Page 95 of The Christmas Tree Farm

Jeanie tore off the wrapping paper and pulled out a giant fluffy scarf.

‘Ooh,’ Kira cooed. ‘Looks cozy.’

‘Annie, is this from you?’ Jeanie asked, but Annie shook her head.

‘Must be Hazel, then.’

Hazel smiled. ‘I hope you like it.’

‘I love it,’ Jeanie said, already wrapping it around her neck. ‘Okay, Haze, you open next.’

Hazel tore into her gift and Bennett held his breath. He didn’t know much about Jeanie’s friends, but his sister had mentioned that Hazel loved plants.

She grinned as she pulled out the little planter that looked like a person on a swing. ‘How cute!’

‘Jeanie said you were running out of space, but that one you can hang in the window.’ He shrugged. ‘Thought you might like it.’

‘I love it,’ Hazel beamed. ‘Thank you.’

‘Good job,’ Kira whispered, and he wanted to lean into her words and the softness of her body next to him, but it was his turn to open.

The package was wrapped in random birthday wrapping paper. He raised an eyebrow but the group was giving nothing away. He opened it and found a Hawaiian shirt inside.

‘Uh … wow…’ He unfolded the shirt and that’s when he saw that between the garish flowers were pictures of his dogs’ faces. He burst out laughing.

‘Does everyone wear their pets on their clothes around here?’ Kira asked.

‘Only the cool kids,’ Noah said with a grin, giving himself away.

‘Well, thanks, Noah.’

‘Oh, man you got me!’

Bennett laughed again. ‘It’s a cool shirt, thanks, man.’

Noah beamed. ‘You’re welcome. Okay, where’s my gift?’

Jeanie handed Noah a gift bag covered in pictures of fish. ‘Cool bag,’ he said, holding it up before digging around inside.

He pulled out four bars of soap and laid them out on the carpet in front of him.

‘Wood Barrel Bourbon, Pine Tar, Alpine Sage, Bay Rum.’ He read off the scents one by one. ‘Wow, I’m going to be smelling very masculine. Who would have gotten me such a thoughtful gift?’ He looked around the room as though there wasn’t only one person left.

Annie threw a pillow at his head. ‘It was me. Gotta keep that fish stink away.’

Noah laughed and threw the pillow back. ‘Thanks, Annie. Very thoughtful.’

She winked at him.

‘That was a great first Secret Santa,’ Jeanie said with a smile. ‘And maybe next year we can add even more friends.’ She looked pointedly in Kira’s direction, but didn’t push it.

‘Very fun, Jeanie. Thanks for planning it,’ Hazel said. ‘But we should probably get going.’

‘But I’m so comfy!’ Noah protested as Hazel got up and walked over to him. He’d already laid back down in front of the fire after opening his gift. She took his hands and tugged him up.

‘It’s comfier in bed. Come on.’

Annie stood too, yawning. ‘I guess I’ll go too.’