“It’s like being in a snow globe.” I hold my arms out to my sides and turn in a circle.
“You really like Christmas, huh?”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“Everyone likes vacation and getting presents, but no, I don’t think everyone really likes Christmas like you do.”
“There’s just something about it,” I say, glancing over at him. The ends of his hair curl around the edge of the black beanie pulled down low to cover his ears. “It’s magical. The lights, the smells, the cheer. Anything feels possible this time of year.”
I feel a little silly immediately after the words are out of my mouth, but Teddy grins at me. “I like Christmas too. When I was little, my mom made a big deal out of it. I miss that.”
“What kinds of things did she do?”
“She made gingersnaps. She only iced half of the cookie like they were dipped in icing. I don’t know why, though. Maybe that’s how they’re supposed to be. And she collected snowmen.” He smiles. “I forgot about that. They were all over the house.”
“I love that.”
We wander down the rows. It’s busy today with families and couples all picking out their perfect tree. I stop in front of a large Grand fir. It’s beautiful. I lean in and breathe in the scent.
“That the one?” Teddy asks.
“No.” I sigh and run my hand over a branch. “It’s too big for the cabin and too pricey.” I point to the three-hundred-dollar price tag. “Besides, Felix and Stella like the Douglas fir better, so we always get one of those. But this one smells better.”
He steps closer, his arm brushing mine and he inhales. “Smells pretty good.”
“Told you.” I step away and head toward a section of smaller trees, many are shaped funny or not as full. A half-off sign hangs behind them.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas?” Teddy asks.
“These trees need love too.” I wrap a hand around the top of the best of the ugly, unwanted Douglas fir trees. “What do you think?”
“I think if anyone can make that tree beautiful, it’s you.”
His compliment and the way he’s looking at me turn my legs to rubber. Maybe Stella was right, and Teddy sees me as more than Felix’s little sister. The thought makes me dizzy with hope. I take a step, wobble and fall toward him with the tree.
Teddy wraps one big arm around me, and with the other, he steadies the tree. I’m cradled against him. He’s warm and sturdy, and the mixture of smells—the snow and the trees andhim—renders me completely helpless.
“Are you okay?” I can feel the question rumble in his chest. I wonder if that means he can feel my heart racing.
Reluctantly, I step out of his hold. “Perfect.”
By the time we make it back to the cabin with the tree, the snow is coming down and covering the ground in thick blankets. Teddy parks and I hop out and stare up at the sky.
I stick my tongue out and catch a large snowflake. When I glance back at Teddy, his hat is covered in white, and he’s grinning at me. He leans down and scoops up a handful of snow with a wicked glint in his eye.
“Oh, no,” I say as he packs the snow together. I get my own snowball ready, but he’s quicker and a big, wet heap of snow pelts me in the arm.
We fire more snowballs at each other, running around the small yard. Mine all miss. He might be bad on skis, but he’s quick on his feet. He comes at me and wraps an arm around my waist to keep me from throwing another at him.
“Truce.” His voice rumbles next to my ear.
I swivel in his hold, our faces inches apart. His gray eyes twinkle with mischief and something else I can’t quite place.
“Truce,” I agree. He lets go of me and then I fire at close range. This one gets him.
He shakes his head and laughs. “Come on. We better get your tree inside.”
Together, we carry it into the cabin. Teddy stomps back outside to shake off the snow. “It’s really coming down out there.”