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Irving rolled it across his tongue before he closed his lips around it and inhaled. “I don’t know if I like the candy cane for what it is or if it’s because it reminds me of your essence,” he said, holding it while he spoke. “I think it’s the latter.”
After setting my candy cane aside, I leaned down and kissed him, tasting the sweet peppermint on his lips. “I like the taste on you,” I whispered when the kiss ended. “It turns me on.”
“That’s all it takes?” he asked, popping the candy cane back in his mouth and sucking while he wiggled his brows.
I kissed him playfully and then grabbed my own candy cane to finish. “I think it’s time for the topper. My family always hung an angel on the tree, but in this crowd, the topper can be nothing but a star.”
I said the word, and Star looked up at me and gave a bark, making us both laugh.
“I think he agrees!” Irving said. “Let’s do it.”
I lifted the new topper from the box. “I saw this at Mrs. Beesweasel’s store, and I couldn’t help but grab it. The gold garland and the white lights perfectly complement the rest of the tree.”
After setting it in place, I trailed the plug down the back of it and peeked around the corner. “Ready?” I asked, waiting until he nodded. Then I connected the plug to one of the light strands already on. The star lit up the top of the tree and shone down upon the other branches like an umbrella of light.
“Gorgeous,” he whispered as I walked around the tree to kneel by him.
“I love it,” I said, my voice filled with awe. “Your first Christmas tree.”
“With my first girlfriend,” he finished, turning his head to kiss me.
“I’m not your first girlfriend.”
“But you are,” he said, holding my chin. “I understand that now. I never accepted the other women completely or called them my girlfriend because they didn’t accept me as I was. There is no question in my mind that you do, so you’re the woman who deserves that title. I hope you’re my last girlfriend, too.”
“Me too,” I whispered, holding his hand to my chest. “I can’t wait to tell people you’re my boyfriend, but I think it’s fair to say we have to let the bet go about Heather. She has other things on her mind.”
“I agree,” he said with a wink. “Maybe we should debut our relationship at the caroling event.”
“Caroling event? We aren’t having a caroling event.”
“Surprise!” he exclaimed quietly. “Gabe has been helping me with it, and he told me tonight that he had everything lined up.”
“Everything what lined up?” I asked, completely confused by the turn in the conversation.
“When we were at the tree lighting, I heard you singing, like for real—not using the silly voice you use when you sing around here. I really like your voice, Hazel. I didn’t realize how beautiful it is.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile. “I know you don’t like carols, so I sing them in a silly voice. I feel like you’d hate your life less that way.”
“I don’t hate my life anymore, Hazel, because of you. Your voice is beautiful. You are beautiful. Please, sing normally from now on?” His question was so honest and vulnerable I couldn’t help but nod.
“I’m still confused about the caroling event.”
“I was sitting there Friday night and could picture you walking the sidewalks of Bells Pass singing carols like they used to do during Scrooge’s time.” I gave him a smirk but didn’t interrupt. “I asked Gabe about it when I saw him Monday night. He said it would be easy to do if he could get enough of his madrigal kids to lead each group. He just told me he had kids lined up, and they’ll advertise it at the cookie walk on the tenth. There will be a sign-up sheet for carolers and for people to list addresses of shut-ins or people who can’t get out to the park.”
“This sounds like so much fun!” I exclaimed, clapping my hands with excitement. “When do we carol?”
“Well, Christmas Eve, of course,” he said with a wink. “As soon as the event is done at the park, each group will go out and carol in their assigned neighborhood, meet back at the Bells Pass Bungalows to carol there, and then finish here at New Beginnings for eggnog and cookies provided by—”
“The Bells Pass Bakery!” I said, laughter escaping as I threw my arms around him. “Christmas Eve is my birthday.”
“I know,” he whispered, tenderly kissing my neck. “I couldn’t think of a better gift than to let Hazel Cane carol her way through Bells Pass.”
“There truly isn’t one,” I said, tears in my eyes. “It’s going to be so much fun.” Then it hit me, and I leaned out of the hug. “Wait, Irving. We can’t do the neighborhood caroling. It would be too hard on you and Star if the sidewalks aren’t cleaned off, or it’s super cold that night.”
“I’m not going,” I said, kissing her nose. “I don’t sing.”
“Then I’m not going either,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
