“Generally, yes. I’ve always found a sort of magic in Christmas. My family, like I said, was fairly cold. My parents were wealthy, and, of course, our house was decorated beautifully and we got a few top-of-the-line presents. But Christmas dinner was one of the only times we were all together with no interruptions. It wasn’t exactly the cozy standard, but it’s one of the few good memories I have of home. After that, I always tried to make sure Christmas was magical, even if it was just for me.”
“I have a feeling this Christmas will be magical,” he said softly.
“Oh man, listen to me being dramatic,” I laughed, blowing out a breath and shaking my head. “Come on, show me what kind of snacks my big, bad boss indulges in when no one’s watching.”
“You have no idea,” he teased, placing a hand on my lower back and guiding me inside.
“Cole, my boy! I knew we’d be seeing you soon. It’s been a while,” an older woman called out. Her hair was gray, wild curls hanging nearly to her waist. She was dressed like Mrs. Claus in a candy-cane-striped apron and red dress.
He turned to me and gave me a wink that had my knees going a little weak. How was everything he did attractive and not creepy in the least?!
“Aspen, this is theMomto Mom & Pops,” he said. Her nametag said Carol, but it was clear she didn’t go by that withher regulars. “Admittedly, when I first came to the city, and for a long time after, I made frequent stops out here just to get a moment of peace. It reminded me of home, but it wasn’t too far from work.”
“Yes, and his visits have slowed down over the years,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Are you taking care of yourself in that big, ivory tower of yours, Prince Cole?”
“Always,” he said.
What a liar. According to his mom, he had no work-life balance whatsoever.
She clicked her tongue at him in disapproval before throwing up her hands. “Looks like it’s my job once again to make sure this alpha is eating. I swear, they’d never get by without us, would they?” She shot me a grin full of mischief.
“You’ll hear no arguments from me,” an older alpha said as he walked out with a large box in his hands. His nametag read Calvin, a beta walking in behind him with Chris on his.
“We all know she’s the reason we’re alive this long,” Chris agreed, walking in behind him. “Hello there, good to see you, my boy. Oh, and who is this? I’ve not seen her before.”
“My fiancée, Aspen,” Cole answered for me, tugging me a little closer as if to prove his point. “Aspen, these are the Pops to Mom & Pops.”
“Guilty,” the alpha chuckled, unloading the box onto a nearby shelf, restocking what looked like gaudy bobbleheads of Santa and his elves.
“A fiancée?” Carol squealed. “I guess I don’t need to worry about you anymore. Oh, the boy’s grown up, hasn’t he, dears?”
“He was bound to at some point,” Chris agreed. “Now quit pestering and let him shop. He’s here for a reason.”
“Yes. I’m taking Aspen home to Pine Ridge. Mom’s been on me about visiting.”
“Then it’s about time you did. There’s nothing like family,” Carol said firmly, before shooing us away. “Go load up on all those snacks you like.”
She grabbed a basket from a nearby stack and all but shoved it into his arms. Cole snagged it and shook his head as he led me down an aisle.
Even as he looked exasperated, he was happy. CEO Cole was left behind in the city, and I had a feeling I was glimpsing the man behind the mask.
Cole was rigid and structured. It seemed he’d built his life around schedules and meticulous choices, but I had a feeling there was more to him than that.
Maybe he used the structure as a way to cope and focus on success.
Yet with all his structure, not once since we met did he make me feel like I was causing a scene by simply existing.
I really had to stop comparing him in my head. Maybe it was just because the wedding, and everything that happened, was literally a few days ago.
But Cole was right. We left all of that in the city. Now it was time to focus on the holiday.
I had a feeling I was about to find the magic of the season in Pine Ridge, and maybe even in Cole.
Aspen
Every minute I spent with Cole, I watched him open up a little more. His laugh was contagious, deep, and booming, and had me cracking up right along with him.
I also never thought I’d see the alpha shoving peanut butter cups into his mouth like he’d been starving for days. This man, who probably ate at fancy restaurants regularly, was devouring cheap, everyday snacks.
