Page 13 of The Christmas List

“Thank you,” I say, dragging a look over both of them, “Come in.”

Lucy breezes past me into my cottage, and when Wyatt steps past me, his tall, unyielding body brushing mine, a shiver racks my spine.

I wish that I didn’t have such a visible, visceral reaction to him. But it isn’t up to me.

My body seems to react on its own, traitorous accord.

“Hi, Jos,” he rasps when his heavy boot thuds against the candy cane mat inside my front door.

“Wyatt.”

I shut the door behind us, exhaling a shaky breath before turning toward them.

“Gosh, Miss Josie, you have the best house in the whole world. It’s like the North Pole!” Lucy exclaims as she brushes a finger over one of the shiny nutcrackers on my end tables.

Honestly, that’s the best compliment I could get. I mean, thereisa reason why I’m the queen of Christmas in Strawberry Hollow, and it’s not just because of dress-up days and early celebrations in class.

I am a little… extra when it comes to decorating, but I am a very firm believer in doing what makes you happy and whatever brings you joy.

And Christmas brings me immense joy.

So… I go all out and decorate almost every surface of my house.

Wyatt chuckles as he strokes a hand over his jaw, watching his daughter flit all over my living room, trying to take in everything all at once.

“Queen of Christmas, huh?” he finally says, lips curling in a smirk.

I shrug. “There are much worse things to be in this town. Plus, the kids love it.”

He nods, his eyes lingering on mine for a moment too long, making my heart pick up in my chest, and my pulse begins to pound. How does he so effortlessly unnerve me with only a look?

It’s entirely unfair.

I cross my arms over my chest and tear my gaze away, walking over to Lucy. “Do you want to meet someone?”

“Yes!” Her head bobs in an enthusiastic nod as she sets down one of the gingerbread figurines back into the gingerbread village. “But… who?”

“Well, he’s the most important person in my life outside of my parents and brothers. He’s really special.” I lift a brow, biting back a grin when I see a look of something like jealousy spreading over Wyatt’s face.

I leave them both in the living room and walk to my bedroom, retrieving said special guy, with a slight spring in my step that I will not be admitting has anything to do with Wyatt.

“Oh my gosh… He’s sofluffy!” Lucy squeals, immediately reaching for my mischievous, chubby cat. “What’s his name?”

I pass him over into her arms, where he goes willingly, all too eager to have attention from anyone who will give it to him. He purrs, rubbing his fluffy head into the palm of her hand, making her giggle.

“Rudy,” I murmur. “Wanna know why I named him that?”

When she nods, I say, “Because of his nose, right here.” I gently tap my finger along the reddish, brown color. “He’s a bit like Rudolph, don’t ya think? Red nose and all.”

“Ohhhh, yes! That’s the perfect name.”

Laughing, I look over at Wyatt, who’s watching the two of us. My stomach flips when the warmth of his gaze settles over me, a flush beginning to move from my cheeks down to the neckline of my sweater. “Rudy is a naughty boy. He likes to get into presents when he’s not supposed to. I have to put fake ones underneath the tree so he doesn’t ruin the real ones.”

“Oh no, Rudy,” she whispers, staring down at him in disappointment. “Naughty boys getcoalin their stockings. Grams said so.”

I have to cover my mouth in an attempt not to laugh. It’s as equally cute as it is hilarious, and I hear a low, gruff chuckle vibrating out of Wyatt. Rudy, on the other hand, is characteristically unperturbed by her warning.

“Lu, we’re gonna be late if we don’t get going. We’ve got a snowman to build, remember?”

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