Page 18 of The Christmas Tree Farm
No picture-perfect, organically raised, locally sourced life.
She was an idiot.
When he looked up again, Bennett caught her frowning. At least she wasn’t crying, but he had that worried crease between his brows again and she could not have that. Absolutely not.
He had to go. Because unlike the Grinch, Kira had zero interest in having a heart that grew three sizes. Certainly not if that meant warm and fuzzy feelings toward the man her mother would throw her a parade for marrying.
Marrying?! Dear God. Spending so much time alone had definitely started to rot her brain.
‘Okay, well, thanks again. See you around.’ She stepped out of the way of the door so Bennett could pass. She ignored the questioning look on his face as he scooted by, his tall, toned body brushing a little too close to hers. She didn’t owe him any answers.
She followed him down the stairs, certainly not noticing how broad his back was or that his hair had gotten mussed as he was working. But maybe she did owe him a little something since he had come all the way out here to help her, not that she’d asked him to.
‘You can have a free tree,’ she said when they were back in the entryway and Bennett was pulling on his coat.
He raised his eyebrows. ‘A free tree?’
‘Yeah, for your … uh … services.’
He grinned. ‘A free tree sounds great.’
Kira sighed. Good. Payment for services rendered and then Bennett could leave and never come back. Perfect. The last thing she needed was to be indebted to this guy.
‘I don’t have time to stick around today, though,’ he said. ‘Got a meeting at two. I’ll have to take you up on it another time.’
Damn it. Kira kept the fake smile plastered on her face. ‘Sure. Another time.’
‘And you’ll help me pick it out?’ His smile was back to teasing which at least meant the worry was gone.
‘I don’t know if I can live up to your perfect tree-finding standards.’
He held her gaze for a second before answering and Kira wished there was a dog or two between them to break the tension.
‘I think you’ll live up to them just fine.’
ChapterSix
Bennett had spent the last several days actually working and absolutely not thinking about Kira and her ancient radiators and if they should be making that hissing noise all the time and if the return pipe in the basement should be hot. Though he thought it probably shouldn’t be.
If he hadn’t been suddenly swamped putting out fires at work, he might have wandered back up to the farm one more time just to check that things were running smoother. But it was probably for the best that he hadn’t been able to. Watching YouTube videos of old men explaining steam heat every night before bed was already going too far.
He needed to stop. Kira hadn’t even asked for his help. Was it any wonder that his last year of dating had turned into him doing favors for women he barely knew? It was the energy he was putting out in the world. What did Aunt Dot tell him just the other day when he’d had dinner with her and Jeanie?Your vibe attracts your tribe.Well, apparently, Bennett’s tribe consisted of a lot of people needing favors. Bennett Ellis: free rides, moving services, and now, heating help. Maybe instead of a dating profile, he should just have business cards made up.
He was purposely ignoring the fact that Kira was different than any other woman he’d ever dated and that she hadn’t taken advantage of him at all; she’d barely let him in and had only begrudgingly let him help. And she was beautiful and interesting and maybe a little bit sad and a little bit lonely in a way he thought maybe he understood.
But he was going to keep ignoring all of that because he was only here for the month and he had no business chasing after a woman who he would only have to leave behind. Even though he was pretty sure the chase would be great.
He shook that last thought from his head and finished his walk. From the sound of drifting Christmas music and the glow of more twinkle lights than any town should ever own, he was nearly at the Dream Harbor Fifty-Third Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and December Holidays Extravaganza. Or at least that was the name written across the banner hanging over Main Street. According to his sister, this was Dream Harbor’s biggest event of the year and that was saying a lot because from what he’d heard, this town loved an event.
He couldn’t help the little kick of excitement in his chest. Even at twenty-seven, Bennett loved Christmas. How could you not love it? The cozy lights, the near constant intake of cookies, the secret thrill of finding the perfect gift. And this year, he was back on the East Coast, and it was actually cold. He loved it. His Christmas wish, if he was being honest and wasn’t a grown man, was for a snowy Christmas. There was just something magical about snow on Christmas.
His mouth hitched up just thinking about what Kira would have to say about that.
‘There you are!’ His sister’s voice rang out over the music and the general hum of the crowd. Jeanie had one of the first booths on the square. The little wood huts were lined up in a row, strings of white lights running from roof to roof.
‘Hey! How’s it going so far?’ he asked as he joined Jeanie in the Pumpkin Spice booth. There was already a line and Jeanie’s cheeks were pink as she handed free cups of cocoa to customer after customer.
‘It’s crazy! Do you see this crowd?’
