* * *
FAMILY NIGHT?
Why had she agreed to that?
Because the alternative had meant being alone with Jackson.
Thumping her palm against her forehead, Kayla paced the length of the lodge and back again.
She’d tried to work, but so far her brain refused to cooperate. Halfway through her session, Elizabeth called in to drop off Maple so that she could go and spend time with Élise in the kitchen.
The puppy settled down on the rug and watched Kayla, head on her paws.
Kayla sighed. “You think I was a mess last night? I’m worse today.”
Maple wagged her tail and rolled over on the rug.
Kayla put in a call to Brett, knowing he would still be in the office right up until late on Christmas Eve.
While she waited for him to pick up, she drank her coffee. Another fall of snow in the night had added a thick layer to the trees and they glistened in the winter sunshine.
“Kayla? How are things out there in the sticks?” Brett’s voice boomed around the cabin, and Maple shot to her feet, barking frantically. “You still there, Green? What the hell’s that noise?”
“It’s a dog, Brett. Four legs. Tail.” She scooped Maple onto her lap. “You have one at home. It’s just that you don’t often see it because you’re always in the office. I’ll send you a picture if that would help.”
“Didn’t know you were a dog person, Green.”
She hadn’t known, either.
She smiled at Maple, snuggled on her lap. “Turns out I might be a dog person.”
“Just don’t bring it into the office or go home at lunchtime to feed it. So how are things there?”
Kayla looked at the trees. “Snowy.”
“Bet you can’t wait to get back to civilization. You’re probably so desperate you’re willing to leap on the back of Santa’s sleigh and grab the first ride out of there.” Brett laughed at his own joke while Maple watched her with gentle eyes and Kayla absorbed the fact that she wasn’t at all desperate to get back to New York.
She told herself it was because the job still wasn’t done. “I’ve made progress.”
“So what do you need to turn progress to profit?”
“I’m going to send the proposal across in the next couple of hours. I’ll brief the team, but I want printed and bound copies delivered here ASAP.”
“What’s wrong with electronic?”
Kayla thought about Alice and her glasses and Walter and his fear of progress. “I want hard copy.”
“Think of the trees, Green.”
She’d thought of nothing but the trees since she arrived here. “I’m looking at trees, Brett.”
“I forgot you were in the dark ages over there. Hard copy. No worries.”
“Thanks. And happy Christmas, Brett.”
“Why are you wishing me happy Christmas? It’s ages until Christmas.”
“Two days.”
“That’s what I mean. Ages. Now get back to work and stop wasting my time. And don’t bring the dog with you when you come back to New York.” He hung up and left her staring at Maple.
* * *
THEY ATE FAMILY dinner in the kitchen. Brenna joined them, but not Élise because she was busy in the restaurant. Instead, she provided a creamy leek-and-potato soup, and Elizabeth cooked lamb shanks.
Jackson barely tasted either.
Kayla had chosen a seat at the far end of the table, as far away from him as possible. She was wearing a soft sweater with black pants tucked into the snow boots she’d bought earlier in the week. Her hair was loose over her shoulders and she was laughing at something Sean had said.
He wondered how long she could carry on pretending this thing between them wasn’t happening.
“Are you listening to me?” Brenna poked him in the arm.
“What did you say?” He knew he was lousy company.
“I was telling you a story, but somehow I don’t think I have your full attention. In fact I don’t think I have any of your attention. I’m not flattered.” She picked up her glass. “When you took me out to dinner you didn’t look at me like that.”
Jackson dragged his gaze from Kayla to Brenna. “Like what?”
“Like the meal was a formality before you got to the interesting part of the evening.”
He sighed. “Sorry, Bren—”
“Don’t be. You and I never had any chemistry.” She sipped her wine. “I like her, Jackson. She can’t ski to save her life, but she’s genuine.”
“I like her, too.”
“So do you have a plan?”
“Yes.” What he didn’t know was whether it was a good plan.
He was going on a hunch. Trusting his instincts.