“No, you’re right. What would you like to do?”
He got a wicked grin and a glint in his eye.
“Other than that,” she said with a laugh. She knew better than to playfully push his shoulder because then he’d pull her close and tumble her onto the couch, and then they wouldn’t be leaving to go anywhere.
Poor Muff must have been quite shocked by the sounds coming from her bedroom. Cassidy would’ve felt embarrassed if it had been with anyone else. But no, not with Liam.
The way he talked, the way he worshiped her. The props he used, because really, what else was she supposed to call them? They weren’t sex toys, but she blushed thinking about it. Maybe they’d try those too. And a blindfold. She had always wanted to try a blindfold… and obviously something with chocolate…
“I know you’re thinking about it,” he said.
“Of course I am, but a girl needs air too. Which is why we gotta go—now.”
She grabbed her phone and pulled up the town’s social media page to find out what else was happening for the Christmas Countdown that night. “What’s the Festival of Trees?” she asked.
Liam, who had been scratching Muff behind the ears, stopped. “It’s actually not a bad event,” he admitted.
“A Christmas event you don’t hate? Tell me more.”
“The high school on the other side of the lake does a fundraiser where students and community groups can buy a tree spot. They decorate it however they want, then people bid onthem. Most of the money goes back to the school, minus the cost of the trees.”
“Oh, I like that, but wait…” Cassidy did not need to walk into an allergy nightmare.
“All the trees are artificial,” Liam added.
She relaxed. “I say it sounds perfect then.”
They decided to take Muff with them. Her pup loved getting out and about in the community, and she and Liam had spent a lot of time indoors. They took Liam’s truck, Muff hopping up on the bench seat to sit between them. She wagged her tail and stared out the windshield, her little pink tongue panting and fogging up the glass.
Liam wrapped his arm around the dog, keeping her close. Seeing how affectionate he was with her pup made Cassidy fall in love with him a little more.
The high school parking lot was packed, headlights gleaming off patches of icy snow. Cassidy tugged her coat tighter as she stepped out of the truck, Muff hopping down beside her. Warm light spilled from the gymnasium doors.
“Wow, this is quite the event.”
“Wait until you see the trees.” Liam guided her forward with a hand on her back. “Some of our locals are really crafty.”
“I’m a member of the crafting club, remember?”
“Oh, I remember alright.”
Inside, the gym had been transformed into a winter wonderland. The gym perimeter was set up to look like a Christmas tree stand, with black poles and white lights strung across them, crisscrossing the gym. The student orchestra played renditions of Christmas classics from the stage, and the scent of fudge and cookies drifted from the bake sale table near the entrance.
Cassidy’s eyes widened. “Oh my gosh… this is amazing.”
She couldn’t decide where to start as she stared at row after row of artificial Christmas trees, each one decorated to reflect the personality of its sponsor. Some were traditional, decked in red and gold ornaments with shining angels on top. Others went bold. One was covered in neon lights and rubber ducks; another was themed after a retro diner, complete with tinsel milkshakes and vinyl records as ornaments.
“Oh no,” Cassidy said dramatically, eyes sweeping the room. “I want them all.”
“Why do I feel like you’re not joking?”
“Because I’m not,” she said, nudging him with her shoulder. “You should be thankful I only have room for three trees.”
She wasn’t lying. She had the pink one in her living room, a four-foot green one in her bedroom, and a little glass porcelain tree on her kitchen counter.
They wandered through the rows, occasionally pausing to admire clever themes. One tree shimmered in lace and pearls; another featured coastal vibes, with starfish, shells, and sea-glass ornaments.
“If only…” Cassidy said dreamily, taking in the trees.
