She pushed me back and looked down at me. “Are you, Beans?”

  I rolled my eyes. It was her fault my cousins had started calling me Beans. I got sick on chocolate-covered espresso beans just one time and that was all it took to stick.

  The fact that I’d gotten sick all over her freshly baked cookies probably made it a touch more memorable.

  “I’m okay.” I glanced out the front door of the barn where people were starting to peer inside. “Let’s go out back.” I picked up a stack of boxes and handed them to her. “Make yourself useful.”

  She grunted at the weight. I grinned as I put another stack on top. Her long arms were good for something.

  Quickly, I grabbed the boxes of lights that one of the guys had already delivered and ushered my sister through the back of the barn.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Working.”

  “Your life is imploding because of some rich idiot. What the hell, Beans?”

  I opened my mouth to refute it, but my sister had a head full of steam and she wasn’t done yet.

  “I don’t care if he’s hot and rich and…hot. He’s a two-timing slimy bastard.”

  “Hey.”

  “Did you see those pictures? Not just the big one, but I looked up his past with that…woman.” She set the boxes down next to the cart. “Oh, those are cute. They’re like little tabletop trees like—oh my God, they’re like the Charlie Brown trees.”

  My sister hopped from topic to topic like a whirlwind. “Yes.” Before I could get another word in edgewise, she was off again.

  “Anyway, back to the filth-monger.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “Filth monger?”

  “Shut up, I read it in a book. But that’s what he is. Slimy bastard having women in two different ports!”

  “Willow, he—”

  “Did you know he’s known her since he was in college? I can’t believe he’s been stringing this girl along so long. Marry her or get a life. Well, I guess he was kinda getting a life with you. That kiss was pretty intense in the photo. And then I found some videos from the party you guys were at. He can really kiss, but he’s still the worst.”

  I rushed over to my sister and slapped my hand over her mouth. “Wils, there’s more going on than what those articles say.”

  She mumbled something under my hand. I let her go and she brushed at her mouth. “Pine needles?”

  I sighed. “They’re everywhere. It is a tree farm, you know.”

  “Right. Anyway, I don’t care what kind of story he’s come up with, he’s a liar who lies. Once a cheater, always a cheater.”

  “No, he was never actually with Helena.” I was sort of surprised how quickly that came out of my mouth. But before my sister could go on another diatribe, I rushed on. “It’s a lot to explain, but he loves me and…”

  I bent at the waist to take a deep breath. My hat fell off and all my hair came down around me.

  Clay loved me.

  I knew it implicitly right then, when I hadn’t really been able to assimilate the fact before. Even when he’d told me—more than once—I hadn’t really believed it could happen that fast.

  Or that he truly knew what he was talking about.

  Or that I felt the same way.

  Oh, shit. I think I loved him too.

  “Oh, my gosh. Are you okay?” She crouched on the ground to look up at me. “Rach?”

  “Crap.”

  “What? Should I go get one of those chainsaws? We can totally take care of him.”

  I laughed and fell on my ass right next to her. I pulled her in for a hug and we rocked like that for a full minute. “I love that you’re willing to dismember a man for me.”

  “Well, at least his nether regions.”

  I laughed harder. “Nether regions. Oh, Wils. I do love you. And I’ve missed you.”

  She hugged me tighter. “Well, you were hiding out here. I didn’t know what to do for you.”

  I rested my head against her shoulder. “I know. I’ve been hiding for a damn long time. But I don’t really want to hide anymore.”

  She sat back, crisscrossing her legs in front of me. I mirrored her and our knees bumped companionably. She held onto my cold hands tightly. “What’s the plan? Kidnapping? Hitman?”

  “It’s been a good year here at the farm, but I don’t think it’s hitman good.”

  Her big blue eyes widened. “Do you get a take of all the sales?”

  I snickered. “No. I actually don’t get a normal paycheck.”

  “What? How do you not get paid?”

  I shrugged. “It’s kinda been a room and board kind of deal with Aunt Laverne. And then I sort of just took over here.”

  “So, he’s a cheat and he’s cheap?”

  I laughed so hard I snorted. “Definitely not cheap.”

  “So, just a cheat.”

  I got to my feet and dragged her upright. “Not a cheat either. Help me with these trees and I’ll tell you all about him.”

  “Fine. I’m still not going to be convinced.”

  Good thing I was. I didn’t even feel winded at the thought of him loving me and vice versa this time. Progress.

  Mostly.

  My sister had always been a quick study. And she was one of the craftiest people I knew. One of the reasons she was a bit of a social media sensation. Her crazy exuberance for everything translated well in videos.

  Within an hour, seven trees surrounded her, all with different setups. She was videoing in chunks. It was pretty impressive to see how she worked. Every time I came back with another tree to be decorated, she was ready.

  We made quick work of them all.

  Three finalized and posted videos later, we were loading up the cart with perfectly gorgeous trees. I re-shared one of her videos to our social media, informing people about our specialty mini trees. Nervous flutters actually hit me as I saw all the likes start multiplying like a slot machine.

  Whoa. I couldn’t think about that right now.

