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If Grace was annoyed by his interference, though, she didn't show it. Instead, her eyes sparkled with gratitude as she leaned against the table, letting her head fall back. "I can't even blame the small town for how friendly that lady was. She's from San Fransisco."
Tommy snorted. "I'm friendly, and I'm from Philly."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Yeah, and you probably moved here because they kicked you out for being too small-towney for them."
"Is that a word?"
"No," she huffed. "Anyway, thank you," she said, and Tommy felt every concern he'd had about stepping in wash away like the soapy water in Holly's sink.
"Any time," Tommy replied, an undeniable warmth in his chest.
He leaned in closer, catching a whiff of her soft, fresh perfume. It was intoxicating, and he couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to kiss her right then and there.
"You're okay?" he asked instead, not wanting a moment like that colored with unease from the redhead from San Fransisco.
"Yes, really. I appreciate you stepping in. Though, I think I'm gonna head upstairs before she realizes there's no one trying to be interviewed out there."
Tommy wrinkled his nose. "There are quite a few people in that room I sent her to. Maybe she'll just find someone and start asking questions."
Grace opened her mouth to continue the bout of banter that had Tommy hanging on her every smile, but then Holly dropped a pot in the sink with a deafening clang, and they jumped apart.
"Sorry!" Holly yelled out from behind the sink.
"Always something," Tommy muttered under his breath.
For the second time in one day, something had created distance between them in an alarming way, and it was starting to make him feel cursed. But he couldn't deny the amusement in Grace's eyes as she laughed softly at the situation.
Until she sighed and gestured toward the door. "I should go upstairs and get some planning done now that I'm staying longer."
A pang of disappointment settled in Tommy’s chest, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the fact that she was extending her stay. That was something, at least.
"I should probably head home, too. Early shift tomorrow," he said, offering her a smile.
As they walked toward the foyer, they neared the mistletoe hanging just inside the front door, and Tommy playfully steered them away from it. "Whoa, careful. This place is booby-trapped."
Grace laughed, her eyes shining with appreciation. "Wow, you're a real hero, huh?"
"Of course," he replied, winking just to see another one of those blushes he'd spotted last time he'd done it.
"Can I walk you out?" Grace offered, her voice soft and hesitant, and all he could do was nod before they grabbed their coats and stepped onto the cozy front porch.
Snowflakes danced through the air, illuminated by the soft glow of the porch lights. And as soon as the front door clicked shut behind them, the quiet night enveloped them in the kind of quiet that felt a little like they were standing in a snow globe.
"So," Tommy began, treading lightly, "do you know how long you're staying now?"
She shifted from foot to foot, not meeting his eyes. "I had a break coming up after the next town, so it might be a few weeks."
Tommy's heart leaped at the news, but he chose not to press her further, in case his enthusiasm scared her away. She almost seemed like a bird... a fearless and adventurous one, unless someone was trying to cage her in.
He had no idea how he could be so sure of that fact, considering how little he actually knew about her, but it was an instinct.
And healwaystrusted his instincts.
"Sounds great," he said softly, studying her. “Everything okay?"
“Yeah, why?”
“Just wanted to see if there was a reason you wanted to walk me out. And before you offer to walk me all the way home, keep in mind that it’d be pointless.”
