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Leah took the lids off each of them and peered inside. “There are so many. How should we pick which ornaments to use?”

He looked at the contents of the crates. There were ornaments in the shades of red, blue, green, gold, silver, pink, and white. She was right. He didn’t think her grandmother had ever met an ornament she didn’t like.

“Perhaps pick a color scheme. Like red and green or blue and white,” he said.

“I like the way you think.” She turned, looking around the living room. And then she focused on the tree. “I’m thinking something elegant. What about white and silver?”

He was glad she didn’t pick the pink ornaments. “Sounds good. Then we won’t need some of these other crates. I can take them upstairs and get them, out of the way.”

They worked like a team. He pulled the ornaments from the crate, put hooks on them, and set them on the coffee table for Leah to pick up when she was ready. And then she placed them strategically on the tree. It didn’t take them nearly as long as he would have imagined, which was good because they had to leave soon if they were going to grab dinner before the town hall meeting.

When Leah stepped back from the tree to have a good look, he asked, “Do you need any more hooks?”

She was quiet for a moment as she moved this way and that way. “I think I just need a couple more little ones.”

He pursed his lips. “I’m not sure we have any more. Let me see.”

While he rummaged through the crate, she placed the remaining glass ornaments on the tree. All the while he kept thinking how natural it felt to be trimming the tree with her. It was like they’d been doing it for years. He could easily imagine this as their future.

The thought stopped him in his tracks. Did he want to share his future with someone? After things had gone so awful with his ex, he didn’t think he’d ever want to make himself that vulnerable again.

But being around Leah had helped to heal those gaping wounds. When he was with her, he felt as if his scars made him stronger, not weaker.

Still, there would be so many problems to overcome for them to be together—like logistics. Was she going to stay in Vermont permanently now that she’d found her family? And was he willing to sell his company to his partner to relocate to this small town?

“What’s wrong?” Leah’s voice drew him from his rambling thoughts.

He blinked to clear his mind, and then his gaze focused solely on her. “Nothing’s wrong.”

She frowned at him. “Something was bothering you. It was written all over your face.”

He couldn’t tell her the direction of his thoughts. He didn’t want to scare her away. So, he went in another direction. “I couldn’t find any more small ornaments.” It was the truth. “I’m sorry.”

She waved away his concern. “That’s okay. I’ll just rearrange the ones that are already on the tree.”

He’d offer to do it, but he was certain he wouldn’t do it the way she wanted. So, while she rearranged the ornaments, he put empty boxes back in the crate. All he had to do was carry it up to the attic and put the ladder away for the living room to be all neat once more.

He’d just put the lid on the crate and turned around, when he saw Leah leaning too far to the side. The ladder wobbled, and then everything happened in slow motion as she expelled a gasp. The ladder leaned onto two legs just as Shaun rushed to Leah’s side. In the midst of it all, Mochi let out an alarmed bark.

The next thing Shaun knew, he had Leah safely in his arms. Her body pressed against his chest, knocking the air from his lungs. And then she raised her blue eyes to look directly at him.

He didn’t know what he would have done if anything had happened to her. And then he had to wonder when she’d become so important to him. He knew getting attached wasn’t wise, but it seemed his heart hadn’t gotten the message.

And now with her in his arms, there was only one thing he wanted to do. But Leah beat him to it because she was pressing her lush lips to his.

Her touch was soft and warm. It made his heart pound. It was so loud it echoed in his ears. He wondered if she could hear it.

But as her lips moved over his, his thoughts scattered. He couldn’t remember a kiss ever rocking his world the way hers did. He knew instinctively that his life had changed in this moment.

“Woof. Woof-woof.”

Leah immediately pulled back. He hated that their special moment had ended so soon. It was with great reluctance that he lowered her feet to the floor.

Her cheeks were stained pink as she avoided looking directly at him. “I should, uh, go get ready for dinner. Where are we going to?”

“It’s up to you. Do you have a favorite place?”

She shook her head. “Remember I’m new here too.”