AN: This is for eglantine, because she is sweet and loves my words. :)

Chapter 6

The rest of the morning was quiet and peaceful as they sat at the dining room table. Bella was doing inventory on her laptop while Edward was busy checking his email.

"I can't believe you have Wi-Fi out here."

"We may not have it for much longer," Bella said, nodding toward the window. Snow and ice hung from the trees. "I really hope the power doesn't go out."

Edward frowned. Being in the dark with Bella wouldn't be so terrible, but freezing to death would definitely put a damper on their weekend.

After deleting about a thousand useless email messages, Edward finally asked the question that had been weighing on his mind.

"How did you sleep?"

"I didn't."

He looked up from his screen. "Not at all."

Bella shook her head. "Too many things on my mind."

"Like what?"

"Like you."

Edward smiled.

"Well, if it's any consolation . . . every dream I had? You were in it."

"Oh yeah? What was I doing?"

He shrugged. "It was innocent. Just more kissing."

"Kissing was . . . nice."

"Yes, it was."

"But it can't happen again."

"That's what you said, yes."

"You don't agree?"

Edward sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I've always been a big proponent of doing what feels good at the time, so don't ask me. I'm a bad influence."

Bella smiled and shook her head before turning her attention back to her computer. They continued working quietly, but when they did speak, it surprised Edward how easy it was to make conversation with her. They talked about nothing important, but he couldn't deny how nice it was to have an intelligent conversation with someone he'd just met. It was obvious that she was a smart business woman and dedicated to the inn. He admired that kind of determination, and he felt a little envious that he didn't have that same passion in his life. He was good at his job, but he just went through the motions—day after day. How would it feel to actually wake up in the morning and look forward to the day ahead?

He had no idea.

"Do you mind if I play music?" Bella asked.

"Not at all."

A piano version of "Carol of the Bells" began to stream from her speakers. Glancing down at his calendar on his phone, he was surprised by the date.

"It's only two weeks until Christmas?"

Bella nodded.

Wow.

"But you don't have a Christmas tree."

"I do, actually," Bella replied. "It's just upstairs in storage. I always do a pre-lit one for the lobby. Dad usually helps me bring everything down, but he's been really busy at work. I may not even put the tree up this year."

"Don't you want to put it up?"

Bella shrugged, but he could tell by the expression on her face that she did.

"We could put up your tree, Bella."

"We could?"

"Sure we could."

"I couldn't ask you to haul decorations downstairs. You're a guest," Bella argued, but he could hear the quiet hope in her voice.

"You didn't ask. I'd like to help you decorate."

"What about your work?"

"Work can wait."

The words sounded so strange coming from his mouth. Work rarely waited for anything.

But the beautiful smile on her face was enough to convince him that it was the perfect thing to say.

"You have the candy canes too close together," Bella said, pointing at a branch. "You need to space them out a little."

Edward dutifully moved the candy canes around. He glanced at Bella, who gave an approving nod, and he hid his grin as she reached for another box of ornaments. He was finding that, despite her sweet disposition in all other areas of her life, Bella was a bit OCD when it came to tree decorating. The ornaments had to be perfectly placed and the more sentimental ones needed to be positioned in the front. He noticed those ornaments appeared to be a little older, and all of them were handled with care.

He didn't even have to ask. He knew those ornaments were passed down from her grandparents.

"Which one is your favorite?"

Bella smiled and pointed toward a lighthouse ornament.

"Is that crystal?" Edward asked.

"Spun glass. My grandfather loved to make glass ornaments. He made this one for me when I graduated high school. He said it was my beacon. My promise from him that I will always find a light in any storm."

Her voice was soft as she reverently touched the glass.

"That's a really beautiful gift," Edward said.

He watched as she wiped away a tear. The need to pull her into his arms was unbearable, but he resisted. Instead, he left her gazing at the ornament while he finished placing the rest of the ornaments on the tree.

Once the star was in place on top, Bella asked him to do the honors.

Seconds later, the tree was aglow.

As he stared up at the beautiful tree, he felt Bella brush his hand with hers.

In this moment, holding hands just wasn't enough.

Edward slipped his arms around her, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. It was the most natural thing, as if they were just an ordinary couple, admiring their Christmas tree. But to him, it was nothing short of incredible.

"Thank you, Edward."

"No, Bella. Thank you."

After all, this was his first Christmas tree.