show it, she tried to hide by blank expressions, but he saw her with people.  She couldn’t tell someone no if she wanted too, unless it had to do with Christmas.

“Nick,” she said, her teeth chattering together, “can we get in your truck now?”

Frowning at her, he grabbed her close.  “Yeah, hurry up before you catch a cold.”

“Yes, Dad,” she joked, but soon frowned when the words left her mouth.

Tightening his grip around her, he led her to his truck.  Maybe, he should have talked about it, tried to find out what would make her feel better about the situation, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate that.  She would take it as pity, as if he were doing it out of obligation.  Soon, she would find out that he did nothing towards her out of pity or obligation.  He genuinely liked the woman.

He pulled the passenger’s door open and waited for her to slide in before closing it.  Running as fast as he could, he hurried into the truck.  Saying it was cold outside would be an understatement; it was freezing.  Luckily, as he got into his truck and snapped his seatbelt on, the trusty vehicle started right up. 

“Tell me the way.”

She glanced around before frowning.  “I’m actually only a few roads away.  Just go down this one, take a right, another right and were there.”

“That’s your house?” he asked with a chuckle.  “I pass by it all the time and wonder why you wouldn’t want to decorate that amazing yard.  I understand it now though.”

“Hey,” she defended, “I decorate for Halloween.”

“Oh, while I have you, just wanted to say that you should shut your house down during Halloween, your stealing all our revenue.”

Glancing at him, she smiled.  “Well, what do you expect?  I give out whole candy bars.  Get them on sale every year.  The kids love them.”

He turned right, ready to turn at the next right, but there was a problem.  Snow covered the road, not allowing them to pass.  “Um, Faith?  I’m thinking I’m in luck.”

“What?” she asked with narrowed eyes.  “What do you mean you’re in luck?”

“Well,” he said with a wolfish, which made her blush slightly, “I’m not letting you walk home from here, and the only other option is to stay with me.”

“You have a guest room?”

He sent her a mock-disappointed look.  “I have two.”  Suddenly, he smiled.  “The one that you’re staying in has a connecting door.”

“And I can’t stay in the other, why?”

“Um,” he glanced around the truck before putting the thing in reverse.  Getting back onto the road, he went back towards his parents.

She tapped on his leg.  “I’m waiting, Nick.”

“No clean sheets?”

“That sounded like a question,” she said with a chuckle.

Letting out a sigh, he pulled into the driveway of a house two doors down from his parent’s.  “Fine; I’ll be honest.  With you a room a way, I would feel better.  They’re both upstairs, and the other guest room is downstairs.”

“Oh,” she mumbled, sinking back into her seat. 

He glanced at her, noticing her retreat.  Letting out a sigh, he jumped out of his truck.  Almost tripping on the candy canes that lined his driveway, he made his way to the other side.  As he pulled her door open, he saw the wide-eyed look.  “This is your house?”

“Yes,” he replied, nodding at the lights streamed everywhere, the large Santa blown up in his yard.  Okay, so he liked Christmas, a lot.  “Isn’t it cute?”

“Cute,” she croaked.  “It looks like Rudolf threw up on your house.  Where did you even find all these decorations?”

He shrugged, turning towards his house. Knowing that she would follow behind, he only glanced back once to make use she didn’t fall.  The door opened easily as he typed in his code.  Heat enveloped them, sending a peaceful feeling into them.  To Nick, this was the Christmas spirit, this homey feeling.  Turning towards Faith, he smiled.  “I have a plan.”

“What?” she asked, cautiously.

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her to the kitchen.  “We’re going to make Christmas cookies.”

“Nick,” she protested.

He stopped and looked at her.  “The children would love them.”

“For the children.”

Smiling, he tugged her further into his kitchen.  “And for you.”

When she only smiled in return, he knew he had accomplished something.  He had finally broken down a little of her armor.  Now, he only had to chip away the rest.