The Trouble with Christmas by Kaira Rouda

banking world,” Lily said.
    Cole laughed, a sharp sound. “No, they weren’t. They were ruthless assholes. I was on Wall Street. Everybody’s a jerk. Just out for money. I was one of them.”
    “Well, in the restaurant business, my experience is that once customers are full, they’re happy. So we’ll turn these folks into raving fans. Don’t worry,” she said. “Uh, hey, would you mind giving me a ride back to the other side? I’m a mess.”
    Cole seemed to focus on her then. A smile crossed his face. “You are a mess. You smell like fish,” he said. “Come on. I can make the rest of the calls from home.”
    As they drove back to the other side of the island, they were both quiet, lost in thought. Lily planned the shopping list for the Christmas meal in her head. Every once in a while, she turned and looked at Cole, but he too was deep in his own thoughts. She couldn’t believe she’d met him only yesterday. She checked out his handsome profile, his strong arms, his prominent chin. She felt as comfortable as she did with Bob, maybe even more so. Because it was business, they were focusing on the same goal.
    Cole parked in front of his cottage and they both did a double take. A wreath hung on his front door and green garland decorated the railing of the outside deck.
    “Looks like a Christmas elf has been here?” Cole said. “How did you do this?”
    “This isn’t me. This is Avery,” Lily said, marveling at how wonderful her friend is. “Do you lock your door?”
    “Nope,” Cole said.
    Smiling, they ran up the stairs to the front door. The scene took Lily’s breath away. The entry hall table was covered with greenery and punctuated by red and white striped ribbon. The staircase bannister was wrapped with the same red and white striped ribbon, accentuated with a big bow at the balustrade.
    In the family room, a live Christmas tree filled the corner, adorned with white lights. Four brown cardboard boxes labeled “ornaments” were stacked next to the tree. Above the fireplace, shiny red and white balls hung from a swooping garland of fresh greens. The house smelled like Christmas, pine, and cinnamon. Lily noticed a set of three candles and leaned in to smell them.
    “I don’t know what to say,” Cole said. She thought he might have tears in his eyes, but he quickly turned away from her.
    “Just say thank you. She is just like you. She loves helping others, giving to others,” Lily said and felt the urge to hug him, to comfort him even though she’d told him she needed a lot more time. He was so moved by simple acts of kindness, like someone who thought Christmas would pass him by.
    Lily lightly touched his back with her hand, and he turned to face her. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck as his hands found her waist and pulled her close. He kissed her and instantly it was so intense both jumped back gasping.
    “I got carried away again,” he said. “Sorry.”
    “I’m sorry. I started, but I can’t… I don’t want to…”
    “It’s okay, honey, it’s okay,” he said, hugging her back into his warm embrace. “Let’s just enjoy this amazing moment together under my first Christmas tree of my new life.”
    And as they stood together, hugging next to the tree, Lily began to feel like this could be her new life, too.
    Finally she stepped away. She needed to go home, shower, talk to Avery, get her bearings.
    “Cole, I need to go home, to the Putnams, get cleaned up,” she said.
    “Can I see you tonight? We could decorate the tree together?” he asked, and then paused, adding, “I’ll get the food breakdown together between now and then, a count of the pot pies.” He sensed her nervousness, she realized, so he focused on food. “Then tonight, we can go over what supplies you’ll need from Savannah.”
    He had brought up business to relax her, to get her to let down her guard, and she did. “Sure, that sounds great. Call me later.”

Chapter Seven
    COLE
    ‡
    H e