Presley looked at West as if this was a problem for the two of them to figure out, but it absolutely wasn’t. This was why they’d hired me.
“We’ve got this,” I told her. “Luke and I will discuss how to staff it. You two aren’t allowed to worry about any of it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Presley said.
“I can get a couple of my crew to work some overtime that night. Some of them are asking for extra hours.” Luke shot me a half grin, and I tried to decipher the message in his eyes.
Was it conspiratorial or smug?
Stop overthinking it.
“That might work,” I said. “We can discuss it later. We’ve achieved our goal for tonight. The ceremony site is decided. I know you two want to get to your date.”
“You got that right.” West put his arm around Presley and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’ve worked up an appetite.”
With the look they exchanged, I was pretty sure I knew what he had an appetite for, and it wasn’t food.
“Any chance you can stay a few minutes, Magnolia, so we can discuss options for some of the barn details?”
I nearly told him I needed to drive Presley home, but then I remembered West had his vehicle, and they planned to ride together.
So much for an easy out.
Just another business meeting, I reminded myself. Surely I could keep up the act that his kiss hadn’t messed with me for another half hour.
I checked the time on my phone as if I had plans for later. “I can do that,” I said, hiding my nervousness. I turned to Presley and West. “You two enjoy your date.”
“Oh, we will.” Presley shared another heated look with West.
“Night, Magnolia,” West said.
“Thanks for the help tonight,” Luke told West.
“You bet. You kids be good.” West grinned.
As the men discussed when West could help again, I gave Presley a quick side hug, then headed to the other end of the barn to think about decorations for Christmas Eve now that we had an actual enclosed space to envision.
I was staring at one of the corners, imagining a multitree display with white lights, silver stars, and thick, gauzy silver ribbon for garland.
“You’re staring at the wall,” Luke said as he came up beside me.
“I’m seeing more than the wall,” I replied. “I’m thinking of a cluster of fresh-cut pine trees in this corner and that one. Maybe five per corner? Would that be feasible?”
His attention was on me instead of the stark, drywalled corner. He chuckled. “We have trees if that’s what you’re asking.”
“What do you think of the idea?”
“I think you’re avoiding looking at me.”
I pointedly pivoted enough to look him in the eye. “What do you think of my idea?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. I’m not the bride.”
“You’d make such a pretty one though.”
“Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?”
So much for keeping up my business front. My gaze wandered to his again and found his intent brown eyes locked on me.
