12 Men of Christmas

E.J. had no reason to stay in New York after discovering her fiancé Noah's affair with her boss Lillah at the Christmas party. Her sister Roz convinced her to take a year-long job offer in Kalispell that was meant to attract corporate retreats, a fresh start that would help her reinvent both her career and herself, especially since the holidays made staying in the city emotionally unbearable.

After seeing Will semi-naked at Robert Lazaar's chalet, E.J. realized she could create a cheeky fundraising calendar featuring half-naked local men to attract attention and donations for the Kalispell Search & Rescue team. The idea was meant to use her publicist instincts to solve the rescue squad's funding problems in a bold, attention-grabbing way.

Will saw the calendar as a publicity stunt that exploited him and the other men for money. His gruff, practical personality made him skeptical of E.J.'s flashy NYC-style approach, and he resented being used as a tool for fundraising without genuine community buy-in.

During the abseiling activity, E.J. hesitated halfway down and clung to the rope in fear. Will coached her through the descent and, in a moment of vulnerability, confessed his complicated feelings for her. E.J. rebuffed him, causing Will to withdraw his calendar sponsorship temporarily.

Despite their clash during abseiling, Will developed genuine feelings for E.J. His softening heart made him willing to volunteer for the calendar, signaling a thaw in their feud. This marked the turning point where their professional rivalry transformed into a romantic relationship.

E.J. faced a choice between her ambitious NYC career prospects and the new life she'd built in Kalispell. When word spread that she might return to New York for a major business conference, the tension revealed her internal struggle between pursuing her old ambitions and staying for the relationships she'd formed.

While E.J. was at a business conference in New York, she received an emergency call that Will had suffered a severe 50-foot fall from a mountain and was in Kalispell Regional Hospital. Nurses initially suggested he might not survive, but when E.J. rushed back, Will revealed he was alive. They shared an emotional embrace and kiss, which solidified their bond and led E.J. to choose staying in Montana.

After Will's accident and reunion, E.J. realized Kalispell had become her true home, something New York never offered. She found belonging with Will, her friend Jan, the Search & Rescue team, and the community that had supported her calendar project. The choice represented her complete transformation from a heartbroken executive fleeing the city to someone who found purpose and love in a small town.

Jason Farrar was a local who defended E.J.'s calendar idea when the town first rejected it. He briefly dated E.J. and understood her improvisational approach to life and work. Later, he found a new job and relocated to Chicago with his boss and Sonia Kendall, creating space for E.J.'s relationship with Will to develop.

Marci Hempel explained that the Kalispell Search & Rescue team relied entirely on community fundraising events like triathlons, pancake breakfasts, and bake sales. If they couldn't meet their financial goals, tourists might choose flashier destinations like Idaho or Aspen instead, threatening Kalispell's economic stability.