Page 16 of Stuck in Christmas

I sucked in a breath and giggled. “Yeah. Safety. Safety is a good idea. G-O-O-D. Good. Safety. Safety is good. Safety is…safe.”

Mortification colored my cheeks, and I thought this might be a good time for a time loop reset. But whoever was driving my trips into the snowbank thought this scenario was too funny for me to have any relief, so I ducked my head and clicked my seatbelt into place. Eli shut the door, giving me a brief respite from my embarrassment.

I heard gravel crunch as he made his way around the truck to the driver’s side. I watched his confident stride with the town square as a backdrop. Twinkling Christmas lights winked back at me, even in the daylight. Booths and tents were scattered around the central lawn in a random pattern that was pleasing to the eye.

It looked like a Christmas card.

Or the movie poster for one of those holiday films.

My heart skipped a beat. My arms and legs tingled. I felt dizzy.

Holy smokes.Why didn’t I see this sooner? Hot guy with a truck taking me to pick out a Christmas tree? It’s like one of those holiday movies. This has got to be a dream.

I relaxed and swallowed down a laugh.

All I have to do to wake up is make the magic happen.

I glanced out the window, looking up to the sky. “Fine. Bring it on.”

Eli opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat. "Bring what on?"

My stomach flipped. I cleared my throat and shook my head. "The Christmas tree farm, of course.”

Eli smiled but said nothing as he started up the truck. The engine rumbled to life, and we slowly drove around the town square to the other side—the point of no return.

"This should be interesting," I muttered.

“What?” he asked, glancing my way as we passed the last festive shop front.

I stared out the window. “Every time I try to leave the town square—” But before I could finish, we were already beyond it, cruising down the quiet, snow-covered road that led out of town. My eyes widened. “What the heck?”

Eli arched a brow. “Every time you try to leave the town square, what?”

“Never mind.” I waved away my embarrassment for the second time in less than ten minutes. “It’s a nice day for a drive, that’s all. I can’t believe there’s snow everywhere.”

"It does take some getting used to.” Eli glanced at the thick blankets of white piled high along the road. “For some reason, it always snows this week, every year. I guess someone up there likes us to have a white Christmas. Makes things more?—”

“More?”

“More, you know, romantic.”

Romantic?I blinked. “Well, well, well. I never would have pegged the big-time chef as a romantic.”

He smirked. “I didn’t sayIwas romantic. Just this time of year, don’t you think?”

“I don’t know about that.” Romance and love had been elusive, and the thought of taking a chance on it was unsettling.

Eli glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “This town has a way of making you look at things in a new light. You’ll change your tune before you leave us.”

Leaving. Something I was desperately trying to do, but it seemed the universe was working against me. I felt a slight chill creep through the window and rubbed my arms to generate warmth. It all felt way too real to be a dream.

And that was the scariest thing of all.

Eight

The drive to Dinkins Christmas Tree Farm was longer than expected, but the scenery was breathtaking. Snow-covered pine trees lined the road, creating a picturesque winter wonderland. When we finally pulled into the tree farm, my breath caught in my throat. Everywhere I looked, towering pines and majestic Douglas firs stood tall, their green boughs dusted with fresh snow. It felt like stepping into a postcard.

There was only one thing missing. “Where’s the tree lot?” I squinted through the windshield.

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