Chapter 14
Beckett
The snow outside glows brighter than it should.
Sunlight finally found its way through the clouds, turning the drifts sparkling white.
Ruby sits cross-legged on the couch, hair pulled into a messy bun, hoodie two sizes too big—mine, of course—and she’s demolishing the sandwich I made her like it’s the best thing she’s ever tasted.
“Mountain cuisine,” I say, nodding at her plate.
She grins through a mouthful. “Gourmet.”
Ranger snorts from the hearth rug like he disagrees with that assessment. I toss him the last corner of my sandwich anyway. The cabin smells like coffee, toasted bread, and something new—contentment, maybe. It’s been a long time since this place has felt alive.
When we finish eating, Ruby curls back on the couch while I open my laptop.
The Wi-Fi is weak but limping along now that the storm’s eased.
I refresh the connection, half expecting the usual maintenance logs and snow trail reports.
Instead, my inbox floods with notifications—social media pings, and comment alerts.
“Uh, Ruby?”
She glances up from her phone, still blissed-out. “Hmm?”
“You’re trending.”
She blinks. “I’m what now?”
I angle the screen toward her. My channel is going wild with hundreds of messages piling in.
Can’t wait for my order!
That red velvet set is sold out. I need it!
Your live video on the snowmobile was adorable—when’s the next drop?
Ruby stares for a second, then fumbles for her phone. “Oh, no-no-no-no,” she mutters. Please tell me I have more than one bar now. “Yes! I’m getting through.”
I watch as she opens her shop app. Instantly, Ruby’s expression shifts from confusion to disbelief … and then to sheer panic.
“Beckett,” she whispers, eyes wide. “There are two hundred and seventy-six orders waiting to be filled.”
“That good or bad?”
“It’s …” She runs a hand through her hair, laughing and gasping all at once. “It’s insane! I’ve never had that many in one day. Not even close. Oh my god, what did I do? What did we do?”
I rub the back of my neck. “Maybe that ‘Mrs. Claus showcase special’ wasn’t such a bad idea.”
She smacks my arm with a pillow but she’s smiling, practically vibrating with adrenaline. Then she’s on the phone, pacing barefoot across the cabin floor. “Kayla? It’s Ruby. No, I’m fine. Better than fine, I think. Check the orders queue. Yes, now.”
While she talks a mile a minute about inventory and shipping labels, I can’t stop watching her. She’s all motion and light, excitement spilling out of every word. For the first time, I see what she looks like in her element. She’s driven, unstoppable, her own kind of storm.
When she finally ends the call, she exhales and drops back onto the couch. “Okay. Kayla’s heading to the shop to prep boxes, but I’ve got to get down the mountain today. My van’s still buried. Half the merchandise is in it.”
“Then we’ll get those Santa items down the mountain.”
She looks at me, startled. “We?”
“Yeah, we.” I close the laptop, already running the checklist in my head. “Snow’s packed enough to run the big sled. I’ll hook up the pull-behind.”
Her brow furrows. “You mean like an actual sleigh?”
I shrug. “More like a metal beast on runners, but close enough.”
She’s still staring, caught between panic and wonder. “You’d really do that for me?”
I pull on my parka and gloves. “Guess I’m invested in your small-business success now.”
“Beckett Tinderwolf,” she says, voice soft, “you might just be my Christmas miracle.”
Ranger perks up at her excitement and Ruby crouches to scratch behind his ears. “You’re staying here, handsome,” she tells him. “Guard the cabin, okay?”
I pour extra food into his dish, double the water. “He’ll manage. He’s tougher than he looks.”
Ruby smiles at me over her shoulder. “So are you.”
Outside, the world is blinding white and quiet except for the rumble of the snowmobile as I haul out the rig. She stands beside me, bundled up to her nose, eyes wide as the sleigh takes shape—a heavy-duty cargo sled strapped and balanced behind the machine.
“Think it’ll hold?” she asks.
I check the lines. “If it doesn’t, we’ll invent the first airborne lingerie delivery service.”
She laughs, the sound bright against the cold. Ruby holds onto me tight as we make out way back to her stranded van. Together, we load as much as we can. When everything’s finally tied down, I pat the seat behind me. “All aboard, Ms. Claus.”
She climbs on, arms sliding around my waist, voice muffled against my jacket. “We’re carrying quite a load. You sure this thing’s safe?”
“Nope.”
“Beckett!”
I grin, gun the throttle, and the sled lurches forward, cutting a clean path through the snow. Her laughter threads through the wind, and I realize I don’t mind where the trail ends … as long as she’s holding on.