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“My grandmother… ” I started but had to stop, the tears that filled my eyes ran down my cheeks, and clogged my throat.
He swiped at my tears with the pad of his thumb before he dropped his hand from my chin. “Did what she could.”
“Thank you,” I whispered as he stepped away from me. I didn’t try to stop him. Our conversation was likely the deepest he’d had in years and the shuttered look on his face was a reminder he was processing the moment. Others would see that he shut down, but I knew feelings of any type made him uncomfortable.
He raised a hand in acknowledgement and I forced my body to stay still and not throw myself at his back and hug him for as long as he’d let me. I wiped at my eyes and cleared my throat. “Don’t think because you finally told me that you did something nice for me, you can get out of decorating.”
A bark of surprised laughter filled the room, making me smile. “Of course not, Hazel. You are nothing if not ruthless when it comes to making sure our home is adequately prepared for the holidays.”
My heart fluttered at what I assumed was a slip of the tongue. He’d said our. In an effort to not call attention to it and keep things light I winked. “Now you’re getting it.”
His open palms reached out in front of him, as if beseeching me. “I am at your command. Tell me what we need to do next.”
My cheeks heated as the thought of saying those words back to him filled my mind. Followed quickly with images I shouldn’t be having right now. From only a few feet away, his eyes darkened as though he knew what I was thinking. I cleared my throat, not able to stop the raspy sound that came out. “We should wrap the cranberries around the tree.”
He nodded and picked up the strand that had started this whole oversharing moment. I reached out and grabbed the end of it. We wound it around the tree, keeping silent, except for his grunts of acknowledgment when I handed the string back to him. After placing three stands of it around the faux pine branches, I pointed to the box of ornaments. “We can add these next. When that’s done, we can finish decorating the mantle.”
“Got it.” We placed ornaments throughout the tree. He took care of the higher branches while I stuck to the middle and bottom.
I started humming Christmas songs as we worked. When his baritone joined in humming the same song I stopped abruptly. “What are you doing?”
“Well, if you need to ask clearly I’m doing it wrong,” he responded, a light teasing note to his voice. I liked this side of him.
“No, no, you sound great. It just surprised me.” I peeked my head around the tree to get a better look at him.
He shrugged, a faint smirk graced his lips. “I do know the songs even if I don’t sing them at the top of my lungs around the office.”
I frowned playfully at him. “It was just that one time. And only because Brenda from accounting said she knew more Christmas songs than I did.” I stopped hanging ornaments and began adding the small ceramic village houses to his mantle.
I jumped as he laughed loudly. “She should’ve known better.”
“There’s no question about that,” I grumbled.
Brenda and I were friendly, but I knew her unexpected trip to the office that day had been to see Jareth, and it had already set me on edge. When she threw out an off-hand comment about how well she knew every holiday song, I couldn’t help but challenge her. It was the most un-like me thing I’d ever done. But once the words came out I couldn’t back down.
I finished putting the last house up and plugged them into the power strip I’d hidden at the back. With a flick of my fingers, they all lit up. “Nice right?”
He glanced around the room, a faint lift at the corner of his lips, indicating he agreed.
I rubbed my hands together. “And now it’s time for a Christmas movie.”
He gave me a curt nod. “Perhaps I can find the time—” His phone’s shrill ring sounded from his back pocket.
“Or not,” I sighed.
He gave me an apologetic glance before he looked at the phone. “I need to take this.”
“I get it.” I wrapped my arms around my waist.
Jareth wasn’t even listening to me any longer. He turned on his heel and strode from the room, barking demands at whoever was on the other line. His voice echoed through the hall, allowing me to hear random words until the door of his office slammed shut.
As I picked up the decorations we didn’t use and stored them inside the correct totes, I thought about what else he and I could do to get ready for the fast approaching holiday.
Because no matter what he thought he needed, I knew better.
CHAPTER 8
Jareth
