Layla laughed. “I get it. That’s why I’m happy to come back to give you some tips.”
Footsteps coming toward them in the hall made them pause their conversation. Sean and Brant appeared.
“I think we’re almost set,” Sean said. “It was an easy fix once he called Brant back.”
“Thank goodness the generator decided to act up while you were here,” Darcy said, looking over Layla’s shoulder. Brant was behind her.
Darcy tapped her pen on the calendar book and looked up at Layla. “So, we’re talking the first half of January?”
“That’s right. Let’s look at the second week.”
Layla set her appointment book on the desk, too, and flipped to the new year. The first couple weeks of January filled up quickly with appointments. But then the second half of the month went as quiet as a church organ on Monday. She didn’t mind. It was the only time of year she kicked up her feet and forgot about work to focus on the other things she loved: reading, trying new recipes, and giving the shop a much-needed makeover.
“What works for you?” Darcy asked.
There were two days open at the end of that second week. She put her finger on the dates and looked up at Darcy. “How about the ninth and tenth?”
She felt Brant draw closer and turned to find him craning over her shoulder to look at her appointment book. Layla lifted a brow. “What are you doing?”
Brant flashed a smile. “Stretching.”
“Can you stretch somewhere else, please?” She forced a smile. When he didn’t move and only grinned more broadly, Layla snapped her calendar closed.
She turned back to Darcy, who looked between them quizzically before scribbling Layla’s name on her calendar.
“That will be perfect. The ninth and tenth it is. And before I forget,” Darcy said, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “I’d love for you both to come to the Friday night dinner before the Holly Days Tree Festival.”
Layla didn’t like the mischievous twinkle in Darcy’s eyes. She hoped Darcy didn’t think there was anything going on between her and Brant. Nothing could be more untrue. And she didn’t want to commit right then, not with Brant breathing over her shoulder.
“I’ll have to look at my calendar. When do you need to know by?” She felt Brant’s eyes on her as he moved to stand beside her.
“I’ll need final numbers around Thanksgiving,” Darcy said. “No rush.”
“But you just put your calendar in your bag,” Brant said. He nodded toward it while she stared at him. “You can decide right now.”
“No, I can’t.”
Brant puffed his chest out and looked at Darcy. “Well, I’m not going to miss it,” he blurted.
Darcy beamed. “I’m so happy to hear that. Imagine, Brant Johnsson of Light the Night here again. Sean will be thrilled.”
“Who wouldn’t be thrilled?” Layla mumbled.
She left the two of them at the desk. It had been a long day. She looked forward to soaking in her room’s clawfoot tub and making some tea later after she’d finished the mini trees. Upstairs, Layla closed her bedroom door and at that moment, the nightlight next to the armoire blinked on. A few seconds later, her phone beeped. Who could that be?
She dumped her bag onto the bed, kicked off her shoes, and pulled the phone from her back pocket.
Uh-oh.
It was Brant.
She blinked at the words.
Blueberry Point Lodge fundraiser dinner next month. Tell me you’ll come with me.
Layla almost missed the bed and landed on the floor when she sat.
Hewas invitingherto the Holly Days Tree Festival?
