Page 34 of The Christmas Accomplice

“I hope you’re planning to come to karaoke tomorrow.”

“I’m no singer.”

“I’m sure you’re better than you think.”

“No, I’m really not.”

“Well, it’s karaoke. No one’s going to sound perfect.”

Welton gave him a look. “You’re telling people to try and imitate how the original singer sounded. The original professional singer.”

“It’s a suggestion, it’s not a commandment.”

They arrived at Welton’s cabin much too quickly, and Reece stopped at the bottom of the stoop. “Thanks again for the help today. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks for dinner.” Welton stepped up on the stoop and turned back. Because Reece was a few inches taller, they were now at eye level, and he held the door keycard in his gloved fingers as he looked at Reece. Another time stretching moment spun out between them, until someone approached along the path and called out to them.

“There you are! I’ve been looking for you all day.”

A man walked up the front walk and stopped a few feet from them. He was handsome, nose on the larger side but it worked with his facial features. He wore a ski parka and pants and goggles up on his forehead, over a knit cap. His cheeks were red in the glow of the outside light as he grinned at them.

“Um. Hello. Do we know each other?” Welton said, sounding nervous and annoyed.

“Yeah, of course we do.” The stranger frowned and looked between them. Then something Reece couldn’t quite put his finger on shifted in his expression. He gave a sheepish smile and lifted a hand as he started walking backward down the path. “I’m sorry, my mistake. I thought I recognized you guys, but I think I’m in the wrong group of cabins.”

“Which group are you looking for?” Reece asked.

The man looked directly at Welton. “A completely different one, apparently.” He smiled as he looked back at Reece. “I’m sorry if I interrupted anything. I think I’ve been out on the slopes too long today.”

“Oh, um, you didn’t… you didn’t interrupt anything,” Welton said.

“He didn’t?” Reece said in a low voice.

“I’ll leave you guys to it and just, you know, go find my actual cabin. I’m Dean, by the way.”

“Reece.”

“Um, Welton. I’m sure it will only take you ten minutes or so to find that warm place to sleep.” Welton gave a slightly frantic wave. “Good night.”

Dean turned away to amble off down the path, looking back over his shoulder a couple of times with a smirk. When he was finally out of sight, Welton let out a breath and made a face. “What a weirdo. You must get a good number of oddballs this time of year, huh?”

“No, we really don’t,” Reece said. “You sure you two don’t know each other? He really seemed to think you did, and you were very specific about him needing ten minutes to get to his cabin.”

“Oh, I just made an assumption based on the proximity of the next group of cabins, that’s all.” Welton laughed, but it sounded a little shaky and nervous. “Anyway, I’m sure you’re tired and want to get home so you and your pocket elves can get a good night’s sleep and you’re all fresh and ready for tomorrow’s activity.”

Reece laughed and looked down at his feet as he shuffled them back and forth before meeting Welton’s eyes again. “I had a really nice time today. Thanks again for the help.”

“You’re welcome. But my services aren’t cheap.”

“Ah, I see. So, dinner and wine was a down payment?”

“Something like that.”

“That’s good to know. Would building a snowman together count toward that debt?”

“Sorry. That happened before the debt was incurred.”

“I see. There are a lot of rules around this debt.”

“Gotta keep everything on the up and up,” Welton said.

“Oh, things have definitely been up and up today.”

Welton’s blush was the perfect way for Reece to end the evening, so he chuckled, gave a quick wave, and headed back to the lodge. He heard Welton open the door to the cabin but was determined not to look back. Nope, he was just going to keep walking. There was no need to look over his shoulder, even if Welton was watching him out the window.

Reece glanced over his shoulder anyway, happy to see a shadowy figure in the window duck out of sight. He thought he also saw the strange man in the ski apparel approaching him along the path—Dean, that was his name—but then Dean suddenly did a one eighty and speed walked back the way he’d come.

Maybe Welton had a point about the oddball guests this time of year. Reece whistled a Christmas song as he headed for the lodge. The moon was just coming up over the trees, and he couldn’t stop smiling even as the cold air stung his cheeks.

Welton Monroe had really gotten to him. And now it was Reece’s turn to get to Welton.