Page 82 of Deck the Hauls

“It starts with a U and ends with a Haul.”

“Ha.” I shook my head. “Very funny. We’re just friends.”

“Come on, I saw the way you were looking at her just before.” Roz raised an eyebrow.

Better not to mention Emily’s offer to come to my parents’ place for Christmas—Roz would definitely use that as further evidence. Emily was just being a good friend.

“By the way, if Emily is interested in some paid work this weekend, we could use another cashier.”

I stared at Emily up ahead, chainsaw grasped in her arms. “Thanks. I’ll let her know.”

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“Wow, I never thought I’d say this after the amount of food I ate yesterday, but I’ve really worked up an appetite,” Emily said as we returned to my cabin. “Do you want some more lasagna?”

I laughed. “Always.”

Before long, we had polished off two delicious servings of lasagna, paired with some greens from the garden.

“As you know, I don’t own a TV,” I said as Emily, in long yellow rubber gloves, handed me the final dish to dry. How were dishwashing gloves so attractive? That’s right—they weren’t. It was just Emily. “So what do you feel like doing tonight? I’ve got board games, puzzles or books—don’t worry, they’re not all about farming.”

Emily slowly peeled off the gloves. Oh god, was that one of the sexiest things I’d ever seen? What was wrong with me?

I swallowed as she draped them over the side of the kitchen sink and turned to me.

“There’s something strangely attractive about the way you have that dish towel flung over your shoulder.” Emily reached out and trailed her fingers down the material.

I watched her hand glide over the fabric. I’d forgotten I’d even put it there, mesmerized instead by Emily’s glove removal.

“I could say the same thing about the way you just removed your gloves.”

Emily smiled. “Are you finding this whole just-being-friends thing as hard as I am?”

I let out a shaky exhale and nodded. “It’s definitely more challenging than I anticipated. Although, how was I to know you’d look so hot doing the dishes?”

“So hot, eh?” Emily giggled. “You know, maybe we could…”

Her voice faltered, uncertainty flashing in her eyes.

“Maybe we could…?” I repeated, my heart thumping in anticipation.

Emily swallowed. “Maybe we could just make an exception for this weekend too? What happens in the cabin, stays in the cabin…”

I bit my lip. It was very tempting.

Roz’s words echoed in my head. It starts with a U and ends with a Haul.

But it would just be for the weekend.

Emily stood in front of me, studying my face. God, she’s beautiful.

Desire flooded my body. We both wanted this.

Fuck it.

I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around Emily’s waist, and pressed my lips to hers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT