Page 1 of Italian’s Christmas Acquisition

CHAPTER ONE

CHRISTMASINSNOWFLAKEFALLS,WYOMING, was Noelle Holiday’s absolute favorite time of year. Not just because she was aptly named for the season—but being the daughter of two Christmas tree farm owners who also had a themed bed-and-breakfast might have contributed to it—but because it was just so...cheery.

The town was resplendent. There were lights strung on every available surface, the historic main street aglow with cheer. It was the calm before the storm for her, and like clockwork, she’d been craving her favorite Christmas drink this morning. So even though a trip to town hadn’t been mandatory, it had felt vital.

The tree in the town square was vibrant, with large colored lights and brilliant rainbow ornaments. The tree had of course come from her farm. The one she selected to occupy the center of town was always her very best.

Even though it was early, the streets were bustling as people emerged from their hotels and homes to get caffeine.

Noelle was also on the hunt for caffeine. She dipped into her favorite coffeehouse, a little brick building at the end of the lane, and stepped up to the counter.

“Can I have a gingerbread latte, please?”

“Is it opening day?” her friend Melody asked, smiling from her position behind the counter.

Sweet Melody really did have the best coffee in town, but the fact that it was owned by one of her best friends made it even better.

“Yes,” Noelle said. “How did you know?”

“The antlers.”

Noelle laughed. She had forgotten that she wasn’t wearing a regular headband, rather one designed as part of her reindeer costume. Her brown sweater dress and brown fuzzy tights, along with her brown boots, completed the look. She shook her head, and the bells on the ends of the antler tines jingled. “At least I don’t have my light-up nose on yet,” she said. “You can’t drink a latte easily with a lighted nose on.”

“You’ll probably attract a lot of attention, too,” said Melody.

“I probably already am.”

“True.”

Her friend turned and began to make her drink, adding flavoring to a brightly colored cup, steaming milk and making a shot. Noelle knew that she was attracting attention, but she also didn’t mind. He family had owned the Holiday House bed-and-breakfast and Christmas tree farm for generations. Her name was literally synonymous with the season. Anyway, it probably wasn’t even that notable that she was wandering around dressed as a reindeer. If she wasn’t a reindeer, then she was an elf, when the farm was open. And this being the day after Thanksgiving, that meant the season was well and truly in full swing.

Many other places in the US had a different kind of consumerism in full swing on days like today, but not Snowflake Falls. They didn’t boast any chain stores, no massive Black Friday sales. Their little Main Street did come alive during the winter ski season. It had become an incredibly trendy place for people to stay, rivaling Jackson as the hotspot for Californians looking for snow. Some of the boutiques of late had become more chic, and there had been a few swathes of land bought with an eye toward making them into luxury resorts.

She tried not to think about that. She tried not to let that distract her.

Her mom was amping to sell the Christmas tree farm, and the B and B. Quite a few parcels of land around them had been sold to Rockmore Inc.

Noelle was opposed. Absolutely and wholly opposed. She didn’t want her glorious, Victorian B and B turned into a soulless luxury resort made all of slate and glass. Need money. She didn’t need to escape her life.

She didn’t like that she had so much conflict with her mom now that her dad was gone.

Noelle’s mother liked to remind Noelle thathername wasn’t in this place. She wasn’t a Holiday by blood, but by marriage, and she didn’t want to stay in the little town forever. She wanted different things, and now that her husband was gone, she didn’t have to keep living in this small town. She didn’t have to confine her dreams to this mountaintop.

But Noelle’s namewasin this home, in this land. She wanted it more than anything. At the very least, she wanted the opportunity to buy her mother out. Of course, she didn’t just have money. She would need time, a payment plan. She would need her mom to be patient. And to care, even a little bit about what mattered to Noelle.

It was just so frustrating. They had always had a somewhat contentious relationship, but with her mom bound and determined to sell the Christmas tree farm and Holiday House it had only gotten more strained.

Noelle didn’t want to leave. She wanted to cling to this life, to all the warm, glowing memories she had here.

Life without her dad, life realizing that her parents’ marriage hadn’t been perfect, that her childhood wasn’t quite so perfect, was just a little less cheerful than the life she’d grown up with. And if she wanted to cling to the past—with its warm glow of nostalgia and beautiful memories, who could blame her?

“You all right?” Melody asked as she handed her the latte.

“I’m fine,” Noelle said. She forced a smile.

“No charge. You are officially bringing Christmas cheer to town, and I feel that you should be fairly compensated.”

“Well, you don’t need to do that,” said Noelle.

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