Page 12

12

D enise crouched in front of the fireplace, getting the fire ready for later. She wanted to light it now. It was starting to get cold, but she also knew she needed to check on the gifts she’d ordered. She’d received an email about an hour ago with a photo of a stack of boxes, marked delivered, but they were outside the side entrance to the tree farm. If they weren’t brought inside, they’d be ruined, and the event was just days away. But the idea of seeing Alyssa with her girlfriend again made her stomach churn.

Denise stood up, brushing wood chips from her hands. She’d been moving among the trees when she saw a woman come up to Alyssa with a grin on her face, wrapping her arms around her in a long hug. Denise tried to ignore them, but as she was looking for a tree, she saw the woman’s hand often resting on Alyssa’s arm, and the way they gravitated toward each other while picking out their own tree made it obvious that this wasn’t just any customer. The casual intimacy stung more than it should have.

She shook away those memories from the other day. The boxes needed to be brought in. If they were left out overnight, the event this weekend would be a complete disaster.

As she took her coat down from the rack, knowing that she just had to go over to the tree farm, she couldn’t understand why it bothered her so much to see Alyssa with someone. It wasn’t like she had any claim on her. They were barely even friends, thrown together by circumstance and a shared inheritance. But the way Alyssa’s face had lit up when that woman had arrived, the easy affection between them, it had stirred something deep inside Denise. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Jealousy.

Denise bit the inside of her cheek as she put her boots on. It was ridiculous. She knew that. Alyssa should be with someone like that woman, someone her own age, from around here.

Denise had been trying to forget about the way she was starting to feel the more time she spent with Alyssa, and she thought she’d been doing a decent job of it, but clearly not.

A much as she wanted to deny it, the truth was undeniable. Seeing Alyssa with that woman had hurt in a way Denise couldn’t quite explain. Nothing was ever going to happen between her and Alyssa, but still, seeing those two together just cemented that idea.

With a sigh, Denise went outside and got into the driver’s seat of her rental car.

The winter air bit at Denise’s cheeks as she parked behind the tree farm. She pulled her coat tighter and made her way around the side of the building, glad to see that the boxes weren’t there. She could have got back into her car and left, but she wanted to make sure that they were somewhere safe, so she did need to find Alyssa. She kept walking, passing the entrance to the rows of trees.

“Denise?”

The familiar voice stopped her in her tracks. Denise turned, her eyes widening at the sight before her. Quinn Fallon stood there, bundled up in winter gear, a black beanie pulled low over her blonde hair that spilled out beneath it. The same infectious smile Denise remembered from their time on set two years ago spread across Quinn’s face as she waved and started walking over.

Denise’s mind raced. What was Quinn doing here, of all places? The last she’d heard, Quinn had been filming in Vancouver. Behind Quinn, Denise spotted a woman around her own age that was just a few steps behind Quinn.

Quinn turned back to the older woman. “You didn’t tell me this place was that well known.”

Before Denise could process the situation, Quinn reached her and pulled her into a warm hug. The familiar scent of Quinn’s perfume brought back memories of long days filming together, getting to know one another better between takes while playing sisters in a romantic comedy.

Quinn pulled back, keeping her hands on Denise’s shoulders. “This is crazy! Babe, come here.” She waved Rebecca over. “Denise, this is my partner Rebecca. Rebecca, this is Denise Adams.”

“I know,” Rebecca said with a smile as she got closer. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Denise said.

“What are you doing here?” Quinn asked.

“I was just about to ask you the same question.” Denise still couldn’t believe this was happening. “It’s a long story, but I actually grew up here. This is my family’s tree farm.”

“What?” Quinn turned to look at her girlfriend. “I had no idea. Rebecca just insisted that it was worth the two-hour drive to come here and pick out our tree.”

“I’ve been coming here for years,” Rebecca said. “And I’m sorry about your father. I didn’t know until we stopped for some coffee in town, and I overheard someone say how strange it would be this year without Wayne around.”

