Liz pushed her cart toward the six-footers, folded her arms, and studied each one. “I want the fat one. I don’t care how much room it takes up. It looks like one we’d really cut down out in the woods. And I want some of that pine spray stuff to go on it so it will smell real. And…” She hesitated.

“And what?” Raylen asked.

“Can we cut a real tree down tomorrow and put it up in the barn? That’s where we’ll have our carnie dinner on Wednesday night. And I’d like to have a tree in the corner and presents for everyone who is there, and we could put up a cedar in the barn because it wouldn’t have to last but a few days, and if anyone is allergic we could open the big doors and…”

Raylen drew her close to his side. “We’ll go cut down a tree tomorrow and decorate one in the barn and one in the house.”

She grabbed his cheeks with her hands and rolled up on her toes. The kiss was supposed to be quick, and no one was supposed to see it, but it lingered and grew more passionate by the second.

“Wow!” she said when she took a step back.

“Yep,” he said.

“Did that really happen? Did anyone see us?” She blushed.

“I believe it did happen, and I don’t think anyone was around, but if they did I bet they saw the smoke risin’ off the fire we created. Do you picture that tree with a star or an angel on top?”

She smiled. “I know this cowboy with a cute butt that I might get to help me put a big star right on top of it. A star on the one in the house and an angel with fluffy wings on the one in the barn.”

“Oh, really?” Raylen tilted his head to one side.

She looped her arm through his. “You reckon you are strong enough to chop down a cedar tree?”

“Just how cute is my butt?”

Liz hugged up close to him and whispered, “Mighty fine when it’s soakin’ wet in the shower and really fine the way it fills out a pair of tight- fittin’ Wranglers.”

Raylen planted a kiss on the top of her head. “If Madam Dallydinger will keep up that kind of talk, this cowboy just might even help her get the lights on her house tomorrow while she hangs half a gazillion ornaments on her two trees, and Sunday we can chop down a cedar tree, and Thursday you are going to dance for me again, remember?”

“Madam Drabami won’t be hanging balls on the tree. She’d rather be outside watching her handsome cowboy’s butt as he puts up lights. Now let’s go find some wrapping paper. I’ve got dozens and dozens of boxes of candy and cans of popcorn to buy and wrap. And yes, I’m going to dance for you on Thursday night. I’m looking forward to it, darlin’.”