Collin gave her a grateful look. “Do all dogs do that?”
“Only the ones who like you,” answered Valerie, which brought a smile to Collin’s face.
Ethan’s heart expanded. In mere seconds, Valerie made Collin feel good about himself and confident in where he stood in the world around him. She had a gift that way. What would his world be like with a woman like that every day of the year?
He hardly dared imagine.
He cleared his throat and said, “Go get your coat, bud. We’re going to the concert at the school.”
Collin darted off, and Ethan moved across the room to where Valerie stood. “I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry she came here. I’m sorry for the way she behaved. I’m sorry that I have to leave in order for her to leave too.” He watched Valerie carefully. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her feelings. “But this is my crazy life, and she’s part of it as long as Collin is part of it. If you don’t want to take this on, I understand.” He cut off, suddenly realizing he asked her for much more than forgiveness. He was asking for a chance. Crazy that, after all that had happened, he hoped she’d take it.
A smile ghosted across her lips. “I think you’re saying that you want to buy me dinner sometime.”
“More than anything,” he breathed. Stepping closer, he cupped her elbows and drew her near. She came willingly and comfortably, and his pulse quickened. “Will you go out with me? On a date.” He felt the need to clarify. “One where I pick you up and drop you off and all the other official stuff?”
She chuckled. “Now I’m intrigued. I’ve never doneofficialstuffon a date before.”
He felt his ears grow warm. “It’ll knock your socks off.” Feeling ten feet tall, he leaned over and brushed his lips against her temple. “I’ll call you to set up a time, okay?”
Her eyes were closed as if his kiss had overwhelmed her in a good way. “Okay,” she whispered.
“Okay,” he whispered back. They stood there, caught up in the moment, the pull between them, and the sense that they were starting something that would change their whole world.
“Dad!” Collin called. “I’m going to the truck.”
Wishing he could stay, but knowing he could not, he forced himself to let her go and went outside. The house was warm, and the feeling that he was trading a fun-filled evening for one of boredom and stress fell over him like an avalanche of snow. He had to do something.
Collin was already buckled in the back of Pearl’s SUV. He waved as he got behind the wheel of his truck. They were going to the same place, so he didn’t make a fuss about Collin riding with him.
Ethan wracked his brain for a way to keep Pearl out of his relationship with Valerie. Option one was waiting for Pearl to get bored and leave town. Who knew how long that would take with Nick’s wish-magic interfering? The wish!
He fished Nick’s business card out of his wallet. Using the hands-free device, he called the number and was sent to voicemail. “Nick! This is Ethan… Hall. Ethan Hall from Moose Hollow,” he clarified, feeling like an idiot. “I want to change my wish. So… I don’t know how this works. Do I call back? Do you call me? This is weird.”
He hung up, feeling like an idiot. But really, he had the guy’s card. The wish thing had happened, and Pearl was doing her darndest to act like a family with him and Collin–even if it meant she was overstepping her boundaries.
What did he expect from her anyway? You don’t pick up a snake thinking it’s the Easter Bunny.
Whatever. The sooner he changed things up with Nick the sooner he could spend real time with Valerie. Which was a Christmas wish he could get behind.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Valerie stared down the hill; her boots, propped up on the sled in front of her, quaked. “You’re sure this is safe?” she asked Ethan. He looked so good in his puffy navy blue coat, and his white stocking hat was tucked over his ears. His brown eyes sparkled like sunlight on snow, and his broad shoulders carried the sleigh as if it weighed nothing.
She’d worn a pink, belted snowsuit with fur around the collar and a pair of cream boots that went up to her knees. The outfit seemed warm enough at home, but on the top of the sledding hill, a trickle of cold seeped inside and made her shiver.
Ethan climbed onto the sled behind her, engulfing her body in his hold as he looked for a place to fit his boots. “Yes. I’ve done it a million times and only broken two bones.” He pushed off, and they picked up speed.
“How many?” she called in a panic as she tightly closed her eyes.
Ethan’s deep laughter rumbled through their many layers and into her very soul, lighting her up inside like a Christmas town. The cold shiver was replaced by a warmth that came from inside.
“I was kidding,” he admitted.
She opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder.
“It was three bones,” he teased as he tucked her closer to his chest. The wind whipped against their bare cheeks and lifted her hair. The ride down was long. They lived in a mountain town, so it could have been called a sledding mountain instead of a sledding hill. The hike was easy enough and totally worth this experience.
She leaned into his embrace and let her cares fall behind. They hit a small bump and got air. She yelped as her stomach lifted. Tipping her head back, she laughed out loud. This was living. Every part of her was aware of the experience in a way that hadn’t happened in a long time. It was like she was waking up from a long winter nap.
