LONE WOLF IN LIGHTS

Aisle by aisle, Willow led her best friends Charly and Aubrey through the maze of Christmas decorations that transformed the modest hardware store of downtown Timber Falls into a winter wonderland. She was totally not thinking about that kiss with Eli all those months ago. The scent of fresh pine and cinnamon mingled in the air, wrapping around her like a cozy blanket as she perused shelves filled with glittering ornaments and garlands. Timber Falls might have been small, but the town didn’t skimp on holiday spirit. And with Christmas only a month away the holiday season was descending on the town.

“Check these out,” she said, gesturing toward a display nestled between snow globes and festive candle holders. Strands of twinkling lights blinked back at her. She reached out, fingers grazing the delicate bulbs. “Wouldn’t these look amazing strung up behind the bar?”

Charly’s warm brown eyes brightened. “Oh, definitely.”

Aubrey agreed with a nod. “Totally. Super cozy.”

Willow couldn’t suppress the flutter in her chest. Christmastime always warmed the chill in her bones. “Let’s grab a few boxes.” They had bought The Naked Moose, Jaxon’s old dive bar, when they’d first moved to Timber Falls and modernized it with a little big city flair turning it into a cocktail lounge. Charly handled the business end. Aubrey was a chef and created the cocktails. Willow handled the marketing, and she couldn’t wait to sprinkle the place with Christmas magic.

While Willow and Aubrey added the boxes to the cart, Charly moved further down the aisle. “What about these?” She held up a set of hand-painted ornaments that captured the rustic charm of Timber Falls. “Imagine them hanging around the bar.”

“Yes. Love them,” Willow agreed, and Charly placed them in the cart.

They continued on, stopping at the garlands of pine and holly.

“Oh, and these are a must-have.” Charly looped one around her neck, pretending it was a feather boa, and flung a grin over her shoulder.

Aubrey snorted, always the most sensible one of them.

Willow chuckled. The happiness in Charly’s eyes was a soothing balm, a striking contrast to the last year where Charly’s heart had been broken by her cheating ex-fiancé. She’d left him behind in Phoenix. But his passing away three months ago had been unexpected and difficult, and Willow was grateful Jaxon, Charly’s boyfriend, had been there for her.

“How about instead of wearing decorations we can drape these along the top of the bar?” Aubrey asked, selecting a garland that shimmered with tiny frosted berries.

“Always no fun,” Charly grumbled, setting her garland back down. “Fine. But don’t forget the mistletoe.”

Aubrey begrudgingly tossed one into the cart.

Willow shook her head at her friends before stopping at the end of the aisle. Her breath caught in her throat. Row after row displayed unpainted wood ornaments, ready to be made into something beautiful. “Now this is exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

Charly and Aubrey joined her, their expressions softening. “These are perfect for your Empowerment Elves group,” Charly said.

The idea had come to Willow a month ago, while talk of the annual Timber Falls Christmas market hit the town. Empowerment Elves was a support group for women who needed a safe space and a friend, where they could heal their battered hearts while making crafts that they could sell at the Christmas market to raise money for the local women’s shelter, Haley’s Place.

“You’re right,” Willow said, her emotions thickening her voice. “These are exactly what we need.” This group she envisioned would be more than a gathering; it would be a lifeline—a place where women could stitch their wounds closed with threads of friendship and understanding. And it gave Willow a purpose she’d needed to move forward from her trauma.

Charly wrapped a comforting arm around Willow’s shoulders, determination lacing her words. “Let’s get enough for the first night and then we can go from there.” She gave a reassuring smile. “The bar will cover the first night.”

“You sure?” Willow asked. She’d planned on doing some fundraising but hadn’t gotten that far yet and had dipped into her savings.

Aubrey took Willow’s hand, squeezing tight. “We’ve got your back, Willow. Always.”

Willow leaned into their warmth. “I never doubt that. Thank you. I love you guys.”

“And we love you,” Charly said, kissing Willow’s cheek.

Aubrey gave a firm nod. “Even more than margaritas.”

Willow laughed. That was saying a lot. They all had a slight addiction to a good margarita.

With every item they added to their cart, Willow felt another piece of her armor shatter. And even though her ex-boyfriend Niko’s shadow and the trauma of the abuse still lingered in the corners of her mind, she hoped the light she was building here was strong enough to keep the darkness away. Because that was better than hiding away at home.

“You know,” Aubrey said after placing a few ornaments in the cart. “You should talk to Walt.” He owned the hardware store that had been in his family for a couple generations. They’d gotten to him very well since they’d moved to town, always in the store for one thing or another for both the bar and their house. “I bet he’d be willing to help out with the craft nights.”

