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  She glanced in the large pantry, where he kept his coffee and a few boxes of cereal. When she closed the door, she turned to him.

  “You don’t cook.”

  It wasn’t a question, but he answered it anyway. “Nope.”

  “Joylyn is going to need healthy food, which means cooking at home. Does she know how?”

  “She does.”

  Alisha had taught her. He still remembered the first time Joylyn had made him dinner. Spaghetti. She’d used every pot and pan he’d owned and the kitchen had been a mess, but she’d been so proud of herself and he’d been impressed as hell.

  Recalling that made the ache of missing her a little more intense. He supposed some fathers wouldn’t be thrilled to have their pregnant daughter moving in, but he couldn’t wait. They would have time together—time for him to figure out why he’d lost her and how to get her back.

  Wynn glanced around. “You’re going to need dishes, flatware, serving pieces, pots and pans. Actually everything.” She shook her head. “Shall we go look at her bedroom?”

  On the way to the bedrooms, she ducked into the hall bathroom.

  “It’s empty,” she said, reappearing in the hallway. “You’re going to need supplies in there, too. Towels and soap and a bath mat.” Her eyebrows rose. “Maybe some kind of artwork on the wall.”

  He groaned. “In a bathroom? Is that normal?”

  “It is. Trust me. Now where’s the bedroom?”

  He pointed to the larger of the spare rooms. He used the smaller one for an office. He’d set up a folding table and chair and used a moving box as a file cabinet. He only had a laptop and a printer—he didn’t need anything more.

  Wynn walked into Joylyn’s room and came to a stop. Her eyes widened and her lips parted. “Oh, Garrick, where did you find this?”

  “A guy I knew back in Phoenix was selling it. The set belonged to his great-grandmother. It’s not too much?”

  “No. It’s perfect.”

  Wynn crossed to the large four-poster bed. The wood, also mahogany, was intricately carved with flowers and fairies and leaves. The dresser and nightstands had the same design.

  Despite their size, all the pieces seemed light and whimsical. The second he’d seen the pictures, he’d known that Joylyn would love it. Before handing over a check, Garrick had examined every inch of the furniture and had quickly figured out the set had been made by a master craftsman. He’d bought it, thinking he would give it to her when she and Chandler got settled after Chandler left the Marines. Now she would get to see it before that.

  “What are Joylyn’s favorite colors?” Wynn asked, running her hands across the carvings.

  “Purple and blue.”

  She smiled. “We’ll get a really great comforter. A thick one that’s soft. And lots of pillows.” She glanced at him, her eyes bright with excitement. “The hall bathroom is pretty plain, so we can continue the color theme in there. Extra thick towels with a matching bath mat. Maybe some accessories.”

  “And artwork,” he said dryly. “Don’t forget that.”

  She grinned. “I won’t.” She looked at the walls. “Maybe a fairy print. We’ll have to see what they have. Or maybe I can find something online and have it printed on canvas. It’s a great look and not that expensive. We can decide as we go.”

  “We?”

  She returned her attention to him. “I assumed you weren’t just asking for a shopping list. You have great taste in furniture, but you seem lacking in the softer touches. Unless you want to do it on your own?”

  “Absolutely not. I appreciate your willingness to see this through.” He hesitated. “I asked for your help because I knew you’d make her room look good, but I didn’t mean for you to take on a whole project.”

  She smiled. “It’s a challenge and I love a challenge. Plus I’m committed now.”

  Her voice was teasing, her expression happy. As she’d said, he’d only known her well enough to say hello and comment on the weather. He’d noticed her, of course. No straight guy could be within twenty feet of Wynn and not notice her, but that was physical. He hadn’t thought much about who she was.

  Now he found himself enjoying her company and wanting to know more about her.

  “With Joylyn arriving next weekend, we don’t have a lot of time,” she added. “How about going shopping tomorrow?”

  “If you’re available, that would be great.”

  “I’m free.” The smile returned. “You’re going to have to brace yourself. This is going to be a big hit on your credit card.”

  “Not a problem.” He had plenty of savings, and except for food and an occasional guys’ night out, he rarely spent any money. “I want Joylyn to feel good about staying here. Thanks for helping me, Wynn.”

  She smiled. “You are going to owe me big time.”

  “You name your price and I’ll pay it.”

  Something flashed in her eyes. For a second he wondered if she was going to suggest something he would find intriguing, but then she looked away.

  “I’ll let you know what I decide. In the meantime I’ll get going on the shopping list. I’m going to start in the kitchen.”

  She walked down the hall. He allowed himself to admire that view of her, then shook off any lingering desire. Wynn was his neighbor. She was helping him when she didn’t have to, and he would respect that. As for wanting anything else—he knew better. Relationships always ended badly for him. He’d been through enough to know he was done with trying to make one work.

  If he wanted to repay her for what she was doing, he would build her a gazebo or expand her back deck. Nothing else. Anything romantic would only be a disaster.

  Happily This Christmas

  by Susan Mallery

  Available October 2020 from HQN Books

  Copyright © 2020 by Susan Mallery, Inc.

  ISBN-13: 9781488069123

  A Fool’s Gold Wedding

  Copyright © 2020 by Susan Mallery, Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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