“Of course not,” I lie. Oliviadidtell me that during the family reunion, catering staff would come in to handle the meal. But that’s just one day, and she hired me to be here for a week. I assumed that outside of Christmas Eve, when the reunion is scheduled, I reallywouldbe on my own.
“Even in the off season, there’s always a skeleton staff to keep things running,” Noah continues. He shoots me a look before shifting his eyes back to the road. “Even people who could watch the desk.”
I frown, a sense of unease pooling in my midsection. Olivia might have said this would be an easy gig, but she definitely made it seem necessary. Like I would be doing the Hawthornes a huge favor by staying at the farm.
And honestly, itfeelslike a favor. It’s December. Christmas is a week away, and I’ve given up time with friends, time with Alec and Evie and Juno and my parents. That’s no small thing, and Noah is making it seem like me being here is completely superfluous. Which, after the ordeal it’s been to get here, driving through the snow, getting stuck, having to be rescued, it grates on my nerves to think it’s all been for nothing.
“Are you saying I don’t need to be here?” I ask. “They’re paying me to be here for an entire week. I don’t think they’d do that if they didn’t need me.”
Noah stops the truck in front of an enormous white farmhouse, porch lights glowing through the snow. He unbuckles his seatbelt and opens his door. “I’ll get your bags. Try not to slip when you’re getting out.”
His lack of response has me huffing in indignation as I climb the porch stairs behind him, gripping the snow-covered railing despite the cold because I will not, under any circumstances, let myself fall in this man’s presence.
“Am I missing something?” I ask when I finally reach the top of the steps. A sharp gust of wind blows past, and I suck in a breath. Maybe it’s that the adrenaline that’s compelled me through the last thirty minutes has finally waned, but I suddenly feel exhausted. Exhausted andfreezing.“I feel like you’re annoyed that I’m here. But it’s not like I’m crashing a party. I was hired to be here. Are you just bugged that you had to rescue me?”
Noah’s expression shifts, and what looks like a hint of remorse passes behind his navy eyes. He breathes out a sigh. “Let’s get you inside, then I’ll explain.”
Three
I’m morethan a little curious about what Noah is going to explain, but I’m temporarily distracted as soon as we step inside the farmhouse.
Holy cow, this place is amazing. My gaze skates past the reception area to an enormous living room full of comfortable furniture and soft lamplight. A fire crackles in the hearth, but it’s mostly just embers now, and I have a sudden urge to walk over and put another log on the dying flame.
I would delay the hot shower I desperately need if it meant snuggling up down here. I’ve never seen any place look so cozy.
“Wow,” I say as I take it all in. “This place is great.”
Noah nods toward a wide stairway hugging the side of the room. “Your room is upstairs. Kitchen is that way, just past the dining room. You’ll have to do your own cooking, but a grocery service brings out the basics twice a week, so if there’s anything specific you want, you can add it to the list in the kitchen, and they’ll bring it next time they come.”
I nod. All of this feels familiar, though I’m suddenly wondering where Noah will eat. If I’ll ever run into him in the kitchen—assuming he’s staying here too. Which, maybe he isn’t?Maybe he’s just here to drop me off? “Olivia explained,” I say. “I don’t mind cooking.”
He tugs his gloves off and shoves them into the pocket of his coat before moving into the living room, where he crouches in front of the fireplace and reaches for the stack of wood sitting on the hearth.
I don’t want to stand too close to him, but it’s hard to resist the pull of the fire.
On the side table next to the couch, there’s a book and an empty glass, and it suddenly occurs to me that Noah was probably here, enjoying this room, when he had to retrieve me from the side of the road.Someoneclearly was, and who else would it be if not him?
I swallow against the sudden knot in my throat. Surely Olivia would have mentioned me sharing the farmhouse with someone else.
Then again, it’s areally bighouse. More like a hotel. I share hotels with strangers all the time, so maybe this won’t feel any different?
“So…are youlivingon the farm too? Or just working here?”
He looks up over his shoulder, dark blue eyes sparking in the firelight. “I have a room off the kitchen,” he says. “But I won’t be in your way.”
“I wasn’t worried about that,” I say a little too quickly, and he lifts an eyebrow.
Justoneeyebrow. Which makes him look devious and devilish but also annoyingly adorable.
“Fine,” I say. “I’m a little surprised Olivia didn’t mention there would be someone else here. But it’s a big house. I’m sure it will be…fine.”
He’s quiet for a moment while he stokes the fire, shifting and poking until the flames have sizably grown, then he stands, stepping out of the way and motioning for me to move closer. Hepushes his hands into his pockets and watches me, but I don’t even care. I’ll endure his inscrutable gaze if it means standing right here where the fire can thaw out the chill in my bones.
“Here,” he says, holding out his hand. “I’ll hang up your coat. You’re dripping snow.”
I look down, and, sure enough, there are water splotches all over the floor where I’m standing. “Oh. Thanks,” I say as I shrug it off my shoulders. He removes his own coat, then walks them both to a coatrack by the front door.
I’m not sure what happened when we came inside, but something shifted with Noah, the iciness to his demeanor melting away to reveal something a little different. It’s not like he’s suddenly emanating warmth, but he also isn’t glaring at me like he wishes he’d left me in the snow.
