“Maybe so, but we’re supposed to be working.” He was nearly irresistible, but the Stetmans weren’t paying them to make out on the job.
“What if I held this over your head.”
She looked above their heads where he dangled a mistletoe ornament between two fingers.
“Is that the one I’m missing?”
His eyes were wide with innocence. “There were a million in the box. What, did you count them as you decorated the tree?”
“You bet.” She gave him a playful swat on the arm. “Balance is important. You should know that as a light installer.”
“Yeah, but what’s the difference between a million mistletoes and one less?”
“I noticed.”
He gave her a skeptical look, but there was an extra twinkle in his eye. “I’m glad to see you’ve conquered your aversion to mistletoe.”
“Buying them was purely an act of goodwill. I was all set to order plain old bulbs, but when I visited the woman at the flower shop in town, she said she’d give me a deal if I took them off her hands.”
“I see.”
“Darcy appreciated that some of these ornaments have a local connection anyway.”
“I’m sure.”
Brant acted overly agreeable. She fixed him with a stare. “What’s up with you? You’re being strange.”
He huffed defensively. “I come upstairs to see my favorite girl and this is what I get?”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders again and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I’m sorry. You know how I get before the job is finished.”
“That’s why I’m trying to lighten the mood a little. Come over here and look at the snow. It’s really pretty in the moonlight.” He tried to lead her to the arched window overlooking the back lawn, but she tugged his arm.
“Really, Brant. I just want to get this done.”
He mumbled under his breath, something about ruining the moment. If it were earlier in the afternoon, she’d indulge him. But Darcy served dinner at six o’clock, so she really wanted to finish this tree before they sat down to eat.
She bent over the box of ornaments, ready to start hanging the balsam snowflakes, when she froze.
“What did you say?”
Brant froze too. “I didn’t mean it.”
“No, that’s not it. You said ‘moonlight.’”
“I did.” His eyes brightened.
“Since when does the moon shine when it’s snowing this heavy?”
A small smile spread across his lips. Brant held out his hand. “Come see.”
She grew still, tentatively taking his hand as he led her to the enormous darkened window with a grid of leaden panes. Her first instinct was to search for the moon, but of course it wasn’t visible. Against Brant’s displays outside, the falling snow looked like cotton balls falling from the sky.
“Your lights are beautiful.”
“Thank you,” he said softly.
They were so bright, even under the thick layer of snow already covering the hedges.
