Page 2 of His Heart for Christmas

?Shaking my head of the thought, I grab my jacket and get in the car. It’s a short trip to the tree farm. Josh never bothered with a snappy name. He stuck with Mistwood Hollow Tree Farm. There are a few people eagerly running through the pre-cut trees, the same rustic wooden sign with the name to welcome visitors.

?The rows of evergreens – the uncut ones – stretch out in all directions. Even when I get out of my admittedly little car, I still feel small compared to some of the giants that lurk further in the distance. They’re all dusted with a light layer of snow, some glistening with ice. It’s magical.

?To one side is the town I know so well, and in the other direction, this enchanting forest of evergreens. How could anyone not love a perfect small town like Mistwood Hollow?

?I follow the trail through the trees, telling myself I’m going to focus on nothing but them, but the second I see Josh effortless lifting a tree onto someone’s car, I’m ensnared.

?Other than his perfectly trimmed beard and a few lines around his face, he looks exactly the same. He’s still big enough to wrap around me, hell I bet his arms would overlap around my waist. And his rugged, big hands securing knots so the tree doesn’t move, make me wonder if he’s ever used knots for other things. He’s pushed up his flannel sleeves despite the chill, to show off his toned, taut forearms that shine with a light sheen of sweat.

?He’s unbuttoned his shirt too, showing the black tank underneath and a light sprinkling of hair on his chest.

?Jeeze. I feel like it’s midsummer when I stare at him. I want to take off my sweater, toss my hat, rip off my leggings ... or invite him to do it all instead. He looks even more rugged than I remember. He’s more commanding, with a sharpness about him. He leans down to talk to the woman in the car and I see how his neck flexes, his Adam’s apple moves and my mouth waters.

?If I kissed his throat, would he thaw a bit for me? If I wrapped myself around him as his personal space heater, would he remember what it’s like to be warm, to feel relaxed, peaceful ... or would he just throw me down and use my –

?My thoughts trip over themselves until it feels like they’re caught in a ten car pileup when Josh’s dark blue eyes meet mine. Time itself freezes under the weight of his glacial stare, but my entire body breaks out in humming heat that threads every half-lustful thought together into a fantasy that I know is staining my cheeks bright pink.

?It’s like he’s seeing me for the first time, and when his jaw tightens and his gaze sweeps over me, Mom’s Halmark movie fantasy starts playing in my head.

Chapter 2 - Josh

?Fuck, I shouldn’t have let my volunteers leave for the day. I thought it would be a slower day since it’s so cold out, but now I have more to do than ever.

?After making sure everyone up front is taken care of, I unload the truck of new freshly cut trees. The guys who chopped them down help a bit, but I know they’re exhausted too.

?The smaller trees are easier to haul onto my shoulders before I stack them to the side, ensuring they’re not going to roll away and cause problems. After pulling the last tree from the truck bed, I set it down, shut the tailgate, and pat the vehicle. “You’re good guys.”

?“We’ll bring more in a few days, Josh,” One of the guys calls from the warmth of the truck cab.

?They head off and I turn, ready to start dividing up the pile. Once I haul a heavy four-footer onto my shoulder, I turn and find Emma. My heart skips a beat while my mouth gets suddenly dry. She’s walking towards me, clutching her bag infront of her. Her sweater looks warm, not just temperature-wise, but ... inviting.

?Maybe it’s just her curves, they’re not overwhelming, but they look damn perfect. She’s the kind of woman that is meant to be cuddled by a fire, the kind of woman a man can’t resist wrapping himself around. Her wavy hair catches a breeze and slithers over her breasts while the rest fans around her.

?Emma Thompson is definitely an adult now. There’s no denying it. Her bright hazel eyes dance with nervous excitement as she approaches. She licks her bottom lip as she looks down to step over something, then watches me from under her thick lashes.

?God, she looks as innocent as a doe, but there’s so much more to her.

?How can this be the same teenager that used to offer to decorate the front of the tree farm, always brought me hot chocolate, and wouldn’t leave until I’d given her a smile?

?“Hi, Josh,” She greets, her cheeks heating as pink as her nose. She shivers slightly.

?“You should have a coat on,” I say, my voice gruff and clear.

?She blinks a few times, then laughs. “That explains the cold. I must have left it in the car.”

?Some things don’t change. She’s still the most bubbly and easy going woman I’ve ever met. The kind that needs someone to protect her when her niceness is taken advantage of.

?She takes a few steps closer and motions to the tree on my shoulder. “Isn’t that heavy? Do you want some help?”

?“No, I’ve got it.”

?I toss it down and watch the branches spread on one side.

?“Are you alone this year? I could help out. I don’t have a job or anything yet. Taking care of the trees plus helping people is a lot to manage,” Emma comments.

?“I can handle it,” I repeat, though I’m thrown by how she’s always this cheerful. It’s like being bathed in warm sunshine on a cold day. There’s no doubt she’s all woman, but that sweetness and effortless charm... it’s something else entirely.

?I take a step closer to block the wind from her, but her scent wraps around me, filling my senses. It’s warm and bright, just like her—creamy vanilla with a hint of coffee and a subtle spice. No bitterness, only the cozy warmth of her fragrance and the radiance of her smile. And now, she speaks with a calm confidence, not a hint of hesitation.

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