by Ami Weaver
Josh set the ladder he’d been carrying down on the driveway with a clank. “Most of it. You’ll see. We’ve got it down pretty good after all these years.” He reached over and tugged lightly on her sleeve. “And this year we’ve got you. An extra set of hands. Bonus.”
“Okay.” Some of her skepticism must have shown in her voice because he gave her an amused side glance.
“Trust me.” His words were spoken lightly but they reverberated in her heart. Of course, he wasn’t talking about anything other than hanging Christmas lights. It spoke volumes about her state of mind that she’d even wished otherwise.
“I’ll take your word for it,” she said, keeping her tone equally light. “Where do we start?”
Josh picked up the clipboard holding instruction sheets and gestured for her to come closer. She stepped up next to him and tried to ignore the flare of awareness. “Trav and I will start on the house. That takes some time because of all the peaks. You and Marta can start on the porch and shrubs. It seems like a lot but all the clips and hooks are in place and we’ll be almost done by dinner. Those trees out front are the hardest because the branches are wrapped in lights. We might not get those done till tomorrow.”
Standing this close to him, staring at the written instructions she wasn’t seeing thanks to her brain shorting out at his proximity, she was close enough that their arms touched. She could feel his heat through her down jacket.
Actually, that was the heat he generated in her.
She looked up at him, tried to shut the unwelcome thoughts down. “You really enjoy this.”
“I do.” He set the clipboard down. “My mom is the one who did all this organizing. She loves the Light Parade. I do it mostly for her, and Cody, too, now.”
Maggie’s heart, already on the line, tipped a little further. A man who would go to all this trouble for his mom and son was a man worth loving.
The thought stopped her breath.
Not willing to examine it too closely, she cleared her throat. “I think that’s wonderful. I can’t wait to see it.”
He looked straight into her eyes, and just like that she was helpless to move. Could he see her feelings? His gaze dropped to her mouth. Involuntarily, she ran her tongue over her lower lip and saw his eyes darken.
The front door banged open and Cody flew out. Maggie took a small step backward and Josh did the same. They needed to stop falling into these small moments of longing and want. She didn’t know how to avoid them, unless she flat-out avoided Josh.
Not really an option when they lived in the same house.
Cody trotted over, carrying with him the scent of roasting turkey from the house. “Are they here yet?”
Josh laughed. “Code, do you see the car?”
The little boy peered around them and frowned. “No.”
“Soon,” Josh promised. “Were you helping Gramma?”
Ellen had arrived before dawn, bearing all the necessities for the dinner. She’d turned down Maggie’s offer of help, explaining she had the whole thing down to a science. Maggie was inclined to believe her.
“Yeah,” Cody said. “I stirred the stuffin’.”
“Awesome,” Maggie said with a smile. “I bet it will be yummy.”
Right then, the car pulled in the driveway, and Cody’s attention shifted. She stood back as the friends greeted each other.
“Morning, Maggie,” Trav said as he came to stand beside her. “How’s the car running?”
“Just fine,” she said with a smile. She liked this man, with his friendly manner and warmth. “Thanks again for the help.”
Trav waved her off. “Don’t mention it. Glad it was a simple fix.”
Marta stopped, carrying a basket. “Maggie, good to see you. Is my husband boring you with car talk?”
She gave a little laugh. “No.”
“Good. I’ll be back out in a minute. Honey, try to keep the kids off the ladders. JT wants to see the view from the roof.” She gave Maggie a little smile and walked away.
“Kids,” Trav muttered. “Where do they get their ideas?”
Maggie called the boys over. When they showed up, she opened the box marked “front” and pulled out some net lights. “You guys want to help me do the bushes? I could use the extra hands.”
The little boys put plenty of enthusiasm into the task and held her full attention so she didn’t keep looking to see what Josh was doing. She surreptitiously straightened their most recent bush while they tackled the next.
Marta joined them. “Oh, good! More helpers. Looking good, boys.” They beamed at her praise and went back to work.
