Page 14 of A Mistletoe Mix Up
“It smells delicious in here,” Tandy says, hugging him.
“It’s your favorite, lasagna.”
She grins at him. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since Grayson mentioned dinner.”
Gramps gives her a warm smile. “Always ready to feed my favorite redhead.”
Tandy’s eyes light up. “There’s no lasagna quite like it.”
We sit down for dinner, and Tandy’s excitement over it warms my heart. It’s been a while since our kitchen has seen this much life. That’s what she does; she’s a ray of sunshine, and wherever she goes, she brightens everyone’s day. At least that’s what she does for me. Gramps is all smiles, clearly enjoying the company and the opportunity to play host.
There’s a sense of comfort watching her here in my house and watching them banter and laugh together.
After dinner, we clear the table together, falling into this comfortable rhythm of washing and drying dishes. Then we start to unload her necessities into my room, and the rest we pile in Wanderer.
She rolls her suitcase in the doorway and turns slowly, taking in the space I’ve never shared with her before.
“Gray, your room is so…” she begins.
“Boring?” I suggest, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk playing on my lips.
“Clean,” she finishes, her eyebrows raised. “Like,reallyclean.”
My gaze follows her around the room. The bed is simply made with two pillows and a navy-blue comforter. A small, filled bookshelf arranged by height stands next to my desk. And on the other side of the bed, the leather chair I read in most nights.
“Some of us appreciate order.” I shrug.
“Some of us might be robots.” She turns to me, her eyes dancing. “I bet you could perform surgery on this floor.”
“Not anymore.” I look down at her shoes. “Not with you walking in here with your shoes on, you won’t want to.”
She runs her finger along the wooden desk. “I’m like a tornado, you know?”
My heart pounds against my ribs. She’s standing in the middle of my carefully ordered world, and suddenly, I feel exposed. Like she’s flipping through pages of me I’ve never shown anyone. And now she’s staying here for days.
“I’m fully aware.” I smile, trying to hide how my heart skips as she steps closer. “A Tandy-nado if you will.”
She chuckles, then her face grows serious, her eyes searching mine. “Gray? You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to,” I reply without hesitation. “The room’s yours. I’ve got the couch. End of discussion, Bookworm.”
Quickly and unexpectedly, she wraps her arms around my waist, her head against my chest. I return the embrace, pullingher closer. She’s not typically one for displays of affection, but this feels natural.
“Thank you, Gray,” she murmurs into my shirt. “You’re too good to me.”
I chuckle, kissing the top of her head. “You’re worth it, Tandy.” And I mean it. She is.
I look down at her, her head nestled under my chin, her fiery red hair soft against my skin. This feels right. As if she fits in the hollows that I didn’t know were empty. I take a deep breath, the faint smell of jasmine hitting me. It’s comforting and smells like…home.
She tightens her arms around me before she pulls away. She flashes a warm smile, her eyes slightly misty.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Officer Robot.” She salutes me, trying to lighten the mood.
I smile at her. “Good night, Tandy-nado.” I walk backwards out of the room, watching her begin to unpack her things.
I shut the door with a big goofy grin on my face. I walk to the living room, spreading out the sheet on the couch. My mind spins as I lie down. Closing my eyes, I can still feel the lingering warmth of where she hugged me. The smell of her shampoo clings to my nose, filling my lungs with her sweet scent. Her laughter, her presence, her unruly crimson hair. Her smile is the last thing on my mind as I drift off to sleep.
Chapter Eight
