Taylor fits right into our family. Hopefully, she sees it too. Because if she’s with me, it’s going to get serious quickly. I don’t think I’m capable of dating this woman casually.
An hour or two later,the three of us have put together what I’m pretty sure is actually the best ornament anyone in our family has ever made. The little wooden bookshop has garlands around the door just like the real one, and Taylor has painted the windows to look like there are shelves with books inside.
Meg made a little clay cat to sit by the door. It has a smug expression on its tiny face that’s surprisingly realistic.
And of course, I made pipe cleaner Christmas trees in pots to flank the shop.
I get my phone out to snap a picture of it and it buzzes before I get the chance.
“Grandma and Grandpa are here,” I tell Meg,reading their text before I take the picture and send it to my parents. “We should head out.”
The sun is high in the sky when we get outside and the snow is just light flurries.
“Oh wow,” Taylor says. “It smells incredible.”
She’s not wrong. The light wind carries the scents of the burgers and dogs on the big grill, as well as a hundred other delicious foods that are being sold at carts and enjoyed under canopies with outdoor space heaters to warm them.
“Grandma,” Meg yells, darting through the crowd to her grandparents, who have staked out a nice table near one of the heaters. Buck is already with them.
“I hope you don’t mind that we already snagged a table,” Dad says. “And your brother bought some food.”
Some?The table iscoveredin food.
“I thought I’d just get us a bit of everything,” Buck says, winking at Meg.
“Youdid,” Meg squeals, delighted.
“Thank you,” Taylor says politely.
My mom calls her over and the two of them start talking about schedules for a baking lesson. Buck sits beside Dad and Meg sits beside him, leaving the chair next to Taylor open.
I take the seat near her and the rush of the crowd and the scent of the food in front of us all seems to fade away as my eyes feast on her dark hair and the gentle smile that plays on her face while my mom regales herwith advice on kitchen gadgets and where to buy the best spices on Angel Mountain.
At one point, her napkin flutters to the ground and I bend to grab it.
When I hand it to her under the table, her fingers brush mine, and for some reason I slide my fingers between hers.
She smiles without looking over at me, and doesn’t let go.
My heart races as I sit beside her, our hands entwined where no one can see them. And even though anyone would tell you that I’m the biggest grouch in town, I’m so stupidly happy right now, I feel like I could fly.
14
TAYLOR
The day passes so quickly I almost can’t believe it. Between the pet parade, making our own tiny bookshop, and absolutely gorging on good food all day, I know we should all be exhausted.
So when Meg decides to take a carriage ride with her grandparents and then head home, I expect Roan to say he’ll do the same.
Instead, he tells me that we can head to the Host of Angels up at the high school if I want to go.
And of course I do.
Buck crows with delight and says he’ll join us, which makes his brother scowl, and for a moment I’m reminded what a grump I thought Roan was, and how happy and relaxed he’s seemed all day today.
Buck takes his own truck, so Roan and I walk back up Celestial Lane alone. The walk is quiet, and I can’tstop thinking about the way he took my hand during lunch.
Of course, I also couldn’t help noticing that he let go again as soon as we got up from the table, and we’re not holding hands now. Maybe he’s not so sure he wants this thing between us to be real. Or maybe he just doesn’t want questions from his family.
