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While she waited for them, she looked at her phone. There was a text message from her friend in California.

Melissa: What day are you getting back? Do you want me to pick you up?

Guilt settled on Leah’s shoulders. She hadn’t even told Melissa she was considering keeping the inn. It just felt like everything was happening at once.

She considered how to respond. She couldn’t get into the stuff about Paul at that moment, because it would take a while to explain. And she didn’t want to ruin her date with her phone blowing up with messages.

Leah: I didn’t book the flight yet. But I will soon. I’ll let you know. Miss you.

All of it true. Eventually she had to fly back to California. She also had to resign from her job. That part wouldn’t be that hard. Most of the people who worked at the talent agency were not genuine, not like the guests at the inn, such as Martha and Henry. So, she wouldn’t miss her office manager job—even if the pay was good.

Her phone dinged with another message.

Melissa: Miss you too.

Leah scrolled through social media, but she didn’t post anything. She was too nervous about her date to really pay attention to what was on the screen.

She hoped the evening would go well. But she’d be with Shaun, so she didn’t know why it wouldn’t go well.

Knock. Knock.

Shaun opened the door and stuck his head inside. “Are you ready to go?”

“I am.” She stuffed her phone back into her purse.

Once they got Mochi situated in the cottage, they were out the door. Since it was their first date, she handed him the keys to her car. It was a big deal because she never let anyone drive her car. And technically this wasn’t her car. It was a rental.

His gaze moved to her outstretched hand. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Unless you don’t want to drive.”

“No. I’m fine with that.”

When they reached the car, he opened her door for her. He waited until she was seated, and then he closed it for her. She was impressed. The guys she’d dated would never have done that for her. This date was off to a good start.

The drive into town was much too short. The car didn’t even have time to warm up. And then he was pulling into the parking lot of The Peppermint Courtyard.

“Have you noticed how many of these places have Christmas-sounding names?” she asked.

“I haven’t. I guess I was distracted by the company.”

When she turned to him, he was staring right at her. The heat rushed back to her face. He was turning into a downright flirt, and she loved it.

As he continued to stare into her eyes, her pulse raced. She forgot about the inn and getting to know her new family. She forgot about the need to drum up more business at the inn. She forgot about all of it.

Instead, she was totally present in this moment with the most amazing man she’d ever known. And she wondered if he was going to kiss her again. Was it wrong that she wanted him to so much so that it was all she could think about?

And then as though she had willed him to her, he leaned toward her. When his mouth was almost touching her lips, a strong beam of lights flashed in their faces, totally ruining the moment.

Her eyes sprang open. She glanced around to find another car had pulled into the parking lot. They must have their high beams on.

She was disappointed that their moment was ruined. But this was only the beginning of their date. She was certain there would be other opportunities to revisit the subject...at least she hoped so.

He was nervous.

Shaun felt like a teenager again. But he was trying his best not to let on to Leah.

He had been trying not to fall for her, but he was losing the battle. There was something so special about her, like the way she was sitting across the dinner table from him, listening intently to stories from when he was a kid.