“Hey,” James said, his eyes finding Doreen’s for a brief moment before turning back to Jake. “Have you seen the enormous tree in the town square?”
Jake shook his head, curiosity replacing the momentary sadness on his face. “Nope. Is it really enormous?”
“It is. And it’s pretty special,” James continued. “People from all over Bear Creek hang their wishes there at Christmas time.” He paused, glancing at Doreen again as if seeking permission. “If you’d like, we could go there after training. You could make a wish for your dad.”
“Really?” Jake’s eyes widened with excitement. “Can we, Aunt D? Please?”
“I think that sounds wonderful,” she murmured, her eyes meeting James’s over Jake’s head. He’d effortlessly managed to switch the focus of Jake’s worries about his dad.
His smile in response was like sunshine breaking through clouds. Maybe if he could fix Jake’s worries, maybe he could fix her fears, too. “Then it’s settled,” he said, standing and brushing snow from his knees. “Let’s finish Bash’s training, and then we’ll head into town.”
They spent the next half hour putting Bash through his paces—sit, stay, come, heel—and Doreen couldn’t help but notice how the golden retriever seemed to be responding better with each command. Even his usual distraction with nearby wildlife seemed to have lessened.
“Down, Bash,” Jake commanded with surprising authority in his young voice. To everyone’s amazement, Bash immediately dropped to his belly in the snow, his eyes locked on Jake’s face with attentive devotion.
“That was perfect!” James exclaimed, genuine pride warming his voice as he kneeled beside the boy. “You’re a natural dog trainer, Jake.”
“He did it!” Jake’s face lit up with delight as he looked from Bash to James and back again. “He really listened to me!”
“I think that’s enough for today,” James said, ruffling Jake’s hair. “Bash is doing so well, we should end on a high note. How about we head into town now and see that special tree I told you about?”
“Yes!” Jake pumped his fist in the air. “Can we go right now? I already know what I’m going to wish for!”
“Let me grab my keys,” James said, zipping up his jacket. “My truck’s parked just down the path.”
“We’re going in your truck?” Jake bounced on his toes. “Is it a police truck?”
James laughed. “Just my personal one. Though it does have a radio.”
“I need to go grab my purse,” Doreen said. “I’ll just be a minute.”
“Take your time,” James replied with a smile that warmed her down to her toes. “We’ll be right here waiting.”
Inside the cabin, Doreen grabbed her purse and quickly checked her reflection in the small mirror by the door. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, or perhaps from something else entirely. She smoothed her hair once more, applied a fresh coat of lip balm, and took a deep breath.
“It’s just a trip into town,” she whispered to herself. “Not a date.”
But as she stepped back outside and saw James helping Jake secure Bash’s leash, she acknowledged the truth. No matter how many times she tried to tell herself this was not a date, she sure wished it was.
“Ready?” James asked, looking up at her as if he had been waiting all his life for her.
“Ready,” she confirmed, ducking her head so that he could not read her expression.
They walked together down the snowy path, Jake racing ahead with Bash. When they reached the parking area, James led them to a dark blue pickup truck, sturdy and practical against the winter landscape.
“Bash can sit in the back with me!” Jake announced, already climbing in.
James helped secure Bash’s leash to the seat belt, ensuring the dog couldn’t lunge forward while they drove. When he turned to help Doreen into the passenger seat, she was struck by the natural courtesy of the gesture. And she resisted the urge to tell him she could manage.
Not because she didn’t want to brush him off. But because she wanted to feel his touch. Feel the jolt of recognition that shot through her whenever they touched.
There it was! He placed his hand on her elbow.
James slid behind the wheel, and the truck came to life with a gentle rumble. The interior smelled pleasantly of pine air freshener and leather, with subtle notes of coffee.
As they pulled away from the cabins, Doreen became acutely aware of how close they sat on the bench seat. Each time James shifted gears, his arm brushed against hers, sending tiny sparks of awareness through her body. She pressed herself against the door, trying to maintain a respectable distance, but somehow found herself drifting toward the center of the seat instead, as if drawn by some invisible force.
This was too easy. Too comfortable. Too dangerous. How long had it been since she’d felt this drawn to someone?
