Page 22 of Rebel Without a Claus
“That’s not what your mom says,” Pam adds. “Something about how this is the lodge’s chance to get out of debt?”
The door jingles, and I look up just as Luke strides in, carrying another delivery box. He looks as effortless as ever—broad shoulders, flannel slightly unbuttoned, hair tousled in a way that makes me suspect he just ran a hand through it.
“Morning,” he says, his voice rough with sleep.
I hold out one of the coffees toward him praying that he didn’t hear anything Pam just said. “Figured you could use this.”
His eyebrows lift slightly before he takes it, his fingers brushing mine. “You get this just for me?”
“No, I got it for theothergrumpy reindeer farmer in town,” I tease.
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Well, thanks.”
I shrug. “It’s the least I could do.”
Luke and I hadn’t even talked about last night. It was like this giant elephant hanging out in the corner of the room with us all morning.
Mrs. Carter beams at us, eyes glinting with amusement. “I hope I’ll be seeing you two at the gingerbread house contest tonight.”
“Oh, I’m ready,” I say, straightening up. “And Iwillbe winning this one.”
Luke snorts. “Didn’t you lose senior year to an eight-year-old?”
I glare at him. “That kid was aprodigy.And I swear his mom helped.”
Pam pats my shoulder. “You’ve got this, sweetie. And wouldn’t it be fun if Luke joined you?”
Luke shakes his head immediately. “Pass.”
Pam pouts. “Oh, come on. What else do you have to do tonight?”
“Literally anything but that,” Luke grunts.
I roll my eyes. “He doesn’t do fun, Pam. He’s allergic to it.”
Luke takes a slow sip of his coffee, eyes twinkling. It doesn’t slip my notice how they flick briefly down my body, then jerk back to my eyes. “That so?”
Mrs. Carter sighs dramatically. “Shame. It would've been nice to see you two working together again.”
Pam grins. “Or, you know… competing against each other. That’d beinteresting,too.”
Luke glances at me, smirking. “You really think you stand a chance to win againstme?”
“No contest.” I cross my arms. “But you’re not even entering. You already said so.”
He lifts a shoulder. “Maybe I’ll show up just to watch you lose.”
My jaw drops, and he chuckles before turning back to his deliveries. The moment he’s out of earshot, Pam fans herself exaggeratedly. “Oh, honey. If that manisn’tinto you, I’ll eat my scarf.”
I sigh, grabbing the empty crate. “You might want to start seasoning it, then.”
But as I walk out the door, I can’t help but glance back at Luke, and I swear I catch him watching me.
And despite everything, the butterflies don’t go away.
CHAPTER 9
Luke
