The tree glimmered under the twinkle lights, lopsided and over-decorated but perfect in that imperfect way small towns always were.
“It’s not bad,” I admitted.
Drew’s voice dropped, low and teasing. “You mean we make a good team?”
“I mean, you didn’t ruin it.”
He chuckled, eyes softening. “I’ll take that as a win.”
And maybe it was. Because for the first time since I’d arrived, I wasn’t thinking about leaving.
The fire popped, and he reached up to adjust a crooked ornament, his knuckles brushing mine again. This time, neither of us moved away.
Outside, snow kept falling.
Inside, I realized, maybe I wasn’t as immune to Reckless River, or Drew Benedict, as I liked to think.
Chapter Four
Drew
Here I was stringing the last of the garland along the back wall, pretending not to notice how close Melanie stood to the fire, cocoa mug in both hands, while she faked not looking at me.
She was doing a terrible job of faking it.
Lydia and Callum had just ducked out, which was code forwe’re leaving you two alone so you’ll finally kiss again and get it over with.
The moment they had left, The Rusty Stag felt a lot smaller.
I climbed down from the step stool and wiped my hands on a rag. “So. Looks like it’s just you and me again.”
Melanie gave a tiny laugh. “Don’t sound so thrilled.”
“Thrilled?” I moved past her to grab the next box of ornaments from the counter, making sure my shoulder brushed hers on the way. “I’m ecstatic.”
She shifted slightly but didn’t move away. “You’ve got a weird definition of ecstatic.”
“Probably.” I set the box down on the table beside her. “But you already knew that.”
Her lips quirked, just a hint of a smile, before she caught herself and took another sip of cocoa. She was wearing one of those oversized cream sweaters, the kind that made her look unfairly soft, and a pair of dark jeans tucked into boots that had clearly never met real snow. Her hair curled just enough at the ends to make me want to twist a strand around my finger.
Dangerous thoughts.
I pushed them aside or tried to.
I asked the locals sitting at the bar if they needed a refill, and they were fine.
“Need me to grab the rest of the decorations?” she asked.
“Only if you want to.”
“I don’t,” she said, setting her mug down, “but Lydia would haunt me if I didn’t help.”
“That’s the spirit.” I handed her a strand of silver garland. “Just loop it around the antlers over the mirror.”
“Are you sure that fish isn’t missing out on sparkly stuff?” She reached for it, and I let my fingers brush hers again.
On purpose this time. Her breath hitched, so soft I almost missed it.
