by Jean Oram
Anywhere, if it was with her.
Cash took her hand, leading her down the street to the ocean boardwalk. “I’m easy.”
“Sweet Caroline’s might be open.”
Cash didn’t want to share her attention. He might not have another chance to have her all to himself. “You okay with just walking instead?”
She gave him a curious look, but complied, snuggling in against his arm as they went. He loosened it from her hold, placed it around her shoulders. As they neared the water the breeze became brisk. “Are you warm enough?”
She nodded, but shivered in her light jacket. “I’m a tough cowgirl from Montana.”
He turned away from the ocean, leading her through the night, pools of light from streetlamps wrapped in Christmas lights warming their way. “You ever think of heading back to your ranch?”
“Yes.”
“Soon?”
She shrugged and he had the feeling she was like him, at a personal crossroads. “Maybe. I think it would be good for Dusty and Cassandra and a way to start over. And raising a kid on your own seems easier back home. Everyone helps out more.”
They wandered down the empty main street in silence, the darkened buildings blocking some of the ocean breeze. Every once in a while Alexa would pause at a lit-up holiday-themed window display and Cash found himself wishing he was in a better spot financially so he could surprise her with something extravagant. Sure, he’d already given her an office gift, but he was thinking of something more personal, less obligatory, so she’d know he was truly thinking of her because he wanted to. Not as an employee, but as someone he cared about.
They continued along, and without either of them planning it, ended up at the yellow cottage.
“South Carolina is making me soft—that wind is freezing!” Alexa hustled up the steps, letting them into the cottage. There was a box on the porch and Cash brought it inside with him.
Housekeeping had come by at some point, turning on their porch light, Christmas lights, and a few interior lamps. The house was warm and welcoming as Cash kicked off his shoes, then padded across the wood floor, which was scattered with area rugs.
Alexa set down her large purse, taking the box from him.
“Party favors from Luke and Emma,” she said even before she opened the box, pulling out two oversized ornaments. “There’s a tree lighting in town tomorrow and we’re supposed to make a wish and hang them up there.”
“Make a wish?”
She blushed, suddenly looking shy. “That’s what Emma said.”
Cash edged closer, allowing his tuxedo jacket to brush her arm. “What are you going to wish for?”
She looked up, her eyes round and bright. “Something good.”
“You’re going to wish for me?” He smiled, loving that she wasn’t shying away. This was the woman he wanted to spend time with. Lots of it. “Because don’t waste that wish—you already have me.”
She laughed, bumping him playfully, then allowing herself to nestle closer. “What are you going to wish for?” she asked flirtatiously, hooking one finger into his cummerbund.
“I have everything a man could want.”
Alexa’s gaze trailed to his mouth. “Really? And what’s that?”
“You, Alexa. Just you.” He lowered his lips to hers, kissing her slowly and starting a fire he knew in his heart would never burn out.
Alexa had spent the night in Cash’s room and had woken up, curled against him, wondering what was going to happen next.
She wanted more. Possibly more than Cash would ever be ready to offer.
She wanted a real relationship.
With Cash. Her boss. A man who planned to move to Thailand, while she was contemplating moving back home.
What had she been thinking?
No, she was getting ahead of herself and was losing track by trying to predict too far into the future.
But she’d be foolish to deny how much last night had impacted her.
Cash gave her a smile as he came out of the bathroom, freshly showered, looking more relaxed and at ease than she’d ever seen him. “Breakfast?”
She nodded and he came over, giving her a tender kiss. She’d already showered and dressed and they wordlessly walked, hand in hand, to Sweet Caroline’s, hoping the cafe would be open on Christmas Eve.
“That’s a good sign,” he said, pointing to the unfurled blue awning.
Inside the restaurant, he took her hand once again, and it felt as natural as riding a well-broke horse. It was as though they had always been partners. It felt right.
Just like last night, which had been so surprisingly perfect it bordered on scaring her.
