Page 46 of Christmas With the Jerk

We stand there for a moment, letting the heat wash over us, the silence between us comfortable and sweet. There’s no need for words right now. We’ve already said everything that needed to be said. Now, it’s just about being here, together.

Thorne reaches for the soap, lathering his hands before gently running them down my arm. It’s a simple gesture, but there’s something incredibly tender about it. I watch him, feeling a soft ache in my chest that’s both terrifying and wonderful at the same time.

I never thought I’d be here, not with someone like him, not in a place like this. But here we are. And for once, I’m not scared of what happens next, I don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone, or fight for my rightful place. It is so naturally, and it is so good.

As we stand under the water, I can’t help but think about how far we’ve come. From that first day, when I could barely stand the sight of him, to now, when I can’t imagine being anywhere else but here. With him.

10:12am

I siton the edge of the bed, my hair still damp from the shower, and glance at Thorne. He’s leaning back against the pillows, looking more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him, but there’s still that undercurrent of business lingering between us. We both know we can’t avoid it much longer.

“So, should we reach out to Thom?” I ask, standing to grab my phone from the dresser and then sitting back down on the cornerof the bed. I put my hand on his bare foot, savoring the warmth from the shower still emanating from his skin.

Thorne sighs, running a hand through his wet hair. “I think we should reach out. We are here, things seem to be improving, let's give it a try. I don't think he can fault us for being eager to work.”

I nod, knowing he’s right. "Are you okay with me calling, or did you want to do it?" Normally I would just tell him I would call, but I see Thorne differently, more as a partner. I know he cares about this as much as I do, and now I know he is capable.

"You do it. You have a sexier voice." He laughs as he says it. I look at him with a sideways glance. "I'm serious. I think we stand a better chance of getting the meeting if you do it. It’s scientifically proven, men respond more favorably to women. Just saying.”

I roll my eyes and then look down at my phone, scrolling through my contacts. When I find Thom’s number I hover over it. “I’ll call him instead of texting. Feels more direct. Plus, I'd hate for him to miss out on this sexy voice.”

Thorne gives me a small nod of approval, and I hit the call button and simultaneously turn on the speaker. It takes a few rings before Thom picks up.

“Woodley!” he answers, his voice upbeat despite the situation. “I’m really sorry about yesterday. The internet going out threw everything off, but it looks like the birds are out, so I'm thinking we are through the worst of it.”

“It’s alright,” I reply, trying to keep my voice professional. “We were all dealing with the same storm. I’m just checking in to see if you think there’s any way we can meet today. It's stoppedsnowing here, but I don't know what the roads are like out there.”

There’s a pause on the other end before Thom speaks again. “The weather does seem to be letting up, and the good news is my internet is fully restored. I’ll need to check with the team, though. A few of them were hit harder by the storm and might still be without power.”

“Totally understandable,” I say, glancing at Thorne, who’s watching me intently. “We haven’t rescheduled our flights yet. And honestly, I’m not sure we’ll be able to get out today even if we wanted to. So, we’re still here and ready if you can make it happen.”

“Got it. Let me check with the team and get back to you within the hour,” Thom promises.

“Thanks, Thom. We’ll be waiting to hear from you,” I say, ending the call and setting my phone down on the bed.

Thorne raises an eyebrow, sitting up a little straighter. “Well, that went well, don't you think?”

“It's promising, for sure,” I respond, exhaling softly. “I think it will depend on where the others are with power. I couldn't gauge if he is going to try to do it via video call or if they will come in. Obviously, I hope the latter, but I think we should take what we can get.”

Thorne nods, not saying anything for a moment. I can tell he’s thinking, probably running through the same scenarios I am. But the difference today is the pressure doesn’t feel as suffocating.

“Perhaps we should celebrate?” he asks with a mischievous grin. With that, he jumps up and grabs me, pulling me down into the bed with him.

10:37am

We make our way downstairs,the scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon drawing us into the breakfast area. It’s quiet, so I’m guessing most of the guests are still in their rooms, savoring the warmth after the storm.

The dining room is cozy, with Christmas music playing softly in the background. There’s a fire crackling in the hearth, and the festive decorations around the hotel are starting to feel less like a reminder of the chaos and more like a welcome embrace.

Thorne grabs a couple of plates, and I follow, both of us apparently starving. We load up with scrambled eggs, sausages, and waffles. After the last few days, it feels like we haven’t had a proper meal in forever.

We sit down, and for the first time in days, everything feels easy. The silence isn’t heavy anymore—it’s comfortable, soothing, even. Thorne leans back in his chair, taking a bite of his food and grinning at me like we’ve been doing this forever.

“You’re not going to eat your bacon?” he asks, eyeing my plate.

I raise an eyebrow, pretending to guard it. “You have your own.”

“Yeah, but yours looks better,” he says with a playful grin. I can’t help but laugh.

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