Marry Me at Christmas (Fool's Gold #19)(43)

“There’s a lot of downtime on a movie set.”

“Apparently.” She looked at him. “You’re talented.”

“I had a good teacher. He was very patient with me. These are nothing compared to what he can do. But I enjoy making them.”

He showed her the paint he’d bought, along with brushes. “I didn’t know where to start,” he admitted. “What colors to use. That’s not my thing.”

The paint was all labeled as approved by the FDA, so food-level safe. Perfect for kids.

“I can make some calls,” she told him. “There are a lot of creative people in town. If we got everyone together for an afternoon, we could get everything painted in a few hours. Are you sure you want to donate these?”

“Yes. Better for kids to play with them than for them to just sit here.”

“They’re going to be wonderful.”

They went back outside. The wind was much stronger than it had been. They went into the second barn. There were a couple of bathrooms, but otherwise it was one big open space. She took pictures with her phone.

“I’ve already reserved the tables and chairs,” she said as she turned to get the room from every angle. “I know there are plenty of twinkle lights. The lady at Plants for the Planet mentioned some large potted plants we could rent. It’ll take me a few days to get with everyone to figure out the best layout. But the room’s nice and big. That gives us a lot to work with.”

She walked to the far end. “We could set up the ceremony here. With only forty or fifty guests, we need...what? Five rows of chairs? Ten across with a center aisle? That won’t take much space. I wonder if Dellina can help me get some screens or something to divide the space. I’ll text her and ask.”

She took more pictures, before turning to him.

“I have what I need. Thanks for showing me all this.”

“You’re welcome.”

He opened the door and was blasted by a gust of wind and plenty of snow. Even from several feet back, she felt the cold.

They made their way toward the house. Just in the half hour or so since they’d arrived, another inch or two lay on the ground. When they reached his SUV, she saw the entire front end was buried.

Jonny shook his head. “I’m going to have to dig this out. You go inside and get warm.” He handed her his house keys, then went to the garage.

Madeline let herself into the house. She entered through a mudroom that led to the kitchen. Although the urge to explore was strong, she forced herself to stay by the mudroom. Jonny trusted her. She wouldn’t take advantage of that.

Twenty minutes later, he joined her. Snow coated his head and both sides of his coat.

“It’s coming down faster than I can dig out the car,” he told her. “I should have paid more attention to the conditions before I brought you here. I’m sorry. You’re going to have to stay until the storm passes.”

The words bounced around in her brain. At first they didn’t make any sense and then they did. Stay. Here. In his house. Alone. The two of them.

Merry Christmas to her, she thought, trying not to break into the happy dance.

Jonny took off his coat and gloves, then moved in front of her. “I didn’t plan this, Madeline.”

“I didn’t think you had.”

“I don’t want you to be nervous. I’m not putting the moves on you.”

Darn. He didn’t have to actually come out and say that, she thought. He could have let her wonder...and hope. Unless he knew about her crush. Oh, no. Did he? Was he right this minute thinking she was thrilled about being snowed in with him and dreading the time he had to spend with her?

“Of course not,” she said brightly. “Why would I think that? We’re friends. I’m helping with your sister’s wedding. Nothing more.”

She hoped she sounded totally sincere and disinterested in him in that way. Because the alternative was humiliating. Honestly, if there hadn’t been two feet of snow on the ground, she would have started walking home right that second.

Jonny motioned for her to lead the way out of the mudroom, only to put his hand on her forearm when she started to move. He turned her until she faced him again. One corner of his mouth turned up.

“Nothing will happen tonight,” he repeated.

She did her best not to wince.

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t be tempted.”

TEN

THERE WAS NOTHING like a man confessing to wild sexual desire to brighten up a girl’s day, Madeline thought as she tried to come up with something witty to say in response. “Thank you” seemed really lame and “Me, too” was just too, well, dangerous. Because while wanting him was pretty safe, she wasn’t sure what would happen if she actually had him. Even counting the Ted debacle, she’d never been one to sleep around. For her, being that intimate had meant she had crossed an emotional threshold. Maybe not to the point of being in love, but darned close.

She liked Jonny a lot, and yes, there were plenty of tingles, zips and zings. But they weren’t about anything real. They couldn’t be. Not only did he have commitment issues, he was famous. And she was little more than a shopgirl.

“I don’t know what to say,” she admitted when the silence had stretched out far too long.

“How about a tour of the house? That will give you plenty to talk about.”