  We set up a display at the front of the lot, right across from the CocoaBus. I could feel people talking about me, but I was done with hiding.

  This was me.

  This was our place.

  This was the start of my future.

  When I stood back, there was a line of people watching us. Not all of them were gawking at me even. They were actually taking videos and sharing our display.

  Fifty trees for sale quickly dwindled to half that before sunset fell. I felt a little guilty about marking them up, but we’d spent a lot of time making them all look different.

  This was a no muss-no fuss situation and we’d swiftly learned people would pay for the convenience of a gift or something for their own house when they were too busy to decorate.

  I was covered in tree sap with pine needles in my hair and my cheeks were chapped from the cold, windy day.

  And I was happier than I’d been in too many years to count.

  Willow and I had hunted down a few more from the discarded pile of trees to replenish the display. We had just added ten more when I felt someone behind me.

  More customers?

  “Rachel.”

  I stiffened at his voice. The anguish and the surprise in his tone made me turn around.

  Willow sprinted forward from the back row of trees, knocking two over in her haste to get to Clay. She plowed into him, knocking him into Ransom, who had the misfortune to be standing right behind him.

  Both went down like pins in a bowling alley.

  She stood over them, her wild curls lifting in the late night wind. “You have a lot of nerve showing up here with a sappy ‘Rachel,’” she said with air quotes.

  Both men were on their asses, staring up at her, then they swerved their gazes over to me.

  I shrugged. “She does have a point.”

  My sister looked over her shoulder at me. “Yeah.” Her voice got stronger and she turned. “Yeah, I do have a point. You hurt her. Embarrassed her.” She widened her arms. “Do you have any idea how many people were here gawking at her like she was Britney Spears when she shaved her head?”

  “Okay, not that bad.” I rushed forward to drag my sister back, whirling dervish of madness that she was. “Are you even old enough to remember that?”

  “Of course. It was during my formative years.” She looped an arm around my shoulders. “What do you have to say for yourself?” She cut her eyes to the man sprawled beside him. “And you are?”

  Ransom grinned, clearly absolutely delighted at the scene my sister was creating. “Spectator best friend.”

  She flipped her hair back. “So, you’re probably just as bad as he is.”

  “Hey.” Ransom did this action star pop-up-off-the-ground thing and straightened. “I’m not like this idiot.”

  “Thanks,” Clay muttered.

  Ransom turned and held out a hand to help up Clay.

  My sister frowned. “How did you do that pop-up thing? Can you show me?”

  “Wils, not now,” I said under my breath.

  How was this my life? I glanced around as people were slowly gathering to see what was going on.

  “Sorry,” she said out of the side of her mouth. But then she looked back at Ransom. “You should show me later though.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  Clay stepped forward. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea that was going to happen, I swear.”

  I put my hands on my hips. “You know everyone was looking at me all day, right? I mean, I sold the shit out of all the trees here today because I’m famous in the bad way again.”

  He opened his mouth to say something and I blathered on.

  “We totally sold out of the Townes’ trees today, by the way.”

  “Rach, sweetheart.”

  My heart hammered at the way he said sweetheart. He’d never tagged me with that particular endearment before.

  Clay stepped in front of me.

  My sister went at him again, and I caught her around the waist. “Easy, tiger. Let him talk.”

  “Are you sure?” She looked down at me, her big blue eyes so much like mine shining with tears.

  I crushed her close in a quick hug. “I’m the big sister, remember?”

  “I know.” She wrapped her arms around me tightly. “But I don’t want you hurt again.”

  My eyes burned as I caught sight of Clay’s shattered face. I should probably make him pay for today. A little silent treatment, a demand for bonus groveling with candy, flowers, and jewelry.

  Maybe another CocoaBus—this time, one that was drivable.

  But I really just wanted my guy back and for us to move forward. I was so tired of being stuck in neutral. I liked this forward momentum with all sorts of ideas coming to me again.

  I’d been so afraid that maybe all of my exciting ideas would be gone after what I’d been through. But maybe it was all meant to be, so I could be here and find all of this.

  I swayed with my sister for a second, then I dropped my voice so only she could hear me. “I love him, Wils.”

  She squeezed me tighter. “If he screws up again, I’m definitely going to measure him for a box.” She turned to look at Clay. “How tall are you anyway?”

  Clay frowned. “Six-two, why?”

  “Probably a pricey coffin,” Willow said absently.

  He swallowed thickly while Ransom cackled from behind him.

  Clay turned to him. “Aren’t you my bodyguard?”

  Ransom shrugged with a rare, blinding smile.

  My sister let me go so I could face Clay.

  I gripped her hand for a second longer. “Give us a few minutes, okay?”

  She squeezed my hand back and walked toward Ransom. “All right, weird dude. Let’s give them a second.”

  Ransom gave her a raised eyebrow. “You’re calling me weird?”

  She gripped his shoulder and turned him toward the CocoaBus. “You can buy me a drink. Do they have alcoholic versions?”

  “Are you old enough to drink?” he shot back.

  I gave Clay a tight smile. “So, that’s my little sister.”

  Clay started to reach for me, then he stopped, his hands fisted at his sides. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. It was the last thing I ever wanted to do. You have to know that.”

