Page 71 of My Greatest Joy

I chuckle. “They’re great. Your sister shared all sorts of juicy things about you.”

He looks at me incredulously. “Of course she did. Well…” He hesitates. “Are you going to share with the class?”

I pretend to lock my lips and throw away the key. “Not a chance in hell.”

“Don’t make me march back in there and demand her to tell me,” he warns.

“Go for it. Your threats don’t bother nor intimidate me,” I say with a shrug.

“I’ll get it out of you.”

“We’ll see.” I smirk, petting Dasher.

On the way to his house, I reach forward and turn on the radio. Holiday music lightly plays in the background, but this time, I don’t immediately change it.

“Oh, this is my favorite song,” he tells me, turning up the volume. “Please Come Home for Christmas” plays, and I look out the window at the piles of snow on the side of the road as Levi sings along. He makes a show out of it, reaching and grabbing my hand. I laugh at his playfulness, enjoying the happiness radiating off him.

“I have a memory of my parents dancing to this song in the living room when we were putting up the tree,” I tell him as the guitar solo starts.

“Mom was laughing so damn hard as Dad spun her around, dipping her, and then kissing her. I thought he’d drop her, but he never did.”

“I can almost picture that.”

I nod, listening to him belt out the final chorus.

“I swear that’s the shortest song of all time,” I say when it ends.

“It is.” He puts his blinker on and then kicks his truck into four-wheel drive as we turn onto his road. The cabin sits at the top of the hill, and I take in how cozy it looks surrounded by the snow-covered evergreens.

Before we get out of the truck, Levi shifts and meets my eyes.

“I’m sorry for pushing all this holiday shit on you, Fallon.”

“Oh God, no. Don’t be. I should be thanking you for putting up with my attitude and letting me stay here. Christmas still isn’t my favorite holiday, but it’s growing on me thanks to you.”

“That’s good enough for me. Ya know, since my entire personality depends on it.” He shoots me a wink, nearly repeating the words I said to him when I first arrived.

I chuckle. “I’ll never be able to change the fact that you’re a real-life Santa. It’s just who Levi White, the Christmas tree farmer, is.”

“Not the first time I’ve been told that and I’m sure it won’t be the last, either,” he says.

We make our way inside and take off our coats. Levi feeds Dasher, and I kick off my boots.

“I’m gonna go take a shower,” I tell him.

“Okay. I’ll get dinner started. What are you in the mood for?”

My eyes trail up and down his body, and I drink him in.Are you on the menu,I want to ask, but instead, I say, “Surprise me.”

“Will do.”

I go upstairs, strip off my clothes, and get under the hot water. As I wash my hair, I relax under the stream and replay my day with Levi.

His kindness and hospitality are something I don’t deserve but am so damn appreciative for them.

After I’ve finished, I get dressed and make my way downstairs.

Hearty aromas waft through the air, and my stomach growls. I enter the kitchen, and he looks at me over his shoulder. Dasher is lying on the floor at his feet.

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