They took a small table at the window, a woman in her fifties coming over with menus. “Merry Christmas. I’m Caroline. What can I get you?”
They chose their meals, and when Caroline went to put their orders in, Cash asked, “Are you okay? You seem quiet.”
Alexa felt all the uncertainty of their relationship well up inside her once again. “I’m okay.”
“And?”
“And I just…”
“Say it.”
“Okay, fine.” She sat back in her chair. “I’m looking for something long-term. But I don’t see how that’s going to work.”
He hooked her fingers in his on the tabletop and pretended to be confused. “But aren’t we getting married? Are you dumping me? Is this because I didn’t get you a ring?”
She couldn’t help letting out a soft chuckle, even though his joking stung a little bit.
He turned serious, his thumb tracing circles over the back of her hand. “I like where this is going, Lex. I don’t want to spoil it by having to know every little thing right this instant. Or with a fear of the unknown.”
“Me, either.”
“This is different for me and I need to spend a few days exploring what we have. Can we do that?”
She nodded, watching him until she saw the truth: Cash Campbell was falling for her.
Later that day Cash held Alexa’s hand again as they walked along the boardwalk, the Atlantic Ocean rushing at the shores to their right as glassblowers and street performers entertained the pedestrians.
“That’s pretty,” Alexa said, pointing to a blown-glass-and-seashell wind chime. She seemed to have accepted his “let’s take it as it comes” proposal over breakfast quite well for a gal who liked to have her life planned out, and Cash looked forward to a few weeks of seeing where things went.
“I already got you a Christmas gift.”
She laughed. “Do I look like the type that needs a gift at every turn?”
“Maybe I think you need something beyond the office gift.”
She bumped against him. “Like a ring?”
She was teasing, but the idea held merit.
“Yes.”
She leaned away, sizing him up with her Montana One-Two. “You’re still going to Thailand, though, aren’t you?”
“I really don’t know.” His earlier contentment waned. If he stayed in South Carolina and Luke took back his position as CEO, what was Cash going to do for work? He was broke. Unemployment wasn’t an option.
“I’m thinking of moving my sister back to Montana. Fresh start and all that.”
Cash let out a slow breath and nodded.
Were there jobs in Montana?
Would he go? Would she truly want him to?
The more he thought, the more confused he became. There was no clear path. All he knew was that things with Alexa felt right and he wanted her at his side.
As they followed the crowd toward a massive tree covered in decorations, Cash could see Emma and Luke up ahead. It wouldn’t be long until the tree was lit up and reality came barging in, forcing Cash to come up with a real plan. A plan he had yet to discover.
“There you are.” Luke had come up to Alexa and Cash in the growing dusk, his wife on his arm.
Alexa hated the interruption. She felt as though she and Cash might finally sort thing
s out. Like she might finally have a road map that made sense when it came to where things would go for them beyond today.
“I have an announcement,” Luke said.
Alexa instinctively stepped closer to Cash, as though something was about to pull them apart.
“I’m not returning to Cohen’s.”
Alexa blinked. “Until the second quarter?” she asked.
“Ever.”
Cash let out a low whistle. He’d dropped her hand.
“The job is yours for as long as you want it,” Luke told him.
Alexa felt heat work its way up through her body. Cash. Her boss. Her boyfriend.
She found herself shaking her head.
No. She wanted him just as her boyfriend. Nothing complicated.
“What do you think, Miss Montana?” Cash asked.
“I don’t want you to go to Thailand,” she admitted. “But I also don’t want to have an office romance.”
“Then I’m sorry, Luke,” Cash said to his cousin. “I can’t accept the position.”
Luke’s jaw sagged.
“Wait…” Alexa placed a hand on Cash’s arm, unsure what to say. Everything was moving so fast and she feared he was making a decision he might regret. “Just…let’s take our time and think things through. Okay? I’m sure Luke will give you a few days to consider the offer.”
He nodded. “As much time as you need.”
