Page 17 of The Christmas List

Downtown has been transformed into a whimsical winter wonderland of sorts that only a place as magical as Strawberry Hollow could achieve. The scent of roasted chestnuts and sweet hot cocoa permeates through the air, the town Christmas tree standing tall and proud in the middle of Town Square. The boards of the ice skating rink are decorated with silvery strands of tinsel and garland, antique golden bells, and strings of warm white lights that cast a glow.

Every lantern that lines the sidewalk is tied with deep red, crushed velvet ribbons, and all of the businesses have transformed their storefronts with lights, wreaths, and garlands.

It looks like something out of a storybook, and standing with Wyatt Owens, my heart racing at his proximity… itfeelslike one.

“Josie Pearce, is that you?”

Turning, I see Wyatt’s grams standing a few feet away, bundled up in a thick coat with a red-and-green plaid scarf around her neck. Her gaze flicks between Wyatt and me, a broad smile settling on her lips.

It’s been forever since I’ve seen her, mostly because I’ve been actively avoiding anything to do with Wyatt until he showed up in my classroom.

I stiffen slightly. “Mrs. Owens, yes… hi!”

Wyatt chuckles beside me. “Grams, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, you know, I was going a bit stir-crazy at home with your papa, so I just thought I would get out of the house. I remembered the festival was today, so I just walked and shopped for a bit.” She lifts the small bags in her hands. “Thought I would look for you guys and maybe take Lucy to see Santa? Give you two a bit to catch up… alone?”

Wyatt’s gaze finds mine, a silent question passing between us, and I shrug.

I’m not sure that’s the best idea, but I know that Lucy will probably be excited to go see Santa.

Although, that’s her dad’s call.

“Uh, sure, yeah, that would be great, Grams. Thank you.”

She nods, her eyes twinkling as she glances between the two of us and then shoots me a wink before ambling off to Lucy.

We stand there together, watching as she tells Lucy she’s taking her to see Santa. Obviously, she’s over the moon, jumping on her tiptoes.

What five-year-oldwouldn’tbe?

Now that we’re completely alone, the air feels thicker, and my pulse seems to be racing faster, as if my body is suddenly aware that it’s just the two of us.

“So…” I say, letting my words trail off.

Wyatt shakes his head, his unruly hair nearly falling across his forehead. “So…”

We walk down the sidewalk, my gaze moving up to the string of lights stretched above our heads through the town square. “Um… it’s getting kind of late. I should probably head home.” The excuse sounds weak, even as I say it.

I have nothing else I need to be doing, but being completely alone with Wyatt without Lucy as a buffer for the tension between us… it scares me.

“Or you could stay. And we could go ice-skating, get more hot chocolate, snow tube? Whatever you want,” he says as he comes to a halt on the sidewalk, stepping closer until I feel the front of his boots touch mine. “Stay, Josie. I don’t want you to leave.”

His admission makes my heart sing, and although it’s my job to protect it from getting hurt again, I find myself agreeing.

“Okay, I’ll stay.”

A small, shadowy look of surprise passes over his face. “Yeah?”

I nod as I draw my bottom lip into my mouth, ignoring the heat in my cheeks from his stare. “Yeah. I actually haven’t been ice-skating in forever. Sounds like fun. And… I’ll never pass up more of Edna’s famous hot chocolate.”

“Damn, Josie,” Wyatt murmurs as he lifts a palm to his chest and rests it over his heart. “And here I was thinking you were staying just because you wanted to spend time withme.”

“Maybe it’s both.”

His grin widens. “That’s all I wanted to hear.”

God, he’s such a shameless flirt. Just as much now as he was back then.

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