“But this isn’t the perfect home.”
Without a proper stand to place it into, Holden propped the tree along the glass. He crossed his arms over his chest and rotated to face her. “Why not? If it’s the pine needles, I promised the doorman I’d clean all of that up. I was just in a hurry to get up here and I shook more loose than I intended.”
“That’s not the reason.” She moved a step closer. “This isn’t the perfect home because this isn’tmyhome anymore. Or at least, it won’t be after January first.”
His arms came unbound and his shoulders sagged. “Oh, Rachel. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even ask how the presentation went. I’m guessing not all that great?”
“Not great. In fact, before I could even get started, they fired me.”
He drew her into his arms so quickly she stumbled. His immediate response to comfort her made her knees unbuckle, and she was grateful for his steadying hold, locking her in place. But it wasn’t disappointment that weakened her. It was the man who held her so tightly she could hardly breathe that overwhelmed her with emotion.
“They fired you?” he whispered into her hair. “Right before Christmas? How could they do that?”
“Turns out they’re not really focusing on Christmas at all anymore,” she said. “But honestly, Holden. I’m okay.Morethan okay.”
He cupped the back of her head and gently tilted her gaze up to his. “You’re okay with losing your dream job?”
“I am, because I had plans to quit.”
Confusion knit his brows together. His eyes roved over her face for an answer. “You were going to quit? Since when?”
“Since I decided I didn’t want to be stuck in a job I didn’t love when it kept me away from the man that I do love.”
Those tears Rachel struggled to suppress now welled in Holden’s jade green ones too.
“What did you say?” Holden’s voice broke with emotion.
“That I didn’t want to be stuck at December Décor.”
His thumb moved over her cheek. “No, after that.”
“That I love you.”
As he had a way of doing, Holden cut her off with a kiss. But this time, there was no hint of goodbye.
Only the promise of a future even brighter than those city lights.
CHAPTER38
Holden wasn’t sure how they were going to pull it off. It was Christmas Eve and there wasn’t a tree in the square. But the buzz about town was that the annual lighting would still occur and for everyone to be there by six o’clock sharp. The holiday show would, in fact, go on.
Skepticism aside, Holden looked forward to the event. Either way, it would be good to spend time with the people from his community. There would be open fires with roasted chestnuts, holiday caroling from Miss Morgenstern’s first grade class, and, of course, complimentary hot chocolate served by Bitter Cold Coffee Bar. Even Trinity would have a little tent set up to sell the rest of her Christmas wreaths. The people of Snowdrift Summit would come together to celebrate the season the best way they knew how, tree or no tree.
Holden had learned it wasn’t even about the actual tree, but the people who gathered around it that truly mattered.
Plus, Rachel would be there. That was the biggest present of all.
When he’d trekked into the city with the half-tree in the back of his truck, he thought it would be a drop and go sort of thing. That’s what he had prepared for, at least. He had planned to leave it outside her door. But he hadn’t accounted for the traffic that held him up on the freeway, depositing him in San Francisco after she’d already gotten off work. He had tried to rush out, but he’d gotten caught.
They’d already had their lengthy goodbye. He couldn’t imagine doing that all over again.
But in the end, he wouldn’t have to. Just a bye-for-now.
She still had to wrap a few things up in the city, but promised to make it home in time for the lighting. Holden could hardly wait.
It helped that he had his own work to occupy his mind and time. Major Hart Mountain Sports was remarkably busy, but not with scheduled snowmobile expeditions. Last-minute shoppers crammed the store, loading their arms with sweaters, scarves, beanies. You name it. Items flew off the shelves. The steady hum of the cash register continued throughout the day, and just when they got control over the checkout line, more customers would arrive.
Mayor Thornton was one of those customers. He stepped up and dipped his cap toward Holden, passing off a large stack of items to purchase.
