She glanced up at him. “One could argue that tubing isn’t a Christmas activity so much as a winter activity.”
“One could.” He feigned thoughtfulness. “But that would make one an argumentative Grinch.”
She laughed. “I thought you said I was a Scrooge.”
“Tomay-toh, tomah-toh.”
They reached the SUV, and she stood on the passenger’s side, waiting for him to unlock the door. “Hey, um. . .” She felt stupid and awkward. Why was this so hard? She cleared her throat, then called over the top of the vehicle. “Thanks, Will. It’s been a long time since I had that much fun.”
He caught her eyes through the windows as he hit the button that unlocked the car. He shouted, “WHAT WAS THAT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU THROUGH THE CAR.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Very funny.”
He hopped in and sat next to her. “Look, I’ll be honest,” he said. “I’m just glad to see you happy. It’s not like this trip didn’t start out. . .a little. . .not happy.”
She didn’t disagree. She was a Grade-A, first class, royal pain in the butt. A she-jerk in every sense of the made-up word. But Will seemed intent on living his life to do good for other people. Was Spencer right? Had he simply grown up? He was thirty now—a real adult with a real adult job. Maybe wisdom did come with age.
Her phone dinged in her pocket as he pulled out onto the road. It was a text from her boss.
Lauren, I’m attaching a photo of the artwork I’d like to use.
I know you’re on vacation, but I need you to take care of this ASAP.
Can you have it overnighted?
Lauren’s heart pounded in her chest as the photo loaded.
“Oh my gosh.” She stared at the screen. “Oh my gosh!”
“What’s wrong?” Will watched the road, his voice pitched with worry.
“It’s from my boss,” Lauren said. “She wants to use my artwork.”
“Lauren, that’s awesome!” His tone burst with pride and she could see he meant it. “Really, really exciting! Are you excited?”
She couldn’t keep from smiling. She’d done it! This could be her big break. Her first step toward removing the “Assistant” before her title. “I really am. If she likes the designs I put together, I’m one step closer to become a set decorator on my own.” She couldn’t have torn the smile from her face if she tried.
She tapped a reply—
Lisa, I won’t have to overnight the artwork.
I left it on my desk in an envelope marked “dorm room’”
You were pretty confident in this one, huh?
<winking emoji>
I was hopeful <fingers crossed emoji>
I want to keep the artist’s information on file—
I have a feeling we can use this style in a few other projects.
Send over whatever else you have from him/her!
<thumbs-up emoji>
I’ll do it tonight!
Lauren knew she was beaming. For the first time in a while, she actually felt. . .good. Will flicked on his blinker and turned toward the Pope house, where they were headed for the evening. She glanced over at him.
Could this day get any better?
Chapter 14
When Will had agreed to give Spencer’s sister a ride across the country, he’d done it as a favor to one of his oldest friends. But the air between he and Lauren had changed, and one thing was certain—he did not think of her as his little sister anymore.
Replacing the girl reading the book on the porch was this beautiful, closed-off, honest, waiting-to-be-cracked open woman who challenged his contentment simply by living her life.
He didn’t want to be challenged. He was just fine with the status quo. Why did she have to go around inspiring him? It was not what he’d signed up for.
Worse, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He wanted to be around her. To make her smile. Heck, he’d make a whole career of that if she’d let him—and he knew it wouldn’t be easy, which, honestly, made the idea even more alluring. She’d make him work for every single smirk.
He felt attracted to her that first day in the diner in Santa Monica, but that had been purely physical. And it had caught him off-guard. But what he was feeling now was more than that—and that scared him a little more than it should.
Watching her light up about this professional win had intrigued him. She put herself out there so easily. Much more at ease than she was with him, for sure. She saw something she wanted, and she had gone after it, regardless of how big or risky. He didn’t do that. With women, of course, making people laugh was like breathing to him.