Page 59

When Gabe steps out of the hug, he pivots and motions me forward.

I square my shoulders and join the pair, resisting the urge to cower under the farmer’s curious and blatant stare.

“Felipe, let me introduce you to Beth Collins. She owns Dash Away Books. Beth, this is Felipe Ferguson. I’m not sure you two have formally met.”

I hold out my hand, and Felipe shakes it. “Pleasure, Ms. Collins.”

“Nice to meet you, too. You have a beautiful farm.”

Felipe’s land is the stuff of Christmas cards and children’s picture books. The fields around his house and barn stretch out in every direction, framed on the backside by a line of snow-covered pines. In the distance, there are sloping hills, and nearer to us, are neat lines of Christmas trees.

“I like it.” His voice takes on a no-nonsense tone, and he spins around. “Come on in.”

I look to Gabe. “Did I offend him?”

“Nah. You’ll get used to it. Felipe tells it like it is. No pretenses. It’s actually incredibly refreshing. Let’s go.” Gabe nudges me forward, and I step through Felipe’s front door.

The inside of the house is neat like the outside. The furniture in the front sitting room is faded but tidy. There’s a Christmas tree in the corner that looks like it was recently chopped down. It’s undecorated, but there’s a worn cardboard box open nearby with lights inside, wound in tight loops. Beyond the front room, I can see into a small galley-style kitchen that would have been right at home in a 1990s home-renovation magazine with its evergreen wallpaper border and honey oak cabinets.

“You kids need anything to drink? Coffee’s on.”

“I’d take a cup.” Gabe puts a hand on the small of my back, and hello, that’s new. He ushers me into the kitchen behind Felipe.

“Me too,” I echo. “Whoa.” My eyes widen at the sight of a high-end espresso maker.

Felipe follows my gaze. “A gift from Gabe’s mom.”

Gabe smiles as Felipe runs his hand over the top of the shiny silver surface.

“Elena figured out that I didn’t much like having to come into town for my coffee. So she got me fixed up with this bad boy. Taught me how to use it, and away I went. I can do a latte if ya’d like.”

“Sounds amazing.” I can’t help the smile that creeps into my voice. What’s that saying? Never judge a book by its cover? Felipe is the walking, talking poster child for it.

“Thank you,” I add.

“Sure thing. Now”—he begins preparing my drink with deft hands—“what’s this you two are up to? Gaber only told me the half of it.”

“We’re coordinating a town-wide Christmas Dash,” I begin when Gabe nods at me to take the lead. “It’s a scavenger hunt with different tasks and missions, but mostly it’s an attempt to get people out, enjoying each other’s company and our town.”

“I’m not in town.” Felipe sounds almost angry about it.

Gabe clears his throat, taking over. “Beth came up with the theme of the event.”

“And what would that happen to be?” Felipe’s voice is gruff.

“We want people to slow down and savor what’s around them,” Gabe says. “I thought your farm would be the perfect place to do that.”

I hold my breath. Felipe is notoriously private, and according to Xander, not at all willing to be a part of any of the town’s holiday happenings. I can’t believe Gabe is suggesting that we send a bunch of people out here, like it’s no big deal. I widen my eyes at Gabe when Felipe doesn’t say anything in response, and he shakes his head slightly as if to say give him a minute.

I keep quiet, and by the time Felipe turns around wielding a steaming latte and handing it to me, my guess is that there’s about a seven percent chance he’ll go for this.

“What would they do here?” Felipe finally asks.

I shoot Gabe a look, and he’s wearing a roguish grin.

“You used to find plenty of chores for me. I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to set up my old stations, would it?”

Felipe’s gray eyes twinkle. “Not sure your Dashers would be too interested in cleaning out stalls, shoveling snow, painting fences, bathing the reindeer—”