Accidentally Under Your Tree (Grand Ridge Christmas #1)

9. Lizzy

After Christmas

I'd be goddamned if Will didn't fill out a cable-knit sweater like a cozy Greek God. He was all sweet, yet masculine charm with a puppy sleeping in his palm, its head nuzzled on his shoulder. The humane society director, Patricia, had gotten the shots she wanted of Will and Rose. Then she left us to cuddle with the two puppies for as long as we wanted.

"Please, take your time," Patricia said as she waved goodbye. "They need the socialization."

"Well, if they need it," Rose joked.

At the door, Patricia paused. A rare hesitant expression fit onto her face. "It might not be my place to say, but I see how you two make better friends."

With a wink in my direction, she left, closing the door behind her.

Like always, my eyes found Will. He was their favorite thing. A crease pressed between his eyebrows. His lips tilted to one side.

"Did Patricia just give you two her blessing?" Rose asked.

I snorted. "I wasn't asking for it, but I'll take it."

"She's good people."

I nodded. My butt was going numb from sitting on the tile floor, but I also had a sleeping puppy on my lap, and I didn't want to disturb her. She was lying on her back in the valley between my thighs, her paws flopped at her chest. Her little belly rose and fell with even breaths.

"Most people are," Will added.

"Let's not be hasty," I said, as Rose stated, "I'm gonna stop you right there."

We broke into silent laughter. It came to an abrupt stop when the puppy on my lap groaned.

"Maybe we can adopt her." Rose brushed her fingertips on the soft triangle ear. "She could be our show dog. Maybe that would get our show on a streaming service."

She'd remained silent about the midnight visit from Lawrence. Occasionally, I'd catch her with a thousand-yard stare as if she was considering removing one of her limbs. But she was still laboring under her thoughts alone.

"You think a dog is more enticing than the relationship roller coaster you've put your fans through?" I asked.

"Look at her."

She was a perfect little dog, a black lab mix with a wrinkled nose.

"You make a fine point," I conceded.

"Would you be really disappointed if we didn't get streaming?" Will gently unhooked a mini claw from his sweater.

Rose shrugged, but I suspected that she was faking her nonchalance. "I'd be disappointed. Not, like, crushed. You?"

His eyes shot to me, then to his toes.

Is he concerned about how it would affect me?

"Not crushed."

"I hope you two get it," I said.

"You do?" they asked at the same time.

For a moment, their shock made me feel guilty. Pushing it aside, I looked at them. "Of course I do. It still freaks me out to be…I don't know. Noticed. But I want you to have whatever you want. I'll be okay."

Rose leaned her head on my shoulder. "Thanks."

With the toe of his shoe, Will bopped my boot. He looked at me with his kind green eyes, and I felt like I was the cutest thing in the room.

I was already dreading tomorrow when they'd leave for Kansas City. They hadn't even left yet but I could feel the hole they'd leave behind. Even if it'd only be for a few weeks.

Moving back home had been fine, in an embarrassing blow to my ego kind of way. I couldn't wait to move again. Rose sent me Pinterest boards of bedroom styles we could do to my new room. Every one of them featuring a desk as the focal point.

"Someplace to show off your stationary collection," she explained. "Why would it be so pretty if you're not going to show it off?"

Why, indeed.

Once moving had signified the end of my old life. This time it was a beginning. One where Rose and I could be sisters. One where Will and I could continue to grow this connection between us. Our strange beginning was turning out to be the perfect way for us to start. I had evidence of his kindness and consistency, the lengths he would go for someone he cared for. It made trusting him so easy.

Will and Rose waved over their shoulders as they went through security. Convincing my arms to let him go had been the most challenging thing. Somehow, I'd done it—committing the beat of his heart and his clean scent to something deeper than memory. He was still in eyesight, but I missed him desperately.

Mom hooked an arm around my shoulders. "You two are cute."

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks, Mom."

"Let's go home."

It might have been rude to walk through the airport with my eyes cast down toward my phone, but I pulled it from my pocket anyway. With the notes app open, I started my packing list. A text came through, and a silly thrill shot through me.

Will: You packing yet?

I sent back a screen shot.

Me: I promised.

#

CHAPTER ONE

Epilogue

Epilogue

Lizzy

Will held out his hand for my coat. He hung it on a hook at the front entrance of his second-floor apartment. His place fit him so well. Industrial beamed ceiling with gleaming woodwork throughout. The small space thoughtfully utilized and cozy. He'd given me a tour of the wood shop on the main floor of his building. Downstairs, he'd seemed more comfortable than he was in his apartment.

His fingers twitched at his sides, and he licked his lips.

He gestured to the room. "This is my place."

"I like it," I said.

"It's not too…" Pink rose up his throat to his cheeks, and my heart ached.

"Too what?"

"I don't know." His biceps flexed distractingly as he rubbed at the back of his neck. After moving me into Rose's place the day before, he’d given me a kiss goodbye and not much more. And while we were on our 'first date' just a few moments ago, he'd behaved like a total gentleman. I had yet to jump his bones since arriving in Kansas City.

The rise and fall of his chest paired with the way his T-shirt matched the green of his eyes were almost too handsome to hear over. "Boring. Male. Small."

I scoffed. "You just helped me move from my parents’ house into my sister's. No. I'm not judging the size or decor of the space that you own. I do really like it, though."

The heel of my boot clicked on the tile floor by the front door. It took no time at all to close the space between us. I leaned against him, my hands resting on his chest.

His hands slid from my hips to the back pockets of my jeans. "I really like you in it."

For our date, he'd taken me to a barbecue place, claiming that it would change my life. It was really good. But considering how my life was going…I'd already made the changes I was interested in. Now, I was looking forward to some consistency—with Will firmly established in my usual routine.

Going up on my tiptoes, I placed a kiss on his neck just below his jaw. His stubble was rough on my lips. "Wanna give me a tour of your bedroom?"

"You don't want a drink first?"

I fell back onto my heels. Pursing my lips, I didn't even pretend to appreciate his suggestion. "Will, it has been a month and a half."

A cocky grin spread across his face. It would have been annoying if I didn't like him so much. "You've been keeping track?"

"Haven't you?" I demanded. "A. Month. And. A. Half. Since we had to be quiet in the basement. I've been surviving"—I lifted a haughty eyebrow—" admirably , on sexting, and solicited dick pics. Do you want me to beg?"

His eyebrows shot up, and he tilted his head to the side.

My mouth fell open, the corners pulled up. I slapped his chest in the most girlish way. "You do, don't you?"

"You bring out the weirdest sides of me." He kissed me deep and slow. I unraveled. My tight coils puddled in a tangle that didn't feel messy. On the contrary, the more I revealed to him, the more certain I was that he appreciated all my sharp edges and tightly wound threads.

The more certain I was that I loved him.

Breathing the words aloud was the simplest thing—so simple I forgot to feel anxious. "I love you."

He pulled back just far enough to meet my eyes. His voice was velvety and warm, and only for my ears as he said, "I love you too."

The most natural thing in the world.