To Maggie, she said quietly, watching as they squabbled a bit over who had more of the net, “Did you know decorating for Christmas was a contact sport?”
Maggie sputtered a laugh. “So I’m learning.”
When the boys finished, Marta sent them into the backyard to play. As Maggie turned to see them round the house, her attention flew up the ladder to Josh, who was replacing clips and hanging lights. She had a great view of his jean-clad rear. Even from the ground she could see how well the denim hugged his butt and thighs. She tore her gaze away when Marta spoke.
“What was that?” Embarrassed to be caught, and by someone who knew Josh as well as Marta did to boot, she met Marta’s gaze with trepidation.
“Like the view?” she asked, humor sparkling in her dark eyes.
Maggie’s face heated. No easy feat considering they were standing outside in twenty-degree weather. “I imagine any woman would,” she managed to say.
Marta shrugged as she turned to walk back to the lights. “Possibly. But you’re not just any woman to him.”
Maggie’s heart gave a kick. “I’m not sure what that means,” she said carefully.
“Just what I said,” Marta said. “Let’s get this porch done.”
The conversation stayed away from heavy topics for the duration, for which Maggie was grateful. Ellen came out after a while with coffee. Both men came off the ladders and Maggie gratefully accepted a cup. “I didn’t realize I was cold till right now.”
Behind her, Josh gave a low chuckle. His body blocked the wind and made her feel an entirely different kind of heat. She longed to lean back into his solid warmth, the way Marta did with Trav.
She inched forward instead. No point in torturing herself.
The wind was cold and there was the snap of snow in the air. Josh eyed the clouds as he stepped around her to examine the sky.
“Think that will hold off?”
Trav snorted. “With our luck, probably not. Wouldn’t be the first time. At least it won’t be rain.”
“All right. Break’s over,” Josh said, setting his empty cup on the porch floor. “Let’s get this done.”
When the men left, Maggie and Marta turned their attention to the rest of their task and moved to the smaller trees on the edge of the yard. Marta set the plastic bin down and pulled out a coil of lights and an extension cord. “These are the easier trees. They don’t get wrapped the same way the ones closer to the street do. Just run a string through each one. We can get them done pretty quickly.”
Maggie took a light string. “How long have you worked for Josh?” The question seemed safe enough, small talk between two people who were getting to know each other.
Marta climbed up the stepladder to reach the higher branches of the short tree. “Eight years. He hired me straight out of nursing school. We went to high school together before that. He actually introduced me to Trav.”
“Before or after high school?”
Marta laughed. “After. We’ve been together ever since.” She looked down and caught Maggie’s eye. “You’d be good for him, you know.”
“Ah. Well—” Just like that the conversation spun away from her. She fought to keep her eyes on the woman in front of her and not seek Josh out like she knew she’d been doing all day. “I’m the nanny. It’s not a possibility.” She knew Marta would see though her flimsy excuse in a heartbeat.
Marta tossed the last of the string over the top of the tree and climbed down the ladder. “No? That’s too bad.”
They started for the next tree, Maggie manning the ladder this time. From the ground Marta said quietly, “I think you’re fooling yourself, Maggie.”
Maggie bobbled the lights. “What?”
“It’s none of my business. We don’t know each other well. But I do know Josh pretty well. Even if I didn’t, I’d have to be blind not to notice how the two of you keep looking at each other when you think no one’s looking.” She looked up at Maggie. “You have your reasons for not pursuing it. He has his own. I get that. That’s your business. But you should acknowledge what’s there.”
Maggie kept her attention on the lights she was draping with now-shaking hands. She’d had no idea she was so transparent. “Well, that’s a bit of a problem. I’m his employee, Marta. I can admit he’s a very good-looking man—” complete understatement “—but I’m not up for a casual fling, much less a relationship, and I doubt he is, either. Plus Cody is in the house.” And I’m his sister-in-law. The best reason of all.
Marta watched her come back down the ladder. “I don’t think there’s anything casual there,” she said quietly. “But I’ll let it go. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. I want the best for Josh. He deserves it more than anyone I know. And I tend to meddle a bit,” she admitted. “Trav told me not to but I can’t help it. Josh is like a brother to me. I’m sorry.”
