Oh no, what is she up to... ?
Chapter
Fifteen
CELESTE
Pacing by the tree, I check the clock for the third time in five minutes. With my hot water fixed—thanks to Quinton’s endless source of contacts—I’m showered, fed, and waiting on my Christmas stylist like I’m on hold for a damn lung transplant.
My gut flips, sending wild butterflies throughout my stomach.
Shit.
I wring my hands as I turn back and stalk around the room, righting the few trinkets and pieces of decor this old house has had since, well, forever. I fluff up the aged curtains, tying them back with the decorative white ropes that hang from small gold hooks by the window frame.
I tug at the fabric when it refuses to budge along the curtain rod.
Dust and crumbling drywall fall from above. With a groan, the rod plummets to the floor. I jump back, barely missing a curtain rod-induced concussion.
“Oh shit!”
So much for my Christmas decorating attempts.
The front door rattles under a heavy knock.
Great, just great.The living room is a mess...
Shaking my head, I walk to the door and open it to find Maisey standing in front of her father, who is currently straining to hold up a giant box. Said box has tinsel spewing from it. A split down one corner reveals glittering baubles.
“What is all this?” I say, opening the door and stepping aside.
Quinton walks into the living room. He stops short when he spies the tree and the fallen curtain rod, loosing a low chuckle. “Damn, CC. You really do need our help.”
“Step aside, Daddy.” Maise looks up at him so seriously. “I got this.”
He drops the box in the center of the room and salutes his daughter before coming to stand beside me. “You sure you know what you signed up for?”
“Yes? No . . .”
“Hank watching the game?”
“Yep. In the TV room.”
He pats me on the shoulder like some long-lost bud. “Godspeed, baby.”
His face is all empathy that twists to amusement as he wanders down the hallway.
Ass.
And... now that’s the only place my gaze wants to be. His perfect, jean-clad ass saunters away from me like he knows I’m watching. The balls on this guy. I chuckle and he glances over his shoulder. This time, it’s him who hesitates by the door.
His focus is trained on me as his throat bobs.
Dammit.
For a heartbeat I forget he’s a single dad, the annoying guy next door, and a constant reminder of how incapable I am as a grown-ass adult. And I just...seehim.
My chest plummets as the need to be anywhere but out of his orbit overwhelms m?—
