Chapter 2 #2
He couldn’t help but be close to her as they did this.
The job took at least three hands, although Will knew he would’ve found a way to make it work even if he was alone.
Once again, her perfume and eyes entranced him.
For a second, he forgot what he was even trying to say.
Right, the stupid outfit. “I was just playing a joke on my family. I didn’t think anyone else would be here. ”
“It’s your family’s home, not mine,” she reminded him. “I’m just a guest.”
Just wasn’t a word he’d use, not with her.
He might choose plenty of other words, but he stuffed them away for now.
They’d only just met, after all, and it wouldn’t be long before he’d return to his own life.
But for the moment, at least, he could content himself with getting to know her more.
“Still, I’m sure you weren’t expecting Santa’s Male Review. ”
“Nope. Otherwise, I would’ve brought my dollar bills,” she teased. “It was actually a nice distraction. We’ll need to find something to cut the ends of those ties off with.” Her finger ran down the long end of the plastic tie that was left sticking out.
“Easy enough.” Will pulled out his pocketknife, something he carried at all times. With a little pressure on the plastic, he easily cut the long end off.
“Aren’t you handy?” Julie asked as they moved down to attach the garland further down the railing.
“It comes with the job. I’ve learned a lot over the years, and some of it was necessary for survival.” He folded the knife with one hand and pocketed it.
“Like when a fish attacks you with a knife?” she asked.
A smart woman with a sense of humor. How could he resist that?
Especially if she was so damn sexy. Will knew they all looked a little ridiculous in their Santa hats, but Julie even managed to pull that off.
“Precisely. A cod came after me with a bowie knife once. I barely made it out alive, but that was nothing compared to the swordfish I encountered out in the deep sea. He thought he was one of the Three Musketeers.”
“Someone really ought to do something about that,” she laughed.
Their hands brushed again as he fastened the next cable around the garland, and this time, Will thought he saw her react.
Her smile was a little wider. The spark in her eyes was a little brighter.
Maybe her laughter was even a little louder.
Could she feel it, too? Will knew there were differences between them, but it was hard to imagine she didn’t at least have an inkling as to what was happening here.
They moved down, and now her hip was nearly touching his leg as they secured the last of the wreath.
It was no more connection than what he’d get on a crowded elevator somewhere, yet he felt that zing of energy zipping through his body all over again.
“They’ve tried, but it’s pretty lawless out there. ”
She laughed again, and Will decided he wanted to do everything he could to hear that sound again. “You really are a good distraction.”
“From what?”
But the door slid open just then, and Stacey stepped out. “Wow, you two work fast.”
It took Will a second to realize she meant the garland, not whatever might or might not be happening between them. “We make a decent team.”
“Good, then you can take care of the banister,” Stacey suggested.
Will wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to spend more time with Julie.
Barney greeted him as he walked in through the back door, and he bent to rub the dog between the ears.
The sun was beginning to set, and someone was cooking in the kitchen again.
The house was warm and cozy, full of twinkling lights and laughter.
Much of the decorating had already been done, but he knew how his family was.
They would deck the halls until there wasn’t a single pinecone or glass bauble left to be hung.
“Stacey said you’re her best friend. How do the two of you know each other?
” he asked as they began a similar routine of hanging garland.
It was a bit different this time, since they were winding it around the banister as opposed to draping it every few feet.
As far as he was concerned, though, the method didn’t matter in the least.
“We worked together for a while, actually. We used to be at the same marketing firm. I was in charge of their IT department, and she was a hotshot marketing exec. We ended up having to put our heads together a few times to make sure everything was running smoothly, and we just hit it off. We stayed in touch even after I left for something a little less stressful. I guess we both did that, actually.” Julie looked past him, down the stairs.
Will turned to see Stacey kneeling in front of the tree.
She had an ornament in her hand and was telling Elijah something about it.
He couldn’t hear what it was from there, but the look on her face was soft and happy.
When he looked back at Julie, though, he saw something sad and wistful in her face.
“That doesn’t always happen when people change jobs. ”
Her attention snapped back to him, and some of that sadness had disappeared. “You’re right, but I’m glad it did.” Julie went up a few stairs.
They were nearly at the top now. He didn’t like thinking their little task was over, even though he knew this wouldn’t be his last chance to see her.
Stacey had already said Julie was staying with the Brighams for the holidays, just as he was, yet he felt a sense of impending loss as the roll of garland came to an end. “Me, too.”
“Why is that?” She stepped up onto the landing and turned at the top of the banister, holding the tail of the evergreen in place.
This time, when his hand touched hers, it was no accident.
She didn’t pull away, though, and Will could feel his bear pulsing within him.
“Because it means you’re here.” He let go of the cable tie he’d just secured and slid his hand over the back of hers and up her arm.
His other hand was around her waist in the matter of a moment as he pulled her toward him.
Julie’s body stiffened slightly in his sudden grasp, but it quickly melted against him.
Her eyes widened with shock, but he could see the desire glowing there behind those deep chocolate irises.
Will pressed his lips against hers and kissed the soft sweetness of her mouth.
Her nipples hardened underneath her satin blouse and pressed against his chest, which did no favors for the tightness of his jeans.
A single cue from his lips had her opening up to him, and his tongue slid easily against hers.
That spark of something special he’d been feeling ignited into flames, moving through every cell of his body as he clung to her.
“I’ve got more punch ready!” Paul’s deep voice rattled through the house.
That was enough to break the moment, and Will pulled back. He looked into Julie’s eyes as his hand cradled her jaw, and he let it linger there. “I guess we’d better get back downstairs.”