I smile back. “Thank fuck for that.”
After lunch,I rope Reed into helping string the outside lights up all over my house. He’s grumbling by the end of it, but his look of awe when I turn them all on is worth every moan he’s sent my way.
“Wow,” Reed says, voice soft like he doesn’t want to disturb the magic of this moment.
We’re stood at the bottom of my drive, looking back at the house, and I have to agree with him, it looks stunning. With Reed helping me, I might have gone a little overboard this year and added a few more lights than usual. They follow the roof and down either side of the house. The pathway round to the back of the house is all lit up too. But my absolute favourite thing outside has got to be the Christmas tree in my garden.
I remember telling Reed he should come see it when it was all decorated, I never thought he’d be decorating it with me. As we stand there watching the coloured lights fade in and out, Reed’s shoulder brushes mine and there’s a gentle ache in my chest that I do my best to ignore.
Then he leans in and whispers, “Thank you.”
Warm breath tickles the side of my neck, and I swallow back a groan. “What for?”
“For letting me stay with you. For making me feel welcome. And for this.” He gestures around us. “I didn’t really have the best Christmas last year, and I’d forgotten how much I love it.” He nudges my shoulder again. “Sothank youfor reminding me.”
“You’re welcome.” We stand and watch the lights for a little longer, but when Reed shivers for the third time, I decide it’s time to go back inside.
We get halfway to the door when my phone rings. Not my personal phone, but my on-call one. I groan, because a call out on a Sunday evening isn’t going to be anything easy. If it was, they’d wait until Monday morning.
And I’ve been enjoying my day with Reed. I’m not ready for it to end.
“Work?” Reed asks, glancing at my phone as I pull it out of my pocket.
“Yeah, sorry. I need to take this. I’m on call this weekend.”
“Of course.” He follows me inside as I answer the phone, kicking his shoes off just inside the door.
I keep mine on, searching for my car keys as I listen to the farmer from one of the local farms give me details of the problem. I love being a vet. I’ve wanted to be one ever since I was little, but got to say, I’m not a fan of being on call these days. Especially not when I could’ve been spending the evening with Reed.
He’s not your boyfriend, remember. You’re not dating.
That thought pulls me up short, because it’s true. Reed isn’t my boyfriend. I apparently seem to have forgotten that between putting up my tree and doing the outside lights. Maybe it’s just as well I’ve got to go out tonight. Some time and space away from Reed to get things in perspective.
I grab my bag and keys and pause in the doorway to the living room. The sight that greets me does nothing to dispel the cosy feelings I’ve got from our day together. Reed’s already curled up on the sofa, Frank on his lap and Kyla on the cushion next to him. Even Jen is stretched out on the floor in front of him.
Although she dutifully gets up and trots over to me when she sees me. I reach down and fuss her, smiling as her tail wags furiously.
I could get used to this.
The thought pops into my head, and it’s the push I need to get out of there. “Right. I’ll probably be back late, so I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Reed frowns. “You’ve not eaten anything since lunch.”
“I’ll grab a sandwich or something when I get back.” I give him a wave, pat Jen on the head, and leave before I say something stupid like, “Please be in my bed when I get back.”
The cold hits me as I step outside. I’m not sure if it’s the scene I’ve just left behind, but it seems so much chillier now I’m out here on my own. I can’t help but appreciate how lovely my house looks, though, as I give it one last glance before diving off.
I’m headed to a farm about twenty minutes away. They’ve got a problem with one of their cows, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a long, long night. Despite knowing that, I think of Reed curled up on my sofa, in my house, and I’m smiling as I set off down the road.
It’s wellinto the early hours when I finally leave the farm. I’ve done all I can for now. The next twenty-four hours will tell whether it’s a happy outcome or not. I’m going to keep everything crossed, I hate seeing any animal in distress.
I’m knackered but surprisingly awake as I drive home along the quiet roads. Probably due to the fact I’m fucking starving. It’s times like this I wished I lived in a city—greasy takeout sounds like an awesome idea, but there is absolutely zero chance of anything like that around here. A sandwich is about all I canlook forward to, but to be honest, I’m so hungry I’ll eat just about anything right now.
It’s strange to see my street in darkness as I turn onto it—I’m used to seeing all the houses decked with lights—but only the streetlights illuminate my way. It’s like everything is asleep.
Like Reed will be.
That thought makes me yawn and then smile as I imagine him all tucked up in bed. And that’s enough of that. I shake my head, determined not to follow that train of thought.
