Page 54 of The Christmas Romance Wish

As we cruise along the plowed roads, Christmas carols play through the stereo. This time, I don’t turn them off.

We pass a sign, festooned with garlands, bows, and giant candy canes.

Alex reads it, “Welcome to Holidayle. A small town with a big seasonal spirit.”

“Holidayle?”

“Like holiday and dale—the valley. Run the words holiday and dale and you get Holidayle.”

“But the wordholidayis in there.”

“And no place does the holidays better. Christmas, Saint Valentine’s Day, Easter. You name it. Plus, National Doughnut Day, Playdough Day, all the dough days.”

“My brother Ryan would get a kick out of that.” I tell him how he fake proposed to his former frenemy who is now his wife.

Alex chuckles. “I bet they’d like it here. Holidayle is festive, especially this time of year.”

“And you allow this?” My routine rejection of Christmas now feels like reciting by rote. My resistance to the glow is waning.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you’re a big, tough veteran who likes dirt under his nails and lead in the air.”

“And who enjoys coming together as a community and celebrating what’s important.”

But before I get a dose of holiday anything, Alex pulls into a parking lot beside a single-story stucco building with a craftsman-style entryway with broad timbers and a wide front door. Itreminds me of his house if it were an office space. Then I see the sign, covered in snow,Wild Warriors.

Alex kills the engine and says, “What started in my basement grew into this. Wild Warriors Headquarters. The goal is to create a community meeting place with a coffee shop, books, and gear. For now, it’s a place to gather and teach classes about spending time in nature safely. We do a lot of outreach and in-house programs. Plus, I have a few other ideas percolating.”

Peppermint mocha ideas? Whoa. I am getting ahead of my skis. “That’s so cool. Speaking of percolating. I could go for a peppermint mocha.”

“Shaylin, my assistant, should have one waiting for you.”

I lower my chin. “Seriously?”

“Come on.”

I follow Alex into the building. It’s modern with exposed ductwork painted matte black on the ceiling and rustic at the same time with an exposed brick wall. The rest are various shades of gray with umber accents. The meeting room has a massive live-edge table and books fill a wooden shelf in the classroom space. Lastly, there’s a kitchen and an unfinished area I imagine could be the café part. We return to a welcoming greeting area along with a desk and a Christmas tree.

A woman with chin-length red hair and bright eyes says, “You must be Your Majesty, Princess, Royal Lady of the Circle of Mad Mojo, Order of the First Degree, Queen of Eaglewood Acres.”

I’m not sure whether to laugh or find Paxton and do a leg sweep followed by an arm bar. “Let me guess, Pax told you to call me that.”

Alex introduces us. “This is Emmie. Meet Shaylin. She keeps this place humming.”

Seeing Alex lead the group for the workshop and seeing his commanding, yet friendly presence here, makes something hum...the bah humbugs.

“If you hadn’t told Paxton that name, he would’ve come up with one for you. He callsmeShylin.” Her cheeks flush.

I’m all too familiar with that particular shade. She has a crush on the troublemaker.

“And what do you call him?” I ask.

Her eyes widen like she never thought to give him a nickname.

Leaning close, I whisper, “Try Pax Charming, like Prince Charming. Or call him Kiddo or Buddy. He’d hate those.”

Just then, Paxton enters with a hoot and a whistle. “My two favorite women in one place. To what do I owe the honor?”

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