Christmas on Main Street Read Online Free PDF Page A

grandfather, who were no slouches themselves in the looks department, were already standing on the deck of the boat.
    “It was merely an economic observation,” Brad said.
    “I’m not sure economics enter into the equation all that much when people are Christmas tree shopping. Plus, real trees just smell like Christmas. And fake ones end up being tossed out every five years or so, winding up in landfills while a real tree can be recycled into mulch.
    “We’ve also been dropping trees into Rainbow Lake after the season. They become a good habitat for fish to lay their eggs in. And after Hurricane Katrina, we began shipping tree mulch to Louisiana to help rebuild coastlines.”
    “I didn’t realize that.”
    “Well, now you know. It’s not all tinsel and lights.” Realizing that had come out uncharacteristically sharp, she forced a smile. “I’m sorry if I sounded snappish. I guess you can take the girl from the Christmas tree farm, but you can’t entirely take the farm from the girl.”
    “Makes sense to me. You’re right to be proud of your family business.” He put his arm around her shoulders as the sun set into the water and the darkness gathered around them. “I could go online right now, from my phone, and see about booking tickets,” he suggested.
    She liked Brad. He was a nice guy and was wonderful with kids. Which would have made him a great catch in many women’s eyes. But whatever relationship they had, it definitely wasn’t to the point where she wanted to take a vacation with him. Especially since she had the feeling, from the way he’d behaved so oddly possessive when talking to Cole, that Brad was far more serious about her than she was about him.
    He was a friend. A wonderful principal to work with. He’d undoubtedly make a terrific husband and father. Unfortunately, although she’d honestly tried, she just never felt any zing when she was with him.
    While just seeing Cole again could set off sparks. All this time she had assured herself that no more sparks could fly up from embers that she’d firmly tamped down, especially after last year’s debacle.
    She’d been so wrong about that.
    “Let’s just watch the parade,” she said. “We can talk about it afterward. Or tomorrow.”
    Although she had no intention of going to Hawaii with Brad, she truly liked him and didn’t want to turn him down here, in front of so many people—many of whom were likely already eavesdropping on their conversation. One sure thing about Shelter Bay was that everyone knew everyone’s business.
    “Works for me,” he said agreeably.
    And somehow his affability only made her even more certain that the time had come to break things off. On the one hand, she didn’t want a man who’d take away her independence by telling her what to do. But she also knew, having had to learn to be assertive growing up with three older brothers, that if she were to ever get serious and settle down with Brad, she’d undoubtedly walk all over him.
    Which he’d come to hate her for.
    Nearly as much as she’d hate herself.
    The harbormaster blasted three sharp sounds on his air horn. A moment later, all the boats that had chugged out into the water turned on their lights, revealing a dazzling display of decorations as varied as the boats’ owners. Among them were the more expected Christmas trees, Santa’s sleigh, snowmen, reindeer, along with angels and a manger. Going with a more local angle, one featured a blue whale followed by its baby, another a huge goose, outlined in blue wearing a red scarf, looking as if it were flying off the stern of a sailboat outlined in white.
    All were bright and wonderful in their own way, but the fishing boat that immediately drew Kelli’s gaze was
Bon Temps
, with a giant red Dungeness crab opening and closing its claws.
    Everyone around her was having a grand time. And why shouldn’t they? It was Christmas, after all. Which had always been her favorite time of year. Or at least it