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He closed the door quietly behind him and she flopped back on the bed. “Well.” Her body felt too hot, the pajama top too rough against her hard nipples.

She was a novice in the art of seduction, and she’d come across a master.

Her heart was still thumping as she threw on a pair of leggings and her favorite Christmas sweater, the one decorated with white and red striped candy canes to match her new fluffy socks. Piling her hair into a candy cane scrunchie—to go with her matching set—she inhaled a deep, calming breath and padded out to meet him.

When she walked into the kitchen, he silently handed her a mug of coffee and her heart squeezed. She was going to miss this, miss him, so much.

Too much.

“So, last day.” Damn, had her voice waivered?

“Yes.”

They both looked at the advent calendar with its single, unopened window. “I guess we should see what Colin has in store for us.”

Luke gave a single, sharp nod of his head. “You open it.”

Gone was the ease, the anticipation, the fun of the last week or so. The air felt heavy, awkward.

“Create a collage of your photos,” she read out loud. “Oh, I wondered why he wanted us to take a photo every day.”

“I guess we need to share our camera rolls.” He took out his phone and tapped on a few images. “I’ve airdropped mine to you.”

“Okay, thanks.” She did the same, her chest tightening as she scanned the precious memories of the last four weeks. “So, before we get them printed and buy a frame, should we talk about the elephant in the room? Or do you want to be an ostrich on this one, too, because if you are, that’s kind of cruel.”

His eyebrows came together in one dark, forbidding line across his face. “Sorry?”

“Are you confused about the animals? Because an elephant in the room means—”

“I know what it means,” he cut in, more than a hint of exasperation in his tone. “What do we need to talk about?”

“The fact there’s nothing to stop us going our separate ways after we’ve made the collage.” She knew her voice gave her away, but it was impossible to pretend this was just another day, when all she could think was it was The End. Unless . . . unless he’d changed his mind and he wanted to stay? At least until he found somewhere more permanent. “I mean, probably Colin wanted us to spend Christmas Day together, but there’s no Day twenty-five window.”

“And what about what you want.” His gaze bounced to hers. “Do you want to spend tomorrow together?”

The question made her feel too exposed. She didn’t want him staying because he felt he had to look after Colin’s sad sister on Christmas Day. She wanted him spending the day with her because there was nowhere else he’d rather be. “Do you?” She parried.

He gave a humorless laugh. “Fine, I’ll go first. I admit I want to spend tomorrow with you. Your turn.”

It was the answer she’d wanted, but not how she’d imagined it would feel, the atmosphere still thick with unanswered questions. “Same.”

But what about the day after? She wanted to ask. Was he only staying because he had nowhere else to go, or because he wanted to be with her? What happened to them? Was there even a them?

“I can see your mind whirling with questions,” he remarked dryly. “Why are you keeping them to yourself?”

“Because I’m scared of the answers.”

He nodded, like he understood. “Okay, how about I answer one of them. I don’t have anywhere else to be tomorrow, you’re right, but that’s not unusual for me. I’ve spent many a Christmas Day by myself, so I’m quite capable of checking into a hotel, ordering a turkey club sandwich and fries from room service and spending the day in front of mindless Christmas TV. Not having a place to stay isn’t the reason I’d like to spend Christmas Day with you.”

She wanted to ask what was, but he started to talk again.

“On the subject of somewhere to stay.” He swallowed, settled his hands on his hips. “A while ago, before Colin died, I applied for a job running a specialist adventure camp for kids who are also carers.” He looked down at the floor a moment before meeting her eyes. “It’s kind of a rare opportunity, one I didn’t think I had a hope in hell of getting, but seemed like something I could actually be halfway decent at.” Another deep swallow. “A few days ago, I was told the job was mine, if I wanted it.”

Her heart jumped, delighted for him. “That’s amazing, Luke. I’ve seen you with Mateo, with those kids where you used to work. You’ll be a total badass in that role.”

He looked at her like he wasn’t convinced, but before she had time to tell him exactly why he would be so good, the man who didn’t like to talk, was talking again. “The job’s in North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains.”

Her heart dropped to the floor and she didn’t know what to say because the only words that were in her head were it’s too far. I won’t see you, not regularly, not like I want to.