“It’s a tree.”
My eyes narrowed. “It’s not just a tree. It’sthetree.”
“It’s green, has needles. What more do you need?”
“Perfection and this is perfection.”
“If perfection means we get to cut it down and get the hell out of this damn cold, then I’m with it.”
“Please don’t simplify my experience.” I grinned and rolled my eyes and he walked up to me, dropping his chin.
“We cut it down, take it to the house, and put lights on it. It’s simple.”
I groaned. “Men and their practical logic. There’s an art to choosing the right tree.”
“Art? For that…” He pointed to my tree because yep, I had already claimed it. “The damn thing is going to drop needles all over my truck and your house. It’s more of a nuisance.”
“And you’re a pessimist.” I shot him an evil glare that held no weight because his stupidly handsome face had me smiling seconds later. “You’re officially the cowboy tree grinch.”
“And you’re stubborn as hell, which I’m guessing you hear a lot.”
“Nope, more like I’m the most agreeable person people have ever met.” I flashed him a smile.
“I’m going to go with your ass isn’t self-aware.”
“I am. Now, can we focus on my baby so I can school you on how to select the perfect tree?” I threw my arm out toward the tree behind me. “Clearly I need to school you because your knowledge is lacking, sir.”
“I’m just here to be your manual labor. I don’t need to expand my knowledge.”
“Oh you absolutely need to be schooled.” I grinned, grabbing his arm, yanking him with me when I neared the tree
“Alright, professor. Tree selection 101. Make that shit quick.”
“Symmetry.” I flicked my wrist, motioning to the tree next to mine. “See how that one is fuller on this side. It doesn’t work. The branches have to be balanced all the way around.”
“What difference does it make? Just turn that side to the wall.”
I dropped my mouth open then smiled. “That’s holiday blasphemy and cheating.”
“Cheating what?”
“The distribution of holiday cheer. We don’t do that around here.”
He smirked. “So now there are rules to this?”
“Everything has rules, cowboy.” I grinned and tipped my hat. I grabbed his hand and pulled him to my side, moving around my tree, hyper aware that he didn’t give a damn about the tree. His attention was, once again, on me.
“Look how full and green it is.” I grabbed a branch. “See how nothing fell off. Needle retention is very important. It means the tree is fresh.”
“They’re all the same, in the ground and green,” he mumbled and I rolled my eyes. His were on me, had been on me.
“You’re not paying attention. Focus on the beauty, sir.” I was speaking about the tree. I blushed because he wasnot…
“I am,” he said but his eyes remained affixed to my face.
A breeze pushed between the trees and I shivered, making him frown before he shrugged out of his coat. “Take this.”
“No, you need it.”
