Page 29 of The Santa of the Mountain

He sighs, squeezing me again. “Thanks,” he says. “You’d think I’d get used to it. Maybe some people do. I haven’t. And I feel it acutely this time of year. I think he and your blind date might’ve gotten along swimmingly.”

I snort. “Christmas lover?”

“Christmas lover.”

We look out at Whispering Winds for a little while longer as Cole talks about his dad and I listen. He sounds like a great man. I try to comfort him as best I can but this is all new to me. I don’t know what it’s like to have a parent pass. I know it hurt when my grandpa died when I was sixteen but it’s not the same.

“He was beloved by this town. It’s hard not to love the resident Santa Claus. But it’s even harder to fill his boots. My brothers and I try but it’s not the same.”

“I think you’re doing a great job. You’ve brought my Christmas spirit back from the dead.”

He snorts. “Well, thanks. Sorry for laying all this on you like that.”

“I don’t mind. I love getting to know you. All of you.”

He squeezes me again. “Let’s go and get you a Christmas tree.”

“Someone’s choppingdown one of your trees!” I shout, pointing at two figures off in the distance.

“Son of a bitch,” Cole growls, charging through the snow like a damn bull moose.

I’ve never seen a man move that fast, and in snow nearly up to my knees, it’s a miraculous feat of strength. But I don’t have time to admire Cole, the tree thief turns and I scream, “Look out!”

The man revs his chainsaw as the second figure moves next to him, waving. The chainsaw sputters to a stop as Cole slows. When he reaches the figures, he hugs Chainsaw Man before doing the same with the smaller figure.

I follow tentatively, stepping in the massive holes in the snow Cole left behind. By the time I reach them, they’re all laughing, deep in conversation.

“Thought you’d have chosen your tree earlier,” Cole says to a man I strangely recognize.Nick. Quinn pointed him out to me at Windy Brews.

“We did,” he rasps.

“But it didn’t feel right,” says the woman next to Nick. “The first tree looked too lonely. I couldn’t leave him like that. He needed a mate.”

I snort and everyone glances at me. “I think you’re onto something,” I say. “Two trees? I can’t believe it never crossed my mind.”

“See,” she says, pointing at me and then grabbing Nick. “I’m not alone in this.” She turns back to me. “I’m Eva, and this is my husband Nick.”

“Good friends,” Cole says. “The only people I let in here to get a tree each year.”

Eva clears her throat. “Or two. Maybe… three?” she adds, a little hopeful.

“Pushing it Eva,” Nick says, pulling her into a hug. “But maybe we can talk about it.”

She winks at me, mouthingThat means yes!

“Love the beard by the way,” Eva says. “I’ve been trying to convince Nick to dye his. I think he’d be a great St. Nick.”

“She’s feeling extra festive today,” Nick says, sighing.

“And you love it.”

He kisses her forehead and I melt. A few moments later, Nick pulls Cole away, asking for his help taking down the tree while Eva and I watch. I never thought watching a tree being taken down could be so sexy, although I’m pretty sure anything Cole does would have the same effect.

“So how long have you two been together?” Eva asks.

“Oh, we’re not. I’m… well it’s a little complicated.”

She smiles. “I know complicated. But I’ve found even the most complicated situations have simple solutions.”

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