“Not the cabin type?”
“Not at all,” she admitted.
“Too bad. It’s nice up there.” He could imagine a very nice weekend with her in that cabin.
“I’m going to take your word on that, and reserve my right to my own opinion.”
“I do admire an opinionated woman.”
“That makes me sound a little bossy or something. I’m not sure that was a compliment.”
He raised his hand. “Nothing but compliments from me, my friend.”
“Oh, well in that case, I might have to come back more often.”
“I hope you will.” He stopped short of inviting her to stay with him if Orene didn’t invite her. “Orene must think you’re a pretty terrific guest. I mean, to offer to name a room after you and all.”
“I think I get extra points for being friends with Natalie. You know, because Jeremy was from here and all.”
“You both get extra points from me for that too.”
“Even me?” She looked surprised.
“Especially you.”
She blushed, and he resisted reaching for her hand. “There are so many different kinds of Christmas trees. I mean, not just short and tall, fat and skinny, but the species, colors, and everything.”
“Yes, and they all come from tree farms within a hundred miles of here. We like to help our neighbors. Some are donated. Some are purchased from county funds. We splurge with putting money back into our businesses’ pockets and skimp in other areas like concessions, but folks around here like doing all of that. It works.”
“What’s your favorite kind of tree?”
“The Norway spruce can handle heavy ornaments and are really aromatic.”
“That scores big with me.”
“Except their needles are sharp, and they drop their needles fast. So some of them will look a little Charlie Brown–ish by the time the judges come around.”
“Oh, is that experience talking?”
“It is. The Fraser and Canaan firs are really nice, and we almost always pick a big fir for our competition tree, but I get a white pine from Jesse’s brother’s farm for my house. It backs rightup to Natalie’s cabin. I’m not sure if they are my favorite, or if it’s the tradition I like, but that’s what I do.”
“Have you already decorated your tree at home?”
“No. I do it a couple of nights before Christmas, sometimes even Christmas Eve.”
“I usually put my artificial tree up the day after Thanksgiving, but since I was coming here, I didn’t put one up this year.”
“My tree is your tree. Orene’s tree is your tree. Natalie’s tree—”
“I get it. I get it.” She dropped her empty cup in the trash can at the corner of Holy Night Circle and Mistletoe Lane.
He stopped and looked straight up. Above them, a mistletoe ball hung from the crossbar of the football goalpost.
She followed his gaze, and then her eyes darted toward him. He felt her arm tense.
“It’s tradition. I didn’t make the rules, but.…”
She took in a breath. Wanting a kiss, but also not wanting one. “I…” She wrinkled her nose, not wanting to say no, but knowing it wasn’t the time.
