Page 37 of A Christmas Changes Everything

Nor did she want to.

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“So, where are we going?” Holly asked once they were all buckled into Chace’s truck.

“Morningstar Farm,” Chace answered.

After their discussion and subsequent agreement, Holly’d gone to wake the twins while Chace researched places in and around Hickory Ridge where customers picked out their trees, but the owners did the cutting. That way, there’d be no reason to borrow anyone’s chainsaw, least of all Holly’s father’s.

Not that Chace had anything against Carter McCade. It was more about timing. And perhaps a little self-preservation. Besides, Holly had only just agreed to this three-week trial, so it was probably best they get used to the idea and test the waters themselves before showing up together at her parents’ home.

He also didn’t want to give Holly any reason to change her mind.

From what he’d read online, the farm, located on the west end of Hickory Ridge, was a family-owned operation that rotated events throughout each season. Beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, guests could select their tree before or after enjoying the variety of holiday activities in their Winter Wonderland.

“Have you heard of it?” Chace asked.

“Sure. It’s supposed to be quite the experience.”

“You’ve never been?”

“No. Kit and I had planned to go to the Spooktacular at Halloween, but I caught one of the viruses circulating through the high school and had to bail on her.”

“How is Kit?” Chace asked. “She still playing hard to get with all the men panting after her?”

Holly chuckled. “Pretty much. Although mostly, I really think she’s oblivious to the fact that men find her attractive.”

“Kind of like someone else I know,” Chace replied, glancing across the leather console in time to catch the roll of her eyes. Like always, Chace didn’t understand herplease be realreaction. How could he when every time he looked at her, she took his freaking breath away?

But that was precisely what made Holly even more beautiful—her lack of expectation for men, or anyone really, to find her attractive based solely on what she looked like on the outside. That wasn’t how she defined herself, so why should others? Holly believed everyone was a sum of their internal and external parts. Therefore, she never relied on her physical attributes for any personal gain.

Not for acceptance among her peers, personal or professional success, making friends, and most certainly not for attracting the opposite sex. What was the saying,actions speak louder than words? Well, Holly’s actions always came straight from her heart, which was what completely captured his.

“So, who’s ready to find the best tree on the farm?” Chace asked with a glance at the twins in the conversation mirror.

“We are!” they shouted in unison, pumping their fists in the air. “The biggest and the best!”

Chace shifted his gaze to Holly. “How about you? Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess,” she replied with what would have been a side-long glare if not for the tiny glimmer he couldn’t help but notice in her whiskey-colored eyes.

Honestly, Chace was excited about this adventure himself. From what he’d read online, besides several fields of uncut pines, cedars, and firs, the farm also included a two-acre extravaganza of holiday-themed activities, craft booths, gift shops, and a small café.

Turning right, he drove under the welcome sign. From the backseat, the twins vibrated with excitement, their eyes as wide as saucers when the Christmas village came into view. “Are we gonna pick out a treeandgo there?” Emme asked, pointing toward the lighted holiday setup ahead of where Chace parked the truck.

Both girls popped their heads between the bucket seats. “Yeah. Are we?” Wren echoed.

Chace scrunched up his nose at them. “You want to go there? Really?” He forced himself not to smile. “Because I thought we’d just grab a tree and head back to decorate it.”

When both pairs of blue eyes narrowed, Chace knew neither twin ever expected that particular response from him. “We have all day, Uncle Chace. Can’t we do all three?”

Try as he might, Chace could not keep from grinning. “Do you actually think we’d bring the two of you here and not let you enjoy the Winter Wonderland too?”

“So, we’re going?” Wren needed to be sure.

Pocketing his keys, Chace reached for the door handle. “Last one out is a rotten egg.”

Already halfway out of the truck while issuing the dare, Chace touched the ground first, followed closely by Wren, then Emme, with Holly bringing up the rear and claiming the auspicious title ofrotten egg.

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