  I tried not to focus on the fact that everyone was probably staring at us. And I really didn’t want to know if people had their phones up, recording us.

  My heart started to race and little black dots started to encroach. But then Clay was there, just as he’d been the last time I’d gotten overwhelmed.

  He slid his arm around my back. “I can’t really get a retraction, but I swear I’ll do better. I’ll make sure you aren’t embarrassed like this again.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “I know you hate it. I can feel you shaking.”

  I held onto his shoulders and took a slow breath. “I do hate being the center of attention, but you’re worth it.”

  He jerked back his head and stared down at me.

  I smiled up at him. “I love you. God help me, but I do.”

  His jaw dropped, but he recovered quickly, lifting me up for a kiss.

  I gripped his shoulders as my toes left the ground. Just like every other time this man kissed me, the world kind of fuzzed at the edges and receded.

  It was all about him, how he tasted, how he took care of me, how he loved me.

  We made sense. I didn’t know why or how, but I knew my mind lit up just as brightly as my body when he was around me.

  He set me back down and dragged me close. “I love you too. I thought for sure I was doomed when I got back.” He leaned back to meet my gaze. “I would have and will still grovel and do anything for your forgiveness.”

  “Well, there is that bet.”

  He frowned.

  I nodded to the display of Charlie Brown trees. “Seems there’s only a few of those bad boys left. Even if you did hide them to get out of the bet.”

  Clay laughed. “I put them behind the barn because I didn’t want to put anything else on your plate.”

  “Yeah, well, I told you I’d sell them. Guess you’ll be paying up, sir.”

  He winced. “A deal’s a deal.”

  “Damn right. Oh, and we definitely have to figure out a better way to do all this next year.”

  “Good thing the love of my life just happens to be the best planner in the world. We make an amazing team.”

  “Yeah, we really do,” I said as he lowered his mouth to mine.

  I kissed him with everything inside of me.

  Selling out every Christmas tree on the lot was just the beginning of us, definitely not the end.

  And I really couldn’t wait to see him in that elf costume.

  Epilogue

  Christmas Eve Elf

  Clay

  Trying to surprise this woman was like trying to hide from Ransom. It was damn hard to do. Luckily, my best friend had eased up on all the perimeter searches lately. He was disappearing more and more since I’d broken the news to him that I was relocating to Turnbull.

  He’d bought a fixer upper when I started spending most weekends here between November and December. I was pretty sure he preferred the slower pace out this way anyway.

  The fact that Ransom was MIA was better for my psyche. I hiked the bag on my shoulder and heard the bells jangling inside. I didn’t want him to see me in this outfit.

  God, she better appreciate this.

  Jim and Mary met me as I drove into the lot. The trees were officially gone this morning. It had been slim pickings since Rachel and I had gone viral a couple of weeks ago. Her sister’s videos had started the chain reaction, then our chaotic circus of a reunion had made the rounds.

  We made it onto Page Six again. Fickle newspapers now saw her as the darling of Christmas trees. I got a bit of grief for my Christmas Tree Farm, but it didn’t bother me. Felicity, my favorite game designer, had even sent me a kids’ game about trimming a Christmas tree.

  I was pretty sure she’d sent it as a joke. Wonder if she’d still be laughing when I sent her a formal contract to make the game a reality for next year?

  My life had changed drastically since November had rolled in. Back then, I’d been sneaking fresh air from a secret compartment in my office and now I had relocated to Turnbull full-time. I also got to sleep beside Rachel every night.

  Well, when Gary didn’t try to horn in on my action.

  Who knew I would also be a cat dad? Definitely not me.

  I reached into my jacket pocket for the velvet box I’d been carrying for a week. Maybe another kind of dad someday too.

  If I got through this evening without hyperventilating.

  “Everything looks amazing.” My gaze tracked the path Mary had made with colored string lights. It cut a path through the lot and into the now empty tree farm. Next year’s crop was growing in the distance and our seedlings were doing their thing in a fresh field.

  But right in the center of the field was a modified small school bus.

  “The big rig dropped off CocoaBus II an hour ago.” Jim dipped his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels as he gave me an indulgent smile. “Not sure how you managed it.”

  Mary hooked her arm through her husband’s. “Billionaires can manage just about anything.”

  I flushed. “I actually ordered the larger, operational bus after she finished the VW Bus.”

  “She’s going to flip out. I don’t know how you did it and I don’t want to know,” she said with a watery laugh. “I’m just going to go swoon about it.”

  Jim wrapped an arm around her. “Come on. I have a few tricks up my sleeve too, you know.”

  “It’s a Christmas miracle,” she quipped.

  “Thanks so much for your help.”

  Jim held out a hand. “We love her too, man.”

  I shook it and hoped my hand wasn’t clammy. I was nervous as hell. And they both would find a little Christmas present in their account as well. We’d blown past our sale expectations and they deserved the bonus.

  I’d also set up a business account for Rachel. She’s probably fight me on it, but the money I’d created it with was all her profit. She’d earned every penny and then some. And I knew she’d be expanding before summer rolled around.