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Sarah sighed. “Hopefully, it was Lou, and she’s on her way to finally set a date to marry the poor man.”

“He sure does love her.”

“That he does, and he might have more patience with her than she deserves,” Sarah agreed. “Speaking of love, Bodie and I are having a little get-together later this evening at Hamilton House.” She ran the bed and breakfast out of the home she’d inherited from her Aunt Jean. The house held special significance for Sarah and Bodie, since he was the one who had helped her renovate the place and get her business started. “Our booked guests checked out early last night because they wanted to head home prior to the snow, so we’ve decided to have some friends over. We’re going sledding, so come dressed for playing outdoors, and bring something to change into afterwards for games at our place, because you’re all invited.”

Sophie’s gaze immediately went to Cole.

“Thanks, but I’ve got plans.”

Plans? Sophie’s pulse quickened. Not that it was any of her business, but what kind of plans did Cole have? With whom?

Why did the thought of him having plans make her so uneasy? She should be happy for him that he had plans. Unlike her. Unless you counted sewing a Christmas quilt for the shop. She’d finished the top, had the batting and back sandwiched together, and planned to load it on the quilting frame soon to quilt it.

An exciting Saturday night ahead of her, for sure.

“Not finished with those hardwood floors yet?” Andrew asked.

Cole shook his head. “Purposely saved them for after I had all the painting done except the baseboard trim work. I’m trying to decide the best way to redo them. I’ve watched several how-to videos on refinishing wood floors but I’m still not sure.”

“You should talk to my Bodie,” Sarah told him, her chest puffing with pride. “He’s excellent around the house. That’s how we met. He answered my handyman help-wanted ad.” Her gaze cut to Sophie and she giggled. “Well, I thought he was answering my ad. It’s a long story, and a great one, but now’s not the time for that.” She smiled. “Anyway, you should definitely come to the house tonight. Bodie grew up working for his stepfather, who’s a professional handyman. He’s bound to have great tips on how to do your floors.”

“He did an excellent job on Hamilton House,” Sophie added. “The place looked amazing when I was last there.”

“You should see it now that we have it decorated for Christmas. It’s so gorgeous with the garland and lights and wreaths with bright red bows on every window,” Sarah sighed with pure delight. “With Bodie’s help, I was able to go all out this year.”

“I can’t imagine anything better than how it looked at your open house last Christmas. Everything was so beautiful,” Sophie recalled.

“Thanks.” Sarah beamed. “I love Christmas so much and can’t wait for you to see the house tonight.”

Which put Sophie in the “going” category, even though she hadn’t been sure. She could work on the Christmas quilt later. An evening with friends would be fun, even if Cole didn’t plan to go.

Since when did she decide her social calendar around what Cole was doing, anyway?

Sophie lifted her chin, almost in defiance of her thoughts. “I look forward to seeing Hamilton House, and spending time with you and Bodie. I imagine the closer it gets to Christmas, the busier y’all are going to be.”

“We’re fairly booked, but we did block off the week prior to Christmas just in case anything unexpected comes up prior to the wedding.”

“I hope you blocked off the week after the wedding, too,” Ben teased.

Sarah’s cheeks grew as red as a holly berry. “No worries there. We’re going to be closed until after the new year. Bodie is taking me on a surprise honeymoon.”

Sophie was happy for her friend. Sarah was as sweet as Christmas candy. She deserved every good thing that came her way. But Sophie could be happy for her friend while still feeling a little sad for herself that she didn’t have anything like that. Cole silently stared into his coffee.

Let him be a lone wolf fuddy-duddy. Sophie liked having fun and didn’t intend to let his lack of participation stand in her way.

She said, “I haven’t been sledding in a few years, but I remember some fun times on Thrill Hill during that big snowstorm we had back seven or eight years ago.”

“Oh, I remember that year,” Sarah said. “It was the whitest Christmas we’d ever had in Pine Hill.”

A conversation comparing different snowstorms ensued. As Cole had only moved to Pine Hill earlier that year, he didn’t join in the conversation. Sophie didn’t have much to say, either, so she found herself studying Cole instead.

When he looked up and caught her staring at him, her breath stuck in her chest, and she fought to look away from those haunting blue eyes.

The conversation continued around them, but Sophie couldn’t follow anything being said. What she’d told her sister flashed through her head. She didn’t want to date Cole. She felt badly for all the things he’d been through and wanted to do something nice for him, to make him smile, and to show him that there were those who cared for what he and others in the military had gone through.

She wanted him to have a good life in Pine Hill, to enjoy the holidays, and to feel like he was a part of their community.

Only…