Chapter Ten
Downtown Tenacity, such as it was, shimmered with holiday magic that was enhanced by the flurries that swirled around, making the town look like a wonderland inside a snow globe.
Ice sculptures glistened under the glow of twinkling lights, their brilliance reflecting the festive sparkle in the crisp winter air.
Central Avenue buzzed with happy faces and high spirits as residents strolled past stalls offering steaming-hot apple cider and cinnamon-dusted doughnuts.
A harvest tractor was parked at the side of the road with piles of bright orange pumpkins in the back. Sheaths of cornstalks lined the bases of the lampposts lining the streets, and Betty’s Bakehouse had put out an inflatable turkey with a cowboy hat on to add to the festive atmosphere.
As much as the holiday season didn’t hold the same excitement for Andrea as it did in her youth, she couldn’t help but be buoyed by the atmosphere and the sight of the town coming together to celebrate what was, for many people, their favorite time of year.
She scanned the crowd, looking for Seth, and almost collided with Renee Trent and Buddy.
Renee was hand in hand with a man holding the leash of another very scruffy, but very cute dog.
“Andrea!” Renee said. “This is my husband, Miles. Miles, this is the woman I was telling you about. She’s opening that ranch out on Five Point Road.
” She bent to pet the yellow Lab beside her.
“Andrea, you know Buddy. And this,” she said, gesturing towards the terrier mix who was wagging his tail and doing his best not to jump up on Andrea, “is Jasper.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Miles. “Your first hoedown. You’re in for a treat.”
“So I’ve heard,” said Andrea.
“Make sure you experience the magic of the Tenacity Turkey,” said Miles, a slight smile on his face. “Nothing will get you in the festive spirit more.” He looked at Renee. “I’ll get in line for pretzels. See you around, Andrea.”
“Speaking of festive spirit,” said Renee. “We just checked out the auction. People are already bidding, and more generously than usual. Great job getting some quality items.”
Andrea felt a flush of pride. “I’ll go check it out.”
“And that donation from Taylor Beef,” Renee said, raising an eyebrow. “Well done. That’s the top item so far.” Her eyes drifted over Andrea’s shoulder. “Speak of the devil. Or should I say angel? That man was sent from heaven to walk this earth.”
Andrea turned to see Seth navigating through the crowd. If Seth was Christmas, she was a convert.
With a gray wool jacket and his sharp jawline even more pronounced than usual, Renee’s assessment was not only accurate, it was a universal truth.
But it was his grin—a slow, easy smile that lit up his entire face—that sent a shiver coursing through Andrea.
And it had nothing to do with the cold breeze gusting down Central Avenue.
“Evening, ladies,” Seth said, tipping his Stetson to them, and holding Andrea’s gaze for an extra beat. “How’s everyone doing tonight?”
“Just fine, Seth.” She looked sideways at Andrea. “I was just about to get some warm pretzels with Miles, actually. You both sticking around for the evening?”
“You bet,” said Seth, the corner of his lips turning up in an irresistible grin as he glanced back at Andrea.
“I’ll see you later, then,” Renee said, and gave them a quick wave before disappearing into the crowd and leaving them standing together beside the pretzel stand, the sound of the high school band playing “Deck the Halls” filling in the air between them.
“Well, I don’t think we can go one step further without hot chocolate,” said Seth, nodding to the concession.
“I’m more of an apple cider fan, myself,” said Andrea.
“Cider it is.” Seth extended his elbow, and Andrea only hesitated slightly before hooking her arm through his.
She was mildly self-conscious about the other Tenacity residents catching sight of them like this, but honestly, considering how much time they’d been spending together lately, if anyone in town hadn’t put two and two together by now, she’d seriously question their observational skills.
After buying cider from the stall, they strolled down Central Avenue together.
Andrea bought some tree ornaments handmade by the Quilting Club.
“I need to start building my collection,” she said.
“I have some decorations that belonged to my parents, and a few other ornaments I put up on the small tree in my office when I remembered to, but the ranch is going to need at least a ten-footer.”
“Probably twelve,” agreed Seth. He stopped and reached out for a small crystal star ornament and plucked it from the display, then reached for his wallet. “This’ll go well with the others,” he said.
