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"I bet you do." She grins and takes another sip of my hot chocolate. "Can I have a bite of your waffle? I'm starving."

"Sure." I hold it up to her face so she can take a bite. "But I can also do you one better."

A wet curl falls into her face, and gently tuck it behind her ear. She’s so pretty. Her nose and cheeks are red from the cold; her eyes sparkle with glee, and I’m glad to see she’s having a good time here. I wish she were having it with me, but I understand her urge to remain close to her dogs and keep an eye on them.

"Let's have lunch together. I keep smelling fried potatoes, and I have a craving."

"Oh, yeah." She closes her eyes and leans into my touch. "Potatoes sound amazing.”

Nic suddenly giggles. As we turn to her, she points above us. "Mistletoe. Kiss! Kiss!" Some bystanders join her chant.

"Seriously?" Brooke chuckles shyly. "You know you don't have to—"

But my lips are already on hers. She tastes of hot chocolate and the powdered sugar from my waffle. At first, she squeals and stiffens, but within a breath, her lips tug into a smile and she melts into the kiss.

"I mean, I don't need mistletoe," I whisper, drawing back. "But I'll take any excuse to kiss you. Anytime. Just for the record."

"You're making me blush," she declares, then leans in only to divert and take another bite of my waffle. Rude.

"Come on. Let's go." I chuckle and offer her my arm. "Nic, I'm stealing Brooke."

"As long as you bring her back." She gives us a thumbs up and turns to greet another hugger.

Damn, I've never heard of potato pancakes with applesauce before. What a weird combination. Considering the long line in front of the booth, it must be a good one, though.

"Well, it sure smells delicious." I lick my lips and follow Brooke to one of the standing tables. Apparently, the applesauce comes from her parents' farm. I haven’t seen the guy selling the fried potato concoctions before, though Brooke greeted him by name.

"Wait until you try it," she assures me with a knowing smile. "I know it's an unlikely combination, but it works so well. I have it every year at the Kinstead Christmas market, and if my mom made them year around at the farm, they’d get a lot more visits from me."

In fact, she got herself the exact same combo. First, I burn my fingers on the potatoes. Then I burn my lips on them. But then I finally get to taste them, and as much as I hate to admit it, I’m proven wrong.

"You're right." I promptly take another bite and, just as promptly, regret it. "Holy fuck, it's hot. But damn, this is so good."

"Right?" She's got more patience than me and waits for her fried potato pancake to cool some more. Considering it's freezing out here, it doesn’t take too long.

"How's the carousel going?"

"I mean, look at it." I can hear it in the distance, and even see Henry from here. "Shame he didn’t want to put on the Santa costume," I complain, shaking my head disapprovingly.

On the way here, we saw all the subtle signs of how everyone is helping Brooke.

Kinstead’s Chocolatiers, for example, created a peanut-butter praline and are donating all the proceeds they make directly to Brooke's shelter. After all, they're not taking part in Wayward Hollow's little tradition, so Harry clarified our donation rules wouldn’t apply to them.

Erik's aunt Molly created a collection of animal portraits and will donate the profits from their sales to Brooke's shelter and sanctuary as well.

Hell, even Evan has a booth offering temporary tattoos, or the opportunity to book a real one with him at his studio. And I'm pretty sure he's donating most proceeds to his sister's endeavor as well.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Brooke's eyes have gone vacant as she stares into nothingness.

"It's nothing." She shakes her head and blinks her way back to reality. "I just... I have tentative hope. And I don't know if I want to allow it yet."

"You should." I nod and wipe a speck of applesauce from the corner of my mouth. "I mean, what is left if hope and dreams are gone?"

"You're right." Her shoulders sink slightly as she takes another bite of her potato pancake. "I can still hope for a Christmas miracle."

Chapter 36

Kieran