Page 16 of A Perfect Christmas Dance (Kringle, Texas #7)

Later that day, Ryan shifted in the living room lounge chair, where he’d parked after breakfast with Nina.

He’d convinced her to go tend the bakery, but she vowed to return soon. It bothered him that he was costing her business.

His knee throbbed, telling him it was time for another pain pill. The ice pack had long since melted, leaving a damp spot on his jeans. He glanced at the Christmas party to-do list on the side table, half of the items still unchecked.

Five days. He had five days until the event, and he could barely hobble to the bathroom without sweating. The barn remained undecorated, a cavernous space that needed filling.

“I can’t do this.” He rubbed his temples.

He reached for the budget spreadsheet, wincing as he leaned forward. Numbers swam before his eyes—deposits paid, balances due. Each figure represented a promise—to vendors, to the townsfolk, to the memory of his parents who’d started this whole tradition. Promises he couldn’t keep.

The clock chimed, and Ryan’s stomach clenched. Another hour gone. Another hour closer to what was shaping up to be a monumental disaster.

“I can’t pull this off,” he muttered.

Just then, the front door opened and Nina swept in. She’d changed clothes and now wore black leggings with a cute plaid skirt that showed off her shapely legs.

“I didn’t knock,” she explained as she walked down the hall. “Because I didn’t want to make you get up—whoa!” She stopped short in the living room and stared at him. “What’s wrong?”

Ryan pressed a palm to his nape. “I’ve got to cancel the party.”

“What? Why?”

He waved a hand at his leg. “I can’t even walk without crutches. The barn’s empty. And I’ve got five days to pull off a miracle. It’s not happening.”

“That’s what you’ve got me for, silly.” She set down the Ellis Early Eats bag she carried on the coffee table and came closer. The aroma of yeast bread scented the air.

“I can’t ask you to shoulder that burden. It’s not fair. We’re not even…” He trailed off as his eyes met hers.

“Dating?” She arched an eyebrow.

“Well, yeah.”

“Not yet,” she said, “but we will be once the Christmas push is over.”

But would they? Both of them worked sixty hours a week or more. When would they have time for each other? Ryan winced.

“We’re not canceling the party,” she said, her tone brooking no argument.

We . As if they were in this together.

His spirits lifted.

“Is this pain talking?” she asked. “When was the last time you took a pain pill?”

He shrugged. “Not since before you left.”

She clicked her tongue, efficient, take charge. “First, let’s take care of that.”

Nina disappeared into the kitchen, taking the bakery bag with her, and returned a few minutes later with his pill bottle and a glass of water. Like a diligent nurse, she waited for him to swallow the pill.

“Now,” she said, sinking her hands onto her hips. “You listen to me, Ryan Danvers. This party isn’t just about you. It’s about the whole town. It’s tradition. It’s… it’s Kringle! So no more self-pity. Got it?”

He loved the way her eyes sparkled when she was irritated with him. “I can’t let?—”

“No.” She shook her head. “I won’t hear ‘can’t.’”

“But—”

“No buts. You’re not in this alone, you know. We can rally the troops. Get the whole town involved.”

The idea of asking for help made Ryan’s skin crawl. He’d always handled things on his own, especially after his parents died. The thought of admitting he couldn’t do it all… “I can’t ask people to do that. Everyone’s busy with their own holiday stuff.”

Nina snorted. “This is part of their holiday stuff, silly goose.”

Ryan stared at her, a tiny spark of hope flickering to life in his chest. “You really think people would want to help?”

“Are you kidding? This party is the highlight of the year for half the town. They’d be thrilled to be part of making it happen.” Nina grinned, nudging his shoulder. “Face it, Danvers. You’re stuck with us.”

“I don’t know how to do this,” he admitted, his voice low. “I’ve always… it’s always been just me, well, except for Jenny and Scott, but this year, they can’t help because of the baby.”

Nina’s expression softened. She reached out and touched his hand.

“That’s the point, Ryan. It doesn’t have to be just you anymore.

Let me help. Let me get the community involved.

People love you. They loved your parents, and they’ve watched you struggle.

They want to see you happy. They want to feel like they have a part in your healing. ”

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

Ryan felt something shift inside him like a weight he’d been carrying for years rolled away. He took a deep breath, then nodded. “Where do we start?”

Nina’s face lit up with a grin. “First things first. We’ve got some calls to make. Operation Save Christmas is officially a go.”

Pulling out her phone, Nina called Mrs. Claiborne first.

Ryan leaned back in his chair. For the first time in days, he felt a glimmer of real hope.

