Page 20 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

And just like that, the silence between them shifted.It was no longer heavy with tension but filled with something else.Something not quite forgiveness… but maybe the first step toward it.

Chapter seven

Ashley

“Ash,it’saChristmastree, not a marble statue.”Carter’s voice was gentle, but his eyes were weary.

She folded her arms across her chest.“It’s not just a tree.It’s ten feet tall.It blocks the afternoon light that hits the reading chair.The entire south wall will feel like a cave.”

He raised a brow.“So move the chair.”

“It’s a 1923 Chippendale.It can’t just… travel.”

“You can take the interior designer out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the interior designer.”He laughed.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.Besides, it’s not just the city.It’s my degree in Interior ArchitectureandDecorative Arts and Design History.”

Carter blinked.“Is that even a real degree?”

“It’s two,” she declared with maybe a little too much pride.“And I graduated top of my class.”

He held up his hands in surrender, amusement tugging at his lips, looking more handsome than necessary.“Okay, okay.Remind me never to insult the placement of antique furniture again.”

“You should’ve known better.”She stared at the tree, her arms folded tight as she reconfigured the room in her mind.What would Grandma Lily do?

Carter took a step closer, his intoxicating scent practically knocking her off balance.“You want the light to hit the reading chair?”

“Yes,” she said, chin lifting slightly.

“Then we’ll shift the placement.Move the tree a few feet to the right, angle it just enough.It’ll still be the centerpiece, but the chair won’t lose the sun.”

Ashley turned toward him slowly.“That might actually work.”

He grinned.“Guess my years at Winterridge finally paid off.You know, in case you ever want to tag-team design with the estate manager.”

She arched a brow.“Don’t push it.”

“I know when to take my victories,” he said, before nodding to Bobby and having him pull the tree slightly to the right.

Once in place, Carter held his hand up, and thanked Bobby.“What do you think?”he asked her as they both stepped back to evaluate the new position.

“It’s perfect.”

Carter clapped his hands together, the sound echoing through the large space.“Great, now let’s get this thing decorated before Christmas arrives.”

She tapped her chin, her eyes taking in the tree, the light, the surrounding furniture.

“Oh God, what?”Carter asked.

She tilted her head, examining the space as he waited, impatience flowing off him in strong waves.She shrugged.“Nothing.It’s perfect.”

He let out an audible sigh, his head shaking.“Very funny.”

“I thought so,” she lilted as she bent to select an ornament.The old familiar feeling of decorating Winterridge grand trees bubbled beneath the surface.For a fleeting second, she felt like a kid again.If she closed her eyes, she could even sense Grandma Lily, hear her humming her favorite Christmas carols, smiling as she placed each ornament in the perfect spot.

Ashley held up a delicate glass snowflake that caught the light, casting a shimmer across the marble floor.“Do you remember when Grandma Lily used to let us each pick one ornament every year?”Even though Carter wasn’t a part of the family, Grandma Lily always included him.

Carter nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting.“I picked the same bluebird three years in a row.”