Gideon waved the other off with a quick word of encouragement in his new quest before he was looking again across the table at Holly. His grin, the one that had graced his features while Jerome made his girl blush, had been replaced with a softer smile as he again reached for her hands once she had freed them of the beautiful gift she'd been given.

"Jerome's a good guy, for all his womanizing," he commented, laughter dancing in his features. "Tell me, Hols, if I weren't your one and only heartbeat, would you fall for that wolf?" he asked, only half teasing as Madam Puddifoot arrived with their tea and sweets.

Pouring out two cups, he snatched a sugar cookie from the plate and ate it in two bites before picking up the second. He really hadn't expected to feel so nervous - nor to sound so idiotic - today.