She sounded so remorseful Maggie laughed. “No hard feelings. If I were in your place I’d do the same thing.”
But Marta’s comment bothered her. I don’t think there’s anything casual there. She couldn’t shake the feeling she was headed for emotional disaster—again.
* * *
Maggie knew she’d dodged a bullet, so to speak, since Ellen made no leading comments or dropped hints during Thanksgiving dinner. She hoped the older woman had finally realized Maggie was the wrong woman for Josh.
It hurt a little, but it was for the best.
Now, the next morning, she sat with her laptop, indulging in a little retail therapy. Cody and her friend Kerry’s kids would benefit on Christmas.
“You coming on the Christmas-tree trip?” Josh asked from her doorway, coffee mug in hand.
Maggie looked up. He looked way too good in a Henley shirt that hugged his chest and shoulders. She swallowed hard.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “Isn’t it a family outing?”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind. I can always use another set of eyes to make sure I don’t get a crooked tree. Plus Cody would love it if you came along.” He sipped his coffee and raised an eyebrow.
She’d love a little tree for this room. She offered what she hoped passed for a neutral smile as she caved. “Thank you. I’d love to go.”
“All right then. Sounds good.” Josh pushed off the door frame. “We’ll head out about eleven.”
She glanced at the clock. It gave her an hour. She put the computer aside and surveyed her space. Where to put the tree?
Her phone rang as she dragged her sofa over. A glance at the display revealed Kerry’s name.
“Hey,” she greeted her friend. “Happy belated Thanksgiving.”
Kerry laughed, and Maggie felt the tug of homesickness. “Same to you. So how was it with the hot doc?”
Maggie’s face burned and she glanced at the door. Clearly, Josh couldn’t hear. Still. She got up to close it. “Um. It was good. Ellen is a fantastic cook. Kerry—”
“I know, I know. Sorry.” A sigh. “It’s just I’m so hopeful for you.”
Trust her friend to cut to the chase. “Ah. Well.” Maggie went into her bathroom and got a garbage bag to put the tree stand on. Shoot. Tree stand. She didn’t have one. Maybe there was an extra here. “Don’t be.”
Kerry made a sharp noise in her throat. “I thought we talked about this. Don’t let Tony win.”
“This isn’t about Tony.” It was true. Any hold he’d had over her was gone. As soon as Josh had looked at her like she was something special any residual hold Tony held over her shattered. Maybe it was silly, but she owed Josh for that boost of confidence.
“It’s about Lucy.”
Maggie nodded even though Kerry couldn’t see her. “Bingo.”
There was a moment of silence. “So there is something with you two.”
No, there wasn’t. The chances of that had been shot as soon as her father had chosen to keep his daughter secret and Maggie had picked those threads up.
“Listen, Kerry, I can’t really talk right now. We’re going to get Christmas trees.”
“Hmm,” Kerry teased. “Is that a nanny-and-boss thing or a Maggie-and-Josh thing?”
“I don’t know,” Maggie whispered. The lines were so blurry, more so by the day. She didn’t know which side of it she was on anymore. Or worse, which side she wanted to be on.
“Oh, honey. Call me when you can talk. Or do you want me to come visit?”
Maggie promised to call as soon as she could, and they disconnected. Distracted, she stood in the middle of her room and stared at the empty space where her tree would go.
Then she gave herself a little shake. Today she’d live in the moment. She’d enjoy the trip and the experience. It was likely this would be her only Christmas here. She’d make the most of every moment.
* * *
Cody was ready. Boots, hat, warm mittens and coat were the order of the day, as a bitter wind blew outside even though it was sunny out. “You look warm,” Maggie said, and Cody nodded.
“We’re gonna get a big tree,” he said, stretching his arms out wide. “Super-duper big.”
Maggie widened her eyes. “Wow, that big, huh?”
Cody nodded, all serious. “Yep. An’ then we can put all the stuff on it.”