Maybe this party could still happen. Not because of his stubborn determination to do it all alone but because of the very thing his parents had always cherished about Kringle—its sense of community, of family extending far beyond blood ties.

Nina hung up. “Mrs. Claiborne’s on board. She’s firing up the grapevine, and we’ll have a crew here tomorrow. See how easy that was?”

“Hey,” Ryan said. “Thank you. For not letting me give up.”

Nina smiled, soft and warm. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

Friends. Right.

Except Ryan was hoping for a whole lot more than that.

* * *

Four days had passed since Nina had reassured Ryan about not canceling the Christmas party, and Kringle had turned into a Christmas wonderland.

Ryan’s barn had become the heart of the community effort. This morning, when she left, twinkle lights hung from the rafters, fresh pine wreaths decorated the doors, and garlands draped along the walls. It felt magical, the kind of magic that only a small town at Christmas could create.

The townsfolk rallied together in a way that lifted Ryan’s spirits. Upon his return, Scott took charge of organizing the volunteers. When she wasn’t at the bakery, Nina spent hours working alongside the others at the ranch.

And then there was Ryan. His knee was healing faster than expected, and just yesterday, Nina drove him to the doctor for a checkup. The doctor had been pleased with his progress, and he was able to ditch the crutches, although Ryan still needed to wear the knee brace.

Today, on Christmas Eve eve, the bakery kitchen bustled too with party food prep. Gee and Jean Deerling worked together, making pies.

Their heads were close together, their hands moving in sync as they rolled out dough and cut perfect rounds to fit the pie tins.

Jean’s fingers expertly crimped the edges, creating neat, decorative crusts.

Gee, for his part, was carefully slicing apples, piling the thin slices into the waiting shells.

Nina smiled. But as much as the sight of her grandfather falling in love lifted her spirits, there was a bittersweet edge to it.

Watching them reminded her of the contrasts in her own world.

Their relationship seemed so effortless, while her life felt tangled in complications—Ryan, the bakery, the looming decision.

Part of her longed for that kind of clarity and peace, but it felt far away, hidden beneath the weight of everything she had to figure out.

But the weight of Katherine Brothers’ offer gnawed at her.

She hadn’t told Ryan about the offer yet.

Part of her didn’t see the need—after all, they weren’t officially together, and this was her decision to make.

And he had enough on his mind with healing and putting on the party. Why complicate things right now?

Every time she thought about selling the bakery, her stomach twisted. Letting go of something her grandmother had built with her own hands felt wrong, like she was turning her back on a legacy. And yet the idea of stepping back, of having less responsibility and fewer sleepless nights was tempting.

Plus, there was Ryan. He was what she’d dreamed of for Christmas, and now, a relationship with him was completely within her reach.

A knock sounded at the back door.

Nina looked up. Who could that be this late in the evening? She wasn’t expecting any deliveries.

Gee met her gaze, and they exchanged a glance. Nina wiped her hands on her apron and crossed the kitchen.

She peeked through the curtains.

Katherine Brothers stood on the threshold, her polished exterior as composed as ever. What did the woman want? Shouldn’t she be home getting ready for her own celebration?

Nina opened the door. “Hello.”

“Good evening, Nina. May I come in?”

She hesitated and then stepped aside. “All right.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting.” Katherine eyeballed Gee and Jean. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Ellis.”

Gee raised a hand.

“We’re baking for a Christmas party tomorrow, so we’re short on time,” Nina said. “What can we do for you? I’m guessing this visit isn’t about pastries.”

“It looks like you’ve got everything well in hand.” Katherine offered a polite smile.

Nina gave the woman a pointed look.

“Yes, well, let me get to the point.” Katherine cleared her throat. “If you want to sell the bakery, I need to know as soon as possible, or the offer goes away.”

“I see.”

“I know this isn’t an easy decision for you, but you’ve had some time to think it over, and I’ve tried to be patient.”

Nina’s knee jerk reaction was to say no. She didn’t like the woman’s pressuring, but Katherine seemed sincere.

“When do you need an answer?”

“Tomorrow night.”

Nina’s gut twisted. Tomorrow night—Christmas Eve. The same night as the party. She pressed her lips together, glancing toward Gee and Jean, still working with quiet focus on their pies.

She knew what saying yes would mean. It wasn’t just about stepping away from the bakery—it was about everything that came with that freedom.

Freedom to live, to love, and to spend her days with Ryan without feeling torn between her responsibilities.

Could it really be that simple? Just one decision and everything could change.

“I have been thinking about it,” Nina said. “But it’s not an easy decision.”

Katherine’s eyes softened. “I understand. Just remember, the offer expires after tomorrow night. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll assume your answer is no.”