Andrea breathed in the feeling of Seth’s thoughtfulness.
She wanted more than his arm around her.
She wanted the heat of his lips brushing hers again under the twinkling lights, the pull of his strong arms drawing her close, his hands finding the places on her skin that now seemed to awaken just for him.
She wanted all of him. “Thank you,” she said, and examined the little ornament in her hand. “I love it.”
When she looked up at him, she was struck by the expression on his face. It was satisfaction, but it was also tenderness. It mattered to him that she was happy, and it wasn’t about him. It was about her.
They arrived at the square in front of Town Hall, where a number of residents had gathered.
“Come on,” Seth said, “let’s go see what all the fuss is about.”
They peered over the crowd to see someone in a turkey costume, complete with colorful feathers, strutting around and making a gobble-gobble sound. Children were laughing and clapping and trying to get high fives from the Tenacity Turkey, while parents snapped photos from behind them.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the turkey called in an exaggerated announcer’s voice.
Seth chuckled, then leaned over. “That’s Barrett.
He’s really going for it,” he whispered.
Andrea smiled and nodded, luxuriating in the warmth of Seth’s breath tickling the sensitive skin on her neck.
Without thinking, she reached down and slipped her gloved hand into his, and he responded by squeezing her hand gently.
It felt so charged, yet so natural at the same time.
“It’s my sincere pleasure, as your Tenacity Turkey, to officially mark the beginning of the holiday season.
” Applause erupted in the crowd. “And before I ring the bell to make it official, I want to wish you a gobbly good time with all your friends, and just remember—ham or lamb makes a much better holiday dinner than turkey does!”
Barrett clanged the bell and there were cheers and whistles, then the band started up again with “Joy to the World.”
“Well, what do you say, shall we take this inside?” Seth said. “The hoedown’s about to begin.”
Andrea and Seth filed into the auditorium of the Town Hall with the other residents.
When she shrugged off her coat at the coat check, she noted the way that Seth’s gaze flitted over her dress, his eyes alight with desire.
She’d chosen her outfit purposefully: a navy-blue wrap dress that tied around her waist nicely, with a V-neck that dipped just low enough.
Seth wore black jeans and a white button-up with a brushed gray blazer over top. The man knew how to wear clothes. Andrea imagined a tailor at an expensive menswear store, sizing up his perfect measurements. Seth could model for whatever brand it was he was wearing, of that she was certain.
The auditorium was decorated as festively as Central Avenue.
The large multipurpose space was set up on one end with all the auction items displayed on tables for guests to peruse.
The middle of the room had a series of high-top tables set up, where people could linger and talk over drinks and the assortment of snacks made by the event volunteers.
And the far end of the room was left open for dancing, with a band presiding on stage above the dance floor.
It was just the right amount of homespun charm, and while Andrea had never imagined herself so thrilled to be attending an event in a small-town community center, here she was. Being on the arm of the most incredibly handsome man in town—hell, in the state—was no doubt adding to the allure.
“Shall we see how the auction items are doing?” Andrea said.
Seth nodded. “I’ll follow your lead.”
I’ll follow your lead. Such a simple sentence, but so completely different from attending an event with Harold, where he’d hold court with whomever he deemed to be worthy of his attention, and call all the shots from where they sat, to whom they sat with, to what kinds of drinks or cocktails suited the occasion.
With Harold, she was to follow him. And she was drinking in the feeling of being with Seth, where her ideas and desires were so completely valued.
She led him to the first table, with the grocery store gift basket.
They’d started the bids purposefully low.
You know folks around here don’t have all that much to donate.
They’ll be as generous as they can be though, you can count on that, Angela Corey had said.
Andrea was pleased to see that there were already seven bids on the basket, with donations moving up in increments of five dollars.
“How beautiful is this quilt?” Andrea said. She picked up the pen and made a bid for one hundred dollars, which would be a bargain given how many painstaking hours went into its creation. “Remind me to come back here and check how this is moving. It’s coming home with me.”
Flames of desire shot through her as Seth slipped his hand around her waist. He was about to say something when two men approached, hand in hand. One had a chiseled jawline and dark, intense eyes, and the other a warm, approachable smile.