Page 30 of The Christmas Tree Farm

‘Or the time you booked the country club for that animal-shelter fundraiser and then filled it with stray dogs.’

‘How was I supposed to get them adopted if they weren’t in attendance, Chlo? That just made sense.’

Her sister rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips. She might have always been the sensible one, but Kira knew deep down, Chloe loved her crazy ideas.

‘What about the time you brought the guy with the neck tattoos to Mom’s Christmas Eve party?’

‘Okay, first of all, that was not a reckless plan. That was a very thought-out plan to ensure I would never have to attend the party again. And Jim was a perfect gentleman.’

‘He got drunk and peed in one of Mom’s houseplants.’

‘He was a perfect gentleman until that moment.’ She’d also found out the next morning that he was breaking the parameters of his parole by leaving town to attend the party, but her sister didn’t need that little bit of added information right now.

Chloe frowned.

‘Look, Chlo, this isn’t about my questionable choices in men, or about getting under Mom’s skin, and it’s surprisingly not even about my quest to end horseracing forever. I just needed to get away, start over. That’s all.’

‘You could have stayed in Georgia. There are farms there, too, you know.’

Kira sighed. ‘If I’d stayed in Georgia I would have been too tempted to crawl back home if things didn’t work out.’

Chloe’s frown deepened. To save her from wrinkles, and because Kira hated seeing her sister upset, she went on sugarcoating the truth. ‘But itisgoing to work. It’s working out great, actually.’ She forced a smile.

‘I could lend you some money…’

‘No.’

‘Kiki, just listen.’

‘No. No way. You’re not lending me anything. I amfine. It was my decision to use my half of the money on this. You save yours for all those little Danish babies you’re going to have.’

Chloe’s nose crinkled again, but Kira didn’t miss the little spark that appeared in her twin’s eyes at the mention of babies. God, her sister really was in deep.

‘Okay, but you have to tell me if you need help. I cannot have you so far away from me and know that you are struggling.’

‘Ha!’ Kira’s fake laugh was slightly unhinged. ‘Struggling? Chlo, I am thriving over here. I promise.’

Chloe looked skeptical but Kira just kept smiling until her sister moved on. ‘Have you made any friends yet?’ she asked.

Friends? Hmm. Did dogs and reindeer count?

‘Oh, yeah. Plenty of friends.’

‘Kiki…’

Shoot, maybe Chloe could still detect some lies.

‘I haven’t had time for friends yet. I just need to get through the holidays and then I’ll have time to hang out with people.’

People, but not Bennett, because he’d be gone by then. And that absolutely should not bother her. It didn’t bother her. At all. Why was that guy and his warm sweaters and sweet smile even popping into her head right now?

It probably had something to do with the very detailed dream she’d been having involving her, Bennett, Santa’s sleigh, some very provocative candy canes, and a ‘naughty and nice’ list they seemed to be working their way through.

Dear God, what was wrong with her?

She shook her head. It was way too early in the morning for all this subterfuge. She needed at least another two hours of sleep, preferably dreamless, and a pot of coffee before she had to be greeting customers.

‘I should really go. Big day today!’ Kira’s forced cheerfulness had Chloe raising her eyebrows, but Kira didn’t have the energy to do any more convincing.