Christmas in Cold Creek. RaeAnne Thayne

smiled a little as she reached to hang an ornament on a higher branch. Her soft curves brushed his shoulder—completely accidental, he knew—and his stomach muscles contracted. He hadn’t felt this little zing of attraction in a long, long time and he wanted to savor every moment of it, despite his better instincts reminding him he knew very little about the woman and what he did know didn’t seem completely truthful.

      She moved away to the other side of the tree and picked up a pearly white globe ornament from the box.

      He thought her color was a little higher than it had been before but that could have been only the reflection from the Christmas lights.

      â€œYou haven’t had the urge to explore distant pastures? See what’s out there beyond Pine Gulch?”

      â€œBeen there, done that. I spent four years as a Marine MP, with tours in the Middle East, Germany, Japan. I was ready to be back home.”

      He didn’t like to think about what had happened after he came home, restless and looking for trouble. He’d found it, far more than he ever imagined, in the form of a devious little liar named Lilah Bodine.

      â€œAnd the small-town life appeals to you?”

      â€œPine Gulch is a nice place to live. You won’t find a prettier place on earth in the summertime and people here watch out for each other.”

      â€œI’m not sure that’s always a good thing, is it? Isn’t that small-town code for snooping in other people’s business?”

      What in her past had made her so cynical? And what business did she have that made her eager to keep others out of it?

      â€œThat’s one way of looking at it, I suppose. Some people find it a comfort to know they’ve always got someone to turn to when times are tough.”

      â€œI’m used to counting on myself.”

      Before he could respond to that, Gabi popped her head around the side of the Christmas tree, a small porcelain angel with filigree wings in her hand. “This was the last ornament in the box,” she said. “Where should I put it?”

      Becca looked at the tree. “Well, we don’t have anything at the top. Why don’t we put her there?”

      â€œThat seems about right,” Trace said. “A tree as pretty as this one deserves to have an angel watching over it.”

      â€œOkay. I’ll have to get a chair.”

      â€œWhy?” He grinned at the girl and picked her up. She seemed skinny for her age and she giggled a little as he hefted her higher to reach the top of the tree. She tucked the little angel against the top branch and secured her with the clip attached to her back.

      â€œPerfect,” Gabi exclaimed when she was done.

      He lowered her to the ground and the girl hurried to turn off the light switch to the overhead fixture and the two lamps until the room was dark except for the gleaming, colorful tree.

      They all stepped back a little for a better look. Much to his surprise, as he stood in this dark, dingy little house with that soft music in the background and the snow drifting past the window and the tree lights flickering, he felt the first nudge of Christmas spirit he’d experienced in a long, long time.

      â€œIt’s magical,” Gabi breathed.

      Becca leaned down and hugged her. “You know what, kiddo? Magical is exactly the right word.”

      They all stood still for a moment. Becca was the first to break the spell.

      â€œI’m sorry we kept you so long.” She smiled at him and he had the feeling it was the most genuine smile she’d ever given him. “You didn’t need to stay to help us decorate the whole thing.”