He needed something with a more down-to-earth feel. Still eye-catching, still beautiful, but true to who he was, like this shop. Liam’s family’s farm business had been booming these past few years, but now, with his brother finally home, he could focus on bringing the farm’s goods closer to town. When he’d bought the space, he’d renovated it to look like a rustic barn with wooden beams overhead, lantern-style lights, and shelves made from reclaimed barn wood. The shelves showcased jars of honey, homemade jams, and locally crafted alpaca scarves and mittens, which hung from black wrought-iron hooks below. Out front, he had a red tin roof overhang that he planned to string up lights around.
The space already told a story. He just had to add a bit of holiday charm to it.
He could do that, couldn’t he?
His competitive spirit said,Hell yeah,I can.
He had to win. It was the perfect way to raise funds for the llama sanctuary that he, Jackson, and Madison’s dad, George, were developing on the family farm.
Liam wasn’t the type to stress under pressure. Usually, he was a go-with-the-flow kind of guy. But since Jackson had returned, everything had shifted. He’d seen what war had done to his brother. The way he flinched at loud sounds. The way he didn’t meet anyone’s eye for long.
So, now, more than ever, Liam wanted this to work—not just for the shop, not just to win the competition for the sake of it, but for the llama sanctuary. A place where Jackson could heal, a place where the animals Jackson loved could do what no one else could.
He didn’t want Jackson feeling like a burden, like the way Liam had after the accident four years ago. His family would never see it that way, but he had. Liam had been useless for months. Everyone had dropped everything to check on him, make sure he was okay. They’d upended their lives like he needed a caregiver and all he’d felt was hollow inside.
He knew Jackson needed a purpose, something to occupy him, and the llama sanctuary was the perfect project. So Liam shook thoughts of those dark days away and forced himself to focus on the present. The llama sanctuary, the farm shop, the Light-Up Display Competition.
He tried to picture his window display: festive garlands with red and gold accents, velvet ribbons, oversized bulbs suspended from the ceiling in the front window. Could there be llamas? Liam was wondering if the llamas would eat a Christmas tree when the bell over the door jingled.
Zach strolled in, bringing a swirl of cold air and snowflakes that clung to the shoulders of his flannel jacket. His sandy-blonde hair was wind-tousled, and his hazel eyes scanned the shop with easy curiosity before landing on Liam with a crooked grin.
And wouldn’t you know it, the man was carrying a gift bag from the Cocoa Corner.
The chocolate shop’s logo stared back at him, smug as hell.
Liam tried not to scowl. He couldn’t stop replaying the look on Cassidy’s face when she had tried to guess his favorite chocolate, standing there with that fresh confidence, all bright eyes and sass. So sure she had him figured out. Holding out that tiny square of chocolate like it was the holy grail, waiting for his approval. Thinking she could bribe him into loving Christmas with one little chocolatey treat.
And then the way her mouth had fallen open, eyes flashing with outrage when he’d told her it was“fine.”The way she’d planted her hands on her hips, fire in her eyes, telling him that piece had won her an award in Paris and how dare he compare it to a Snickers.
She was infuriating. But he’d nearly kissed her then, just to get a taste of that fire.
And right now? She was across the street, a temptation wrapped in chocolate and peppermint, laughing with customers while she fixed a wreath that kept falling down inside on her window. He’d watched her try to pin it back up three times already, golden hair falling across her cheek.
It was a problem. She was a problem.
Because even though her Christmas spirit drove him up the wall, he wanted more. Cassidy St. Clair wasn’t the kind of woman he could flirt with for fun and forget about by New Year’s Day. And Liam wasn’t the kind of man who could give her what she deserved.
Even as he greeted Zach, Liam couldn’t help it—his eyes drifted back to Cassidy, who was now waving goodbye tocustomers, her laughter drifting across the street when the door opened.
“Duuude,” Zach said, dragging out the word. “You’ve got it bad.”
“I don’t haveanything,” Liam shot back, grabbing the broom and sweeping up pine needles near the entrance. “She’snot my type. And she’s downright annoying.”
Zach snorted. “Sure. That’s why you’ve been staring at her shop all morning.”
“I’m not staring. I’m keeping an eye on the competition,” Liam growled.
“Uh-huh,” Zach said. “You know, Madison thinks the two of you are perfect for each other. She’s hoping you’ll get together at the Santa House opening tonight.”
“Great. Tell Madison to focus on her own love life,” Liam muttered.
Zach grinned. “Oh, she is. Our love life is going just fine, breaking in every room in the new house…”
Liam didn’t want to think about his best friend having sex all over his house. Madison ran the Cinnamon Spice Inn, but she’d recently moved into Zach’s place. A handyman by trade, Zach had built them the home of their dreams.
Liam glanced toward Cassidy’s shop again. She was still at the window, adjusting the wreath that had fallen—again. She stood on her tiptoes, cheeks flushed, lips parted, eyes flashing with frustration and determination.
Liam swallowed hard.
