“Don’t be a class disruption, Mr. Merlin!” someone called.
“Okay, okay,” I said, retrieving my cell. “My mistake.”
“Cher? Barf!” one student said.
“Shut up, Cher is awesome!” another countered.
“Guys,” I said firmly, getting the class’s attention. “While differing musical opinions are welcomed and respected in this class… Cher is a goddess and there’s no room for discourse on the matter.” I grinned as a group of students cheered over the lamenting of others.
I looked down briefly at my phone, turning the ringtone on silent and catching the text notification as I did.
Felix.
I swiped sideways and opened the message.
If you’d like a Christmas tree from my farm… I found you the perfect one.
A picture loaded—a selfie of Felix smiling beside a pine tree that had on what looked like a bow tie fashioned from a former Christmas bow.
I bit my lower lip, trying to contain my smile, but it was an unavoidable reflex.
“Mr. M is blushing,” a flutist exclaimed.
“Oh snap, do you have a secret admirer?” asked another.
I quickly pocketed my phone. “Worry less about my complexion and more about your inability to perform ‘Deck the Halls.’ From the top!”
Chapter Seven
19 Days Until Christmas
THE SMELLof baked apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg was enough to make me never want to leave Snowy Ridge. Add to that a gorgeous hunk of a man with a smile all for me and I was in heaven.
That is, if heaven had a windchill of negative ten at four in the afternoon.
“Hey,” Felix said, walking to the front door of the gift shop to meet me. He was wearing heavy-duty cargo pants and a long-sleeve flannel shirt. He kept his hands tucked into his pockets. “What’re you doing here?”
“I was on my way back to the high school,” I said. “This place is on the way, and I wanted to say hi. So, hi.”
Felix slowly smiled until the grin had completely enveloped his face. His dark eyes twinkled and the small spot of scarred skin along his jaw rippled. “Hi,” he replied.
“Hey,” I laughed. “I got your text this morning.”
Felix ran his nonscarred hand through his hair and looked away. “Oh yeah… I was just goofing around.”
“I liked it.”
He glanced back. “You did?”
“It was cute as hell.”
Felix lowered his hand. “Well… the tree’s all yours if you want it.”
“My house definitely needs some festivity.”
He smiled again. Felix had such a sweet and somewhat shy expression. I could get used to seeing that look on his faceall the time.
“Do you want to—I can get you something from the café if you’re hungry,” Felix offered, jutting a thumb over his shoulder. “You can eat in my office.”
