“Totally.” Mack grinned. “So we’ll hang out at the gas station for a while? This sounds like the Christmas of my dreams already. Please continue.”
Holly laughed at her dry sense of humor. “Hang on. I hadn’t finished.” She tore off a piece of pancake and dunked it in her hot cocoa. “Maude said her sister sells gifts, so we’ll pick out a small gift for each other that we can exchange over dinner tonight. And while we’re here having a Christmas meal, we can videocall our families.”
“Okay.” Mack stared at her with an amused twinkle in her eyes. “I love your plan. A snowman competition, a gas station visit, a romantic Christmas dinner at the Mistletoe Diner and virtually meeting the parents. This relationship is certainly speeding up considering we started out on the wrong foot.”
“I don’t know about romantic,” Holly said, glancing around. “It’s more like a Hallmark movie on a budget.”
“Hmm… Yeah, you’re right.” Mack inched forward. “Think about it. Two strangers, stranded in a quirky town, forced to share a room, frolicking in the snow, and sharing a cozy meal.” She stole a piece of Holly’s pancake, dunked it in her cocoa and continued to stare at her. “And then what happens?” She chewed slowly, licking her lips.
“Then…” Holly swallowed hard. The way Mack’s eyes darkened made her heart race. The playful banter between them was turning more intimate with each passing second and she didn’t know what to do with herself. “Have I turned you into a dunker?” she asked, pointing at Mack’s cocoa in an attempt to distract herself from that sexy stare.
“Maybe.” Mack tilted her head and arched a brow. “But you’re changing the subject.”
Holly sat back, creating some space between them. “You’re pretty direct, aren’t you?”
“I can be. I’m sorry. Is it too much?”
“No,” Holly admitted after a moment’s hesitation. “I guess we’ll just have to see where the night takes us.”
Chapter 9
Mack
Despite the heavy snow fall, the town square was bustling with people. The main road had been cleared, but the storm still made it challenging to walk. Mack pulled her scarf tighter around her neck, her breath visible in the frigid air. The town seemed undeterred by the weather, its spirit lively and cheerful.
In the center of the square was a Christmas market, featuring little German-style chalets with vendors that sold food, drinks, and various holiday trinkets. Children ran around, their laughter mingling with the jarring festive music playing in the chalets. The aroma of mulled wine, freshly baked cakes, and roasted chestnuts wafted through the air, tempting passers-by to stop and indulge.
Mack and Holly wandered through the market, taking in the sights. The chalets were decorated with twinkling lights and garlands, each one more charming than the last. She watched as a vendor poured hot cocoa into a mug, the steam rising and dissipating into the frosty air. There was an ice-skating rink, currently closed as it wasn’t safe to skate in the weather, but it looked charming, nevertheless, with its rustic wooden fence adorned with twinkling fairy lights. Red and green garlandsintertwined with the lights, and a large Christmas tree stood in the center of the rink, its branches heavy with snow.
“Over there!” Holly’s voice called out, snapping Mack out of her reverie. She gestured to a chalet that saidSnowman Competition. Sign up here!“Are you ready to build the winning snowman?”
“You bet!” Mack’s competitive spirit was already kicking in as she eyed up their competition. Both kids and adults had gathered in groups with bags full of props and accessories.
“We should have come prepared,” Holly whispered as they signed up. “They clearly take it very seriously.”
“That’s okay. We can improvise. I?—”
“All right everyone!” a woman interrupted them. “Gather ’round so we can go over the rules. I’m Barbara, your competition leader.”
The group shuffled closer, and Mack could feel the buzz of anticipation.
“The rules are simple,” Barbara said, the jingle bells around her neck tinkling with every movement. “You have forty minutes to build your snowman. You can use up to five props—no more. Props include anything you add to your snowman that isn’t snow. That means buttons, hats, scarves, accessories, and so on. You’ll be judged on creativity, craftsmanship, and overall holiday spirit,” she continued. “Because the spirit of Christmas is just as important as the snowman itself. So put your hearts into it!”
Holly grinned, her eyes meeting Mack’s. “We really have landed in a Hallmark movie.”
“And one last rule,” Barbara added, raising her hand for emphasis. “The cheesiest rule of all. Have fun!”
Mack and Holly headed to their designated area, marked by a sign with their number. The ground was packed with fresh snow, perfect for molding. Mack crouched down and began scoopingsnow together for the base, and beside her, Holly started with a small snowball, rolling it across the snowy ground to gradually increase its size.
“I’ll shape the legs, if you do the body and the head base,” Mack said, patting down the pile of snow in front of her.
“Got it,” Holly replied, working methodically. “It seems like everyone has a plan, but what are we even making? Santa?”
“Yeah, why not? Let’s keep it simple.” Mack glanced around, her eyes scanning the ground for anything they could use as props. A few feet away, she spotted a broken candy cane half-buried in the snow. She picked it up, dusting off the snow. “We could use this as a pipe. What do you think?”
“Perfect! Holly chuckled, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “The beard will be easy to mold, and I’ll try to find something that could work as a hat.”
They continued building, their hands moving swiftly as they shaped the snowman. Holly formed the midsection and the head, smoothing out the surface while Mack sculpted the legs, making sure they were sturdy enough to keep the body in place.
