Page 63 of Just Add Mistletoe

Lori stepped out of Malcom’s arms just as Austin came around the corner.

“Oh, sorry,” he said with an innocent smile. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s fine,” Malcom said, joining him in the living room. Lori followed. “How far is the local dump?”

“About fifteen minutes.” Austin wiped at his sweaty brow.

“Should I drop you and Cal off first?” Malcom asked.

“Nah,” Austin said. “We’ll come and help unload. You can buy us dinner.”

“Sounds good.” Malcom said with a chuckle.

“I should be paying for your dinner,” she cut in.

“I’ve got it.” Malcom flashed a smile. “You could come with us, though.”

“I wish. I’m going to tape the kitchen in prep for painting, then head back to the store and help Marci close up.”

Malcom nodded.

“When are you putting this place on the market?” Austin asked.

“Next spring? You want to buy it and flip it?” she asked, half-teasing, but curious also.

“I was just thinking that maybe Malcom could rent the place from you,” he said. “You know, so it’s not vacant all that time.”

“But it’s in shambles,” Lori said. “Even before you guys showed up to tear out flooring and replace fixtures, the place was not livable.”

Austin shrugged. “He could throw down a mattress, and as long as the bathroom is working?”

Lori looked over at Malcom, expecting him to say he’d prefer other options. But he stood with his hands on his hips, looking about the place. “We could work out a trade,” he said in a thoughtful tone. “My handiwork in exchange for rent. Or I could outright pay rent. Whatever your parents want—that is, if you need their permission?”

“They’d probably be fine with it,” Lori said slowly. “I mean, more than fine. But you don’t have time to renovate a house in exchange for rent. You could stay here for free. I should have thought about it before. I just don’t think it’s all that livable.”

“Like Austin said, it has a working bathroom. And I’m assuming the furnace will kick on when it gets colder outside?”

“It works.” Lori huffed out a breath. “Maybe think about it. It would be a big change.”

“An upgrade from my trailer,” he said with a laugh. “I’m good with it if you’re good with it.”

Lori gazed at him for a moment, then glanced at Austin. Malcom really was planning on staying . . . it wasn’t until this moment that it truly sank in.

“I’m fine with it too,” she admitted.

“Great.” Malcom grinned. “I’ll move in tonight.”

And just like that, it was settled. Just like that, Lori’s life had taken another turn. She stood on the porch as she watched Malcom’s truck pull away with Cal and Austin, the truck bed full of torn-up flooring. What was happening to her life?

She stepped back inside to call her parents and tell them they now had a renter.

“That’s wonderful,” her mom gushed over the phone after being updated on how much work had been done today. “Dad’s golfing right now, but I’ll tell him as soon as he returns. I’m sure he’ll want to add to the list of repairs.”

“I’m still going to be doing as much as I can myself,” Lori said. “Malcom has a lot going on right now, so I’m not going to give him a giant list.”

Her mother chuckled. “He seems to really like you, Lori. I’m so happy about that. Is he coming for Thanksgiving?”

“I haven’t asked him yet,” she said.Wouldshe ask him? Her pulse sped up at the thought. Bringing him to meet her parents felt very . . . official.

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