Signed, Sealed, (Not) Yours (Holiday Rivals #3)

Chapter One

RACHEL

“ I thought you said this was a Christmas town. I didn’t expect it to be so…pink.” My eyes take in the tall evergreen tree that takes up a good chunk of the town square, wrapped in a pink gauzy ribbon and decorated with ornaments that look a lot like heart candies with sayings on them. People are fluttering through the town square, hanging garlands made of paper hearts and heart-shaped wreaths. They’re placing helium-inflated balloons along the historic white gazebo, splattering it with hues of pink and red.

This isn’t what I expected from a town that boasts of being the Christmas destination of British Columbia.

Squinting through the winter sun, my gaze immediately lands on a particularly odd-looking yellow heart ornament. “Does that heart say ‘Let’s Taco About Us?’”

Holly, my best friend and the reason I’m in Candy Cane Creek, chuckles beside me. “Yeah. At the last town hall meeting, the town decided to ‘expand their horizons beyond Christmas.’ I think they’re starting to take this rivalry with Gingerbread Grove seriously now. Too seriously. Plus, Hal’s on a taco kick at the diner. Rex has even had to stop him from making taco pancakes, and you know how much Rex loves his pancakes.”

I turn to face her, wondering if my morning double espresso wasn’t enough to make my brain fully functioning. “I have so many questions about everything you just said there.”

A wide smile crosses her pretty face. It’s so genuine and different from those she used to give me in the city that it makes my heart lighter, knowing she’s where she’s meant to be. “About the rivalry, the holiday, or the tacos?”

“All of the above,” I answer. Holly let me in on a bit of the small-town drama when she had first called to get me to visit, but she had been vague and declared it to be ‘small-town gossip.’

The thing is, I’m from the city, and the idea of small-town gossip and drama has me intrigued.

“First, since Woodland Springs rebranded to Gingerbread Grove and declared themselves the newest Christmas—and best—destination, they decided they would start a rivalry with us. Until now, we never took it seriously.”

I smile, loving her use of ‘ us ’ and ‘ we ,’ embracing her new life here in Candy Cane Creek, but I need to know more about this feud. “Okay…why now?”

“Because this year, we started to notice a decline in people visiting us. So much so that our mayor has halted plans on opening a second inn.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“No. The people in town were up in arms during the last meeting. The yelling echoed all through the barn. The dogs were barking in protest. I nearly had my hot cocoa spilled all over my Massimo Dutti when people started to jump out of their seats.”

I gasp. “Your poor coat!” That coat has been her pride and joy for years and has nearly been ruined multiple times since coming to Candy Cane Creek. I remember her first time being in this town, complaining about some Christmas-obsessed elf and a Santa dog ruining her favourite coat. Now she lives here, is married to the elf, and would do anything for that dog.

“I know. It’s like the town has something against it,” she huffs. “So, anyway, the town banded together and decided we needed a Valentine’s Day event to kickstart some tourism back into the town. All the businesses are doing something special, and there’s even going to be a ‘Valentine’s Hoedown.’”

“Like…line dancing? Flannels? Jeans?” My eyes scan the people gathered in the square, putting up pink and red decorations, and I immediately see them surrounded by bales of hay, wearing plaid and cowboy hats, all doing the two-step. Surely, that’s not what the town envisioned for a romantic holiday.

“Yup.” She glances off into the distance with a stoic look on her face, but I can see she’s fighting a smile. She’s trying to hold on to her tough city-girl demeanour, but the small-town girl is breaking through, and I love that for her.

“And the tacos?”

“I honestly don’t know where that came from.” She turns back to me, dropping the tough girl facade and letting another one of her genuine smiles through. “One day last month, tacos were a special on the diner’s menu, and now everything is taco-themed. Salads, burgers, fries…”

“Pancakes…” I add with a chuckle.

“Ugh, almost. I can’t even imagine.” She lets a shudder run through her body. “Maybe if they were dessert or even fruit flavoured, but no, he was trying for taco meat and salsa.”

I can’t hide the look of disgust on my face. “That’s…wow.”

“I still don’t understand the connection between Valentine’ s Day, tacos, and the hoedown. Especially if you’re trying to lure couples into town.”

“You make it sound nefarious. ‘Lure,’” she scoffs. “And everyone tried talking Hal out of the taco theme, or at least just to pause it until after the big day, but he wouldn’t hear of it, citing some internet article about how women always want tacos or something.”

“He…what?” I bark.

“Or maybe it was memes. Either way, he’s discovered social media, and now we’re stuck with tacos. His wife, Edna, started crocheting taco plush toys and sold them at the latest meeting.”

“Stop!” I joke, my hand flying up to cover my mouth. “She did not.”

“Oh, yes, she did. She sold out, too. She was taking names, promising to put little hearts on them for Valentine’s presents by the big day. Half the town lined up to make sure they got one. She’s been crocheting non-stop.”

“So much for them being anti-taco.”

“Make anything cute, and I guess people will fall for it,” she sighs.

“Did you get one?” I joke, lightly bumping her with my elbow.

She bites her lip, trying to suppress a smile. “Maybe.”

“I knew it! This town is turning you into a Hallmark movie!”

“Stop, it is not,” she protests, but I know it’s only half-hearted. I’ve never seen her so happy, and that makes me happy. She deserves the world, and I’m glad she found it, even in a town hours away from me that has to be the most interesting—and strange—place I’ve ever been.

“I can see why you called me to cover this for the blog. It’s definitely going to be a unique Valentine’s experience.”

