A wintery Christmas display in the main window of the craft store catches my eye. Before I can make heads or tails of myactions, the overhead bell of the store rings as I push the door open to enter.
“Welcome,” the cheery older woman behind the counter greets. She waves but doesn’t approach since she’s ringing up a few customers.
I greet her and then move toward the display that I’d seen in the window. An array of ornaments, and seemingly handmade gingerbread house lookalikes, sit on the shelves behind the display.
A memory of making gingerbread houses with Meghan and Shanice and their two cousins who visited us a week before Christmas comes to mind. Those days were hectic but there were moments where I got to sit down with the girls and just enjoy the time with them.
I’ll never forget their laughter and giggles as I snuck gumdrops from their pile and popped them into my mouth. Or when I wiped vanilla frosting on Shanice’s nose and snapped a picture.
“Thank you for waiting.” The store clerk comes up behind me. “Is there something specific you were looking for?”
Is there?
A sudden jolt of realization overcomes me. I’ve walked into this craft store, drawn in by the Christmas decor.
But I have zero intention on decorating for Christmas this year.
“Um, well, not really,” I answer the clerk, not wanting to be rude.
“If I might …” She holds her arms out to a separate display. “These are our handcrafted miniature trees.”
At every turn or short break in her speech, I mean to tell this woman that I didn’t come in here with the intention to purchase anything. I want to tell her that I am not the targetcustomer she’s looking for because I do not have any intention of decorating my home for the holiday.
I’m over all of that.
At least that’s what I tell myself.
But none of those protestations make their way past my lips. Thus, after thirty minutes of looking over and listening to the clerk’s thorough explanation for how the items for the store are made and selected, I walk out with an armful of holiday decor.
“Just for my office,” I mumble to myself. I’ve only gotten enough items to decorate my home office.
Besides, I’m a full-time YouTuber. It would help my analytics to have some holiday decor in the background of my videos.
Though that’s the excuse I make up in my head as I drive home, the image that keeps coming to my mind is that of a big, sexy ass rancher, setting up Thanksgiving decor in my kitchen and dining space.
The picture Joel made as he stepped back, intently inspecting his work, ignites something electrifying in my belly.
I loathe that in the back of my mind I start to wonder if he would like the new items I’ve just purchased.
CHAPTER 10
Ellyn
“I thought you said you weren’t doing any decorations for the house this year?” Meghan says as I pull out the miniature Christmas tree I purchased at the craft store.
We’re in my home office where I’ve just gotten her to agree to help me set up the decorations.
“Well,” I say, drawing out the pause.
“I reconsidered, and thought based on what I do for a living, it would be a good idea to do a little something. For my videos.”
“The videos …” She also stretches out her words.
“It’ll be great for the analytics. Viewers are drawn to new décor,” I explain, not looking her in the eye.
“Hmhm.”
“Also, these items were just sitting there on the shelves looking lonely.”
