Joy balls her hands into fists to stop them from shaking. Her mind feels like a hamster on a wheel, just running in circles for dear life. Why does her chest feel so tight why is he looking at her like that why is he saying such nice things why isn’t he freaked out why does he want to help her why why why why why why— “Summer said you were emotionally closed off,” she says. “This is not that. I want a refund.”

He laughs. “You want to know me and I want to help you. You’re a good person, Joy. You made me, a stranger, a birthday cake, the best cake I’ve ever had in my life. I owe you one.”

Joy turns to the goat. “You can eat my sweater now.” She deserves that because she certainly doesn’t deserve someone as wonderful as Fox so committed to helping her. “I got it during Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale. I hope it’s delicious.”

“And,” he says with a grin, “you’re not exactly unpleasant to be around.”

“Not exactly? Don’t know how I feel about that.”

“Good.” He laughs again.

Fifteen

Going to Glass Bead Winery & Vineyards sounded great in theory—until Joy saw the helicopter waiting to take off.

In the car, she drifts toward the front seat like a vengeful ghost. “The agenda didn’t say anything about a helicopter, Malcolm,” she seethes into his ear. “I thought we were driving and stopping by the cabin first. I smell like goat. Adorable baby goat.”

He turns to her with a smirk. “That’s your fault, darling.”

“I can’t go to a fancy winery smelling like goat in wrinkled clothes.”

Summer giggles in the front seat.

“First time for everything.”

“If it helps, I also smell like goat,” Fox says, tone completely flat. “We can make up a cover story about how we rescued them from near death on the freeway and returned them to their farm. We had to hold them the whole way to keep them calm and came straight there to make our appointment. We even have the pictures to prove it. People love animal rescue stories.”

“Your grumpy mind,” Joy says. “I love it.”

It’s a short trip from the parking lot to the launch pad walkway. Their pilot meets them there, shaking Malcolm’s hand and confirming the registration and destination, and goes over the particulars of the ride.

“It’s even smaller than I thought.” Fox has suddenly gone full grump—tense jaw, furrowed brow, and angry glare.

“Careful there or you’ll make the jump from grump to grinch,” Joy teases.

That earns her an amused side-eye. “Grinches are very misunderstood creatures. Green ones hate Christmas. My nemesis would be that.” He gestures with his chin to the helicopter just as the blades start up. The sound is a lot to take in—loud, uncomfortable, and almost piercing.

“Are you scared of flying?”