“You think?” Willow hesitated, studying Walt, who stood behind the counter.

“Absolutely,” Charly chimed in. “He’s nice, and it’s for a good cause. Go talk to him. You’ve got this.”

With a deep breath searching for all her courage, thinking of the money they could raise for the shelter and all the women they could help, Willow stepped forward. “Okay,” she said, more to herself than to her friends. When she reached Walt, she cleared her throat. “Hi, Walt.”

“Hi there, Willow!” His response came easy. He was in his early seventies and had the warmest smile. “Can I help you find something?” he asked.

“No, I’m okay thanks,” Willow said, nibbling her lip. She’d never been good at asking for favors. “I actually have this idea, and I’m hoping you might be interested in being a part of it.”

Walt leaned forward, his expression open, an encouraging nod prompting her to continue.

“I’m putting together a craft group at the bar,” Willow began. “It’s specifically for women who’ve survived trauma. A place where they can come together, create something beautiful with their hands, and find support in each other’s stories.”

Walt’s eyes softened, the lines on his face deepening in understanding.

Beginning to feel more confident, she continued, “We’ll be making ornaments, garlands, wreaths—things we can sell at the Christmas market. All the proceeds will go to Hailey’s Place, the local women’s shelter.” She took a big deep breath and then added, “And we’re looking for donations.”

“How wonderful,” Walt said warmly, reaching behind him to an empty box. He turned away and began pulling items from the shelves of a mix of art and Christmas supplies. “Consider these a donation to your cause.” He offered her the box.

“Thank you so much,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions within her. “This… This means more than you know.”

“Anything to help get your group up and running,” Walt replied, his smile creasing the corners of his eyes. He reached into the pocket of his apron, producing a well-worn notebook, then opened up a black leathered book on the counter and began writing with names and numbers. Tearing off a sheet, he handed it to her. “Here are the contacts for the other hardware store owners not too far from us. They’re good folks—they’ll want to support you.”

Willow accepted the list, her gaze scanning over the handwritten details. She felt a thread of connection tugging at her, binding her to this community, which was slowly feeling more and more like home. “This is wonderful. Thank you, Walt,” she whispered again, her throat tight. “Truly, it means the world to me—and to the women who will come to craft night.”

Walt waved off her thanks with a modest chuckle, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “It’s Timber Falls’s way. We look out for each other here.”

*

Late in the afternoon after a long day at the ranch, and seated in a booth at The Naked Moose, Eli’s gaze lingered on Willow as she gracefully moved through the busy bar. Despite the challenges the bar faced in its early days with the locals not pleased by the lack of small town in the bar, the place now buzzed with lively conversation and laughter during the dinner rush.

On the other side of the table, Gunner tapped his fingers along the surface, in sync with an unheard rhythm, most likely a new song he was working on. Gunner hadn’t mentioned it, but Eli knew he was determined to make new music that would wow his record label. Meanwhile, Jaxon finished off his last chicken wing, leisurely observing the crowd with a nonchalant air that Eli couldn’t help but admire.

Willow, with her curly strawberry blonde hair flowing down her back and her warm green eyes fixed on her customers, was like a vibrant spark in the cozy atmosphere.

She focused on everyone else. He couldn’t take his goddamn eyes off her. He hadn’t been able to from the moment they’d met.

The cowboys in the bar all tipped their hats in her direction. What was once a hesitant community now warmly embraced the trio of best friends who had turned The Naked Moose into a local gem.

From his spot, Eli couldn’t help but feel drawn to her. As the cold grip of winter took hold of Timber Falls, he attempted to suppress the feelings he felt for her. But even with his efforts, that flame still burned fiercely.

He gripped his beer bottle tightly, trying to ground himself against the memories threatening to consume him—memories of a kiss that burned too hot and bright, threatening to break through the walls he had carefully constructed around his own damaged heart.

Shifting uncomfortably, he caused the worn leather of the booth to creak under his weight. It wasn’t just the whiskey that kept him coming back night after night; it was something inexplicable that drew him to her—a pull he desperately fought against. He reminded himself that a man haunted by demons had no right to dream of a woman so sweet, especially not someone like Willow whose own past was built on strength forged through pain. But the memory of their lips meeting months ago still burned in his mind, a sensation he tried to push away but couldn’t.