When Holly called me a few weeks ago to let me know about the event, she didn’t give me too much information. Instead, she explained it’s going to be a ‘must see’ and was worried she was too close to the town and event planning to be unbiased in her writing, which is understandable. The last time I asked her to write an article about the town, she moved here.

Plus, it gives me a reason to see my friend in person, which I haven’t been able to do in months.

“So, where do we start?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at the large group of men trying to hoist a…Cupid pinata. “Are they seriously expecting people to hit Cupid?”

“It’s for the singles,” she adds calmly, as if that were the most reasonable answer to my confusion. “The events don’t actually take place until tomorrow, but we can still experience what the businesses have started doing. I thought maybe we could start at The Love Potion Cafe.”

“That doesn’t sound like a Christmas name. I thought the town had a whole theme.”

“Oh, they do,” she says with a coy smile. “They’ve temporarily changed their name, just for this week. They’re legally all the same; they’ve just put up temporary signs.”

That explains the town’s welcome sign, which reads ‘Welcome to Candy Heart Creek’ and features the word ‘heart’ covering ‘Cane’ in elaborate pink writing. Santa is even holding a heart-shaped lollipop instead of the usual candy cane I saw the last time I visited this quirky town.

“So The Love Potion Cafe was the Candy Cane Cafe, right?”

“Yes. You remember Cassie, the owner.”

“Ah, the elf!” I laugh. I had come here the first time for Holly’s Christmas wedding just over a year ago and quickly became friends with the other bridesmaid, who liked to wear elf pyjamas and often insisted on Holly's reindeer ones. She even brought Holly reindeer slippers to wear while she got ready for her wedding.

“That’s her.” With a final glance at the tree, Holly starts walking toward the main street in town. I follow, smiling at the pink street sign that reads ‘Lovers Lane’ in red.

“The town really goes all out, don’t they?” I ask, looking at all the storefronts as we walk through the town. Pink signs cover the business names, each more adorable and romance-themed. Love it’s so incorporated into my day that it’s nearly my personality.

“Thanks, Cass,” Holly says, looking up from her phone. “Rachel had a great idea of sending candy grams throughout the town. I just checked with Brianna, and she can get the candy side together by tomorrow. I wonder if Jacob can get the cards. I think he knows where to get that printed and delivered quickly.”

“Of course he can. Jacob can do anything ,” Cassie mutters with an eye roll.

I look to Holly for an explanation of what that was about, but she’s too busy texting to notice.

“You aren’t that involved in the organizing, huh?” I jab at Holly, deciding to let Cassie’s comment go, and instead thinking back to our original conversation where she said she was just ‘ hearing about what they’re planning ’ and not actively involved in it.

“Holly? Are you kidding? She came up with half the ideas for the Hoedown,” Cassie adds as she rounds the counter and grabs a couple of mugs.

“That’s an exaggeration.” Holly rolls her eyes.

“Sure, if that’s what you’re going with,” Cassie chuckles as she turns her back to us and starts up her espresso machine.

I reach into my bag and pull out my notepad and pen. “So, tell me about what else you’re not planning.”

“Ha. Ha.” She laughs dryly.

“Don’t let her fool you,” Cassie says behind the counter, pouring the hot, frothed milk into a pink mug with white hearts. “She’s totally been involved in the planning.”

“Cassie! I have not!”

“I don’t know why you’re denying it,” Cassie says with a smirk. “You and Rex have been all over the couple’s events. It’s because you’re in loooove .”

This earned Cassie an eye roll from Holly and a giggle from me.

“Anyways,” Holly says in an over-exasperated tone. “Rex and I were asked for our input on some things at the Hoedown; that’s it. We just suggested the photo book, dance lessons, and the blind cake testing.”

“Well, that sounds fun,” I add, eyeing up the treats Cassie is putting on a plate. “And for the singles?”

“That’s all Cassie.” Holly’s eyes light up with mischief.

“It wasn’t all me.” Cassie joins us at the table with a tray filled with steaming mugs and a plate of treats.

The mug she places in front of me is the most picture-perfect latte I’ve ever seen. Not only is the mug itself adorable with its blush pink colour and white hearts, but it has the perfect amount of foam in the shape of a heart. It’s topped with what looks like sugar and little red bits I can’t quite place.

“Crushed cinnamon hearts,” she says, taking the seat beside me. “I’m calling it the ‘Amour au Cannelle Latte.’”

“Is that French?” I ask, reaching into my bag, grabbing my phone, and snapping a picture before taking a sip.

“She’s been doing that language app,” Holly snickers. “Now everything has a French name.

“It does not,” Cassie replies, picking up her mug and taking a sip. “And what if I am? It is the language of love, is it not? So it’s appropriate for the holiday.”

“What does it mean?” I ask, putting my phone down on the table in front of me and picking up my drink. It smells heavenly, like a cinnamon-scented blanket.

“Cinnamon Love,” Cassie says. “I got these cute little paper trays so people can order the lattes with a little bouquet of flowers.”

“That’s adorable. I love that idea,” I say.

My eyes close as soon as the first drops of coffee hit my lips. It’s a perfect blend of cinnamon and sugar mixed with a classic latte. If I could pick one drink to have for the rest of my life, it would be this.

“I think Rachel found her Valentine,” Holly jokes, taking a sip of her tea latte.

“If I could get away with it, I would. The name is definitely fitting,” I answer, looking at the plate of treats. “Cassie, tell me about these.”

“Well…” she begins before a burst of cold air rushes into the cafe, sending a shiver throughout my whole body. “Perfect timing. I’ll let the baker explain it all!”

I turn with a smile, expecting Anita, the wonderful older lady I’d met at Holly’s wedding, but it quickly drops from my face when I see who it really is.

“You.”