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“It has. She always insisted that he come to Oregon to see me, but I desperately wanted to come back. Even just for a visit. And now that I’m here, every time I walk around town, I wonder if I’m seeing people I used to know.” She shook her head. “I know that sounds crazy. Still, everyone’s been really friendly.”

“That’s Harbortown,” Reece said with a small laugh. “Trust me—no matter where I go around here, there’s never a shortage of people ready to catch up and hear about my life.”

“Well, maybe for you,” she said lightly. “But I doubt anyone remembers me.”

She tried to keep her tone casual, but she had a feeling she hadn’t quite pulled it off.

Reece pulled the truck to the side of the road and put it in park. Turning toward her, he slipped a finger under her chin, gently lifting her gaze to meet his.

“Hey,” he said softly. “I remember you.”

Warmth spread across her cheeks as the words sank in. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I’m really glad you did. And that we’re here…getting the chance to reconnect.”

“Me too.”

He leaned closer until his forehead rested lightly against hers. The moment felt warm and intimate, his breath brushing softly against her lips. For a heartbeat she thought—hoped—he was about to kiss her.

But he didn’t.

After a moment, they both pulled back, a little reluctantly.

Reece smiled at her. “Ready?”

“Absolutely.”

Hopefully, that kiss would come later.

The moment they stepped into the lodge, Reece glanced over at Alesha and smiled at the way she stopped just inside the door, clearly taking everything in. The entire space glowed with the warmth of the holidays. A towering Christmas tree stretched nearly to the vaulted ceiling, its branches heavy with twinkling white lights, glass ornaments, and giant ribbons and bows that caught the glow from the massive stone fireplace across the room. Evergreen garland draped the mantel, threaded with tiny lights and lined with festive stockings bearing the resort’s logo.

The scent of pine mingled with cinnamon and something sweet from the kitchen—gingerbread, maybe. Soft Christmas music played somewhere in the background, blending with the low murmur of guests gathered near the fire. Through the tall windows overlooking the lake, Reece could see the outdoor lights sparkling across the resort grounds—strings of white lights wrapped around railings and trees, their reflections shimmering across the dark water.

Reece had seen the decorations plenty of times, but the way Alesha looked around the lodge made it feel brand new. Her eyes lit up as she took in the massive tree, the stockings on the fireplace, and the lights twinkling everywhere. And for a moment, he realized he wasn’t really looking at the decorations at all—he was watching her.

“Not bad, right?” he said quietly. “You should’ve seen the place before we started the renovation.”

She smiled at him. “I can only imagine, but I’d say you did a pretty impressive job.”

Reece chuckled softly beside her. “I’m guessing that means you approve.”

“Approve? Reece, this place looks like something out of a Christmas movie. It’s magical.”

Boldly, he took her by the hand so they could start making their way toward the restaurant. The resort was impressive all on its own, but during the holidays it really was spectacular.

They were seated almost immediately, and he held her chair out for her. He sat beside her as they discussed the menu, but it wasn’t until after they ordered that he felt like they could have an actual conversation.

Not that they hadn’t already. He’d spent several hours at the bookstore catching up with her yesterday and hearing about her life before telling her about his, but he had work to do for his folks and she was there to help her father. Now that they were finally alone though, it felt like they could really talk.

“Did you get to work up in the loft today?” he asked.

“I did, and it was just as wonderful as I hoped it would be. The comfy chairs, the festive environment…it worked out great because I had a lot of holiday-themed work to do for my authors.”

“And you have…four of them?”

She nodded. “Fortunately, no one has any new releases this month, so everything I’m doing is like maintenance—social media posts, newsletters, that sort of thing. I have separate files and folders for everyone’s stuff to keep it all organized. I had about four hours of work today. Then the rest of the time I was able to help around the shop.”

“Your father really has something special there. And this time of year, the bookstore is part of the town’s festivities.”

“I know! That book tree in the front window is an attraction in and of itself.”