Page 32

Except soon enough, the world around him wasn’t gray—at least not solely. Instead, a bright blob of red was headed toward him, blond hair wisping out from underneath her green hat.

She looked like a Christmas postcard. Which wasnotappealing. Last night and the foolish offer he’d made had been ajoke.

He kept trying to make himself believe it.

Monica crossed the yard, overly wrapped up in coats and hats, her hands shoved deep into her pockets.

“Hey,” he greeted, because he wasn’t about to let her know he felt uncomfortable over the events of last night. Or that they stuck in his mind in glaring detail—wide, blue eyes, the way there’d been a moment of considering as they’d stood oh so damn close, and then the stuttering, shuddery way she’d turned him down.

His body didnottighten at the thought. He wouldn’t let it.

“Hey. Listen, I know it’s an inconvenience, but I was hoping we could run a few errands before we pick up the flowers. It’s hard to find the time to get into town, and I have a few Christmas things I need to pick up for my parents and Colin. If I’m unloading flowers right when I get back, I can hide the Colin stuff where he can’t snoop.”

Gabe scowled. He didn’t want extra time with this woman, but how could he argue with that? “Does he still believe in Santa?”

Monica’s mouth turned into something he might have labeled a pout on any other woman. On her it just made him think about, well… He wouldn’t let his mind go there.

“No. Some jerk-off in his kindergarten class spilled the beans and I couldn’t repair the damage. But I still like to pretend, especially because he gets to pretend to besoover it while practically screaming with joy over things.”

Gabe couldn’t help but smile. “Well, I’m driving.”

“Are you expecting me to argue? I hate driving up here. Why do you think I make Colin ride the bus?”

“Who’s going to pick him up?”

“The Lanes. Their daughter gets off at the same stop, and I think Colin has a little crush on her. They had to do a school project together, so he’s been over to their house a few times. Summer Lane is the sister of the man Rose’s sister is married to and whose cabin I’m renting.”

“I didn’t follow that.”

Monica waved a hand. “Doesn’t matter. Would you be up to leaving now?”

“And get out of sweeping duty? Yeah, let’s hit the road.” He might not want to spend quiet time in a truck with Monica, but his shoulder was screaming, and this was a way of getting out of the work without admitting that.

“So,” Monica began, studying him out of the corner of her eye as they headed for where the Revival Ranch truck was parked. “Feeling better?”

“Sure.”

“You certainly had a lot to drink.”

When he looked at her, he noticed that despite all those layers, he could see her cheeks were pink and her blue eyes were shifty.

This wasn’t about therapist stuff, which pleased him way more than it should have. “If this is your shitty way of asking if I remember last night, let me answer you plain. I remember everything.”

“Everything,” she echoed, staring at her feet as they stepped one after the other into the heavy snow.

He tried to fight off a grin. “Yeah, especially the way you threw yourself at me and I so politely declined.”

She stopped in her tracks and the sound that came out of her mouth was some amazing mix of outraged screech and threatening growl.

It really shouldn’t turn him on.

“Iturnedyoudown,” she said through clenched teeth, glaring up at him.

“Oh, right.” Gabe stroked his chin with his gloved hand as if he was going back over it in his head. Then he flashed her a grin he hoped would make her turn even more red. “Regret it yet?”

She stared at him openmouthed and then shook her head, something like a laugh escaping her mouth. “You are something else.”

“Doesn’t answer my question.”