“Wise choice.” I smirk and move toward the hot tub. Lifting the cover, I dip my fingers in and sigh. “Ohhh, that’s so nice.”
Penn’s watching me now with the same intensity he probably reserves for breakaways and playoff games. “You getting in?” he asks.
“I didn’t think to bring a bathing suit,” I say, wiggling my fingers in the water. “Besides, I’ve got a town council meeting in a bit. Parade stuff. Mr. Tingley’s got his knickers in a festive twist.”
“Over what?”
“He doesn’t want us stapling antlers onto the deer.”
Penn’s jaw drops. “You’re kidding me?”
“Nope.” I straighten up, trying to look serious. “He’s a real pain in the candy cane sometimes.”
“Jaylynn…” He points an accusatory finger at me. “You’re seriously not stapling antlers to live deer, are you?”
I grin. “No. You’re kind of gullible, you know that?”
He groans. “That’s actually one of the nicer things people have called me lately.”
That… makes my heart squeeze in a way I wasn’t expecting. I tilt my head. “What’s on your agenda today?”
He shrugs, stretching like he has all the time in the world—and a torso that should be framed in an art gallery. “Not much. I want to go see Elaine, but I’ll probably have to stop by the pharmacy first. Stock up on allergy meds.”
I chuckle. “You should come to the council meeting. Volunteer work will look good on you.”
I’d look good on you.
Whoa. Okay, brain. Dial it back. Not an immature twelve-year-old boy, remember?
He raises an eyebrow. “I could do that. What time?”
“Just after lunch.”
“Perfect.” He adjusts his position and leans against the headboard, arms crossed, looking every bit like the sexy distraction I absolutely do not need right now. “What exactly goes on at these meetings? You’re not going to rope me into playing Santa, are you?”
“I’m surprised you don’t want to.”
“Why would I want to play Santa?”
I don’t bother saying I know his type all too well. Brute. Attention seeker.
“Did you think I’d want to punch myself in the face or something?”
I chuckle. “The honor of playing Santa goes to douchebag deluxe, Dylan Hayes.”
His expression hardens. “Dylan Hayes… as in Mayor Dylan Hayes. Your ex?”
“The one and only.” Dylan was never nice to Penn. He liked to make fun of the guy on the outskirts of town. But Penn always kept to himself, focusing on school and hockey, and not social events, so I wasn’t even sure he knew Dylan and I were a thing in high school. Apparently, he did.
“Now I’m not sure if I can keep my promise to only deck the halls,” he murmurs and cracks his knuckles.
“Penn,” I warn, even though the visual of him taking Dylan down a notch is rather appealing.
“Fine.” Penn’s eyes narrow, the hard as nails enforcer coming out in him. But nothing about this man scares me.
“Unfortunately for me, I’m playing Mrs. Claus and I have to be on the float with him.” I mock shiver. “It’s probably going to take extreme discipline not to push him off. I’ll have to keep reminding myself we’re there for the kids.”
“Why isn’t Mayor Banks, Snowberry’s actual mayor, playing Santa.”