“The heater works great,” she said, immediately regretting the banality of the comment.
“One benefit of living where it snows every year,” James replied with a smile. “You learn to prioritize a good heating system.”
His eyes met hers briefly before returning to the road, and Doreen’s thoughts scattered like startled birds.
“Did you see how Bash sat when I told him to?” Jake’s voice piped up from the back seat. “He didn’t even try to chase that squirrel! I think he’s ready for the dog show.”
“He’s making amazing progress,” James answered as he glanced at Jake in the rear-view mirror. “But you need to keep practicing.”
“Practice makes perfect, that’s what my dad says,” Jake replied as he scooted over to the window and stared out at the snowy scenery outside.
Doreen turned slightly to check on Jake, and without warning, Bash lunged forward as far as his tether would allow, his wet tongue catching her directly on the cheek.
She jumped with a startled “Oh!” Her hand flew to her face.
James’s laugh filled the cab of the truck, deep, rich, and uninhibited. “Sorry,” he said, not looking sorry at all as his eyes crinkled at the corners. “Bash must really like you.”
“That sure was one wet kiss,” she said, wiping her cheek with her sleeve, unable to suppress her own smile.
“Bash gives the best kisses!” Jake declared proudly from the back seat.
Doreen’s gaze drifted from Bash to James, catching on his profile as he drove. That strong jawline, those expressive eyes focused on the road ahead. A flutter stirred low in her stomach as she found herself wondering what his kisses might be like—gentle at first, perhaps, but with that same quiet intensity she’d glimpsed whenever their eyes met. She had a feeling they’d put Bash’s sloppy affection to shame. They might just be the best kisses she’d ever experienced.
If she dared let him in.
Chapter Twelve – James
“You chopped this tree down?” Jake asked in awe as he stood at the foot of the immense tree in the town square. “With an axe!”
“I did. But I didn’t do it alone,” James said as he stared up at the star on the top. “It’s a Christmas tradition, me, Christopher, and Daniel head over to Michael’s tree farm, and we choose a tree, fell it, and bring it here to the town square.”
A cold breeze drifted through the square, stirring the tinsel, and for a moment, James felt the quiet weight of every Christmas that had come before—every year he’d stood beneath this tree wondering when his life would finally change.
And now it has,his bear said.
“That is so cool.” Jake looked down at his dog. “Isn’t that so cool, Bash?”
Bash wagged his tail and sniffed the lower branches of the tree.
“It’s beautifully decorated,” Doreen said as she stepped back to get a better look at the tree.
“It’s a town tradition,” James said. “Some of the ornaments are older than I am.”
Jake frowned as he glanced at James. “That’s old!”
“Jake,” Doreen said, with a warning tone in her voice.
But James chuckled, “Yes, that is old.”
“Can we make a wish now?” Jake asked.
“Sure,” James said, “this way.” They headed over to a gazebo where there was a table with a donation box, alongside stars people could write their wishes on. James dug in his pocket for his wallet and pulled out a note.
However, Doreen beat him to it and slipped some money into the donation box. “I have it covered.”
James looked down at the note in his hand and then glanced sideways at her. Had he offended her?
Doreen locked eyes with him, and she must have read something there because she said, “After all you’ve done for us, I owe you a wish.”
