I take a breath, feeling the weight of his words, the rawness in his voice. “That must have been… I can’t even imagine.”
He nods, his gaze distant. “I was in high school. One day he’s there, next day he’s not. Kinda throws things off balance, y’know?”
I nod, swallowing the tightness in my throat. “I’m glad you have the Steeles, though. Sounds like they were there for you.”
“They were,” he says, his voice softer now. “And Betty… she’s been putting up with my grumpy ass since I was a kid. Even now, she’d probably try to ground me if she thought it’d do any good.”
I chuckle, relieved to see a bit of lightness in his eyes. “Maybe you need grounding, Cole. A little reminder that Christmas isn’t all bad.”
“Oh, really?” His tone is laced with skepticism, but his gaze has softened, his guard down just a fraction. “And what would that reminder look like, exactly?”
I smile, leaning forward, feeling the playful tension rise between us. “Well, for starters, you could try enjoying that hot chocolate instead of glaring at it.”
He lifts his mug, taking a long, deliberate sip, his eyes on mine the entire time. “Happy now?”
“Ecstatic,” I reply, fighting a laugh. “But that’s just step one. Step two might involve… I don’t know, hanging a few lights, maybe helping out with the town’s Christmas festival. Show Copper Mountain you’re not as much of a Scrooge as everyone thinks.”
He raises an eyebrow, a slow smile tugging at his lips. “You want me to hang lights?”
“It’s good for the soul,” I say with a shrug, pretending to be nonchalant, even though I can feel the heat building between us. “You could even wear a Santa hat if you’re feeling wild.”
He snorts, shaking his head, but his gaze lingers on mine, intense and unguarded. “You really think that’ll change me?”
“Maybe not change you,” I admit, feeling my cheeks heat up under his stare. “But it might show you something new.”
He watches me for a long moment, his expression unreadable, and then he leans forward, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “You know, Ivy, for someone who talks about Christmas spirit, you’re awfully stubborn about making people fall in line.”
My pulse quickens, but I hold his gaze, unflinching. “Maybe some people need a little push.”
His lips curve into a smile, one that’s slow and dangerous, and it does things to me I can’t quite explain. “Careful, Ivy. You keep pushing, and you might not like what you get.”
I feel a shiver run through me, but I lift my chin, refusing to let him see how much he affects me. “I think I can handle it.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” he says, his eyes darkening as they drift down to my lips, lingering there for a heartbeat longer than necessary. “But maybe you’re biting off more than you can chew.”
“Is that a challenge?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.
His grin widens, and there’s a spark of something wicked in his eyes. “Could be. You sure you’re ready for it?”
I can feel the tension between us, thick and undeniable, and for a moment, the rest of the room fades away, leaving just the two of us locked in this battle of wills. I want to look away, to break the spell, but I can’t. There’s something about him that holds me, that makes me want to see just how far I can push.
“Maybe I am,” I say softly.
Chapter Four
Cole
Two mornings after our hot chocolate date, I’m bent over an old Indian motorcycle when I hear the crunch of metal echo through the evergreens. I grunt, dropping a set of pliers on my workbench and then walking out of my shop and into the road. I squint, looking up and down the old mountain highway when I see it, a tiny puff of smoke rising out of the ditch.
“What the hell?” I climb into my truck and back out of the driveway, headed down the icy road to investigate. By the time I drive the half mile, I know exactly what I’m looking at. A familiar little red car is pinned against a tree.
“Dammit.” I husk, crawling out of my truck and moving down the snowy bank. I throw the driver side door open and find Ivy. She has a small cut above her eyebrow but otherwise she looks safe.
She’s bundled up in her ridiculous red coat and matching hat with that pom-pom bouncing around like it’s got a mind of its own.
“You okay?” I grunt, helping her out of the front seat as steam barrels out from under her hood.
“I’m fine, I swerved to avoid a baby deer,” she breathes, blinking as she tries to catch her bearings.
