Page 40 of Mountain Protector

Knox follows my gaze and explains, “So I can put some outside. On the porch and the little trees, just like you said you wanted.”

I’m close to tears already, and that’s not all of it. Amid all the ornaments and lights, there are large, red velvet bows, just enough for one to go on each window. An assortment of indoor decorations are set across the floor—delicate carved deer and chubby little snowmen and red and green candles in etched glass holders.

“Knox,” I breathe, my throat too tight to speak any louder. “How?—”

“I know how much you love Christmas,” he starts, looking both hopeful and nervous at the same time. “It’s not the same as being home, but I just thought this might make you happy. And we can decorate it today if you want, and I have eggnog and cookies still in the car, and?—”

“Knox.”I jump off the couch and rush to him, hugging him with my good arm. As he wraps his arms around me, I say, “This is incredible. It’s so… I can’t believe it. That you did this for me.”

He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Then he looks down at me, emotion darkening his gaze. “I would do anything to make you happy, Lark.”

Oh, my.

I can’t be wrong about this, can I?

What if I just tell him now? What if I?—

So of course, one of our phones decides to start buzzing. Ofcourse.

“Crap.” Knox’s voice dips in apology. He reaches intohis pocket and slides out his phone. “Sorry. It’s my foreman calling. I wouldn’t answer otherwise. But it’ll only be a second.”

“It’s fine.” I gesture at the stack of ornaments. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll just take a look and start planning the best placement on the tree.”

A minute later, he’s off the phone, frowning slightly as he sets it on the coffee table.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“Yeah.” He stops. “Well. Pete—he’s my foreman—had some news. It’s not great. He was driving past a house we’re renovating while the owners are down in Florida. And he spotted one of the crew member’s trucks there. Which it shouldn’t have been.”

I get off the floor and come to stand next to him. “And?”

“Pete went inside. He found Ric—one of my employees—passed out inside. When he woke Ric up, Pete could tell he was still drunk.”

“Oh, no.”

“Yeah.” Knox shakes his head. “I’ve had some problems with Ric already, and after this… I might have to fire him. Which I hate.”

Clasping his hand, I give it a little squeeze. “I know it’s hard. But this is your business, Knox. And if this employee is putting your reputation at risk…”

“I know.” He shakes his head again. “Anyway. I didn’t mean to ruin your big surprise.”

“You didn’t. It’s still wonderful. And I want you to feel like you can talk to me if something’s bothering you.”

A slow smile curves his lips. “I know. And the samegoes for you.” Knox pulls me in for another hug. “Now, let’s get decorating. Those ornaments aren’t going to jump onto the branches by themselves, are they?”

“Nope.” I grin at him. “But I’ll warn you now, I’m pretty particular about hanging ornaments. Making sure they’re evenly placed, that sort of thing.”

He reaches for a box of glass bulbs and gives me a confident smile. “I think I can handle it.”

But half an hour later, after watching me move the same ornament five times, Knox laughs as he says, “I think it looks fine, Lark. Really.”

Stepping back from the tree, I give the ornament an assessing look. “Well. I guess. But are you sure it’s not too close to the raccoon? They seem kind of cramped.”

He sets down his glass of eggnog and walks over to me, looping his arm around my waist. “I think it looks perfect.”

“Sorry.” My cheeks warm. “When I said particular, I think I actually meant verging on obsessive. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve spent hours decorating the tree. Fortunately, my dad didn’t mind.”

His thumb lightly strokes my side, almost absentmindedly. “So you and your dad always did all the Christmas stuff together?”

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