Cole
I’m in the workshop, hands busy tightening a bolt on the engine in front of me, though it doesn’t need it. But I can’t seem to get Ivy out of my head, memories playing on repeat of fucking her in that festive classroom like my life depended on it. Hell, maybe it did. This woman grounds me and makes me feel alive all at the same time. It’s like she’s stamped into every corner of my mind—the way she laughs, filling up every space around her, her energy so damn big it’s contagious. I grunt, twisting the bolt just to have something to do, hoping it’ll pull my mind back to reality. But it’s no use. The image of her smile, that glint in her eyes when she’s up to something, sticks like glue.
Footsteps pull me from my thoughts, and I look up to see Knox and Pope standing in the doorway, arms crossed, watching me with a mix of amusement and…something else that makes me want to go right back to my tools and ignore them.
“What do you two want?” I ask, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.
Knox smirks, crossing his arms. “We came to talk some sense into you.”
I scowl, turning back to the engine. “I don’t need any sense talked into me, thanks.”
Pope lets out a laugh, shaking his head. “Oh, I think you do. And I think it starts with a certain Christmas elf who’s been putting up with your grumpy ass for a little too long.”
My jaw tightens, hands freezing on the bolt. “Ivy’s…she’s just doing her thing. Bringing Christmas cheer to everyone.” I grip the wrench harder, forcing the words out. “I’m nothing special to her. If she knew what was good for her–”
Knox snorts, folding his arms. “You’re delusional if you believe that, Cole. That woman’s been bending over backward to get through to you, and all you’ve done is throw up walls like a man who’s never heard of holiday spirit.”
Pope nods, his tone softer. “Look, we know it’s not easy for you. But Ivy’s good for you, Cole. Since she came around, you’ve actually been, dare I say, happier. More…yourself.”
My fists tighten around the wrench, but I keep my eyes on the engine, refusing to look up. “And what happens when she gets tired of it? When she realizes I’m not worth the trouble?”
Knox steps forward, his tone gentler than usual. “Cole, it’s not about whether you’re ‘worth it’ or not. It’s about letting someone in. Trusting that she cares about you, even if it scares the hell out of you.”
Pope gives me a steady look. “If you let her slip away, you’re going to regret it. Maybe not now, but someday. She’s something special, Cole, and you know it.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I just stand there, feeling my chest tighten with a mix of fear and longing. I don’t know if I can give Ivy what she deserves, but I know one thing: I don’t want to lose her. Not now. Not ever.
With a deep breath, I look up at Knox and Pope, my resolve hardening. “Alright,” I say quietly. “Maybe it’s time I stopped being an idiot.”
Knox grins, clapping me on the back. “About damn time.”
Chapter Eleven
Ivy
I’m perched high up on a ladder, holding a string of lights and carefully looping them around the towering Christmas tree in the center of Copper Mountain’s town square. Perry and Ruby are on the ground, handing me supplies and guiding me on where to drape each strand. The tree is a massive evergreen that stretches up into the crisp winter sky, its dark branches layered with fresh snow. It’s cold, and my cheeks and nose are flushed from it, but there’s a warmth in my chest that makes everything feel just right.
I reach down to grab the next strand of lights from Perry, and she grins up at me. “Look at you, decorating like a pro. You’re practically a mountain woman now.”
I laugh, securing the lights and adjusting my balance. “Thanks to you guys. I think I’m getting the hang of it.”
Ruby laughs, brushing her hands together after tossing me an ornament. “I think the town’s coming around to your charm too. Well, most of it, anyway.”
I know exactly who she’s referring to, and I can’t help but let out a little sigh. “Some people are tougher nuts to crack.”
Perry gives me a knowing look.
I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. “I just…I don’t know. I didn’t expect to care this much for him. It was supposed to be a fun way to bring some cheer to the town. I never thought I’d get so tangled up in it. Or in him.”
Ruby’s gaze softens, and she exchanges a look with Perry. “Sometimes, the best things in life aren’t planned, Ivy. And I think you bring out something in Cole that he’s forgotten about. Don’t let him scare you off.”
I adjust the string of lights and take a deep breath, the truth of her words settling over me. I didn’t come to Copper Mountain looking for a life-altering experience, but here I am, tangled up in this town, and even more tangled up in a man who makes my heart race and my head spin.
When I finish with the lights, I climb down, stepping back to admire our handiwork. The tree sparkles against the snowy backdrop, its lights bright and warm, and it fills me with a strange, fierce pride. This isn’t just any Christmas tree. It’s our Christmas tree. A tree we’ve decorated together, as a community. And in that moment, I realize just how much this town has become a part of me.
Ruby nudges me with her shoulder, her voice soft. “You know, Ivy, sometimes you don’t choose where you belong. Sometimes, it chooses you.”
I look at her, my chest tight with a mix of emotions I can’t quite put into words. I nod, feeling the weight of her words and knowing, deep down, she’s right. And if that means fighting a little harder to break through to Cole, then that’s what I’ll do.