People were being urged to hang their ornaments on the tree, and Emma and Luke moved forward to add theirs. Just beyond them were Logan and Ginger, with his adult daughter, Annabelle. Everywhere Alexa looked were couples who had found a way to make things work.
“Maybe we should make a wish,” Cash said, as Alexa slipped her bag’s straps off her shoulder to unearth their ornaments.
“A wish,” she whispered, turning to the tree, her pulse thundering in her ears. Did she dare? Did she dare wish for what her heart desired?
Did she dare wish to have Cash—forever and ever?
Cash hadn’t wished for anything he could put into words. It was more of a feeling. An image. Him and Alexa, together, figuring things out. Happy. Even if that meant they both had to give up whatever plans they had in mind and make new ones. Love and happiness was worth more than what they could have on their own.
He stepped back from the massive tree, noting the various ornaments. Angels, hearts, stars. It was a beautiful hodgepodge of wishes and dreams, and he’d added his own to the mix in hopes of it coming true.
He hugged Alexa from behind, letting her lean against him. He could smell her sweet shampoo, the wool of her thin sweater. She felt like home.
In his chest he could feel the rumble of her chanting along as the crowd called out, “Three, two, one!”
The tree lit up as everyone shouted “Merry Christmas,” brightening the night and lifting his heart.
Alexa gasped, “It’s beautiful.”
She was beautiful.
“I love you, Alexa.”
She stilled, but Cash wasn’t going to take the words back.
She turned in his arms, staring at him.
“I know you don’t need much from me,” he said, “but I’ll try to give you everything you don’t have.”
“I like two-stepping to honky tonk and spending time with a man who makes me feel safe and happy. That’s all I need, Cash Campbell.”
“Then I’m never going to Thailand.”
“Good. I didn’t want to work on your résumé, anyway.”
“Does that mean we’re staying at Cohen’s?”
“At least until I can convince you to move to Montana and take up ranching.” She smiled and gave him a wink that told him he was welcome to follow her anywhere. Even to Montana.
“Me?” he asked, gesturing to himself. “On a ranch?”
“It needs a manager. Someone who can expand it, help it prosper.”
“I know nothing about horses.”
“But everything about business.” She leaned into him, smiling. “Plus, I’ll be there.”
“Will you?”
“Yes. Will you?”
He chuckled and dropped a kiss on her nose, making her eyes light up.
“You know I’m yours, Miss Montana.”
“Good.”
He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her cheek as the salty air toyed with strands of her hair, creating a curtain around them.
“I love you, Cash,” Alexa whispered, “my sweet, sweet holiday surprise.”
Happy holidays from Jean Oram.
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What comes next?
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Sweet Holiday Surprise by Jean Oram
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Sweet Holiday Traditions by Danielle Stewart
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These books can be read out of order.
The Promise (Book 0: Devon & Olivia)
The Surprise Wedding (Book 1: Devon & Olivia)
A Pinch of Commitment (Book 2: Ethan & Lily)
The Wedding Plan (Book 3: Luke & Emma)
Accidentally Married (Book 4: Burke & Jill)
The Marriage Pledge (Book 5: Moe & Amy)
Mail Order Soulmate (Book 6: Zach & Catherine)
Companion stories set in the Indigo Bay series: Sweet Matchmaker (Ginger and Logan)
Sweet Holiday Surprise (Cash & Alexa)
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Companion Novel: Champagne and Lemon Drops (Beth & Oz)
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One cottage. Four sisters. And four billionaires who will sweep them off their feet.
Love and Rumors
Love and Dreams
Love and Trust
Love and Danger
Love and Mistletoe
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About the Author
Jean Oram is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. Inspiration for her small town series came from her own upbringing on the Canadian prairies. Although, so far, none of her characters have grown up in an old schoolhouse or worked on a bee farm. Jean still lives on the prairie with her husband, two kids, and big shaggy dog where she can be found out playing in the snow or hiking.
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XO, Jean
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