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“That’s what the real Jim said too.” Laughing, Paul finished the rest of his lunch and cleared away our trash. “All right. Show me this schematic of yours. How many extension cords are we talking about?”
“A couple,” I hedged as I handed over the lighting diagram. “But most of what we need is in this box. Plus the reindeer.”
“Can’t forget the reindeer.” He gave a crooked smile, and it was only for an instant, but his expression went as indulgent as it had been for the dog. My pulse skittered. That. I wanted more of that. And then the smile was gone, and he was all business again, handing me back the plans. “Here, let’s slide the reindeer and supplies out the guest room window.”
“Smart.” Carrying the storage tote, I followed him upstairs. He brought along the big box that held the reindeer cutouts. Using a pocketknife, he neatly unpacked all eight. Add another turn-on to my list because men who could expertly wield box cutters apparently did it for me. “Nice tool.”
“Thanks.” He smirked. “I had my dad’s old multipurpose knife for years. Rusty thing finally gave up the ghost, and Brandon got me this fancy one a few years back.”
“Nice brother.”
“Yep. Genius and nice. He got all the good genetics.” Chuckling, Paul placed the reindeer and their stands right outside the window. “Now we can get the ladder, but I’m leaving the window open just in case.”
“Sure you’re not the genius brother?” I asked as we trooped out to his garage.
“Ha. I’ve got the English grades that say otherwise, but it’s only common sense to have an escape route.” He opened the garage door to reveal an impressive array of power tools and renovation supplies. My zest for organization approved of the neat rows and orderly bins, although I could see where a better labeling system might improve things. “In fact, I’m gonna grab two ladders. We can’t both be stranded.”
“Oh, the gossip mill would love that. Trapped on a roof together. They’d have us engaged by dinner.”
Pausing mid-reach for his ladder, he made a strangled noise, and I rolled my eyes at his obvious panic.
“Breathe, Paul.” I clapped him on the shoulder before grabbing the second ladder. “No one’s proposing quite yet.”
“Like anyone other than Jim would put up with me.” He laughed, and so did I, even if I didn’t agree. He was a catch. He might not know it yet, but hell if I was going to tell him before I finished rescuing his holiday.
“You need gloves.” He thrust a pair of thick work gloves at me. Yup. He was such a catch. And him being oblivious somehow made him all the hotter.
“Thanks. I have some in my coat pocket, but these are better. I did wear my nonskid shoes for the roof.”
Paul cast a disapproving eye on my loafers. “Those aren’t work boots.”
“Nope, but I’ll be fine,” I assured him as we made our way around the house to the front roof.
“All right. Put me to work,” he demanded, surveying the ladders and the rest of our supplies that weren’t already on the roof. I did love how he seemed totally fine with my bossiness. In my experience, big, tough guys like him didn’t tolerate my take-charge attitude very well, but Paul was the perfect assistant, placing plastic hangers without argument, stringing lights, and meeting my every requirement, sometimes even before I asked.
“Going to need—”
“The black extension cord. On it.”
“This should be—”
“Farther to the left. You’re right. I’ll move it.” He was a marvel, and I wanted to do lights with him every year. I’d enjoyed decorating my place on my own, but working with another person was a whole different level of joy.
“Do we turn everything on now?” he asked as we finished securing the last strand. The air tasted like snow, but we’d had only a few rogue flakes find us up here on the roof so far.
“You’re eager. I like that.” I waggled my eyebrows at him, gratified at the flush that spread across his cheeks. I kept conveniently forgetting I wasn’t supposed to be flirting. He made it so darn easy though. And fun. “No lights yet. We need the reindeer for the full effect.”
“You’re the boss.” Returning to the window where we’d stashed them, he hefted the reindeer into place. “Hell. These things didn’t seem so heavy in the store.”
“Here. Let me help.” I reached out, but he waved me away.
“I’ve got it.” It was the first time in several hours he’d been short with me. Wait. We had been at this all afternoon. The light was starting to fade. I probably needed to feed him again.
“Let’s get these bolted down, then I’m going to fetch some cookies for while we admire the finished product.”
“I don’t need cookies.”
“Yes, you do.” Starting to get irritated, I turned to find the staple gun, but I misjudged my balance. Or maybe it was starting to ice up, and I hadn’t realized. Whatever the cause, I was sliding. My knees hit the roof, then the rest of me. My coat bunched up around my middle and my fingers scrambled for purchase. My pants caught on something rough, but it wasn’t enough to stop my slo-mo descent.
