Cassidy knew she was putting a lot of pressure on herself, but she couldn’t help it. Last year had been such a dumpster fire, and she wanted this Christmas to be perfect. It was more than the opening of her chocolate shop; it was the official launch of her new life.
“You good there?” Liam asked, slowing to a stop as they reached the hardware store.
“Hmm? Oh, just plotting a crime,” she said lightly. “You know. Standard newcomer stuff. Sabotage. Maybe a little theft.”
“Ah, so the usual.”
“Exactly.”
Liam didn’t press, just like how she didn’t press him. She knew he had to have one heck of a reason for not likingChristmas, but if he didn’t want to tell her his story, that was fine with her.
They stopped in front of the light display.
“Alright,” she said, hands on her hips. “Warm white or multicolored?”
“You?” He looked her up and down. “Multicolored. Obviously.”
She raised her brows. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“All those plain lights wouldn’t know what to do with you.”
Her heart skipped. Their arms brushed as they both reached for a box. Fingers collided. Heat sparked.
“Sorry,” she murmured.
“Go ahead,” he said gruffly. “Take it.”
Their eyes met.
“We’ll need a few,” he added, grabbing another box like it would anchor him.
Cassidy tilted her head, lips twitching. “Yeah, the tree’s pretty big, huh?”
He couldn’t help himself. “Oh, you have no idea…” He grinned, noticing how her cheeks flushed pink.
FOURTEEN
LIAM
Tuesday, December 2nd
Cassidy isn’t all cocoa and candy canes, Liam thought as he fed her Christmas lights. He could see that now: She carried her own darkness, a pain she hid from the world.
One moment, she looked like she had unquenchable confidence, like when she was welcoming him into her shop. She beamed like the whole world was made for her. And the next, she seemed so small and unsure, like when he’d rejected her offer to grab the lights from her apartment. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He just… couldn’t go into her bedroom.
Then there were the quieter moments. The way she watched people, as if memorizing how to belong. There wasn’t much he missed when it came to Cassidy.
Sure, there had been an instant attraction between them. And the truth was, he wanted to know her. Really know her.
But that’s exactly why he had to be careful.
She couldn’t be a weekend fling. She was in Maple Falls to stay. He couldn’t hook up with her and then pretend things were casual, not when every moment with her felt anything but. He wasn’t ready for something real, something long-lasting, andhe might never be. Liam had loved someone once, and it had shattered him beyond repair. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. Cassidy deserved someone whole.
Maybe he could just be her friend?
He just had to keep his damn boundaries intact.
No matter how good it felt to be near her, how tempted he was to kiss her.
