Page 287 of A Merry Mountain Christmas

“No, Iris. We haven’t dated and she genuinely likes you.” Both things were true. He couldn’t call their night together dating, and he wasn’t about to admit they’d hooked up. “And we have mutual friends, remember? She’s friends with River, Finn, and Addy.”

“Not Georgie?”

He hesitated. “I’m sure they’re friends too. But she and River and Finn have been hanging out for years. And the girls’ nights with Addy started this fall before you moved here.”

“Are you dating her now?”

“No. I’m not dating anyone.” But his heart sunk, because it was obvious the thought of him dating Maisie bothered her. “How about I hold the headboard upright so she can get a better idea of what it looks like?”

“That should help,” she said, slightly subdued. “I want it to be perfect for her.”

“Sometimes we can’t have perfect,” Jack said. “Sometimes we have to settle for second best. Especially if the people involved are doing the best they can.”

She gave him a long look. “Are you talking about you and me now?”

“Maybe,” he said with a shrug. “But it’s true just the same.”

She pushed out a sigh. “Lift up the headboard, and then I’ll go get her.”

“Okay.”

She went inside and he had the headboard upright by the time Iris walked out the door, tugging Maisie behind her. Maisie was covering her eyes with her fingertips and the dogs were jumping up on her, barking in excitement.

“If you let me trip, I’ll give you poop duty at the shelter for two solid weeks,” Maisie grumbled, but Jack heard the grin in her voice.

“I’m not going to let you trip,” Iris said in an exasperated tone as she led her down the steps. “Okay. Stop right there and look.”

Maisie dropped her hands and took in the furniture, showing no reaction.

Jack told himself he hadn’t picked it out for her, so he had nothing invested in this, but he found that wasn’t true. She’d said she was attached to the furniture in her house because of her parents, and this new set was vastly different from the stuff they’d hauled downstairs. What if she didn’t like it? Would she feel obligated to keep it? He didn’t want her to be unhappy.

But then a small smile lifted those kissable lips, and she glanced at him. Was she thinking about the new memories they could make in this bed? Was it wrong thathewas?

“Well?” Iris asked, obviously wanting her to like it too.

“Relax, kid,” Maisie said. “I like it.”

“Whew,” Iris said dramatically. “But obviously you can’t use your old bedspread. You need a new one. And curtains too. It’s a total redo.”

“Slow your roll,” Maisie said with a laugh. “One step at a time.”

“How about you help Maisie figure out how to redo her room, and she can help you with yours?” Jack suggested, trying to sound nonchalant. But Maisie and Iris were coming to mean something to each other. And he sensed both of them needed this.

Iris gave Maisie a questioning look, and Maisie shrugged in response. “I’m game if you are.”

Iris hesitated. “Okay, but we do your room first.”

Maisie snorted. “That’s a load of crap. We’ll do it at the same time. Now let’s eat this disgusting pizza combination that your brother picked out, then haul the furniture upstairs.” She turned around to head inside, calling over her shoulder, “You’re lucky I’m letting you eat before you finish the job.”

“Hey!” Iris said as she followed her inside. “We paid for it!”

Jack laughed, loving that Iris liked her so much, not that he was surprised. Maybe the idea of the two of them dating would grow on her.

They grabbed slices of pizza as they sat around Maisie’s table, the two women giving Jack grief about requesting pineapple, although Maisie conceded it wasn’t that bad. But the best part was that Iris was acting happy. Genuinely happy. Maisie was obviously good for her.

When they finished eating, they hauled the new furniture in, which was a lot sturdier than the stuff they’d brought down to the living room. The nightstands, headboard, frame and even the mattress and box spring had gone up okay, but the dresser was tougher. They had to stop multiple times for Maisie and Iris to shift their grip or take a break before they got it up the stairs and into the room.

They’d just gotten the dresser in place when Jack’s phone rang. He fished it out of his back pocket, surprised when he saw Adalia’s name on the screen. She usually texted.

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