“You know this time of year is hard for him,” Zoe said gently. “Maybe you guys should just pick things up again in the new year. Give it a little breathing room.”
Cassidy sighed, leaning back against the counter. “Yeah. Maybe we should. I just… I don’t know.”
Cassidy stared at the ceiling, her heart caught somewhere between disappointment and longing. Part of her wanted to scream,Why does it always have to be this hard?But another part—quieter, more vulnerable—still clung to the way Liamlooked at her when he thought she wasn’t watching. The way he touched her like she mattered. The way, just days ago, he made her feel more seen than she’d ever felt in her life.
But now? He was backing off. Calling things “too fast.” As if she didn’t know her own mind. As if her desire, her joy, and her very self were something to second-guess.
Maybe Zoe was right. Maybe a break would give them both space. But Cassidy didn’t want space. She wanted him. And worse, she’d started to believe she could have him. That this town, this business, this weird, wonderful, cozy life she was building could include Liam.
Now, she wasn’t so sure.
The warmth of the room, the soft instrumental carols playing in the background, the scent of the flower shop, none of it soothed the ache in her chest.
Zoe opened her mouth to speak again, but before she could, Muff started barking and jumping around the room.
“Muff, knock that off!” Cassidy stood, not wanting Muff to knock over something of Zoe’s. Her pup rarely went nuts when people walked by, which was one of her most endearing traits. It would be hard to own a business if your dog went crazy every time she heard a noise or a strange voice.
But Muff was not listening, paws up on the window, barking like crazy at whatever was outside.
Muff’s barks were followed by a loudCRASH.
Both women were now on their feet.
They rushed to the window. Outside, one of the large planters had been knocked over, its ceramic base shattered across the icy sidewalk. Winter greenery spilled out across the snow.
Cassidy yanked the door open, but the street was empty. The only noise was the sound of a dog barking in the distance.
“How is that possible?” Zoe asked, looking up and down the street.
Cassidy folded her arms tightly against her chest. “I have no idea, but this has to stop. Now.”
Zoe looked at the determined glint in her eye. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m setting up security cameras. And we’re going to catch this Gingerbread Jerk once and for all.”
FORTY-SIX
LIAM
Thursday, December 18th
Liam had opened up the farm shop for any evening gift shoppers and was keeping busy at his counter, doing a poor job of pretending he wasn’t watching Cassidy across the street. She had come back to the Cocoa Corner and was stringing the last row of lights along the edge of her shop awning, or maybe she was moving the lights out of the way? He wasn’t sure exactly what she was doing, but she had moved the ladder under the awning at least five times. Tomorrow was her big light-up event, and she was clearly determined to make it perfect.
Snowflakes clung to her red beret, but she didn’t seem to care. Just like she didn’t seem to care if Liam was watching her.
Liam shook his head, wondering if he had made a mistake earlier that evening. He missed her already, and it had nothing to do with the sex. Although, that had been mind-blowing. It was everything else. The way she hummed when she stirred her cocoa, the way she smiled so warmly at everyone who came into her shop. The way she looked at him, like he was someone worth loving.
He’d had that, had her, and then he’d pulled away.
Mrs. Bishop was browsing the shelves, holding up a scarf in one hand and a bundle of evergreen-scented candles in the other. She’d been in the store for a bit. Liam had done his part, asking if she needed any help. When she’d insisted she didn’t, he’d gone back to his sketch pad that he kept under the desk.
He didn’t need to think. Didn’t even need to see a picture. He just drew. His pencil traced the curve of her cheek. Shaded in the knots on her braid. He gave her a peppermint-striped scarf that she hadn’t worn since last week, and he smiled without realizing, adding the faintest smudge of chocolate to her cheek. Because, of course, she had chocolate on her cheek.
Mrs. Bishop approached the counter, and he quickly flipped the sketch pad closed.
“Find everything you need?”
“Oh yes, you have some lovely gifts.”
