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“Sounds good. See ya.”
I hang up as I get ready to turn into my driveway, and that’s when I spot Avery. She’s outside, trying to drag the ladder off of her front porch, and I bite back my excited grin as I climb out to help her.
FIVE
Avery
“Where are you going with that?”Pax calls to me as he crosses the front yard. I somehow forgot how tall and broad he is as he towers over me, his shadow covering me completely.
“I’m done with it for now, so I was going to put it away in the shed,” I tell him, pointing to the side of the house.
“I could have done that yesterday,” he says with an adorable frown and I wave him off.
“I’ve got it.”
He grunts and grabs the ladder from my hands, carrying it easily over to the shed behind my house.
“Thanks,” I say when he comes back to the front porch.
“No problem.”
I fall into step with him as he heads back to his car. He opens up the trunk and I gasp when I see the Christmas tree inside.
“You got more decorations?” I ask, practically vibrating with excitement. Did I really inspire him to spruce up his place for the holidays? I shove those thoughts into the back of my head. There’s no way he spent this much money on decorations for me. In fact, Pax doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who does anything unless he absolutely wants to.
“Oh, yeah,” he says, reaching past me to grab a few of the bags.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was blushing, but it must just be from the wind or the cold. I grab a few bags and follow him up to the front door. Pax lets us in and I look around as I trail him into the kitchen.
I didn’t get a very good view of the place yesterday. I had soot in my eyes and was too distracted by the sight of Pax to bother looking around his house.
It’s nice in a minimalist way. There are a few pictures on the walls, a couple of knick-knacks and mementos over the mantle, and that’s about it for personal touches. His living room has the typical bachelor pad staples. Leather couch, flat-screen TV, dark wood coffee table. It still feels inviting though. I can picture myself curled up on the couch with a fire going and a good book.
“I like your place,” I tell him as I set my bags down on the kitchen counter.
“Thanks.”
I head back outside with him, grabbing the last of the bags while he grabs the Christmas tree and closes the trunk.
“Where are you going to set the tree up?” I ask as I close the front door behind us.
Pax looks around the living room as if just considering it for the first time. It makes me sad to think he’s lived here for years and never had a tree. “I don’t know yet. Where do you think I should put it?”
“Hmm,” I say, turning in a circle and looking around the space. “Maybe over there in the corner by the window?”
He nods, heading that way with the box, and I head into the kitchen with the last of the bags.
“Want to help me decorate?” he asks, coming into the kitchen behind me.
I’m surprised and delighted by his offer. Maybe he’s not so aloof after all. “Sure!”
“I, uh…” He trails off, rubbing the back of his neck as if shy. This giant of a man never ceases to make me melt and smile. “I got you something,” he says, digging in one of the bags and pulling out a few boxes of hot chocolate and a can of whipped cream.
I just grin at him. That has to mean that he likes me, right? I wish that I could call Gwen and ask her for advice but we’re both virgins who have never so much as gone on a date.
I think that’s everything, but then Pax pulls out a package of candy canes, some salted caramel sauce, chocolate sprinkles, and extra marshmallows. He really went all out. My grin spreads into a cheesy smile, and I’m sure I’m blushing.
“Want me to make you a cup?”
