Hometown Holiday Reunion by Mia Ross Page A

of her life felt totally discombobulated these days, the mistake fit right in. She set it to rights, then took a moment to check out what he’d been up to. There were a lot of markings on the walls and the scarred wooden floor, measurements for the furnishings they’d briefly discussed yesterday.
    Then she saw the gap in the ceiling and the pile of acoustic tiles that had fallen from it. “What happened?”
    â€œI hate these drop ceilings,” he grumbled. “I was poking around with a broom handle to make sure there weren’t any soft spots, and that section just about fell on my head. I really think you’d be better off to pull the whole system down and either Sheetrock it or leave the beams exposed.”
    Erin craned her neck to get a better look through the hole. “What’s up there?”
    â€œThe original oak beams, ductwork, stuff like that. These days, lots of folks paint the metalwork and either stain the wood or leave it natural. It’s a cool look, and as a bonus it brings a lot more height to the space.”
    â€œInteresting.”
    Cam went over to the makeshift workbench he’d made using a wide board resting on two sawhorses. Taking a large set of drawings from the top, he brought them over to her and held them out for her to see. “I found the original plans in the office at the café. Up here—” he pointed “—it looks like they had four windows just a little ways down from where you’re living. Back in the day, they probably used it as a storage loft. If the windows are still intact, we can open things up to let in a lot more light.”
    â€œThat would be great.” Erin was impressed, not only with his obvious knowledge but with the effort he’d already put into improving the neglected old building. “This is more than construction experience, though. Where did you learn all this design stuff?”
    For the first time she was aware of, the arrogant bane of her existence actually looked shy. “I’ve been taking some building design and historical restoration classes at a college up in St. Paul. I’ve always loved these old buildings, and I think it’d be cool to have a job bringing them back to the way they used to be.”
    â€œVery cool,” Erin agreed. “And obviously a great use of your talents.”
    That got her a very suspicious look. “Did you just say something nice about me?”
    â€œDon’t be dense. I did that the other day at least once.”
    â€œYeah, but I thought that was ’cause you wanted something from me.”
    She folded her arms and glared at him. “Do you honestly think that’s the only time I can be pleasant?”
    â€œIn my experience, that’s how women are.”
    â€œThen your experience has been sorely lacking.”
    A slow, lazy grin spread across his tanned features. “Y’know, I think maybe you’re right.”
    â€œOf course I am,” she retorted, pushing past him to head upstairs. “Now, come up here and help me find my coffeemaker.”
    She heard a rumble of laughter behind her. “You mean, Miss Organization lost something in the move?”
    A less-than-civil comeback was perched on the tip of her tongue, and it took the rest of her fleeting patience to keep it to herself. When they reached the top of the stairs, he let out a low whistle. “Did a tornado touch down yesterday? It didn’t look like this last time I was here.”
    â€œThis place is smaller than our old one,” she shot back, glaring at the stacks of boxes she still had to sort through. “I have to find a spot for everything.”
    He glanced down the hallway and into Parker’s room. “Looks like everything’s perfect in there.”
    â€œI started in there,” she explained while she shoved aside unmarked boxes, hunting for one labeled Appliances. She’d packed it first, when she’d been