Christmas in Bayberry

Kate got lucky and found the blown-glass candle ornaments that had been handed down from her great-grandparents. She hung the thin gold cords on metal hooks, and carefully they placed them on the tree.

“Hey, MaryJane.” Clint, who’d worked at the candle company as far back as Kate could remember, called from the end of the hall. “We have a problem with the printer again.”

“I’ll be right there.” MaryJane hung another ornament on the tree. “Sorry. Duty calls. What would they do without me?”

“Probably not much printing.”

“Exactly.” MaryJane admired the tree. “I’m sorry to leave you to finish on your own.”

“It’s all right. I’ve got this.” Kate placed another glass globe with a battery-operated candle in the center of the tree. “Thank you for the help.”

“No problem.”

And then MaryJane was off to help Clint. Kate knew she was lucky to work with such generous and kind-hearted people. There was no place like Bayberry—

“Coming through,” the delivery man called out.

Kate looked up to find a brown-uniformed man bearing down on her at full speed with his arms full of packages. She backed up without looking and tripped over a box—and stumbled into the Christmas tree.

Jingle. Jingle.

The antique ornaments banged together.

Oh no! This can’t be happening.

She spun around, hoping to catch the tree before it fell over. But there, holding it in place, was Wes. Wes? He had the tree in one hand.

“Wow. Thank you.” Kate’s gaze skimmed over the tree, checking to see if all of the ornaments had survived. All seemed well. “You saved Christmas.”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far. But I’m glad I was here to help.” He sent her a leisurely smile that made her stomach dip.

Ignoring the sensation, she asked, “Did you just get here?”

“A little bit ago. I was in the file room searching for a report.”

“Did you find what you needed?”

“I did. Thanks.” His expression turned serious. “You don’t seem mad any longer. You know, about the office. Does this mean we’re okay?”

She smiled wryly. “We’re good.”

“I…I should get back to work, unless you need my help?”

She checked her watch and realized that not only had she missed her morning coffee, she had also missed starting on time. It was time to clean up the boxes and get to work. “No. I’m good. I just need to get this cleaned up. But thanks.”

Wes walked into her—well, temporarily his—office. Kate turned and started putting lids on boxes. The next thing she knew, he returned and started helping her. Working together, they returned the boxes to the storage room in no time.

“Thanks again,” she said.

“There’s no need to thank me.”

“You’ve been a big help this morning.” She yawned as she placed the last box on the shelf.

She’d taken her laptop to bed last night to work on the online campaign for the candle sale. She’d literally worked until she’d fallen asleep, with the laptop still open. She’d woken up later, closed it and then rolled over and gone back to sleep. Another yawn plagued her. Obviously, she hadn’t gotten enough sleep. “And now I really need my coffee.”

“You haven’t had coffee yet?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t have time first thing this morning and then I got busy.” Her phone vibrated in her back pocket. She withdrew it and checked the caller ID. It was Aunt Penney. “I’ve got to take this.”