Page 35 of The Christmas Tree Farm

Kira nodded, that private smile still playing around her lips and Bennett suddenly didn’t want to pick out a tree. He wanted to drag Kira back to the house and personally warm her up with his lips and his hands and his body.

He cleared his throat.

‘Uh, come on. I’ll introduce you.’ He led the way to his sister before his thoughts could take any more distracting turns.

‘Kira, this is my sister Jeanie and her fiancé, Logan, and their friends, Noah and Hazel. Everyone, this is Kira, owner of The Christmas Tree Farm.’

‘Hi, everyone,’ Kira said with a little wave. ‘Thanks for coming out.’

‘Of course!’ Jeanie looked like she was itching to hug the woman, but Bennett sent her a warning look and she stayed put. ‘It’s so beautiful! You did a great job.’

‘It really is,’ said Hazel. ‘I used to come here with my parents, but it had gotten pretty run down at that time. You really revived it.’

‘Thanks.’ Kira’s cheeks flushed a deeper pink and Bennett had to look away. He’d known she was beautiful before, but today it was blinding, like he’d been wearing sunglasses and without them he was about to drive off the damn road.

‘So, where should we start?’ Noah asked, rubbing his hands together. ‘I’m ready to chop down a tree.’

‘You don’t chop it, you saw it,’ Logan corrected.

‘Right. Saw. Either way, I’m ready.’ The fisherman grinned and Hazel leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder. There was no way Bennett could spend too much time with this foursome without feeling like a lonely and pathetic fifth wheel. Who was he kidding that he was swearing off women? During the holidays? That was the worst time to be alone. People wrote songs about it.

‘The Douglas firs are down this row,’ Kira said, pointing straight ahead. ‘Blue spruces are to the left. But if you prefer a Fraser fir, those are a bit of a further walk. You need to head up the hill.’

‘A Fraser for sure,’ Logan said.

‘You just want to make us walk farther,’ Hazel argued. ‘These close ones look fine.’

‘I just want one that smells good,’ Jeanie added.

‘They all smell the same,’ Hazel said.

Noah shook his head and laughed. ‘Just let me cut something down!’

Bennett tuned out the rest of the tree argument and turned back to Kira. ‘I’m really happy it’s working out.’

‘Thanks. Me, too.’

‘Hey, Kira,’ Iris peeked her head out of the cabin window, ‘we’re out of cocoa again.’

‘Okay, be right there.’ She looked apologetic when she faced him. ‘Sorry that I can’t help you pick out your perfect tree.’

‘That’s all right. You’re busy. Which is a good thing.’

She nodded, but maybe she was hesitant to go? Maybe she wanted more time with him, too? ‘A very good thing.’ She traced an arc in the dirt with the toe of her boot.

He wanted to say more. He wanted to tell her he wanted to see her again, alone. Just the two of them. He wanted to suggest they spend the month together. Naked. He wanted to propose all sorts of crazy and impulsive and objectively bad ideas to her. He wanted to confess that all he wanted for Christmas was her.

But they were in the middle of a crowded parking lot.

And she was working.

And they just met a week ago.

And he was leaving in a month.

And up until five minutes ago, he was fairly sure she hated him.

And this wasn’t a Christmas movie or a sappy holiday song.