Page 64 of Lighting Up Christmas

“Do you want to keep me for yourself?” he’d deadpanned with a glint in his eye.

Her inner “Yes!” that she barely suppressed worried her even more.

He definitely wasn’t hers.

And people were definitely taking notice of him. So many committee members and vendors had been thanking him and Riley, who had been busy installing decorative lights with her crew and students from the college. Zhang had jumped in to help for a few hours, but when she’d started setting up the spirit dragons along the side and roof of his barn, she’d shooed him away.

“It’s a surprise,” she’d told him, playfully.

“I don’t like you up on the roof,” he’d shocked her by admitting.

Riley, about to climb up her extension ladder, had laughed. “This is what I do,” she said, and he’d stepped back and watched her climb and clip on to the safety harness.

Riley shook herself out of her thoughts to answer Sophia. “It wasn’t really me. The committee reorganized the map of where everyone goes. The food trucks are outside in a semicircle. I am just adding a little Christmas pizzazz.”

“You are doing a lot more than that,” Sophia said, pointedly looking at the elaborate ice dragon that represented winter, breathing out icicles sprawling up the side of the barn.

Riley tried to keep it casual, but she hadn’t slept in two days since inspiration and desperation struck. “This is part of my Christmas Garden of Lights,” she admitted in a low voice. “Zhang suggested I install it here as sort of a ha-ha to the mayor and a future advertisement to the other city council and planners.”

“That’s the spirit,” Sophia cheered.

“Sh-sh-sh,” Riley admonished. “It’s smaller than I had planned, but I had ten scenes already designed and then I created these mystical beauties.”

She didn’t tell Sophia that she was creating them for Zhang as a shout-out to his heritage. She hoped he’d keep them up at least until the Lunar New Year, even though it wasn’t the year of the dragon. Zhang just seemed more connected in her mind to the nature element of dragons.

“I can’t wait to see them lit up tonight,” Sophia said. “They are definitely going to create a big bang of shock and awe and likely capture one man’s heart.”

Riley’s heart felt too nervous and exposed to discuss it. Better to try to throw Sophia off the scent.

“This is coming together so well. It helps that our town has a lot of spirited volunteers.”

“One of the many things I love about Bear Creek,” Sophia admitted. “Zhang’s idea about shuttles from downtown to the market was brilliant because it was the one drawback about this place. It’s not a stroll from downtown, and it doesn’t have our city Christmas tree.”

Riley laughed and straightened. God, she felt like an old woman all hunched from her hours and hours bent over creating the dragons. It was totally worth it, but she felt like she’d aged from thirty to ninety in two days—and not even a spry ninety.

“Zhang and I are working on that,” she said. “My crew has strategically wrapped the large barn and smaller one in lights. And after I finish installing this display, Zhang is going to help me string lights through three large oaks between the two barns.”

“You and Zhang,” Sophia sang out. “It seems like his name is every other syllable that comes out of your mouth lately, my secretive, lovestruck friend.”

“Lovestruck?” That got her attention.

“Definitely. I know the signs. You’re working hard, totally immersed, but you track where Zhang is in this mayhem. And when I do try to talk to you or text you, Zhang’s name comes up in conversation or text. Lovestruck,” Sophia said softly.

Riley opened her mouth to deny it.

“I’m not,” she said automatically.

“Please. We’ve been friends forever. I know you, so the only thing you need to say is what you are going to do about it, Riley Marie Flanagan.”

Riley opened her mouth, not sure what would come out, but then Zhang arrived with what looked and smelled like a peppermint latte in hand. “You ready for a break? I hired a coffee truck for the crew. What can I get you?” Zhang asked Sophia while Riley tried to keep her heart from happy dancing out of her chest.

“I’m good,” Sophia said demurely. “Thank you. And thank you for all this, Zhang.” She swept her arm out gracefully to include all of the Christmas market preparations.

Riley clutched the coffee and stared up at him. Lovestruck? Was she so obvious? Had he heard?

“Oh, and Riley.” Sophia started to back away.

Riley tore her attention from Zhang, and it took an effort. Sophia couldn’t be right, could she?

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