Page 32

“I can do all those things, too,” Sophie agreed. “But why not do this? They came to rescue me late at night because I was too petrified to climb down by myself. The least I can do is make them cookies.”

Isabelle leaned back against the kitchen counter. “I’m worried about your fascination with Cole.”

“It’s just a thank you, Isabelle.”

“What about the quilt you’re making?” her sister pushed. “You’ve not said anything about it to me, but it’s for him, isn’t it?”

“I make quilts all the time. You know how involved I am with Quilts of Valor.” She played dumb because she didn’t want to argue with her sister. Isabelle meant well. “Besides, I don’t understand what the big deal is about my being nice—especially to someone who deserves my kindness. And yours, too, for that matter.”

Guilt momentarily flashed onto Isabelle’s face, but then she shook it off. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Sophie didn’t want Isabelle to worry, especially when there was no reason to. Cole barely tolerated her company.

Only, when she’d been up in the tree, when they’d been on the ladder, there had been something in his voice, in his eyes, in his touch…something that had probably only existed in her imagination, but oh, how sweet the seemingly impossible moment had been.

“By Cole?” she scoffed, knowing she needed to reassure Isabelle. “The man came up a tree and rescued me. Why would he hurt me?”

“From what I’ve gathered from what little you’ve told me about reading his journal, he has a lot of issues. We both know what the fallout from those type of issues can lead to. Dating him wouldn’t be smart of you.”

“I’m making the man cookies, not dating him,” she reminded, placing another cookie on the sheet pan.

“Do you want to date him?”

Sophie chose that moment to turn to put the pan into the oven before carefully turning back to her sister’s intense blue gaze.

“I feel badly for him. He’s a good person. He went through a lot, lives in a town where he only knows a few people and is obviously working hard in an honorable profession in his civilian life. Not to mention, he’s making a choice to give back by helping with things like the toy drive. It’s what we both wish Dad had been able to do.”

All true, and probably why she was so invested in Cole.

Especially after reading his journal and knowing he fought the same mental battles her father had.

“Besides, I need to drop off his Santa suit, too,” she reminded. “There’s no way I can charge the fire department for the alterations after they rescued me.”

“Someone here to see you, Aaron.”

Again? Cole straightened from where he’d been bent next to the tower, cleaning the truck, and knew who he was most likely to see when he turned around.

Which explained why his heart had zoomed into overdrive.

“Again?” Ben echoed Cole’s thought as his friend glanced up from where he was rubbing the truck down with a cleaning cloth.

“Maybe there’s another cat stuck in a tree,” Andrew suggested when he spotted Sophie. “Nope, looks like she brought you something again, though. If you don’t want these, I do.”

“Hi, guys,” Sophie greeted, brandishing a smile at each of them, but pausing as her gaze connected to Cole’s. “I’ve finished the Santa suit alterations and thought I’d deliver it. I brought these for you, too.”

Her tone was upbeat, friendly, but her eyes held questions. Questions Cole had asked himself over the past couple of days. He always came to the same conclusion.

He needed to stay away from Sophie. For both their sakes.

His gaze dropped to the plastic container she held. “What are they?”

“Cookies.”

“Cookies?” His gaze lifted to hers. She had that about-to-bubble-over-with-excitement look shining on her face, and he guessed what she’d done.

Her smile had enough wattage to power the whole town’s supply of Christmas lights as she nodded. “I baked them this morning.”

Cole popped the lid and was met by a heavenly scent. First wiping his hand over his pants leg, he lifted a perfectly decorated sugar cookie Christmas tree from the container and took a bite. It tasted even better than it smelled.