“I… uh…” Liam stammered. “You know I don’t usually go to that.”
“We just met,” Cassidy explained, shooting him a sympathetic look.
“Even better. We welcome new friends and old,” Beth continued. “Isn’t that right, dear?” She turned to her husband, who was already talking to another local. Beth waved a dismissive hand. “Trust me, the more the merrier.”
Cassidy knew Liam must hate being put on the spot, and she didn’t want to impose. She was about to come up with some excuse, any excuse, why she couldn’t make it when Liam spoke up. “It would be great if you could come,” he said casually.
“Really?” Cassidy didn’t hide her surprise.
Beth ran with it. “Oh, sure. The whole gang will be there. I don’t think you’ve met our Jackson yet, but he’s home, and there’s Zach and Madison, I think Emily and Kit are coming, maybe some of the crafting club too.”
“That sounds fun.” Cassidy smiled.
Beth beamed back. “Perfect! I’ll text Madison so she can loop you in. Six o’clock sharp!” She gave Cassidy another hug before pulling Tom off toward the hot buttered rum stand.
“Sorry, if you don’t want me there that’s totally okay…” Cassidy let her words trail off.
“No, you’ll love it, and better yet, so will my mom. Truly. She loves this sort of thing.”
Cassidy smiled softly. “It’s a date then. Well, not adatedate. You know what I mean.”
He didn’t say anything, just held her gaze for a beat, the air between them charged, the glow of the Christmas lights catching in his eyes.
She cleared her throat and stepped back, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. She needed to end the night before she did something she’d regret.
Like close the small space between them and kiss him.
Because the only thing that would top tonight would be Liam in her bed, his hands on her, his mouth on her neck, and that thought alone was tempting enough.
If she let that happen, she might never want him to leave. Her heart would be exposed to being broken all over again.
And that was the last thing her carefully rebuilt life could handle.
SIXTEEN
LIAM
Friday, December 5th
Today was Emily’s light-up night, the first in the competition. Liam told himself he was only there to scope out the competition, not because he was hoping to run into Cassidy. The fact that she was there too was just a bonus.
All week they’d been rushed off their feet running their shops. He’d caught glimpses of her, outside, shoveling her sidewalk, or opening her door to greet customers with a smile. It was a good thing, this forced distance, given how strong Liam’s feelings were becoming. He needed to cool his mind and the heat that pumped through his veins every time he hung out with her.
Now he spotted her across the square, bundled in a red puffer coat, a to-go cup cradled between her gloved hands. Black leggings, gray hiking boots with fur at the top. A green knit beanie pulled low over her ears, a braid slipping out the back.
He shouldn’t have been thinking about how amazing she looked. But he was.
If she were just a tourist, a woman passing through, he’d approach her casually. Bump into her. Say something about the weather and how cold it had turned. Maybe mention the lake,frozen solid this time of year. If she was the outdoorsy type, she might want to try ice fishing.
He imagined the conversation. Her curious smile. Her laughter.
In the winter, small ice shanties—like miniature cabins on the ice—popped up across the frozen surface, giving people a place to fish or warm up while the snow fell around them. They’d head out to his shanty on the lake, his little wood-paneled escape, insulated and warm, tucked away from the world.
His had a space heater, soft fleece blankets, and a small cot. He’d start the heater. Offer her a drink. Maybe bourbon. Maybe cocoa. Watch her lips curl around the rim of the mug.
They’d fish, or pretend to, sitting on the cot, shoulder to shoulder.
Maybe she’d tease him.
