Page 55 of Clean Sweep
“Word around town is that the Mercedy family reunion is coming up soon. Rumor also has it—and by rumor, I mean Celeste—that you’ve been preparing this for them for the last two months?”
I laughed. “Yes, that would be right. I think I will be the most excited person in Pineville when this reunion is over, and that’s saying something, because Benjamin dreads it when his family is in town.”
“Do you need any help?”
My mouth opened, then closed. Was he offering? Sure sounded like it. Having more of him around would be an acceptable and a terrible idea at the same time. How would I focus with him near?
In fact, I might like that a littletoomuch.
“What kind of help?” I asked instead.
“Whatever you need. Celeste is going to her Mom’s on Christmas Eve morning to be with them, and we don’t have any clients booked that day. You know that whole it’s-a-holiday-thing.”
“So I’ve heard,” I murmured vaguely, just to buy time. There were dozens of things that needed to happen just right in order for the Mercedy reunion to come together without a glitch, the way Maverick wanted. He didn’t care much about impressing his siblings, but he had wealthy cousins attending that held power in impressive business circles. Not to mention his mother’s failing health.
Plus, Maverick didn’t do anything small.
“If you’re going to be bored and you’re offering help,” I said, “I will gladly take it. There are a lot of places where I could use an extra pair of hands.”
“Really?”
Anticipation filled his voice, which completely gratified me. In the span of a finger snap, Christmas Eve had shifted from something I’d stressed over to a day I couldn’t wait to happen.
“Really,” I said. “I appreciate the help.”
“Tell me when and where.”
“Meet me at the Frolicking Moose on Christmas Eve in the morning. Dahlia’s working the early shift. You and I can start coordinating arrivals then.”
“We’re what, ten days away?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Easy. I’ll be there. But we’ll talk before then, anyway.”
A smile crossed my whole face. He shuffled around, doing what sounded like dishes in the background. Had he called me over dinner again? My eyes flitted to the clock. The time certainly suggested it.
“Listen,” he said, and I pictured him standing at a sink, sleeves shoved to his elbows and the phone propped between his ear and his shoulder. The sexy image had me tugging at my flannel shirt collar while he spoke. “Thanks for letting me talk to you about the whole Celeste- leaving thing. I know it might be weird to fear the quiet, but . . . I don’t know. I’m just trying to figure it out.”
“I don’t mind at all.” I glanced around. “I like it, in fact. It was one of those quiet nights over here, too. I’ll think more about how I process the quiet days and let you know.”
“Thanks. It’s good to have someone that’ll talk it out. Sleep well, Leslie.”
“You too, Tanner.”
“Talk to you later.”
The phone went quiet against my ear. I let it drop back to my lap while I stared at the fire, lost in words.
CHRISTMASEVE POPPEDup so suddenly, I felt whiplash the morning I woke up.
Buzzing excitement lingered in the pit of my stomach as I hopped out of bed. Not only would I get the Mercedy family reunion off my back, but I’d spend all day with Tanner. Tanner who existed mainly as a voice in my ear and a vague figure that picked up his daughter from the coffee shop.
Despite our nightly phone calls, the man had serious holding-at-arms-length tendencies. Fortunately, I could deal. The attention was flattering all the same. Because of his penchant for staying back instead of moving forward, I had a feeling today would meansomething. At the very least, by the end of the day, I hoped to understand where we stood.
Friends or more?
For my part, I leaned far, far, far to the side ofmore, but that didn’t speak for him. Maybe Tanner did just need a platonic friend.
