He helped her push the box into the foyer and together they pulled out the three sections and the tree stand.
“These fake trees always look so sad squished up like this.” She fluffed out the branches like a pro while he went to retrieve the box of bulbs and gold star ornaments.
Rebecca pulled the gold ribbon out of the box and began weaving it expertly around and around until she reached the top.
“Does it look okay? Is this how Dorothy usually does it?”
“It looks perfect.”
“I think I might need to get some ribbon like this for my tree. It even has a cinnamon smell to it. Come here and smell this.”
Jay scoffed. “It never turns out well when someone says, ‘come here and smell this.’”
“What are you, twelve?” Rebecca grabbed his arm and dragged him over to the tree.
He took a small sniff. “Okay, it does smell a little like cinnamon, but that’s because it’s been stored with scented pinecones. They were bothering Annette’s allergies, so we threw them out last year.”
Rebecca studied him with an impish smile.
“What?”
“You shaved.”
“And you finally noticed.” He froze as her hand came up to rub against his jaw and chin. She really needed to stop doing that. It was the most distracting thing ever.
“Soft as a baby’s bottom.”
“That’s it, I’m growing it back out.”
She shrugged. “Go for it. You look good either way.” A touch of color rose in her cheeks, as if she realized how that sounded, and she went back to studiously adjusting the ribbon.
He put up the bulbs in an even pattern, trying not to react every time he moved around her and brushed against her hair or her soft silky shirt.
The sound of the front door jingling startled him, and he turned to see Clarissa bustling in. “Oh,” she stopped in her tracks as she saw them standing together in front of the tree. “Well, aren’t the two of you like something out of a Hallmark movie? Don’t let me interrupt you. I’m just grabbing my tablet. I left it on my desk.”
Jay sighed. It was probably for the best to be interrupted and get back to reality. He finished putting up the bulbs, going a lot faster than before, and Rebecca did the same with the stars. They both stepped back to get a better look when they finished.
Clarissa walked out and studied it as well. “She’ll love it. I swear, Dorothy is the most spoiled secretary ever.”
“Did you get a chance to go over those resumes?” Jay asked, partly out of curiosity, partly to throw her off her game. She was already looking between the two of them, calculation in her eyes.
“Yes. Marlise and I have a few job interviews set up for Wednesday. It will be nice to get the kind of help and personalized touch you seem to have here with Rebecca.” Her mouth curved into a wicked smile, and she tossed her hair over her shoulder as she turned to go. “Don’t forget to lock up.”
