Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy - Janice Lynn Page 0,11

and getting word out via the local paper and online sources, as well as being a contact point for the kids involved.” She smiled at the crowd, then at the chief. “Chief Callahan, you’re in my group.”

Cole’s boss nodded at Maybelle. Cole couldn’t be sure, given the distance between them, but he’d swear Chief’s cheeks had gone pink.

Maybelle smiled at him, then moved on. “Groups Two and Three will be working together within the community. The group leaders have lists of businesses who made donations or collected toys last year. Each group is responsible for contacting all the businesses on their list. Charlie and Ruby Jenkin will lead one group.”

“Maybe we’ll be with your Grandma Ruby and she’ll feed us,” Cole leaned over and whispered to Andrew when the couple in their early seventies stood, holding hands as per usual, and smiled first at each other, then at the other volunteers. Andrew’s grandmother had welcomed Cole to her fold and invited him to all their family’s get-togethers since he’d come to town. He’d actually gone to a few, as well as the Fourth of July picnic. He still remembered the fancy dilled potatoes that were, according to Andrew, Grandma Ruby’s specialty.

“Theirs is group two.”

Cole glanced at the number three on the stocking in the upper corner of his paper and sighed. No edible perks for him.

“Group Three will be led by Sophie and Sarah.”

Naturally.

“Trade with me.” He reached for Andrew’s paper to snatch it out of his hands, but his friend evaded him.

“How come?” Andrew’s eyes twinkled. “You in somebody’s group who you want to avoid?”

Deciding to ignore Andrew, Cole focused on Ben.

“I’ve got a three,” Ben said, showing his paper, and chuckling. “You’ve got it all wrong, Andrew. Ole Cole’s trying to trade into someone’s group.”

Glaring at his friend, Cole held up his paper, displaying the three so Ben would know he was trying to avoid Sophie, not be forced to be in her company.

Seeing the pity in her eyes when she looked at him left him raw and uneasy. And even before he knew she’d read his journal, he’d been committed to giving Sophie a wide berth. He knew her by reputation and he had no doubt that, given the chance, Little Miss Do-Gooder would try to make him one of her many pet projects and attempt to fill his world with snowflakes, gingerbread houses, and Christmas cheer.

A green candy cane forcing him into being Santa was more than enough Christmas for Cole.

He turned back to Andrew. “Come on.”

At first Andrew shook his head, then, finally, taking on a more serious expression, he shrugged. “Okay. Fine. Since it’s important to you, I’ll trade. What are pals for?”

Relief flooded Cole.

That is, until he noted the humor in his friend’s gaze and glanced down at the paper Andrew had handed him. A three was in the upper right-hand stocking on his friend’s paper, too.

Great.

Cole would be collecting toys with Sophie.

Chapter Three

After Sophie finished handing out the papers, she spotted her sister on the other side of the room. Isabelle must’ve snuck in late after closing the quilt shop. When Sophie joined her, Isabelle demanded, “That’s Cole Aaron?”

“Stop staring,” Sophie hissed through gritted teeth, swatting at her sister’s arm.

“How did I miss him at Ruby’s?”

“He didn’t stay long.” Sophie had been acutely aware of the firefighter from the moment he and Andrew had arrived that day and had been disappointed at how quickly the two men had left.

When Sophie had seen Chief Callahan here, she’d wondered if she’d bump into Cole.

When she’d stepped up to his table and looked into those icy blue eyes, she’d barely been able to breathe. The man got under her skin, that was for sure.

For his part, he’d barely acknowledged her presence. Guess that told her he hadn’t changed his mind about how he felt. He wanted nothing to do with her. Ever.

That left Sophie feeling as if she’d lost something precious. Which made no sense. She didn’t know him.

Only…she did. She’d gone through such an intense emotional journey reading his journal that she felt as if he was an intimate friend rather than a simple acquaintance.

Still straining to look toward Cole, Isabelle’s brows lifted. “I understand now why you keep talking about him. He is cute.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. There her sister went with the “cute” talk again. “I haven’t mentioned him since the day I went to the firehall.”

She hadn’t. Not a single word to Isabelle, and barely more than that when her friend