As a retired bull rider, he was more familiar with defeat and dirt than a soft, sweet woman. Yet, she stood there, her laughter ringing out above the noise of the bar, and all he could feel was…need. To bring her close, to see that smile aimed at him, to feel her warming the coldest parts of his heart. It all swirled inside of him, awakening emotions that he had long suppressed under layers of guilt and remorse.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, tearing his eyes away from her. He needed to get a grip, to maintain the distance she’d asked for after that kiss. But even as he commanded his thoughts to obey, they rebelled, tracing the curve of Willow’s smile, the light in her eyes when she looked at him, the softness of her skin against his…

Stop, he growled silently in his mind.

Gunner slapped a hand on the table, drawing Eli’s gaze. Gunner’s tousled blond hair caught the dim light of the bar, his blue eyes narrowed. “You’re scowling at the table. What’s eating you?”

Eli hesitated, his throat tightening around words he had buried deep. But these were his friends, the closest thing to family he had left, and if there was anyone he could trust with the chaos of his mind, it was Gunner and Jaxon.

Before he could muster a response, Jaxon chuckled. “He’s got that lovesick puppy look. Willow’s got you good, huh?”

“It’s not about Willow,” Eli lied breezily, not ready to go there yet, focusing on the other problem. He ran a hand through his hair. “Tomorrow is the anniversary.”

Gunner’s voice dropped. “Miranda’s?”

“Yeah,” he admitted. The murder of his baby sister.

Jaxon’s eyes softened. “You need us to go with you?”

To the cemetery was left off. Eli shook his head. “Nah, I’m all right. Just on my mind.”

Right then, the air shifted, and Willow closed in on the table, her presence full of light as she carried another round of beers. Her smile, warm and unguarded, seemed to reach down in his chest. She slid the frosty bottle toward Eli, and as he reached out to take it, their fingers brushed—a fleeting touch that sparked between them.

A blush spread across her cheeks. Eli felt the sensation echo down his spine, the simple contact igniting sizzling longing within him.

“Looks like you could use another,” she said.

“I could, thanks.” He gave a firm nod.

A curl of her hair fell over her shoulder as she cocked her head. “Anything else I can get you?”

He felt the tingle of her lips on his again. “Can’t think of anything,” he answered.

“Okay,” she replied softly. “Just give me a holler if you guys need anything.”

Then she moved closer to the side and Charly took her place next to Jaxon, sliding onto his lap with excitement in her sparkling eyes. “Did you tell them the news?” she asked Willow.

Jaxon wrapped an arm around Charly’s waist. “No, she hasn’t. What is it?”

“It’s just an idea I had,” Willow said with a small shrug.

“Don’t downplay it,” Aubrey chimed in as she approached the table. “Willow came up with this great concept to host craft nights for women who need a safe space and a good friend. They’ll make wreaths, ornaments, cards—all kinds of Christmas items! Then they’ll sell them at the holiday market to raise money for Haley’s Place.”

Willow’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. “It’s just a way to bring together people who have been through similar experiences and also raise funds.”

“You’re doing something amazing here,” Eli spoke up before he could stop himself. Her gaze connected with him, feeling like a punch to his chest. “It’s a fantastic idea.”

“Thank you,” she replied, giving him a warm smile.

Aubrey added, “She could use some help too. Especially with getting supplies and everything ready before the holiday market in a few weeks.”

“Say no more,” Gunner said enthusiastically. “I’ve got two strong arms at your service.”

Jaxon agreed with a nod. “Count me in for heavy lifting as well. And we’ll need Eli’s truck,” he added with a wink at Eli.

Eli shot Jaxon a look but didn’t protest. Ever since that kiss, he kept a careful distance from Willow, for both their sakes.

“It’s settled then,” Charly declared excitedly. “Operation craft night is a go.”

“Yup, all settled,” Jaxon said, glancing at Eli. “Right, Eli?”

He nodded, looking at Willow. She held his gaze and the intensity crackled between them. “Of course, I can help.”

Willow gave a small nod. “Thank you. We’ve got tonight covered, but I have another box of donations at a craft store in Wolf Springs.”

The larger city was forty minutes north of Timber Falls. He wracked his brain, knowing there was no way he would survive a forty-minute car ride with her, drawing in her sweet scent. He came up with an alternative that kept them both safe. “I’ll be out that way later this week,” Eli said. “I’ll grab it on the way back.”

Willow’s lips parted, and for a moment he thought that was disappointment in her expression, but he couldn’t be sure.

“Excellent,” Charly said, kissing Jaxon on the cheek, then sliding off his lap. “You guys are the best. Drinks are on the house today.”

Eli exhaled a slow, long breath. Another day he’d managed to not unravel and pull Willow straight into his arms.

Now all he had to do was forget about that goddamn perfect kiss.