Christmas Clash by Dana Volney

said.
    “How so? He seems pretty perfect for you to me. He’s funny and so delicious, and he doesn’t let you get away with anything. You need that.”
    “I do not. I need someone who is nice and caring and not angry all the time.”
    “Nice? Ha.” Sophie rolled her eyes. “A little fire in your life would be good for you. Let loose a little. As your friend, I see things you don’t.”
    As her friend, Sophie should butt out and not play matchmaker. Still, knowing Sophie hadn’t asked Luke to her band’s performance for her own sake was oddly calming. Realizing Sophie had tried to set her up with Luke made her want to smile. The night had been fun and the kiss had been the best of her life.
    Oh man, that was a thought.
Best of my life?
    Candace’s world had become much too strange. She no longer had a center she trusted. Luke had become a staple in her life—one she currently hadn’t seen for a day and a half.
    “Find me someone else to date. It’s a
pass
on Luke,” Candace said.
    “We’ll see.” Sophie grabbed their order list for the day off of the front counter and started piling up white roses to tip with sliver glitter and pinecones dusted with gold for a regular client who liked fresh bouquets in their reception area every Monday. “We should Christmas carol this year.” She looked up from the list with excited eyes.
    “Caroling? I don’t remember the last time I went caroling.”
    “Didn’t you ever go caroling as a kid? Let’s do it this year.”
    “Well …”
    “I’ll get the girls together and we’ll have a great time. Friday?” Sophie asked.
    “We have the event that day.”
    “Saturday?”
    “Great,” Candace said.
    There was one long weekend ahead of her.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Luke wiped down the counter. Today was the big day. Time to see if all of their hard work would pay off. He’d had the pub professionally cleaned and he stood ready to rock his duties. The media reps would be here in a couple of hours and the festivities started in thirty minutes.
    He strolled outside to bright colors, a relatively warm day for December in Wyoming, and his fellow business owners bustling around. He spotted Candace standing between The Pub and Kiss from a Rose. She looked cute in her dark blue jeans and light green pullover with a collar flipped up.
She must be cold.
She had her hair pinned to her neck. He hadn’t seen her with her hair pulled up since she purchased the building next door. The curves of her neck called to a space deep down in his soul. He’d gone from tolerating to liking. The hairs on his neck stood up.
    Candace Ellison was sexy. Not just pretty and smart and maddening. Sexy. She pulled at more than his gut as she stood with her hands on her hips and one leg bent. Then she rubbed her lips together, calling his attention to her full pink lips. They shimmered in the morning sun and he imagined the berry taste of their first kiss. He automatically headed in her direction. He wanted to taste more berries.
    “We all set?” Oh geez, now he used terms like “we” and meant them. The entire pot of coffee in his pub called his name.
It’s going to be a long day
. He would need to be on his toes, with Candace and the media.
    Misty had cornered him after their interview and he’d apologized for not calling her after their night. Not remembering who he’d kissed was unacceptable. Misty had accepted his apology by asking him out. Not wanting to be an even bigger jerk, he’d agreed to buy her a drink last night. He’d been a gentleman and left their night at one beer. Believing he’d kept their night platonic because he was trying to be a nice person had been easier than admitting it was due to Candace. A notion he now couldn’t get away from.
    “I think we are good to go …” Candace captured her bottom lip in her teeth.
    The subtle action got to him every time. He wanted to feel her lips on his.
    “What isn’t done?”
    She searched his eyes.
What is she looking