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“Let’s do it. Wait!”
“What’s up?”
“Will you take a picture of me with the chainsaw and the tree?”
He smiled. “Come on over here and I will.”
Anna Beth took ahold of the tree trunk near the middle as Jared backed up with his cell phone.
“All for the gram, right?”
“Just for me. Proof that I did it.”
Jared snapped the picture and walked back over to take the tree from her. “If you ever forget, I’ll remind you how awesome you are.”
Anna Beth’s stomach fluttered again, but her reaction had everything to do with Jared’s warm brown eyes staring at her like he wanted to kiss her. Did she want him to? If Jared did, should she drop the chainsaw and hold him or hand onto it? Why was she overthinking this?
Finally, he looked away and hefted the tree off the ground by the trunk and a branch. Relief and disappointment filled her at the same time.
“Rip, heel.”
The brown dog came up alongside them and Jared headed back toward the truck.
Anna Beth did a better job keeping up with him on the way back. “Do you want me to take one end and you hold the other?”
“Nope, I’m good.”
“I feel weird watching you carry that tree alone.”
Jared chuckled. “You shouldn’t. You cut down this big mother. Least I can do is get it back to the truck.”
“Thank you for helping me do this.”
“Happy to. It means, I get to spend time with you.”
Jared’s words warmed Anna Beth from the inside out. After she paid and they loaded the tree and chainsaw into the back of the truck, she asked, “What about you? Don’t you need a tree?”
“I’m not as tough as you. Usually get my tree pre-cut from Snowy Springs General.”
“Sissy,” she teased.
“Speaking of sissies…” Jared reached into the back of the truck and pulled out a sled. “You ready?”
Anna Beth’s eyes widened. “Hell, no.”
“Come on. I’m sure Ian would approve of this being added to the list of things you need to do. Overcome your fear, A.B.”
Jared unclipped Rip’s leash. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go play.”
“Jared, no. I’m not doing this.” Jared clucked like a chicken and she laughed. “Very mature.”
“I promise you’ll be perfectly safe.” He held his hand out. “Trust me.”
Anna Beth hesitated, ultimately taking it. “If I die, I’m going to haunt you forever.”
“Deal.”
Jared retrieved an extra pair of gloved from the truck for her and led her toward the hill. She followed behind him through the snow, Rip bouncing along beside them. Off the designated trails, snow flew up past her snow boots and soaked through her jeans, but Jared’s hand surrounding hers made the rest of her feel toasty.