Maggie hid a smile. “Ornaments, you mean?”
Another nod. “And lotsa lights. Daddy said we gotta do those first.”
“It makes it easier,” Maggie agreed. “It sounds like you guys are going to have a lot of fun with your tree.”
Cody frowned. “Aren’t you gonna help?”
Maggie couldn’t breathe for a second.
“I— Well, I’ll have my own tree to decorate,” she explained. “And you and your dad, well, you might want to do it by yourselves.”
The frown deepened. “So I can’t help you?”
Maggie crouched down in front of the little boy and looked into his worried eyes. She sure was making a mess of this, wasn’t she? “Of course you can, if it’s okay with your daddy. I’d love to have you help.”
“‘Kay. So you help us an’ we’ll help you,” Cody said as if it were settled. Before she could say anything, Josh spoke from behind her.
“If you guys are ready, let’s head out.”
The radio tuned to a Christmas music station, they drove to a local Christmas tree farm. Cody sang along, a few words behind, and only a few he actually knew. It made Maggie’s soul warm.
The drive was all too short, as far as she was concerned. Driving through the farm’s gate, they parked in the already packed lot.
“Wow,” Maggie said, observing the controlled chaos. “They don’t mess around.” Rows of cut trees, racks of fresh wreaths and garland, red ribbons and twinkling lights gave it a festive air.
Josh shook his head. “They don’t. They work on this like crazy. Have for a couple generations. This is owned by Jake’s family.” He sent her a sideways glance.
It took her a second, then she stifled a smile. “Is it, now? Well, maybe he’s here.” She hopped out of the SUV and allowed the grin to blossom for an instant. Was he…jealous?
She shook herself. It didn’t matter.
Josh came around the hood. “You want to walk through the trees in the field? Or get one here?”
Their feet crunched on the gravel of the parking lot as they started walking. The wind whipped around them. “If they’re fresh, I’m happy with one of those,”
Maggie said, eyeing the already cut trees lining the pole barn.
Cody stopped in front of her. He patted the first tree they came to, a short spruce, and looked expectantly at his dad. “This one?”
Josh shook his head. “We need a bigger one, Code. Bigger than me.”
Cody looked up at his dad, eyes wide. “That’s huge, Daddy.” Maggie laughed outright and Josh tapped his son lightly on the head.
“And don’t you forget it, mister,” he teased. “Let’s go look in here.”
She followed them into the big barn. It couldn’t claim to be warmer but at least it blocked the wind. She perused the smaller trees, enjoying the task. Cody darted between her and Josh, giving his opinions—the tree she liked wasn’t big enough, but it was okay with him anyway because she liked it—and basically hyped up on the excitement that the errand and the season brought out in kids.
“Maggie.” Josh stuck his head out from behind a tall tree. “Got a second?” Without waiting for an answer, he tugged her deeper into the miniforest. “I need help. This fir—” he indicated a tall graceful tree “—or this spruce?”
“Ahhh.” Maggie reached out and touched both trees, feeling the softness of the fir, the prickliness of the spruce and inhaled the sharp, heady scent of pine and Josh. What she wouldn’t give to slip into his arms right now. She took a small step away to focus. “I’m partial to blue spruce, myself,” she said. “It’s what I picked out. I know firs hold their needles better but I love the blue color.”
“Okay. Blue spruce it is,” he said.
Startled, her gaze flew to his. “Oh. Josh, it’s your tree—”
“Yours, too,” he interrupted. “Cody doesn’t care. And I want you to enjoy it, too.”
Before Maggie could reply, Jake came up to them.
“Hey, Maggie. Josh.” He nodded at both of them. There was no awkwardness in Jake’s demeanor but Maggie felt Josh tense slightly.
“Jake.” She smiled at him. “I didn’t know you owned a farm until today.”
“My parents do,” he replied. “I work here every year, during the season. It’s fun. And they love it. So what’s your choice?”
“This one.” Josh touched the spruce. “Maggie’s got one, too.”
