He knew why she’d picked the snowflake, why it was special. Perhaps she should be embarrassed she’d made such a telling choice, but now that she’d chosen it, no other would do.

“Absolutely this ornament. Check out the fancy white sequins and the glistening faux pearl beads and how the lights reflect off them.” She did another showy saleswoman hand gesture, trying to make light of how much she wanted him to have it. “This snowflake is a work of art.”

He chuckled. “For the low price of?”

She told him, reminded him it was a fundraiser for a good cause, and waited to see what he’d do.

He met her gaze, and something softened in his blue eyes. “Be hard to pass up a once-in-a-lifetime deal like that.”

“Exactly.” Wanting to fall into his gorgeous eyes and soak in whatever was shining there, she smiled. “Shall I wrap your snowflake in tissue paper?”

“On one condition.”

Her hand halfway to the tissue paper, she paused. “What’s that?”

“It doesn’t hang in my truck.”

Sarah laughed. “Deal, but where are you going to hang it?”

“On your tree.” He shrugged. “If that’s okay.”

Her cheeks heated to the point where she loosened the top button of her jacket. “Yes, of course.”

“Consider it an early Christmas present.”

Sarah’s knees wobbled. “From someone who doesn’t believe in Christmas?”

“I never said I didn’t believe in Christmas,” he corrected. “Just that it’s only another day in my world.”

“Not this year,” she pointed out, wrapping the ornament in the piece of white tissue paper, then placing it inside a small paper bag.

He snorted. “Christmas couldn’t be just another day to a complete Scrooge with you around, Sarah.”

Pleased he thought so, she handed him the bag. “Thank you for your purchase, sir. We appreciate your business and hope you’ll be back next year.”

The words came out automatically, as something she would have said to any customer. With Bodie, she found them to be desperately true. She did hope he’d be back next year.

They both knew he wouldn’t be.

“Did you sell Bodie an ornament?” Claudia asked, coming over from where she’d been helping another customer to see what Sarah was doing.

“She did, and if she can sell an ornament to the likes of me, your booth will sell out tonight.”

“Oh, I hope so!” Claudia said, clasping her gloved hands in glee. “That would be wonderful. The money helps fund so many wonderful projects throughout the year.”

Bodie nodded, then put the paper sack inside his jacket’s pocket.

“You off to Lou’s booth?” she asked, wondering if how much she wanted him to stay showed on her face.