Read Online Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online
Authors: Debbie Macomber
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Not on your life.”
“I’m happy you think this is amusing.”
“Come on,” he urged, tilting his head toward the stairwell. “I’m not a doorstop, you know.”
Julia dug her fist into her hipbone. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I could use some help here.”
Cain cocked his eyebrows. “Do you want me to contact the building manager for you?”
The man was infuriating. Ignoring him as best as she could, Julia carried the bushy fir tree into the stairwell. The Christmas tree might not be big—it was less than four feet tall—but it was heavy. Determined to ignore him, she marched up the first few steps and was halfway to the second floor before she had to pause and rest the base of the tree on the concrete step. Leaning against the railing, she glared at Cain. He was seriously going to let her do this on her own. If nothing else, it would make great blog material. No one would doubt it was a true Ebenezer moment.
“I suppose I should thank you for the latte,” she said while gathering her breath.
“Collected it already, did you?”
“Phil brought it out to the bus stop for me this morning. Peppermint mocha’s my favorite; you remembered.”
Crossing his arms, he seemed perfectly content to wait for her.
“I should have refused it,” she said, stiffening.
“Why would you do that?”
“You did.”
He wagged his finger like a pendulum. “Different situation.”
“Whatever. What about the cookies? You refused those, too.”
“I’m watching my weight.”
He didn’t have a spare ounce of fat on him. That was an excuse if ever she heard one. In other circumstances she would have called him on it. At least they were talking, and while it might not be the most fun conversation, it was an improvement over the last couple days.
She hauled the tree up the rest of the flight and paused on the landing. “I hope you realize that comment about me stalking you was low.”
He shrugged. “It was.”
“Are you going to apologize?” She challenged him with a hard look.
Cain met her gaze and for a half-second it looked as if he was in danger of smiling. “How about I help you haul that tree up to the third floor instead?”
Julia was no fool. “Deal.”
He took the tree out of her hand and effortlessly climbed the remaining stairs. Julia followed behind with the wreath and was breathless by the time they reached their floor. Cain stood outside her door while she dug in her purse for her keys.
“Were you serious about not getting in the elevator with me again?” he asked as she inserted the key and opened her apartment.
“I’ve had a change of heart, not that we need to worry about meeting at the elevator now that it’s out of order.”
“Good point.”
“If by chance it’s working tomorrow morning and I happen to leave for work the same time as you, then I would suggest you either take the stairs or wait.”
He cocked his head to one side. “You wouldn’t want me to be late for work, would you?”
She gave a nonchalant shrug. “Your choice.”
“I’ll take the elevator with you,” Cain said as he carried the tree into her apartment. “Where do you want this?”
“By the window.” She had to analyze what he’d just said. “Are you saying you don’t mind my sunny disposition and cheerful chatter?”
“That isn’t what I said.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Ignoring her question, he leaned the tree against the window. “You have a tree stand?”
“I do. You didn’t answer my question.”
He frowned. “About catching the elevator? It’s just what I said. I don’t want to be late for work, and I wouldn’t want you to miss your bus.”
“You could leave earlier, you know.”
“You could, too. No biggie. Do whatever makes you comfortable.”
Cain would rather submit to torture than hint that he enjoyed her company.
“Are you going to get that tree stand or not?” he prompted.
Leaving him, Julia went into her bedroom and stretched up to the top shelf
“I’m happy you think this is amusing.”
“Come on,” he urged, tilting his head toward the stairwell. “I’m not a doorstop, you know.”
Julia dug her fist into her hipbone. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I could use some help here.”
Cain cocked his eyebrows. “Do you want me to contact the building manager for you?”
The man was infuriating. Ignoring him as best as she could, Julia carried the bushy fir tree into the stairwell. The Christmas tree might not be big—it was less than four feet tall—but it was heavy. Determined to ignore him, she marched up the first few steps and was halfway to the second floor before she had to pause and rest the base of the tree on the concrete step. Leaning against the railing, she glared at Cain. He was seriously going to let her do this on her own. If nothing else, it would make great blog material. No one would doubt it was a true Ebenezer moment.
“I suppose I should thank you for the latte,” she said while gathering her breath.
“Collected it already, did you?”
“Phil brought it out to the bus stop for me this morning. Peppermint mocha’s my favorite; you remembered.”
Crossing his arms, he seemed perfectly content to wait for her.
“I should have refused it,” she said, stiffening.
“Why would you do that?”
“You did.”
He wagged his finger like a pendulum. “Different situation.”
“Whatever. What about the cookies? You refused those, too.”
“I’m watching my weight.”
He didn’t have a spare ounce of fat on him. That was an excuse if ever she heard one. In other circumstances she would have called him on it. At least they were talking, and while it might not be the most fun conversation, it was an improvement over the last couple days.
She hauled the tree up the rest of the flight and paused on the landing. “I hope you realize that comment about me stalking you was low.”
He shrugged. “It was.”
“Are you going to apologize?” She challenged him with a hard look.
Cain met her gaze and for a half-second it looked as if he was in danger of smiling. “How about I help you haul that tree up to the third floor instead?”
Julia was no fool. “Deal.”
He took the tree out of her hand and effortlessly climbed the remaining stairs. Julia followed behind with the wreath and was breathless by the time they reached their floor. Cain stood outside her door while she dug in her purse for her keys.
“Were you serious about not getting in the elevator with me again?” he asked as she inserted the key and opened her apartment.
“I’ve had a change of heart, not that we need to worry about meeting at the elevator now that it’s out of order.”
“Good point.”
“If by chance it’s working tomorrow morning and I happen to leave for work the same time as you, then I would suggest you either take the stairs or wait.”
He cocked his head to one side. “You wouldn’t want me to be late for work, would you?”
She gave a nonchalant shrug. “Your choice.”
“I’ll take the elevator with you,” Cain said as he carried the tree into her apartment. “Where do you want this?”
“By the window.” She had to analyze what he’d just said. “Are you saying you don’t mind my sunny disposition and cheerful chatter?”
“That isn’t what I said.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Ignoring her question, he leaned the tree against the window. “You have a tree stand?”
“I do. You didn’t answer my question.”
He frowned. “About catching the elevator? It’s just what I said. I don’t want to be late for work, and I wouldn’t want you to miss your bus.”
“You could leave earlier, you know.”
“You could, too. No biggie. Do whatever makes you comfortable.”
Cain would rather submit to torture than hint that he enjoyed her company.
“Are you going to get that tree stand or not?” he prompted.
Leaving him, Julia went into her bedroom and stretched up to the top shelf
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