Page 35 of Getting Wrapped Up

“Is there a place to get candy canes between here and the tree farm?”

Kate’s heart tripped again, and this time felt like it flipped over.

“A few places. The grocery store, the gas station, we have some at Scott’s Sweets. I think the diner even has some up by the register,” Adrianne said.

“Awesome.” Levi’s voice was gruff and it made heat swirl through Kate’s belly. “So what do you say, Katie? Wanna go get a tree with me?”

Katie. No one had ever called her Katie.

But she didn’t mind.

And at least he wasn’t calling her Hailey.

“Yeah, I do,” she said, her own voice husky.

Adrianne laughed softly. “Poor Tucker.”

For a second, Kate had forgotten she was there.

“Tell Tucker…” Levi trailed off as if not sure what exactly his message to Tucker was.

“That it’s nothing personal?” Adrianne suggested.

Levi lifted a hand and traced a finger down Kate’s cheek. “Oh, it’s definitely personal.”

“Right. Okay.” Adrianne cleared her throat. “Things are clearly good here. I’m going to go.” She was halfway down the porch steps when she turned back. “The tree farm thing. When do you think you might go over there?”

Levi stepped back and Kate pulled in a big breath. “An hour or so, I suppose, why?” he asked.

“Oh, good. You don’t want to wait too long,” Adrianne said. “It’s close to Christmas. The good ones might all be gone.”

“Thanks.”

Adrianne gave them a wave and headed for her car. They stood in the doorway as she drove off. Then Levi turned back to Kate.

“So you’re staying? With me?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“I should tell you that last night I was determined to stay away from you, to make sure you met Tucker and went to the dance with him.”

“Because?”

“Because I need to prove to myself that I can be a good guy and do something for someone else. Something that doesn’t benefit me at all. Maybe even something that hurts a little. And trust me, you going out with Tucker would hurt.”

He lifted his hand and ran his palm down over her hair from her head to the middle of her back.

“But then I saw your face when you saw the cookies.”

Yeah, she’d been more excited than a grown woman probably should be about snowman cookies. “And?”

“I wanted to make you light up like that. I want to give you all the things you’re looking for this Christmas. And surely that makes me a good guy, right? Wanting to make someone else completely happy?”

She put her hand over his heart. “Why so worried that you’re not a good guy?”

“Because I’m not.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

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