Page 32 of Tinsel & Timber
“Where?”
“Here.” She reaches up, thumb brushing the edge of my jaw. It’s a quick, light touch, but it lingers longer than necessary.
“Got it,” she whispers,though her hand doesn’t move right away.
Our eyes lock.
I want to kiss her. But I know the minute I do, I’ll never make it back out to my truck to get the rest of the things for the tree.
She clears her throat and drops her hand, taking a sip of her mocha instead. “So, to what do I owe this big surprise?”
“I figured every house deserves a tree, and something to hang on it.”
Her expression softens again, a flicker of emotion passing through her eyes.
I quickly peck her cheek, then rush toward the door. “I’ll be right back.”
When I return with my hands filled with bags, she gasps. “Graham, you didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” I answer, simple and true.
She stares down at the bags, then back up at me, and that smile of hers—small and unguarded—hits me straight in the gut.
“You really did all this,” she murmurs. “Coffee, tree, ornaments…”
“I told you,” I say, shrugging one shoulder. “I like tradition.”
“Uh-huh.” She bites back a grin. “And do you always buy Christmas trees for women you’re arguing against in council meetings?”
“Hey, now. We haven’t argued in a council meeting. Yet.”
“Give it time,”she smirks. “Come on, Captain Heritage. Let’s see if we can make this tree stand up straight. It’s leaning a little to one side.”
She sets her coffee on the mantel and kneels by the stand, adjusting it with efficient little movements. I crouch beside her, steadying the trunk as she tightens the screws.
“Tell me when it’s straight,” she says.
“Left a little. No—your left.”
“That is my left.”
“Yourotherleft.”
She laughs. “You mean right?”
“I’m a historian, not a navigator.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
Her hair slips loose from its bun as she looks up at me, and I catch a whiff of vanilla and cinnamon. My heart gives a traitorous lurch.
“There,” she says finally. “Perfect.”
She sits back on her heels, surveying the tree with a look of satisfaction. “You’ve officially earned your lunch.”
“I wasn’t aware there was food involved in decorating a Christmas tree.”
“There’s always food involved,” she says, rising to her feet. “I made soup this morning so it would be ready in time fordinnerbut someone was a littleearly.”
