Chapter 43
FORTY-THREE
CASSIDY
Late afternoon the next day, Cassidy and Liam were trying to decide what they wanted to do after closing up their shops.
They had spent plenty of time alone together last night, and the only way she could describe it was as a sexual awakening.
She felt herself blooming. The way he coaxed her with those wicked words of his undid something in her.
She had never felt more beautiful or desired in her entire life.
She wanted to explore that side of herself more.
She trusted him. Maybe it was because she knew he was just as vulnerable as she was.
But there were only so many orgasms a woman could have in twenty-four hours. And with her light-up tomorrow night, and everything ready after a lot of hard work, Cassidy wanted to go out first.
“We could go Christmas shopping?” she offered.
Liam closed his eyes. “Not my favorite thing. I know I need to get started with it—”
“Get started? You haven’t even started?” She was incredulous.
“Hey, I still have a bit of time. I’m one of those last-minute shoppers. Nothing like a deadline to help me feel inspired.”
“So no shopping?”
“Is that alright with you?”
She loved that he was looking to her for her opinion. She knew that if she said she really wanted to go, he’d agree if only to make her happy. Which was exactly why she didn’t push it.
“No, you’re right. What would you like to do?”
He got a wicked grin and a glint in his eye.
“Other than that,” she said with a laugh. She knew better than to playfully push his shoulder because then he’d pull her close and tumble her onto the couch, and then they wouldn’t be leaving to go anywhere.
Poor Muff must have been quite shocked by the sounds coming from her bedroom. Cassidy would’ve felt embarrassed if it had been with anyone else. But no, not with Liam.
The way he talked, the way he worshiped her.
The props he used, because really, what else was she supposed to call them?
They weren’t sex toys, but she blushed thinking about it.
Maybe they’d try those too. And a blindfold.
She had always wanted to try a blindfold… and obviously something with chocolate…
“I know you’re thinking about it,” he said.
“Of course I am, but a girl needs air too. Which is why we gotta go—now.”
She grabbed her phone and pulled up the town’s social media page to find out what else was happening for the Christmas Countdown that night. “What’s the Festival of Trees?” she asked.
Liam, who had been scratching Muff behind the ears, stopped. “It’s actually not a bad event,” he admitted.
“A Christmas event you don’t hate? Tell me more.”
“The high school on the other side of the lake does a fundraiser where students and community groups can buy a tree spot. They decorate it however they want, then people bid on them. Most of the money goes back to the school, minus the cost of the trees.”
“Oh, I like that, but wait…” Cassidy did not need to walk into an allergy nightmare.
“All the trees are artificial,” Liam added.
She relaxed. “I say it sounds perfect then.”
They decided to take Muff with them. Her pup loved getting out and about in the community, and she and Liam had spent a lot of time indoors.
They took Liam’s truck, Muff hopping up on the bench seat to sit between them.
She wagged her tail and stared out the windshield, her little pink tongue panting and fogging up the glass.
Liam wrapped his arm around the dog, keeping her close. Seeing how affectionate he was with her pup made Cassidy fall in love with him a little more.
The high school parking lot was packed, headlights gleaming off patches of icy snow. Cassidy tugged her coat tighter as she stepped out of the truck, Muff hopping down beside her. Warm light spilled from the gymnasium doors.
“Wow, this is quite the event.”
“Wait until you see the trees.” Liam guided her forward with a hand on her back. “Some of our locals are really crafty.”
“I’m a member of the crafting club, remember?”
“Oh, I remember alright.”
Inside, the gym had been transformed into a winter wonderland.
The gym perimeter was set up to look like a Christmas tree stand, with black poles and white lights strung across them, crisscrossing the gym.
The student orchestra played renditions of Christmas classics from the stage, and the scent of fudge and cookies drifted from the bake sale table near the entrance.
Cassidy’s eyes widened. “Oh my gosh… this is amazing.”
She couldn’t decide where to start as she stared at row after row of artificial Christmas trees, each one decorated to reflect the personality of its sponsor.
Some were traditional, decked in red and gold ornaments with shining angels on top.
Others went bold. One was covered in neon lights and rubber ducks; another was themed after a retro diner, complete with tinsel milkshakes and vinyl records as ornaments.
“Oh no,” Cassidy said dramatically, eyes sweeping the room. “I want them all.”
“Why do I feel like you’re not joking?”
