Wrapped Up In Christmas

Chapter Seven

Bodie had heard of Christmas tree farms, but Sarah was right that he’d never been to one.

Much less been to a Christmas tree farm with someone like her.

That she found the place enchanting was evident in the way she hadn’t been able to sit still as they drove up the long drive. Trees of various shapes, sizes, and shades of green went on for as far as the eye could see on both sides of the truck.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” she asked as he parked in a marked-off area.

She had no idea. But that there weren’t more cars was a plus. Being around a lot of people wasn’t his thing. Maybe they could get in, find a tree, and get out.

“Wonderful.”

“Just wait. You’ll see.”

Bodie’s gaze cut to her. She was putting her hat, scarf, and gloves on. Once she was properly bundled, she turned and flashed a full wattage smile at him that had his own lips twitching. How did she do that?

Rather than opening the truck door, she dug around in the mini-suitcase she called a purse and pulled out lip balm. Popping the lid off, she rubbed it over her lips.

“You want some? Can’t have you chapping on my watch.”

Eyeing her, Bodie shook his head. “No shiny lips for me. Thanks anyway.”

She dropped the tube into her bag. “Ready?”

“As I’m going to be.”

Laughing, she climbed out of the truck, Harry jumping out with her, and motioned for Bodie to get a move on. “Come on. Someone may be buying my tree.”

“Wouldn’t that make it their tree?” He grabbed Harry’s leash and got out of the truck. He zipped up his jacket as he walked around to her side of the truck and hooked the leash to Harry’s collar.

“Bite your tongue,” she ordered, grabbing his hand and leading him and Harry toward a gated area where there were a variety of cut and live balled Christmas trees.

As with everything to do with Christmas and Sarah, there was nothing quick or easy about tree shopping with her.

They wandered around the farm as she inspected tree after tree. They all looked good to him. A tree was a tree was a tree, right?

Sarah had other ideas. None passed her inspection. She moved on from one tree to the next, taking them further and further away from the barn where most of the other visitors seemed to be enjoying the mini-shop/restaurant with a deli-style menu. There had only been a handful of tables with chairs, but they’d all been full when they’d peeped into the room to fill out a form and had been given a tag to put on the tree they wanted.

Sarah had been on a mission ever since. And it wasn’t going well.

“None of these are going to work.” Her forehead furrowed beneath the edge of her toboggan. “We’re going to have to go out in the field and find the right tree.”

Not surprised since she’d barely paused at any of the trees readily available, he asked, “Is there something I should be looking for to help you find the right Christmas tree?”

“We’ll know it when we see it.”

She meant she’d know it. They all looked the same to him. Still, she was right in that he was grateful to stretch his legs outdoors with Harry on a leash at his side.

“There,” she breathed, pointing to his right. Her tone was full of awed wonder, as if she’d just spotted something spectacular.

Bodie looked, but just saw more trees.

She ran up to one, made her way around it, then clasped her gloved hands together as she turned to look at him. “Isn’t it perfect?”

No, but Sarah was close.

The excitement on her pretty face was more enchanting than any tree could ever be.