Both probably wondering why I’m still in my car and not inside feeding them. Jen barks as if to hurry me along, and it’s enough to snap me out of whatever this mood is.
It’ll all work out.
We’ll go get the tree, Pete will flirt, what happens after that is none of my business.
It’ll be fine.
“Jerry, Reed!”Pete booms as he looks up and sees us walking towards his makeshift office at the Christmas tree farm. It’s more like a massive shed, but it serves its purpose.
“Pete.”
His gaze sweeps over Reed, more appreciative than I’d like, but then I focus on the hat Reed’s wearing—the one I gave him—and a little smugness creeps in.
“Hey.” Reed smiles at him. “This place is massive.”
Pete beams. “Bigger than you were expecting?”
Is there innuendo in that question? I narrow my eyes, and Pete catches me. His knowing smirk says I’m not subtle and he’s on to me. Thankfully Reed is oblivious to my sudden caveman-like tendencies, and since I want it to stay that way, I force myself to behave.
“Definitely.” Reed is busy looking around, taking it all in.
And I have to grudgingly admit, it is a big place full of every tree you could ever want. Cut your own or ready cut. Tall, short, no-drop trees, and several types of stands to put them in. There’s also a display of wreaths that catches my eye. We’ll definitely be looking at those later.
“Cutting your own or?—”
“Nope.” I stop him, because no way am I faffing about with a fucking hand saw when someone else has already gone to the trouble of doing it for me. I’m about to ask where the trees he mentioned at the weekend are when Reed’s smile widens, as do his eyes.
“You can cut your own Christmas trees down?”
Pete’s delighted grin is huge and his gaze lands on me before switching to Reed. “Yeah. Would you like to have a go?”
Reed automatically looks to me, and I obviously don’t school my expression quickly enough because his face falls and he shoves his hands in his pockets. “Nah, that’s okay.”
Fuck. Now I feel like an arse.
I turn to Pete and give him the full force of my glare, but that only makes him grin wider. Then his gaze flicks back to Reed, and yeah, I’m not encouraging that either. “Pass me that fucking saw.”
He has the nerve to laugh.
“I thought you didn’t want to do that?” Reed’s eyes narrow.
“Only because it’s cold and I know you’re not used to it.” I smirk, and as predicted, Reed rolls his eyes, but his smile is back when Pete hands me the saw. “Cut-your-own trees are through there.” He points, like I haven’t been coming here for the last god knows how many years. “Just shout if you need a hand.” He directs that at Reed with a flirty wink, and I scowl at him behind Reed back, because I’m pretty sure he’s doing that shit on purpose.
“We’ll be fine,” I mutter and steer Reed away. I can hear Pete’s laughter all the way to the start of the trees.
Of which there are loads.
It’s not the first time I’ve cut my own, but it’s been a few years. I just hope I don’t make a tit of myself.
“What sort of size are you after?” Reed asks, and I snort—can’t help it. A dozen dirty remarks on the tip of my tongue.
“Um . . .”
“And what sort of thickness?”
Christ. I remember Sean coming here with Vic last year, before they got together. There’s no wonder they were fucking soon after. He should’ve warned me. I stop and turn to face Reed, unable to hide the big smile I’m sporting.
He stares at me, and I see the minute it clicks, and his cheeks flame, but there’s a sparkle in his eyes too and a slow smirk appears. “Mind out of the gutter, Cooper.”
