Page 19 of We Wish You a Happily Ever After

Chapter Six

Bella hadn’t believedJeremy when he told her that they could have warm days in the mountains. Especially considering it had taken her two full days to warm up after their tree-cutting expedition. But he was right, and it was a perfect winter day. The sun shone in the blue sky, making it almost warm enough to unzip her jacket. Almost.

She’d been excited to join Jeremy at Ever After Ranch for a day of Christmas festivities and not just because she wanted to spend more time with Jeremy—although that definitely factored. Ever since arriving in Glacier Falls, she’d been excited about Christmas in a way that she hadn’t been since she was a little girl. Spending the holiday with Papa had a lot to do with it, she was sure. He genuinely enjoyed every single moment of the season. The day before, they’d spent time in the kitchen trying—and mostly failing—to recreate some of her mother’s Christmas baking. All recipes that apparently used to be her mother’s. But if her grandmother and her mother had the baking gene, Bella certainly hadn’t inherited it. Which was why she’d ended up in town at Sweetie Pies, buying a platter of Christmas baking.

Either way, they’d had fun trying to make them work. And as far as Bella was concerned, that’s what it was all about. She’d enjoyed making memories with her grandfather more than even she’d expected to. It made her sad to think that she’d missed out on so many other holidays in Glacier Falls. Why her parents had insisted on Christmas in the city was beyond her, because there really was something magical about spending the season in the mountains.

Bella wasn’t completely unaware. It wasn’t just spending time with Papa that was helping her have such a good time. She glanced over at Jeremy, who caught her smiling at him.

“What’s that for?”

“Nothing.” She winked at him. “I was just thinking about how much I’ve been enjoying my time in Glacier Falls.”

“Oh yeah? Spending time with your grandfather?”

It was cute that he was fishing for her response, but Bella couldn’t help but let him dangle on the line a little longer. “It really has been great,” she answered honestly. “I had a small breakthrough with him the other day. He agreed to move.”

“He did?” Jeremy genuinely looked surprised.

“Well, he agreed to move out of his house. But he refuses to move to the city.”

“That seems reasonable.”

Bella turned to face him. “It does?”

“Glacier Falls is his home. There’s some great seniors homes here in town. Why would you want him to move to the city?”

She hesitated. “Because that’s where we live.”

Bella didn’t miss it when he flinched. What did that mean? Before she could let herself dwell on the possibility, she quickly looked out the window right as they drove through the gates of Ever After Ranch. “At any rate, it’s a start.”

“It is,” he agreed. “I’m sure you’ll find him a great spot where he’ll be happy, and safe. And…you know if you need a hand with anything, I’d be happy to help.”

“Thank you.” She glanced over at him again as he parked his truck next to a line of others in the Ever After Ranch yard.

Spending so much time with Jeremy had definitely helped her get in the holiday spirit. It had also helped her feel things she wasn’t sure she’d ever felt before.

“You ready for this?” He smiled and reached across the cab of the truck to squeeze her hand. “There’s going to be a lot of people.”

“Great,” she answered honestly. “I love people.” Bella couldn’t help but laugh. “And it’s been a long time since I’ve seen most of these guys. I’m really looking forward to it.” It was an honest answer. “Thank you for bringing me.”

Bella held Jeremy’s gaze for a moment before he leaned across the space and pressed his lips to hers. “I assure you, it is very much my pleasure.”

A shock went through her all the way down to her toes that were cozy in her warm boots.

There’d never been another man who’d given her that type of thrill from a simple kiss. In fact, she’d forgotten that feeling existed at all. She’d been sixteen the last time she’d felt it. When she’d kissed Jeremy for the first time.

Bella would have happily stayed in the truck kissing him all day, but before she could even attempt to sway him to her way of thinking, he’d hopped out of the truck and had opened her door.

“Ready for some festive fun?” Jeremy offered her a hand that she took.

“Absolutely.”

The moment her feet hit the ground, she heard the music mixed with the jingling of bells and she had to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Jeremy wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. It was such an intimate move, but it felt perfectly right.

“It’s just so…” Bella shrugged. “Christmasy. I kind of love it.”

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