Page 3 of Wish You Faith (Christmas Sweethearts #1)

He wanted to say that she had beautiful eyes, but he held back. It wasn’t his thing to compliment a woman on her physical features. How could he suddenly be mesmerized by a set of eyes? No way was he that shallow.

But here he was, smiling ear to ear.

She’s the one.

What was going on? Evan didn’t understand what his own heart was saying. How could she be the one? One what, exactly?

How could he fall in love with someone’s eyes? Ridiculous.

He cleared his throat.

She winced, a hand on her shoulder.

“Oh, are you hurt?” Evan asked.

Bellina made a loud noise.

“Don’t blame me for workers’ comp. You were on the floor. You were an accident waiting to happen.” Her voice was sharp. “If you’re tired, go home. You need to stop falling asleep just about anywhere—not on the floor, not in other people’s beds.”

Other people’s beds?

Evan was stunned. Was Rosie the “brown recluse” whom Bellina alluded to earlier?

“What did you just say?” Rosie straightened up. “Are you maligning my character? I’m a Christian woman. I don’t do ‘other people’s beds.’ Please take back that false accusation.”

“Are you threatening me?” Bellina made a face, and wagged a manicured nail at Rosie. “You gonna call your lawyer friend? How are you going to pay him? Huh?”

The implication was there, and Evan snapped. All morning he had to put up with Bellina’s nonsense, and now her trash was spewing on Rosie.

Evan took one giant step, and he was in front of Rosie. He spread out both arms, as if to protect her. He didn’t know either one from Eve, but he wasn’t about to find out if a fight could break out in the most blessed season of the year.

And he had a lawyer he could call too.

“Hey! Hey!” Lorenzo came jogging to the warring Bellina. He motioned for Rosie to leave the scene. “We have a problem you need to solve, Bellina.”

“What problem?” Bellina turned her attention to Lorenzo.

Even though he was only the assistant manager, he must hold some clout because Bellina paid attention to him.

“Tell me you didn’t drive all over town with a loaded truck because there isn’t room for two hundred poinsettias.” Lorenzo ushered Bellina away from Rosie. “Unless you want us to tie them to the top of the delivery truck.”

More incompetence.

Evan wondered how Christmastown made a profit year after year. He also wondered how long Bellina had been working there and how much chaos had resulted because of her.

Then again, whoever was in charge of mismanaging the order from Moss Tybee would be the first one on the chopping block.

Evan decided to escort Rosie to safety, wherever she was going. Rosie walked in the opposite direction of Lorenzo and Bellina.

“First day at work, huh?” Rosie adjusted her apron. “Sorry you had to see that.”

“No worries.” Evan was happy to help.

He couldn’t stop smiling. The more he looked at Rosie, the more he smiled. He didn’t know why.

“Where are you from?” Rosie asked.

“Seattle.”

“Welcome to Savannah, Evan from Seattle.”

“Thank you, Rosie from Savannah.”

“How do you know I’m from Savannah?” Rosie asked.

“You’ve worked here for a while, so I’m just assuming you settled in.” Evan didn’t know how else to defend his assumption.

“Actually, I’m one of the few natives. I was born here in Savannah. I still live in my childhood home.”

“Really?” Evan wanted to know more.

“Anyway, thanks again,” Rosie said. “You didn’t need to stand between Bellina and me. We have an ongoing feud that will not end today. You just stepped into the pit. She will not let you go, especially since you’re new here.”

“I’m not afraid of her. Besides, my contract ends in January. But you…” He hesitated. “Have you talked to HR about this?”

“Yes, I have. This is the last straw. After today, Bellina will be banned from the tree farm. She doesn’t know it yet.” She sighed. “You’re in trouble, I’m afraid. You defended me against Bellina.”

“Then you owe me one.” Evan smiled, and hoped he would interact more with Rosie. “Do I get a reward for rescuing the princess?”

“What princess?” She laughed.

It was the same laugh that Evan had heard earlier after he’d parked the truck. He had found the source.

“What’s your job at Christmastown?” Rosie asked.

“I’m a floater.”

“A floater. That’s good. How about this?” Rosie looked thoughtful. “You’re welcome here at the tree farm if you’re not needed elsewhere.”

“Wait. You’re putting me to work as my reward for saving you from Bellina the Belligerent?”

“Are you calling people names?”

“I didn’t say Bellina the Beast, which would be a whole lot worse.” One thing was for sure: Bellina was going straight into Evan’s report that he would soon send to Cyrus. So be it if it got the trainer fired. At least Evan would’ve done his part to protect Rosie.

Protect Rosie?

His mind wasn’t sure what his heart was thinking.

“Regardless, you should consider working a privilege.” She grinned, and he finally noticed tiny dimples on both cheeks.

“So if I work here, who do I answer to?” Evan asked.

“Lorenzo and me.”

“Directly?”

“We’re a small team here. We just need to get the work done, meet the deadlines, make the customers happy, and repeat until the Christmas season is over. That’s all.”

“Sounds fun.”

“Is it?” She smiled.

He smiled.

Suddenly Evan couldn’t wait to float to the tree farm and be with his princess.

Was that too much to ask?