“I haven’t checked out the place since you moved in. Am I interrupting anything?” he asks, his eyes drawn to Tanner as he helps Trip put away the snacks and drinks.
“We just got finished planning the Christmas Cleanup.”
“Perfect,” he says, rubbing his hands together. “I’ll make dinner.”
I’d complain, but I genuinely miss his home cooking.
“You just want to get your hands on the new kitchen appliances.”
“Would you rather cook?”
“Absolutely not,” I say, kissing the top of his head. He side-eyes me, knowing I only do it because I’m taller. Gently elbowing me in the ribs, he whistles as he walks into the kitchen.
In the meantime, Tanner is strapping on a black leather crossbody bag. Man purse? While he seemed upbeat during the meeting, his body language signals he’s about to go in the other direction.
I exchange a look with Trip, and he lifts his chin in Tanner’s direction.Say something, he mouths.
“Hey, uh, Tanner, I hear you just finished your first semester of college. How was it?”
His shoulders drop, and I immediately feel like an ass. Fuck. I was just thinking about the fact that he wasn’t present for his classes and was kicked out of his house. And because I’m such a brain trust, I just now put those two things together.
“Sorry—uh, sore subject?”
He grips his bag, avoiding eye contact. “Eh. Kinda. I didn’t do well this semester.”
“Oh. I’m sure you’ll do better in the spring.”
He shakes his head. “Probably going to try something else. I guess that’s what I’m doing with the volunteering? My uncle and I talked about it, and he didn’t think I’d get any good ideas just staring at the four walls. At least with this, I get to work outside, and maybe it’ll…I don’t know. Shake something loose?”
He sounds a little lost, and it tugs at my chest.
“Sounds like as good an idea as any,” I say, hoping I come across as encouraging. “Do you know if you’re going to sign up to work on Main Street or on the individual homes?”
Tanner wrinkles his nose. “I think I like the idea of smaller projects. So…the houses? I guess?”
He had good ideas and asked smart questions in our discussion, but now he’s suddenly ending every sentence as a question. It…hm. I want to use my thumb to press out the little line developing between his perfectly plucked and fluffed eyebrows.
I also want to order him to stand straight and look me in the eyes.
I step back instead.
“That sounds great, Tanner. I’ll be leading the house team. You’re so sweet—I know the folks we help will just love you.”
His pretty eyes widen at the compliment, and Trip clears his throat next to me. Ah yes. I’ve forgotten he’s standing right there and that he planned to lead the team on the houses while I led the Main Street team.
Grinning, Trip explains, “It’s not just Christmas decorations, either. We’ll help with any end-of-year celebration.”
“That sounds really, um, nice,” Tanner says, adjusting his shoulder strap. “I think I can do both weekends. Um. And maybe some weekday stuff if you need it?”
“Are you sure? It’s very physical work,” I say, giving into the ridiculous urge to widen my shoulders.
He flexes one of his arms, showing off defined muscles against a shirt the color of an Easter Peep. “I can handle hard work.”
I give him a once-over, enjoying the freckles across the bridge of his nose and the way his pale cheeks flush. While he’s not as muscular as I am, I bet he can knock out a few sets of push-ups. He’ll certainly be pretty to look at while we’re working.
“Sounds great. Maybe we can take on a few of the easier projects on Friday. That a good day for you to start?”
He nods. I reach out and pluck his cell phone from the pocket on his bag strap.
