“Diego,” he said, sounding slightly breathless. “What are you doing here?”
“Dolly called. Said she needed help with some heavy lifting.” I stepped further into the room, closing the distance between us. “Looks like you could use some backup with those lights.”
Hayden glanced down at the tangled mess in his hands and sighed. “They’re impossible. I’ve been at it for twenty minutes and they’ve only gotten worse.”
“Here,” I offered, holding out my hands. “Let me try.”
He hesitated for just a moment before passing the lights over, his fingers brushing against mine in the process. That small touch sent electricity up my arm, and from the way his breath hitched, I suspected he felt it too.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, stepping down from the ladder. “Aunt Dolly has about six more boxes of these that need untangling before tomorrow.”
I set to work on the knot, grateful to have something to do with my hands. “So... how’ve you been?” I asked, trying to sound casual and probably failing miserably.
“Fine,” he replied, too quickly. “Busy. Helping Dolly with the Christmas Eve preparations.” He gestured vaguely around the storeroom, which was filled with boxes of decorations. “You?”
“Same. Just... working.” I didn’t mention that I’d been distracted as hell, or that Lucas was slightly irritated I’d backed over his new white fence yesterday when I wasn’t paying attention. “The ranch is pretty busy with the last of the Christmas guests starting to arrive. We’ve got a big party planned on Christmas day, so everything is getting a little crazy. So... yeah. Been keeping busy.” I fidgeted with the lights, already making progress on the tangle while trying not to stare at him too obviously.
Hayden shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his fingers playing with the hem of his sweater. “I heard about the white fence incident.”
I winced. “News travels fast.”
“Small town.” He shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. “I’m pretty sure Dolly and Mabel talk every single day.”
The silence stretched between us, filled with all the things neither of us seemed ready to say. I focused on the lights, methodically working through the knots while stealing glances at him. He looked tired, with faint shadows under his eyes that made me wonder if he’d been sleeping as poorly as I had.
“I missed you,” I blurted out, unable to hold it in any longer.
Hayden’s eyes widened slightly, his cheeks flushing pink beneath those freckles. “Oh.”
Not exactly the response I was hoping for.
“Sorry,” I said quickly, returning my attention to the lights. “I didn’t mean to make things awkward. I just... it’s the truth.”
He was quiet for so long I thought he might not respond at all. Then, so softly I almost missed it. “I missed you too.”
My heart did a ridiculous little flip in my chest. I looked up to find him watching me, something vulnerable in his expression.
“Yeah?” I couldn’t help the hopeful note in my voice.
“Yeah.” He nodded, then quickly added, “But that doesn’t change anything. I still need to figure things out.”
“I know,” I assured him, finally untangling the last knot in the string of lights. “No pressure. I’m just happy to see you.”
I handed him the now-untangled lights, and our fingers brushed again. This time, neither of us pulled away immediately.
“Thanks,” he said, his voice a little rougher than before. “For the lights, I mean.”
“Anytime, Freckles.” The nickname slipped out before I could stop it.
Instead of the eyeroll I expected, a small smile tugged at his lips. “There are five more boxes over there,” he said, gesturing to the corner. “Think you can work your magic on those too?”
“For you? Absolutely.”
We fell into a comfortable rhythm after that, me untangling lights while Hayden sorted through other decorations. The tension between us didn’t disappear entirely, but it shifted into something more manageable, almost pleasant. Every now and then our eyes would meet, and that spark would flare up again, making my breath catch.
“So, what’s this errand Dolly needs me to do?” I asked, breaking a comfortable silence.
“I’m not?—”
