He grinned. “Is it working?”
“Maybe,” she admitted.
They moved away from the table to make room for others. The hum of conversations and clinking cups created a cozy backdrop as they found a quiet corner. Chloe looked around the room for Oscar. He was sitting beside Liam’s dog as he shared cookies with his friends.
Liam followed her gaze. “Oscar really likes Trixie.”
Chloe sighed. “He’s been asking for a dog for months now, but it’s not the right time.”
“Having a dog or any pet is a big commitment. My parents adopted their first dog when I was about Oscar’s age. Honey was incredibly gentle.”
“Was she a Golden Labrador like Trixie?”
Liam smiled. “Not quite. Honey was a Golden Retriever. She shed so much that Mom had to buy a vacuum cleaner just to get rid of her hair.”
Chloe watched Oscar with Trixie. He made sure she was okay, and no one was annoying her. “If we get a dog, I’ll remember to adopt one that doesn’t shed.”
“Well, if you ever need a stand-in, Trixie and I are available for playdates,” Liam offered.
Chloe smiled. “That’s kind of you. Oscar would love that.”
“And what does Oscar’s mom think of spending more time with Trixie and me?”
She looked up, meeting his deep blue eyes. “I think she’d enjoy it too.”
A comfortable silence settled between them. It had been a long time since she’d felt so attracted to another man and she wasn’t sure what to do about it. Liam wasn’t staying in Sapphire Bay and she didn’t want to leave.
With a sigh, she realized she was overthinking things again. Nothing was stopping them from being friends. They could spend time together and enjoy the Christmas festivities. After he left, they could keep in contact with each other, or go their separate ways. How she felt about him didn’t have to end in happy ever after.
Liam broke the silence. “So, we’re both signed up to help decorate Main Street. Maybe we could work together?”
“I’d like that,” she replied. “Two pairs of hands are better than one when it comes to untangling Christmas lights.”
He chuckled. “Absolutely. And I hear there’s a mountain of decorations to sort through.”
Chloe grinned. “I’m always up for a challenge.”
Mabel approached them with a clipboard. “Chloe, Liam, we’re organizing teams for the decoration days. Can I put you both down for the same shifts?”
Chloe glanced at Liam, who gave an almost imperceptible nod. “Yes, that works for us,” she answered.
“Wonderful,” Mabel said, jotting down their names. “The entire team is having a quick meeting at nine o’clock next Saturday morning at The Starlight Café. After that, we’ll look at each store to see what decorations we need.”
“We’ll be there,” Liam promised.
As Mabel moved on, Liam turned back to Chloe. “It looks like we’re officially teammates.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Oscar bounded over, a smear of chocolate on his cheek. “Mom, can Trixie come over to play tomorrow?”
Chloe wiped his face with a napkin. “I promised Pastor John we’d help in the kitchen at The Welcome Center tomorrow.”
Liam must have seen the disappointment on Oscar’s face. “Do you have anything planned for after three o’clock?”
She shook her head. “We should be finished by then.”
Liam crouched down to Oscar’s level. “How about this? Trixie and I can meet you at the park in the afternoon. Would you like that?”
