Page 68 of Lighting Up Christmas

It had been Riley’s experience that nothing happened unless she made it happen. She made some minor adjustments to the summer dragon’s fire-breathing computer timing and then returned to the white and blue lights of the winter dragon. Zhang finished a call and turned to go back to the winery. There were several groups there, laughing and talking with Tess, who seemed to have it all under control.

Zhang looked around.

Do it. This is your chance.

Her voice seized in her throat. The night was so beautiful, clear and cold and starry, and there was a good crowd gathered with another shuttle arriving.

“Zhang,” she called out.

He turned around.

“Riley.” He smiled and closed the distance between them. “I’ve been on the phone nearly nonstop with Jackson and our event team and some investors. Jackson agrees it’s a great idea to hold a preview up here for the new direction we want to take the company. I FaceTimed him and walked around a bit. He saw the woodland animal scene you created in the stand of oaks. So creative. Jackson loved it.”

“What did you think?” she asked, wishing she didn’t feel like her heart was in her throat.

“I haven’t seen much more than that and the trees we decorated,” he admitted. “I had to head to the office in the winery to hear myself think. Tess has been on her own, but she said you helped out when it got busy.”

“It’s fun,” Riley admitted. “I love talking about Fire Ridge Wines—your wines.” Yikes, she was sounding like a bad actressin a teen drama on the CW channel. “So many people are here from Medford and Ashland and even Grant’s Pass. I hope it’s successful and can become an annual event—at the downtown park,” she hastened to add. “I don’t think we’ll impose on you annually.”

She slipped her hand in his, willing herself to be brave, and felt thrilled when his fingers closed over hers. Maybe it being winter and wearing bright blue and white snowflake mittens to his soft leather gloves made it easier to be brave.

“Can I show you your surprise now?” She felt like she’d just taken out her heart and held it out for him to throw into the night.

“I’d like that.” He fell into step with her as they walked outside.

“Close your eyes,” Riley commanded, feeling a little sick to her stomach.

Zhang did with no fuss, which was pretty remarkable.

Heart pounding with nerves—thank you mittens for hiding sweaty palms—Riley carefully steered him closer because quite a few people were standing there, watching the light show—four dragons made up of lights chasing each other up and over and around the barn.

She’d chosen to start the show with the ice dragon because it was winter and her favorite season of all. But also because of Zhang’s stark, cool, elegant beauty, like a mountain peak peeking through the layers of glacial ice—enduring strength.

“Open.”

Zhang opened his eyes and stared. She couldn’t tell what he thought, and she was choking on her nerves. “What…what do you think?” Was he going to be mad that she’d turned off the Christmas lights on the big event space barn and just had the dragons chasing each other to the path that led to the rest of the much smaller, less ambitious Christmas garden? She tugged onhis hand, more than a little nervous now. Maybe if he saw the rest of them.

“An ice dragon?” His voice sounded flat. He stepped away from her, shoving his hands in the deep pockets of his long wool coat. His gaze swiveled back to the dragon, watching it blow out ice crystals on the trees, turning them white and then blinking off before it reappeared.

“It’s—” she hastened to explain.

“Is that how you see me?”

Riley blinked. “What?” He was so much more.

“Still?”

“No. Yes. I—” Riley broke off and looked at him, feeling mute and miserable.

“An ice dragon curled up alone on my dead volcano.”

His voice had more passion—anger and loathing—than Riley had ever heard before.

“No,” she breathed. “That’s not right at all.”

Zhang turned away and stalked off. Riley felt frozen. Her beautiful dragon that had so pleased her now felt like an ice pick in her heart.

But she had to explain. She had to show him the rest. How had she read this whole thing so wrong? Riley ran after him only to pull up short when she saw a petite blond woman, stylish in a bright red coat and over-the-knee boots, step in front of Zhang.

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