Eliza and Lachlan entered the cottage the same way they came, their hands pressed against each other on the knob. The lock clicked its satisfaction, allowing them to pass through the threshold.
Inside, the house enveloped Eliza in warmth, clove, and cinnamon. It felt like she’d curled up inside an overly large hearth. Lachlan placed the tree in the corner beside the hearth,just where Isadora had been decorating the tree in her memory. At last, he stepped back with his hands on his hips to admire the placement. His gaze drifted to the sofa across the room, and he tilted his head. Eliza followed his line of sight.
Sitting on top of the velvet cushions were several containers, like a pile of wrapped presents waiting to be opened. A single red ornament fell onto the floor and landed with a soft clink next to Lachlan’s foot.
“I think the house wants us to decorate it,” he said.
The house’s fire snapped and crackled in response, casting shadows along the walls.
The boxes held several vintage ornaments, fresh home-made strings of oranges, glittering lights, and spools of expensive ribbon.
“I feel like we’re being watched,” Lachlan said, coming to Eliza’s side.
“We are,” corrected Eliza as she held up a Sugar Plum Fairy ornament. “You’d better be on your best behavior or else the house may hide your beloved sock collection.”
“Just not the ones with bells,” he said a little louder so the house would hear.
She handed him the ballerina ornament. “Start hanging. I’m trusting you not to mess up the aesthetic.”
“We’re going for an aesthetic, are we?”
“Always.”
He adjusted the lights, hanging them too far away from each other. “How’s this?”
“Absolutely not.” She came over to adjust his work. “There. Better.”
“That’s what you get for trusting me,” he said.
They fell into a rhythm, handing off the spool of string lights as they carefully hung them inside the tree. From the corner ofher eye, she saw Lachlan glance at her. All of a sudden, she felt like she didn’t know what to do with her hands.
“So, Snow,” he began. “What do you like to do with your free time? You know, other than baking and booking week-long gingerbread escapades?”
She continued, carefully placing the lights on the tree, thinking. “Well, there’s this little pub a few streets away from my flat. There’s a trivia night there every Thursday. Sounds so silly when I say it out loud.”
“Silly? What for?” he asked, seeming genuinely curious.
She scrunched her nose. “I don’t know. I guess not everyone is into those types of things. My ex wasn’t, at least.”
Lachlan huffed out a laugh, though it sounded anything but amused. “Not his idea of fun, is it? Pint in hand, pub quiz going, and the rugby game humming along in the background … Honestly, does this bloke enjoy living?”
Eliza rolled her eyes, passing off the string of lights his way. She hadn’t meant for this to take yet another Davis turn. So she steered the other way. “I also like to cycle. Well, spin classes. You know, where you go into a dark room that blares loud music. It’s basically like clubbing on a stationary bike.”
“No wonder your legs are so toned,” he said, rounding the tree to place the lights on the next set of branches. “Figured it must be from all the standing you do in the kitchen.”
Eliza blushed, thankful he was busy around the other side of the tree so he couldn’t see her face. She hadn’t realized he was paying attention. “Wait a minute. Were you checking me out?”
He poked his head out from the side of the tree. “Observing, admiring, checking out ... It’s all the same, really.”
With another eye-roll, she thrust out her hand for the Christmas lights. He handed them over, their fingertips brushing ever-so-slightly. “What doyoulike to do? You know,other than selling overpriced beach houses on the coast and admiring a stranger’s legs?”
“Plenty of things, Snow. Admiring your legs is a recent hobby of mine that I take very seriously, thank you very much.”
She shoved him, muttering, “Creep,” but she couldn’t stop the blush that continued to spread up her neck and into her cheeks.
“Used to play rugby with my mates,” Lachlan started. “I played for the University of Southampton until I got injured. Tore my ACL.”
She looked from Lachlan to the tree, swallowing hard. She didn’t know what to say, so she said the only thing she knew how to. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