Denise nodded. “Thanks. Yeah.” She really didn’t want to start reminiscing. “Why don’t we go look for your tree?”

Denise led Quinn and Rebecca through the rows of evergreens, passing the ones with tags dangling from their branches. As she went to move into the next row, she collided with a solid form, her hands instinctively reaching out to steady the other person.

Her fingers curled around their waist, and she found herself staring into Alyssa’s eyes. For a moment, the world seemed to still, the cold forgotten as a charged energy crackled between them. Denise’s heart raced, her breath catching in her throat.

The world narrowed to just Alyssa’s eyes, flecks of gold catching the winter sunlight. Denise’s hands remained at Alyssa’s waist, steadying her, but she couldn’t bring herself to let go. Heat bloomed beneath her palms despite the layers between them. The cold air disappeared, replaced by a warmth that spread through her chest.

Alyssa’s lips parted slightly, her breath visible in small puffs between them. A few strands of her hair had escaped from beneath her wool hat, and Denise fought the urge to brush it away from her face.

“I...” Denise started to speak, but her voice came out rough. She cleared her throat, but still couldn’t find the words she wanted to say.

Alyssa’s hands had found their way to her forearms as she spoke, breaking the spell that Denise seemed to be under. “You’re helping customers pick their trees now?” Alyssa asked with a smirk.

Denise dropped her hands, stepping back as a flush crept up her neck. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Quinn and Rebecca appeared from behind a row of trees.

Alyssa’s eyes widened, her jaw slackening as she took in the sight of the famous actress. “Oh my god, you’re Quinn Fallon.”

Quinn grinned, extending a gloved hand. “That’s me. And you are?”

“Alyssa. Alyssa Greene.” She shook Quinn’s hand, her gaze darting between Quinn and Denise.

Denise jumped in, a little miffed that Alyssa was starstruck by Quinn and not her. “Quinn, Rebecca, this is Alyssa. She’s been working here for years, alongside my father.”

Rebecca smiled. “I think you helped me out a few years ago.”

Alyssa’s gaze finally left Quinn and focused on Rebecca. “Yes, that’s right. Sorry. I’m not normally… Anyway, did you find a tree?”

Quinn nodded. “I think so.” She glanced at Rebecca. “Unless, you’d prefer the other one? The taller one?”

“No, I think the one you found is perfect,” Rebecca said.

Denise watched the exchange as Rebecca slid her arm around Quinn’s waist, and once again that twinge of jealousy seemed to flair up out of nowhere. She remembered when Quinn came out, on a late night talk show of all places, and once again, Denise watched someone else put their fears to one side and be brave, braver than she’d ever be.

Alyssa’s voice cut through her thoughts. “I’ll get one of the guys to cut it down for you. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Denise caught up with Quinn, while Rebecca went inside with Alyssa.

“I still can’t believe you’re here,” Quinn said with a warm smile. “Selling Christmas trees. Do you do this every year?”

“No.” Denise shoved her hands in her pockets. “No, it’s just a bit complicated now because I inherited this place. I have to decide what I want to do with it. I had thought I’d sell it. The land is perfect for a ski resort.”

“Really? Rebecca kept going on about the tradition. How her parents had brought her here when she was a kid.”

“No, I know,” Denise said. “But my days in Hollywood are numbered. I just turned forty-five, so… I don’t need to tell you what that means. I’m anxious to get back, to find my next role.”

“I get that.” Quinn looked around. “But maybe there’s a compromise. You could hire a manager or something? I don’t know.”

“I’m going to take some time to think about it in the new year.”

Denise’s eyes locked on Alyssa’s as she came back with two of the staff, ready to cut the tree down.

She had to go back. Staying here wasn’t going to do her any good. Maybe Quinn had a point. Maybe she could leave Alyssa in charge. That way everyone would be happy. Denise could leave, and Alyssa could keep living and working here. Then she could even move into the farmhouse.

That was the most sensible thing to do.