Christmas Comes to Main Street Read Online Free Page A

croissant from the basket.
    â€œI think you will be, too. If you just give it a chance.” His aunt winked and then, turning to another guest, began chatting enthusiastically about the condition of the ski slopes thanks to all the fresh powder.
    Nate took the opportunity to grab a muffin and hurry back to his room, where he worked for the next few hours preparing for a big meeting he had scheduled for the first week of January. At the management consultant firm where he worked, his colleagues were always taking advantage of their allotted time off, coming back with tans and stories of trips abroad. It didn’t bother Nate. He’d been working for so long and so hard that he didn’t know how to stop. Didn’t want to stop. Didn’t want to think of what would happen if he took a step back. Not a day went by that he didn’t feel lucky for what he had, and the thought of losing it felt all too real.
    By midmorning, he’d cleared out his inbox and decided to get some air. The Main Street B&B was technically just off Main, but the north end of its grounds extended to the corner of Briar Creek’s downtown—
If you could call it that
, Nate thought. Nate tucked his hands into his pockets, happy he’d managed to slip away before Maggie noticed he was missing gloves, and quickened his pace through the biting wind. In the light of day, the town did seem more alive, and shoppers filled the sidewalks, ducking in and out of shops that were outfitted for the season with more than just a wreath on the door. His aunt was certainly correct that Briar Creek was a winter wonderland. Every lamppost was wrapped in garland or ribbon, and even the fire hydrants were capped with Santa hats. It was almost enough to get him into the Christmas spirit. Almost.
    A crowd was gathered around the shop window at the next corner, and Nate paused to see what the hype was about. Of course, he realized, scowling to himself. A toy store, decked out for the season with strands of lights, tinsel, and enough toys to make dozens of children
ooh
and
aah
. He’d been one of those kids. Once. Until he’d learned that Christmas wasn’t the same for everyone and that Santa didn’t always visit, no matter how nice you’d been.
    Turning from the window before his mood completely plummeted, he felt the impact of a soft wool coat, felt a whip of silky hair in his face, and heard a woman’s dismayed cry as several packages fell to the ground.
    Startling, Nate blinked, trying to digest what had just happened. A woman was already bent over reaching for the boxes, and Nate stooped to help, reaching for a white cardboard box tied with red ribbon that had landed facedown on the snowy sidewalk.
    â€œI’m sorry, I—” He hesitated, distracted for a moment by the flash of bright blue eyes that snapped to his, contrasted against dark hair that fell at the woman’s shoulders. She couldn’t have been much younger than him, and the distress in her gaze told him that no further apology would help matters. Nate held out the white box he’d picked up from the salted sidewalk and brushed off the snow. The contents of the box rattled ominously. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there. Is it—broken?” But the answer was obvious.
    Still, the girl opened the box, her shoulders dropping as she inspected the contents. “Oh my God!” she groaned, and, to his horror, tears filled her eyes as she looked back at him.
    Quickly, he reached into his back pocket for his wallet and began fumbling through the bills. “Here, let me reimburse you.”
    But the girl just waved his money away. “No, it won’t help.” She stared despondently at the box, her nose turning pink.
    â€œBut you just bought it,” he insisted, holding out what he hoped was enough money.
    â€œIt can’t be replaced. Not easily, at least.” She pinched her pretty red lips as a flush spread