“Because I’m not,” she said, nudging him with her shoulder. “You should be thankful I only have room for three trees.”
She wasn’t lying. She had the pink one in her living room, a four-foot green one in her bedroom, and a little glass porcelain tree on her kitchen counter.
They wandered through the rows, occasionally pausing to admire clever themes. One tree shimmered in lace and pearls; another featured coastal vibes, with starfish, shells, and sea-glass ornaments.
“If only…” Cassidy said dreamily, taking in the trees.
“Bid on one.”
“What?”
“Bid on one.”
“Why? I don’t have any more room. I suppose I could fit one downstairs in the shop, but I already have the photo backdrop, the train table, and my cocoa stand. I’m not sure where I’d put it.”
“Not for you. For me. I don’t have a tree.”
Her heart melted. “You want a tree? And I get to pick it? You’re seriously going to put up a Christmas tree in your house?”
He shrugged. “I’ve been meaning to get one anyway.”
Cassidy wasn’t sure if she believed him or not, but she wasn’t about to talk him out of a tree.
“Alright then…” She was on a mission now. They walked hand in hand, analyzing each one. Some were too glittery, others too whimsical, and some were downright gaudy. Cassidy couldn’t believe she was even thinking that.
But then she found it—a tree that screamed Liam.
It had burlap ribbon, wooden ornaments tied with red ribbon, and pinecones dipped in white. No glitter, nothing flashing, just a simply beautiful tree.
“This one,” she whispered.
He tilted his head. “Really?”
“It’s all woody and wild, like you.” She went up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
Then, before he could beat her to it, she scribbled down a bid and folded the slip before he could peek.
“How much?”
“You’ll see.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“It’s your Christmas present,” she said, slipping the paper into the ballot box.
He tugged on her hand, pulling her forward. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t know, you’ve been pretty good to me this season,” she said, bumping his shoulder as they walked.
They made their way slowly toward the exit, Muff trotting beside them. Outside, snow had begun to fall again in big, fat flakes. She could see them clearly in the fluorescent glow of the parking lot’s lights.
There was something about being surrounded by families, laughter, and beautiful trees that made her want to open up to Liam. She wanted him to realize how much he meant to her this year—how special Christmas had been. Her first Christmas in Maple Falls.
They climbed into the truck, Muff settling between them.
“The last two nights? They were everything. I didn’t know it could be like that,” she said. “You’re the only one I’ve ever been with who’s made me, you know…”
“You know I love hearing you say that,” he said, voice low and rough as he started the truck.
“Actually, it’s all been new.”
Liam was about to put the car into drive but stopped. “What do you mean?”
Cassidy promised herself she wouldn’t blush. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. “I mean, I’ve had sex before, but like regular sex. Vanilla sex. Nothing like oral sex or dirty talk… Jean-Paul is the only other guy I’ve ever been with.”
“The only other guy?”
“Why, is that not okay?”
“It’s just… Christ.”
She felt a chill crawl across her skin.
“Liam?”
He shook his head, as if trying to clear it. “Cass, I didn’t know… I shouldn’t have assumed you were comfortable with everything.”
“What?”
“All of it,” he said quietly. “The stuff in the kitchen. Upstairs. The mirror. The way I talked to you. I thought… I guess I just figured you’d tell me if I was going too far.”
“I would’ve,” she said quickly. “Liam, I wanted all of that.”
“Did you, though?” he asked, finally looking at her. “Or did you just not know how to say no?”
Her stomach twisted. “That’s not fair.”
“I’m not trying to accuse you,” he said, voice tight. “I just… You’re still figuring out who you are, Cassidy. What you like. What you want. And I’ve been treating you like you already know. Like you’ve done this before. And maybe that wasn’t fair of me.”
“I do know what I want,” she said, her voice shaking now. “I want you.”
He looked at her like he didn’t believe her.
“You’re not a mistake,” she whispered.
“But what if I become one?” he asked. “What if I’m rushing you into something you’ll regret?”
She shook her head, tears burning now. “I haven’t regretted a single second.”
But it didn’t matter. She could see it in his face—he wasn’t hearing her. He was stuck in his own head, tangled up in guilt and doubt.
And just like that, the warmth between them turned brittle.
“Let’s go,” he said after a beat. “I’ll drive you home.”
Cassidy nodded, but her heart ached.