“Maybe we can just rest here for a few minutes. Then we’ll clean up and go back downstairs.”

“Sure, babe. Whatever you want to do.”

She didn’t make it five minutes before she was out cold.

Chapter Ten

Gavin took a deep breath and counted to ten. Again.

It was Christmas Eve, and tomorrow, they’d have the whole family over. Which meant for the past few days his wife had been losing her goddamned mind.

He didn’t see the big deal. The cleaning people had been here yesterday, so the house looked great. They had all the food and drink they could ever need, because Gavin had gone to the grocery store at least twenty-five times in the past four days.

Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but it seemed like every time he saw Liz, she handed him a grocery list. He had started to hide from her.

Like now. He was currently in the basement TV room trying to watch sports, and cringed when he heard her heels coming down the wood stairs.

“Gavin? Are you down here?”

For a second, he actually thought about not saying anything. Maybe she’d think he’d left the house. But she’d eventually figure it out when she saw his truck in the garage.

“Yeah, babe. I’m here.”

“Oh, good. I need you to go to the store for me.”

Shit. He pushed off the chair and stood, then came around to the stairs to see her standing there.

“Seriously? We already own everything the grocery store has. What could you possibly need now?”

Throwing him a look, she waved a list back and forth. “You just have no idea the things I still need. Would you mind?”

If he said yes, he knew he’d be in one for one hell of a lousy Christmas. “Sure. No problem. Just let me grab my coat and my keys.”

“Great. Thanks.”

He walked up the stairs, taking the list from her on his way. When he got to his truck, he looked at the list and mentally cursed.

Gruyère cheese? What the fuck was that?

Fresh cranberries. He was sure he’d just bought those yesterday. In fact, he was positive he had. He should go inside and double-check. He got out and went inside, and found Liz in the kitchen.

“I just bought cranberries yesterday.”

She gave him a look like he was stupid. “Yes?”

“So . . . you need more?”

“Obviously.”

“And what the hell is Gruyère cheese?”

“Just go to the deli. Melinda is working today. She’ll help you.”

“Fine.”

“Oh. And stop at the liquor store and get one more bottle of that Australian Merlot Savannah and Cole like so much.”

“We already have two bottles of that.”

Again, she shot him one of those looks. “And your point?”

Count to ten. Count to ten. “Okay. I’ll pick up another bottle.”

He needed to get out of this house and away from Liz before one of them totally lost it. And by the looks she was giving him and his blood pressure, at this point he wasn’t sure which one of them was going to explode first.