Tasha shook her head. “And here I thought you were serious.”
“I was kidding about the pizza.” Elias raised his hand. “Scout’s honor.”
She side-eyed him. “How do I know you were a scout?”
Okay, she had a point. “If you search on Bigfoot shows and Berry Lake, click on any link that comes up, and you can hear for yourself.”
“I’ll do that when I get home.” She stopped in front of the art gallery. The shop was closed, but lights illuminated the artwork on display in the front window. “That painting is like the ornaments at Charlene’s.”
He motioned to the placard sitting next to the oil painting of Berry Lake in the wintertime. “That’s one of Hope Ryan Cooper’s paintings.”
“So talented. Someday, I want to own one of her works.”
“The next time you’re on Main Street, go inside the gallery if it’s open. They have more of Hope’s work on display. There’s also a Bigfoot statue. A selfie with Squatchy is one of the town’s top photo ops.”
“I’ll check it out. I’m here until the thirty-first, so plenty of time for a photo shoot. My brother and dad will get a kick out of it. Though Alek might know about Squatchy because of Logan Tremblay.”
Elias met Logan through his wife, Selena, who’d grown up in Berry Lake and a client of the firms. “You’ll be here long enough to feel like a local by the time you head home.”
“I hope so.” Tasha tilted her head. “I like it here.”
I like you.
Higgins barked. Nothing appeared to be there, but he ran around Tasha, and the tension from the leash pulled her toward Elias.
He caught her as she fell against him. “I’ve got you.”
Her face—her mouth—was so close. The longing in her gaze made him come closer.
Higgins barked again.
Elias drew back. But he didn’t want this moment to disappear. “Give me a minute, and then we’ll continue this.”
He unwrapped the leash from around them. Difficult to do with Higgins standing still and stiff like a statue with his tail sticking out and his ears perked. No other dogs were out. Maybe he’d seen a cat or raccoon.
A car passed them on the road, but Elias allowed the rest of the world to fall away as he focused on Tasha. “Now, where were we?”
As she stared through her eyelashes, his pulse took off. The corners of her mouth tipped up in a shy smile. “Right here.”
“Yes, but I haven’t asked you the important question yet.”
“What’s that?”
“Can I kiss you?” he asked.
“Please.”
Elias lowered his mouth to hers. Warmth spread from the point of contact. She tasted like peppermint.
A Christmas kiss.
He would take it.
As his lips moved over hers, Elias wanted more than that first taste. He cupped the back of her head. He would have rather been touching her hair, but her cap was soft against his palm.
Next time, he would run his fingers through her hair.
There would be a next time.
