Page 8 of The White Chocolate Christmas Wish

His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “Uh, didn’t I just meet you outside the pizza place?”

I chuckled. “Cauliflower crust, vegan cheese.”

He shuddered.

I swatted his arm, laughing at the smear of icing I left in my wake. “Hey, it’s delicious!”

“I’ll take your word for it. Can’t you use cauliflower flour or vegan cake mix for cookies, then?”

“I’ve never found any that tastes as good as the real thing. Not when it comes to baked goods, anyway. So, I just stick to giftin’ cookies or cakes to others. Trust me,there’s plenty of other food for me to enjoy. It doesn’t have to be cookies.”

“What are we gonna do about the white chocolate cranberry cookies on the list? Am I gonna have to eat them all?”

I shrugged. “Guess so.”

He shook his head like that was unacceptable, and I rolled my eyes with a laugh.

“Don’t worry,” he said, looking down at me with a wink that made my tummy flip, “I’ll figure out how to make those cookies edible for you. I’ve got a guy for that.”

I snorted. “No, you don’t.”

“I’ve got a guy for everything.” He dumped a handful of gumdrops onto the roof, some rolling off onto the table.

I laughed, feeling a warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with the cozy room. We chatted easily as we decorated, genuinely enjoying each other’s company.

Finally, we stepped back to admire our creation. It was a bit crooked, with a dangerously slanting chimney and landscaping that looked a little like abstract art. But the flickering candlelight from the decor around us reflected off the shiny icing, making it sparkle.

“It’s perfect,” I breathed, surprised by how proud I felt of our wonky little house.

“It’s got character,” Colton agreed, invading my space as he leaned in to adjust a candy cane. Then his hand brushed mine as he reached for a stray gumdrop, sending a tiny shiver up my arm. He paused,then turned to face me fully, his eyes twinkling. “Time to make our Christmas wishes.”

I sighed and shrugged, having no clue what to wish for. It’d been too long since I’d put much stock in anything having to do with Christmas, let alone the magic of Christmas wishes.

But then he stepped forward again, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “You read what our mystery friend said in her note: every Christmas wish is a chance for something special. I believe her. Don’t you?”

“I’m startin’ to,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But you go first.”

Colton took a deep breath as he stepped back, his fingers drumming a soft rhythm on the table. “My Christmas wish is... to put down roots here in Charlotte Oaks. To find a place that’s truly mine, where I can be part of this community.”

“That’s a nice wish,” I murmured.

He smiled. “Your turn.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, listening to the soft crackle of the fireplace and feeling the warmth of Colton’s presence beside me. When I opened them again, I knew what I wanted to say.

“My wish is to feel more comfortable with each one of these activities we do. I’m not sure I’ll survive the whole list if I’m a ball of nerves like this every time.”

“You sure it’s the Christmas stuff that makes you nervous?” he asked, his lips tipping up at the corners.

“Yes,” I lied.

He chuckled. “Very convincing.”

CHAPTER FOUR

COLTON

The scent of pine trees hit me like a freight train as Hope and I stepped onto the tree lot. Families bustled about, their laughter mixing with the Christmas music crackling through the tent’s speakers, and I grinned. “You ready to find the perfect tree?”

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