Page 119 of The Holiday Clause

He rambled off a list of things that he needed from the store and stuff that he wanted to do that day. If she didn’t cut him off, he’d go on forever.

“Okay, Dad. I’ll be there soon. Why don’t you go have your tea and commune with the cats? I’ll meet you in the sunroom in an hour.”

“Sounds good. And tell Greyson we’re going to get some weather this week. I feel it in my knees.”

“Will do.” She ended the call and turned to face Greyson. “Bodhi said to expect snow this week.”

He frowned. “There’s nothing in the forecast.” He grabbed his phone and waited for the signal to catch so the page could load. “Son of a bitch. How does he do that?”

“Is he right?”

“Yes. Two big storms. I swear that wasn’t on the Doppler yesterday.”

“Does that mean you’re going to be busy today?”

“According to this, it’s not starting until tomorrow night, but yes, I’m very busy today.”

“Oh.” Disappointment hit differently now that they were tearing down walls. “Will I see you?”

“I’d say yes, since I’ll be fixing the roofs on the cat shelters and whatever else Bodhi has on his list.”

Her heart swelled. “You don’t have to?—”

“Stop. I know I don’t have to. I’m doing it because I want to.”

Afraid she might say something too intense, she simply smiled and mouthed, “Thank you.”

“We should probably get moving.” Classic Greyson. He never wanted recognition for anything.

She glanced at his lap. “What about that?”

“I have a feeling that will remain an ongoing problem. At least for a while.”

They dressed with an easy intimacy that felt both natural and thrilling. She borrowed one of his flannel shirts, rolling up the sleeves, while he watched her with an intensity that made herskin tingle. Every mundane morning ritual felt charged with new meaning.

Wren had grown used to Greyson working at The Haven, but never in such an open, here-I-am-world manner. He had set up for work before she even drank her coffee, making himself right at home.

He arranged sawhorses into a makeshift work table on the sunny side of the parking lot. Used the outlets hidden behind furniture in the lobby to charge his tools. He even stashed his travel coffee thermos by the pot in the employee kitchen. Wren loved seeing him assume his territory in such an authoritative way. He even recruited Bodhi as his right hand, arming him with a set of work gloves, a carpenter pencil, and a notepad to make a list.

When Greyson sauntered into the lobby in his tool belt, Wren lost her train of thought. The weight of the tools made him move with a confident swagger that screamed competence and raw masculinity. The leather hung low on his hips, accentuating the lean strength of his build and drawing her eyes to places they shouldn’t wander during business hours.

“Um…” Lilly waited for her to finish her statement about the reservations, but she completely lost track of what she had been saying. “Hello?” Lilly tapped a finger on the counter. “Earth to Wren.”

“Huh?” She pulled her attention away from Greyson as he inspected a crack in the molding. “Sorry. I got distracted.”

“I’d say. What’s up with you today?”

Her cheeks heated like summer pavement. “Nothing. I just have a lot on my mind. This all looks great. You seem to have everything handled.” She rounded the desk to follow Greyson outside where he now rummaged in the back of his truck.

“But we didn’t go over the guest arrivals.”

“I’m sure everything will run smoothly.” Wren stepped outside in the frigid air, forgetting her coat. “Hey.”

He immediately stopped and turned. “Hey.”

They closed the distance like magnets, drawn to one another, but careful not to touch. If they did, nothing would pull them apart. An unspoken rule dictated that they would keep their personal life private for now.

She scuffed her foot over the pebbled landscape. “What are you working on?”