Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
That man could win awards for his ability to build walls. Every time I think I’ve chiseled through, he throws up another layer, harder and colder than the last.
“Hey, Ivy!” Perry’s voice breaks through my thoughts, and I look up to see her and Ruby smiling as they approach, steaming mugs in hand. I wave them over, grateful for the distraction.
“You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world,” Perry says, settling into the booth across from me with a concerned smile.
I force a laugh, but it comes out a bit too weak. “Just wondering if maybe I’m fighting a losing battle with Copper Mountain.”
Ruby raises an eyebrow. “You? Giving up on Christmas cheer? Didn’t think I’d ever see the day.”
I let out a sigh, resting my chin in my hand. “It’s not the Christmas cheer, exactly. It’s just…well, I thought I could bring a little light to this place, you know? Maybe show people there’s still magic in the season. But some people seem determined to shut me down.”
“Let me guess,” Perry says, grinning. “Cole Mitchell?”
Ruby laughs, her eyes twinkling. “It’s always the grumpy ones, isn’t it?”
“Always,” Perry agrees, shaking her head. “Hate to love them, I swear. But you know, sometimes it’s those hard shells that protect the softest centers. They just don’t know how to show it.”
“Exactly,” Ruby chimes in. “Pope was like that too, all rough edges and scowls. But once I got past all that…” She trails off, a secretive smile spreading across her face.
Betty, who’s been lingering nearby, sets down a fresh pot of coffee on the table and joins in, folding her arms over her apron. “These mountain men act like they’re carved from stone, but they’re really just big ol’ teddy bears at heart. They don’t want anyone knowing, though. That would ruin their whole tough-guy act.”
I laugh, feeling the warmth of their words settle around me like a blanket. “I don’t know if Cole’s a teddy bear, though. He’s more like…a stubborn old grizzly.”
Betty laughs, patting my shoulder. “All men have a softness in them, Ivy. Sometimes it just takes the right woman to coax it out.” She sighs. “That’s how it was with my Richard. Hard on the outside but soft as a sweet caramel on the inside. Bless his soul.”
A part of me wants to believe she’s right, but I can’t shake the doubts clinging to me like shadows. “But what if he never lets me in? What if he’s just…too stuck in his ways?”
Perry leans forward, her gaze sympathetic. “Listen, if anyone can break through those walls, it’s you. You’ve got more determination than anyone I know. Besides, I think he cares more than he lets on. You just need to give him time.”
Ruby nods in agreement. “And if he’s worth it, he’ll come around. Just don’t let his walls convince you that you’re not making a difference. You are.”
Their words fill me with a renewed sense of hope, a flicker of warmth that starts to melt away the chill Cole’s withdrawal left behind. Maybe they’re right. Maybe I just need to keep being persistent, to show him that he doesn’t have to carry his burdens alone. I love this man and he says he loves me, but I’m afraid his love will always feel just out of arm’s reach. Maybe he’s not capable of settling into something sweet and meaningful like I’m hoping.
Betty gives me a soft smile before heading back behind the counter, and I turn to Perry and Ruby, feeling a surge of gratitude for these women. They’re part of what makes this town so special, even if some of its residents can’t see it yet.
“So,” Ruby says, nudging me playfully. “What’s the plan? Are you going to keep pushing Mr. Grizzly to see the magic of Christmas?”
I grin, feeling that familiar spark reignite in my chest. “Oh, you better believe it. If he thinks he can scare me off, he’s in for a surprise.”
Perry laughs, clinking her coffee cup against mine. “Now that’s the Ivy we know and love.”
I smile, feeling the doubts start to fade away, replaced with a renewed sense of purpose. Cole Mitchell may be the most stubborn man I’ve ever met, but if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s bringing a little cheer to even the grumpiest of Scrooges.
Chapter Ten
Cole
I’m in the workshop, hands busy tightening a bolt on the engine in front of me, though it doesn’t need it. But I can’t seem to get Ivy out of my head, memories playing on repeat of fucking her in that festive classroom like my life depended on it. Hell, maybe it did. This woman grounds me and makes me feel alive all at the same time. It’s like she’s stamped into every corner of my mind—the way she laughs, filling up every space around her, her energy so damn big it’s contagious. I grunt, twisting the bolt just to have something to do, hoping it’ll pull my mind back to reality. But it’s no use. The image of her smile, that glint in her eyes when she’s up to something, sticks like glue.