Page 63 of Born in the Spring

“This is boring,” Madison complains to her nanny as she steps up between us, slapping both hands onto the island top. “If you’re gonna talk about boys, at least include me.Wetalk about boys.”

Vanessa gives her a playful eye roll as I wonder how much this girl heard. “Youtalk about boys. Elara and I talk about men.”

I refrain from giving a serious eye roll at her subtle stresses ofman, and laugh instead when Madison retorts, “Same thing.”

Vanessa snorts a laugh and directs my new second favorite kid toward the door. “We’re going.”

“I’m going too,” I say as I rush up behind them for my jacket and boots. Break’s over.

I turn off the television, and in the sudden silence, Vanessa says low to me, “Nowyou’re moving forward.”

Twenty-Six

Jasper

“More to the left.”

The ladder creaks as Court shifts his weight to pull the string of lights more to the left over the door inside the main lodge.

“Back to the right,” I guide him next, and he moves them back to the right. “Too far. Back again.” He pulls the lights to the left. “Now up.”

His shoulders slump on a grunt, saying as he inspects, “You’re full of shit—”

My laugh cuts into his realization and he releases a mocking one as I deadpan, “You appreciate the crack.”

He lines up the lights even with the other side, having had them right the first time before I messed with him, then climbs down with a pointed twist of his ass. “Here’s a better one.”

I’m shifting my clipboard in my hands when the door opens, bringing in a rush of cold air, and Elara, snow in her hair, walking under the lights just as Court turns them on andstealing every bit of my attention. We haven’t seen each other much since this morning, not even a drive-by, and now her eyes are focused in on me too, like there’s nothing and no one else but us.

I mouth ahias she stops beside me, the sleeve of her jacket brushing against my arm, and she greets me back the same, something flirty to herhi. Like more of a biting motion that reminds me of the way she bit at my lip when I kissed her and how I can’t wait for her to do it again.

A kiss is really how I want to greet her. Every new first time seeing her in a day. But it shouldn’t feel like an ice breaker, and by the slight tension in her brows, she didn’t come find me to make out some more.

“Need some help?” She greets Court next once she notices him folding up the ladder.

“I think I’ve had enough,” he says, drawing out theIwith a stare at me. Elara recognizes hisdamn youlook and gives me a raised brow in question. I give her a wink that puckers her lips in amusement.

This woman has mewinking.

“I’ll take care of that,” I tell Court with a nod at the ladder, then at him, and he leans it up against the section of wall by the door.

We’ve all had a long day, but Mom’s was longer, so after closing, I bossed Court to hang the lights over the entrance, both inside and outside. He even added the big red bow. And I offered to stay behind and scope through this year’s Santa Claus to hire to skate with kids on the rink.

“I’m gonna get home,” he announces, taking my hint, then smiles at Elara. “Thanks for making this guy happy.” He gives my arm a pat with the back of his hand as he moves around meto leave, and Elara nods to the floor before looking back up at me.

“I told him,” I confirm to her next small puckered smile.

“I told her,” she confirms back, as I figured she would.

Myhimand Elara’sher.

“I’m not your best friend, Elara,” I say through a laugh, half a tease, until that declaration sparks in my chest as every truth I know and every need I’ve had of me being more. “I’m not your best friend at all.”

Her side-eyed skepticism is still cute as hell. “You are,” she argues as she moves to look at me head-on, an almost plea in her gaze that puts another spike in my heart rate, more stress that doesn’t calm with her next words. “So whatever happens, don’t take that from me.”

“Whatever happens? Are you questioning—”

“I’m not questioning my feelings for you,” she assures me, loosening the sudden knot in my throat as relief drowns my brief moment of old doubt.

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