Free A December Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella) by Denise Hunter Page B

by. And every time her phone buzzed, it was a text from Cooper or one of her other friends.
    Layla picked up the sprigs of pine and berries for the kitchen counter.
Come on, girl, you’ve got work to do.
    By the time she finished the arrangements, her hands ached from twisting and cutting. She was placing the pieces strategically when she heard a commotion out front.
Please let it be a sleigh.
    She rushed to the front door and opened it. Seth and another man were squeezed into the front seat of a sleigh. A horse-drawn sleigh. The house’s exterior lights shone down on the beautiful animal as he pulled the sleigh across the sidewalk, up the slope, and came to a stop at the precise spot she’d pointed out.
    Layla slipped on her boots and stepped onto the porch, crossing her arms against the cold.
    Seth turned to her, smiling. “This about right?” he called.
    Her eyes ran over the sleigh as she took the porch steps. It was an antique red two-seater, with a sloped back and curved runners. She clasped her hands to her chest. “Seth, it’s perfect!”
    He introduced her to Mr. Stephens, a customer of his who lived outside Chapel Springs. They chatted while he unhitched the horse. Layla admired the condition of thesleigh. Plush red velvet covered the benches, dotted with matching upholstery buttons. The sleigh’s exterior was smooth and shiny with gold detailing.
    A few minutes later Layla thanked Mr. Stephens as he mounted the horse and said good night. Then he was trotting down the street, the horse’s hooves clip-clopping on the packed snow.
    “So it meets with your approval?” Seth asked.
    “It’s beautiful. How’d you find it?”
    Seth climbed down and began covering it with a tarp. “I called about a hundred friends and customers.”
    She arched a brow as she moved forward to help. “A hundred?”
    “A slight exaggeration. Eventually someone pointed me toward Mr. Stephens. He was in my store awhile back, and I helped him out with a furnace problem. Saved him some money. He was happy to return the favor.”
    When they finished, a cold wind tousled her hair, and Layla tucked her hands into her jean pockets, shivering. “Well, thanks, it’s just what I’d imagined. And in great shape.”
    “Let’s get you inside, it’s cold.”
    She wasn’t going to argue. The temperature had dropped since sunset. She kicked off her boots by the closet and moved closer to the fire. She heard the door shut behind her, heard the sound of Seth shrugging from his coat and boots. Then all went quiet except the pop and sizzle of the simmering fire. She wondered what he was doing back there.
    She tossed on another log and warmed her hands. They were shaking. Unable to bear the silence, she looked over her shoulder. Seth was leaning against the door, arms crossed,watching her, an enigmatic smile on his face. The golden glow of the lamplight washed over his face, highlighting his five o’clock shadow.
    She was suddenly aware that her hair had come loose from her ponytail. That her worn jeans and T-shirt were probably smudged with who-knew-what. This wasn’t how she’d imagined looking when Seth kissed her. Why hadn’t she done something with herself while he was gone? But judging by the look on his face, he didn’t care about any of that.
    No longer needing the fire’s warmth, she moved away, lifting her chin and tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. “What?”
    “I won,” he said quietly.
    “Won what?” Did he hear the tremor in her voice?
    His lips twitched. “Our deal … sleigh by midnight … the kiss … Ring any bells?”
    She bit the inside of her lip, fishing for courage. “Looks like we both won, then.”
    He cocked his head sideways, narrowing his eyes. “Because you got your sleigh?”
    There was her chance to save face. But what fun would that be? She arched a brow instead. “That too.” She drove her point home with a smile, ignoring the way she trembled from the inside out.
    His eyes darkened as his