She wore a simple purple long-sleeved turtleneck, but streaks of white across her chest – flour perhaps? – distracted him, made him want to volunteer for cleanup duty.

He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss away her uncertainty. But if he did that she would bolt. So he brushed stray hairs that had fallen out of her ponytail off her face instead. Ignored how soft the strands felt against his fingers. Pretended his pulse wasn’t stampeding like a herd of bison on the plain.

Aw, bloody hell. Please tell me you’re not making her a PowerPoint presentation.

No one wants to see you leave. Their stomachs will miss you. I’ll miss you.

Home, there’s no place else I’d rather be. For Christmas, Forever.

Somewhere in the state of Montana there had to be a woman he wanted to date more than once. Hell, he might propose on the second date if things ever got that far. All he had to do was find her.

Do I look like someone who would make a duck face or do a fish gape?

Life takes you to unexpected places. Love brings you home.

Mistletoe was her new favorite holiday decoration. She would have to hang some in the kitchen. All over the house. And keep the green stuff hanging until Easter. Or Thanksgiving.

He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss away her uncertainty. But if he did that she would bolt. So he brushed stray hairs that had fallen out of her ponytail off her face instead. Ignored how soft the strands felt against his fingers. Pretended his pulse wasn't stampeding like a herd of bison on the plain.