The Cinnamon Spice Inn looked even more impressive. Lanterns with flickering lights lined the walkway. The stately columns were wrapped in evergreen and lights with two full-size Christmas trees between them. An oversized wreath dominated the front door. Cassidy had had a chance to admire it earlier with its gold-painted pinecones, sugared cranberries, and burgundy velvet ribbon. Madison had truly made the inn feel like a home.
It was the same all down Oak Way. From nearly every awning and doorway hung garlands of evergreen and white twinkle lights. Even the lampposts were wrapped in gold-lined red ribbon and oversized bows.
But no Christmas tree in the town square.
“Can I help you with something?” Mayor Bloomfield raised his eyebrows.
“I was just looking for the Christmas tree. Isn’t the lighting tonight?” According to the Maple Falls website, there were all sorts of activities planned to celebrate the tree lighting tonight: a Christmas wish fire, an ornament raffle, sleigh rides through town.
She stood up on her tiptoes, peering over his shoulder. Maybe it wasn’t in the town square. Had she misread the location? That wouldn’t be a shock. She was running on six hours of sleep. Tonight, she was definitely soaking in a bubble bath, crawling into fleece pajamas, and watchingHome Alone. And no more cocoa. Her cocoa consumption was way too high. Almost as high as her lack of patience in uncovering and apprehending the Gingerbread Jerk before they succeeded in harming this beautiful town’s Christmas spirit.
“Afraid you’re a bit early,” Mayor Bloomfield said with a chuckle. He brought a hand to his brow and scanned the street. “But it should be here any second now. He sent me a text about fifteen minutes ago.”
“He?” Cassidy asked.
The mayor ignored her question. “Ah, there he is.”
Cassidy followed his gaze just as a dark gray pickup truck rumbled into view at the end of the blocked-off road. She didn’t need to look twice to recognize the man.
Do not think about his candy cane. Or his snowballs. Or tying him up with tinsel, she reminded herself.
But then Liam stepped out of the truck and all bets were off.
He ate up the pavement in three long strides, boots crunching through packed snow. Without a word, without looking at her, he dropped the tailgate and got to work loosening the tie-downs, unhooking the rope. His entire routine was smooth, practiced. He could probably do a lot with those straps.
He might be a grinch, and he might be way sexier than should ever be allowed, but Cassidy was determined to get on with everyone in this town. Liam was friends with all her new friends, and she was going to make him like her.
“Hey, neighbor,” Cassidy said, walking over and trying to sound casual, but her voice came out all breathless instead.
Good Lord. It was happening again. Cocoa brain was back.
She cleared her throat. “Do you want help?” she asked in a perkier voice, and, before he could answer, she climbed right up into the truck bed to help him wrangle the tree.
He moved over to the side. “Um, sure.”
“Alright, let me just hoist this sucker up and we’ll be golden,” she said, getting into position.
“You sure? You want some gloves?” Liam reached for a pair in the back pocket of his jeans.
“It’s all good. I’ve got—wait! Hang on. It’s caught on my sweater! Let me just…” Cassidy yelped, half laughing, half panicking as a spruce branch snagged the sleeve of her favorite Christmas sweater. It was green with a felt elf on the front, wearing a hat just like the one the mayor’s assistant had givenher. The jumper elf had actual fur around his hat and jingle bells on his toes.
“Let me go, Mr. Evergreen. I did not agree to restraints,” she said to the tree, trying to break free. But the spruce needles only dug deeper.
“Enjoying a bit of role-play up there, are we?” Liam called over.
But she couldn’t reply. She sneezed not once but twice.
“Bless you,” he said, wincing sympathetically.
“Thanks.” Cassidy turned her head and sneezed some more. She lost count after five.
Oh no. Of course. Stupid freaking tree. It had to be a Norway spruce. There was no other explanation. And if that man didn’t make her brain-dead, she would’ve thought to check before now.
“What is your safe word?” she grumbled to the tree.
“You know,” he said casually, “if you’re gonna invoke safe words this early in the relationship, I feel like I should at least get a say in what they are.”
ACHOO!Cassidy sneezed again. “This is not how this ends!” she declared.
