Page 65 of Lighting Up Christmas

“Hmmmm?” Riley sipped her coffee, distracted, as her friend made a heart shape with her hands and mouthed “lovestruck.”

*

“It’s going toget crazy in another half hour,” Riley told him.

“It’s crazy now,” he said. His website was up. He’d finally hired a tasting room manager, Tess Mahon, who’d arrived and set up the wine bar for tonight’s event. Riley had promised to help pour if needed, but Tess, who had finished her degree in sales and marketing focusing on the wine industry and was the cousin of his vineyard manager, seemed to have it all in hand. She’d completed internships working in several countries in a variety of jobs in the wine industry and was happy to be back in the valley near family and friends.

Zhang had a feeling she’d taken the job because he had a massive property with a lot of growth potential, and he had nothing in place. She would be creating the tasting room and wine club experience, planning release parties and building the brand all from scratch. She was greenlit to hire several tasting room staff. She probably liked the fact that while he was highly involved in the winemaking and vineyard management, he didn’t want the face time with the customers. Tess breathed confidence and organization.

“Everyone keeps thanking me,” he said, dragging himself back to the conversation. “But it’s you. You got this all going.”

“It was a committee effort,” Riley claimed, always generous with praise. “And you did offer up this beautiful space, and as a marketing ploy”—she mimed hitting a baseball with a very dramatic swing, he liked that she talked with her whole body. It was like watching a movie—“you hit it out of the park.”

She grabbed his forearms. “I still can’t believe you agreed to this madness,” Riley said. “It must be so strange to see all the people, all the activity. And the Christmas decorations. When I first came here it was so quiet and still, and I made that remark about getting potted live evergreens and stringing them with lights to make a path and now…” She swept her arm out, encompassing the area.

“That was a ploy to get back on my property.” He already missed her touch.

“It was not,” she denied, laughing.

“I’m convinced the lights on the trees—see, I can take advice—is what blew the fuse.”

“Fuses,” Riley said. “It was the food trucks. That’s my story.”

“I’m not sure if I believe it.” He watched a group of teens dressed in red and green get off one of the shuttles, their teacher leading them into the massive barn where most of the vendors were set up. They were only one of several choral groups that would perform over the weekend. There was a string musical group also set up near Christmas Tree Lane. His tree was already in place, but a few more were still being carried in.

“I’d planned one small gathering for colleagues and friends to introduce my wine two weeks ago, and now I have a winery, a tasting room manager, a partner who sees Fire Ridge as a business asset for product launches and retreats, and to top it all off, I have a Christmas market.”

It was a lot of words for him. Riley grinned over the brim of her coffee. “Not bad for a man who doesn’t celebrate Christmas.” She took a sip and then looked more seriously at him. “How are you holding up, Zhang, really?”

He paused, not sure how to explain. This type of thing should have sent him scrambling for the quiet of his house. Or the open road on his bike, blasting past the speed limit. But while he was on edge, it wasn’t totally unpleasant. He felt…anticipation for tonight. He was pouring his wine. And looking forward to seeing their Christmas trees with the others. Riley had designed something new for her Christmas Light Garden that she had said was just for him.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d received a surprise.

“Are you checking in with yourself? All systems green,” Riley teased and laid her head on his shoulder. He loved the way her silky hair felt against his cheek and chin.

“Holding on, but not by my fingernails. Let’s see Christmas Tree Lane,” he said. “I want to bid on my tree for the winery in case Tess gets any customers next week before Christmas and so that I have it for the product tease next weekend.”

“Okay.” Riley leaned into him. “We’ve got some time before the crowds come.”

“I want to see your bike tree, which you didn’t let me help with. I’m beginning to think, Riley Flanagan, that you don’t delegate well.”

“That’s not true. I’m letting you help me string the lights through the oak trees.”

“That’s probably for comic value so you can laugh as I have a heart attack over you climbing through the trees like a monkey.”

“I’m careful, Zhang.”

“Good. Stay that way.” His eyes searched hers. “Are you going to tell me your secret project that you keep shooing meaway from?” he asked as they walked toward Christmas Tree Lane in the smaller barn.

“No. Not yet.”

Normally, he didn’t like surprises. He liked to be prepared, but from Riley, he thought he’d enjoy anything she dreamed up.

They walked into the winery where Christmas Tree Lane was.

“Oh. It’s so magical,” Riley breathed, her eyes shiny and her cheeks a pale pink. He found himself staring at her mouth as her lips curved into a smile. He was tempted to kiss her, but he kept holding back, unsure of so many things.

Zhang walked more quickly down the path, his strides long, and his boots kicking up the thick layer of sawdust. “Wow, the committee decorated in here too,” Riley marveled. “Why are we running?”

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