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“Are you sure?”

"Positive."

“Okay. It’s settled. Now which room do you want to clean first?”

She looked hesitant. “You really don’t have to help me.”

“Yes, I do. I’m anxious to go get a Christmas tree, and with the two of us working together, we’ll get this work done in half the time.”

“Okay,” she said. “If you strip the bed, I’ll grab fresh linens.”

Together, they changed all three of the rooms. They didn’t get it done in half of the time, but they had succeeded in doing it in less time.

The part she liked best about them working together was that Shaun made it fun. He’d give her a hard time but in a teasing way. And she gave it back to him just as good as she got it.

All the while Mochi would sleep near the doorway until the sweeper got turned on. She did not like it. With a frown on her precious face, she’d scurry to the top of the stairs—a safe distance from the vacuum monster.

At one point, Leah reached for a dust cloth at the same time that Shaun reached for it. Their fingers touched, sending goosebumps racing her arms.

Their gazes met and held. She could get lost in his gray eyes. It was like he could see straight into her heart.

Her gaze dipped to his lips. Her heart beat faster. Her fingers tingled with her desire to reach out to him. She wondered what he’d do if she kissed him. Would he kiss her back?

Shaun cleared his throat. Her gaze lifted to find him arching a brow at her.

Immediately, heat pulsed up her neck and set her cheeks on fire. She’d been totally busted fantasizing about him. Her fingers closed around the dusting cloth. With the can of dusting spray in her other hand, she set off for the other side of the room.

But it wasn’t far enough away from him. She could sense him standing there, staring at her. She refused to look in his direction. She’d already embarrassed herself more than enough for one day.

Chapter Twenty

Who enjoyed housework?

Apparently, him. Of course, it might have had a lot to do with the company.

Shaun had truly enjoyed helping Leah straighten up the inn. In fact, he could get used to it. Too bad he lived hundreds of miles away. But he didn’t want to think about that at the moment. There would be time for reality to crush his happiness later—much later.

As they stood in the Christmas tree lot on the edge of Kringle Falls, a light snow began to fall. They’d looked at several trees so far. Leah was insistent that it had to be the perfect tree—whatever that was.

So, he stood off to the side and quietly waited while she debated between the final two trees. One was a Scotch pine and the other was a blue spruce. They would both do the job. He wasn’t sure why she was making such a big deal of it.

After several minutes, she turned to him. “I’ve decided.”

He stepped closer. “Which one shall it be?”

“The Scotch pine.” And yet her gaze continued to move between the two trees.

“Are you sure?”

She hesitated. “Yes.”

Then he had an idea. “Why don’t we get both of them?”

“Both?” Her eyes widened. “That seems a bit excessive.”

“You could have one in the inn and the other could go in your cottage.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” She hesitated once more, as though giving his suggestion due consideration. “No. Just the one.”