Page 127 of Holiday Friend Zones
Chasing Christmas
BY PIPER RAYNE
A Plain Daisy Ranch Romance
ChapterOne
SAYLOR
“Shit!”
“Watch your mouth or you’ll find coal in your stocking,” my mom says from the doorway, a red plaid blanket wrapped around her shoulders.The warm glow from inside spills onto the porch as she watches my near-death experience play out.
“It’s below freezing, and the cords are tangled like a labyrinth built by the Grinch.”My breath puffs out in little clouds as my fingers fumble with the stiff wires.
“I don’t understand why you’re risking your life up there in the first place.”
“We’re not going to be the bah humbug house on the block.”
“We never are.”
My knuckles ache as I force three strands apart, only for the rest to snarl into a knotted ball.“Son of a?—”
“Saylor!”
I ignore her, inching up on my tiptoes to hook the next strand over the gutter.The ladder wobbles and my stomach drops as it sways.
“Ohmygod.Ohmygod.Ohmygod?—”
I grab for the gutter.The cold metal bites into my palms and groans under my weight.The ladder clatters to the porch while my legs bicycle in the air.
Mom tilts her head, apparently entirely unbothered.“You look like Chevy Chase.”
“Could you maybe help?”I squeak, knuckles whitening.
“Help is coming.”How the hell is she so calm?
“I am seconds away from?—”
Instead of moving toward me, she waves.“Hi, Luke.”
I freeze.
“Drop.”
That deep, amused voice does something to my heart rate that has nothing to do with fear.Luke Moore stands on the porch.A glance over my shoulder.He’s wearing jeans, boots, and a flannel, holding a steaming mug of what I assume to be hot chocolate.His hair is damp like he just showered, whereas I look like a novice elf on their first day on the job.
“Maybe you can give her some pointers,” my mom calls over her shoulder as she retreats inside.“Going back to my Hallmark movie now.Hopefully, the hero got his head out of his ass.”
“Mom!”The door shuts, the warm light vanishing.I’m left with Luke, the cold, and the faint scent of pine from the wreath I bought yesterday from the Boy Scouts outside The Farm Fresh.
“Let her enjoy her movie,” he says, grinning.“Now… drop.”
“I’m fine.Just put the ladder back.”
“You don’t look fine.”He doesn’t move, which sends a trickle of irritation through me.
“Luke!”My boots scrape against the siding.“This is not the time to joke!”
