Page 14 of Practically Perfect Together

The offer—so genuinely made, without a hint of ulterior motive—makes this even harder. I need space to think, to reestablish the boundaries that have suddenly become so blurred.

"I appreciate that," I say, carefully extracting myself from the blanket, "but I should really get back to my own place."

He doesn't argue, though I can see he wants to. "At least text me when you get home? So I know you made it safely."

"I will," I promise, gathering my notes and slipping them into my bag.

Bear whines softly as I stand, as if protesting my departure.

"I'm not a dog person," I tell him, though I find myself reaching down to scratch behind his ears anyway.

"Could have fooled me," Jameson says with a gentle smile.

ChapterSix

Jameson

"And then you press down like this," Savannah explains, guiding Mia's hands as they fold the origami paper with careful precision. "See how it makes a perfect triangle?"

"It looks like a mountain!" Mia exclaims, her face lighting up with delight.

"That's exactly right," Savannah agrees, her smile genuine and warm in a way I've rarely seen from her. "And when we're done, it will be a fox that can sit right on top of that mountain."

I lean against the doorframe of the lodge's crafting room, watching them with a mug of coffee cooling in my hands. I should be setting up for the afternoon nature hike, but I can't seem to tear myself away from this scene.

It's been three days since that kiss. Three days of polite, professional interactions between us as we finalized the Bennett retreat plans. Three days of pretending nothing had changed, even as everything has.

"Uncle Jay!" Mia spots me and waves excitedly. She's not really my niece—she's Declan's stepdaughter—but I love that she calls me uncle. As the newest addition to our family, she's quickly claimed her place in all our hearts. "Savannah's teaching me ori—ori?—"

"Origami," Savannah supplies, glancing up with a smile that falters slightly when she meets my eyes.

"I can see that." I step into the room, setting my mug on a side table. "You've found the perfect teacher. Savannah's good at making complicated things look easy."

A faint blush colors her cheeks, but she quickly looks back to the paper fox taking shape in Mia's hands. "Mia's a natural. She's got much steadier hands than most adults I've taught."

"We Callahans are good at adopting naturals into the family," I wink at Mia, who giggles. "Though usually our talents run more toward rugged pursuits than paper folding."

"Not everything needs to be rugged to be worthwhile," Savannah counters, carefully helping Mia with the final fold. "Sometimes precision beats brute strength."

"You won't get any argument from me," I say, watching as they complete the little fox. "Not when the results are this good."

The way she interacts with Mia fascinates me—patient, encouraging, and completely lacking the corporate armor she usually wears. There's a gentleness to her that surfaces in these unguarded moments, like glimpsing a rare bird that typically stays hidden in the forest canopy.

"There," Savannah says as they finish. "Your very own fox."

Mia holds up her creation triumphantly. "I'm going to show Mom and Declan!"

She dashes off without waiting for a response, leaving me alone with Savannah for the first time since that night in my cabin.

"I didn't know you were coming to the lodge today," I say, filling the suddenly awkward silence between us.

"Last-minute meeting with your brother about the Bennett retreat menu." She begins tidying the scattered paper with precise movements. "She has some ideas about incorporating local produce."

"Declans always pushing the farm-to-table angle," I nod. "Did Mia kidnap you into origami duty afterward?"

That draws a genuine laugh from her. "Actually, it was the other way around. I saw her looking bored while Declan talked to Liam about food orders, and I remembered I had these papers in my bag." She shrugs slightly. "I used to fold them during long meetings when I was starting out. It helps me think."

This small revelation—this glimpse into a younger Savannah folding paper animals during corporate meetings—hits me with unexpected force. I want more of these moments, more insights into the woman behind the polished professional exterior.

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