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“Are you?”
She nodded. “Yep.”
He didn’t need any more encouragement than that. He grabbed the tray from her lap, set it on top of his dresser, and then he pounced, pinning her beneath him. “I didn’t know you liked woodworking so much.”
She threw her head back and laughed.
“Oh yes. Very much. I’d love to see what you’ve been working on.”
It was much laterwhen Lena gave him a kiss, told Copper to be a good boy, and left for the day, with a plan to ‘do the rounds’ and meet with the horse people in town. “Gotta start networking.” He knew she was right, but horses weren’t his scene. Not at all. And networking wasn’t his jam, either.
She was going to finish up her day at the Stock and Station Real Estate Agency. Apparently Hunter Sullivan had called while they’d been otherwise engaged, saying he had an offer to make, and no matter how curious Heath was about what he’d put into motion, it wasn’t his place to be a part of it. Especially if he was just a rebound. Lena might not think that’s what he was, but the fact was, she’d only just been dumped by her long-term boyfriend. She probably wasn’t ready for another relationship. Not that he did relationships either.
“Can I see your woodshop when I get back?” She smirked at him, and he wasn’t sure whether she meant his actual workshop or something else.
“Maybe.” He really meant yes. Because if she asked, he suspected he’d do most anything.
* * *
At the knockon his workshop door, Copper let out a lowwooffrom his spot on the door mat. Heath jerked upright, nearly dropping his sander and ruining the finish on the rocking horse he was working on. Adrenaline surged through him. No one knocked on his workshop door.
A voice called out.
“Heath? Are you and Coppy in there?”
He let out a long breath, trying to steady himself. His hands were shaking.
“Bloody hell, Lena. You nearly gave me a heart attack.” Truth was his heart was still doing weird shit in his chest.
“I’m sorry. I would’ve texted, but I don’t have your number…”
Her voice soothed him. Had, since that first night.One thing you can hear.
“We should fix that.” He went to the door, pulled it open, and there she was, back in the same outfit she’d worn the night they’d met: Santa hat, her Naughty and Nice tank top, and that skirt made of neck ties. Copper danced and wiggled between them, ecstatic she was home.
“Hi Coppy!” She bent to pet the dog, who licked her arm. Then she grabbed for Heath’s hand. “Come on! Put on a fresh shirt—preferably somethingfestive”—she pulled on him, trying to draw him out of his shop—“and meet me in my car.”
He didn’t move. He’d been in the flow of his work for the first time since Lena had arrived and he hadn’t realised how much time had passed. It was late. The sun was sinking towards the horizon, and she’d turned on the Christmas lights he’d hung: it was past time to quit for the day.
“What’s going on?”
She gave his hand another tug and smiled at him. “A surprise! Just… come with me?” Her voice was so sweet, with just a hint of doubt.
“All right, Christmas Girl.”
She clapped her hands, then glanced down, her eyes travelling his body. “But after you’ve changed.” Her eyes sparkled and her smile went sly as she tried to peer past him into his shop. “Unless you want to show me your wood—”
“Another time.” Earlier he’d been working on his own surprise for her, and it was sitting out, plain to see. He couldn’t let her inside. Not yet. “Let’s fix the problem of you not having my number.” He held his free hand out for her phone. “How were your meetings? I want to hear—”
She shook her head.
“Uh uh uh. You get ready, and we can swap numbers and stories on the way.” She ruffled Copper’s scruff. “Do you want to come too, buddy? Let’s get you dinner first.”
He madequick work of changing into a plain forest green t-shirt and clean shorts—not exactly festive, but festive wasn’t really his brand. Also not his brand: probably whatever she had planned. He was worried about what it might be, but he grabbed Copper a dog treat from Lena’s stash, then slipped out the front door and headed to Lena’s car. She’d already loaded the dog into the back seat and manoeuvered the car around so the passenger door was facing the walkway and she could pull out quickly.
“Lena, I—” Oily dread oozed through him. “Can you tell me what we’re doing, please?”
“Nope! That would ruin the surprise.” She gave him a wide smile. “Get in Grinch Guy. I promise it’s nothing scary.”
