He’s flirting with me. I’ve never really been good at this kind of stuff. Actually, I’m not good at all. I’m currently caught in this whimsical evening, powered by dancing snowflakes, multi-colored lights in the distance, and a handsome guy who seems like some Christmas mirage. Everything is surreal until I realize snow has leaked into my boot. Nothing zaps a girl to reality like the threat of pruney toes.
I glance at Leo, then down my snow-crusted body. “I think we’re wearing half the slope on our persons.” We begin dusting ourselves off and help each other with any missed spots. Leo is very respectful in his hand placement, keeping to my shoulders and back.
He ties the rope of the sled to the broken metal rail, securing it to the seat.
I wrinkle my nose at the hill. One thing about sledding, it takes ten seconds to get down and roughly a hundred years to climb up. However, I don’t have that much time. I check my phone.
Fifteen minutes to get to my car and drive home. “I’m sorry to cut this”—whatever this is—“short, but I have to go.” So I don’t sound like some teen with a curfew, I explain, “I’m my Gran’s caregiver. It’s nearly time for her meds.”
“Is your grandfather?—”
“He’s very much alive, and very much clueless on anything but playing cards and making inappropriate jokes to Gran. He loves her, but he can’t be in control of her medications.” The man can remember a hand he was dealt in a 1980s cribbage tournament but can’t recall if he put on clean underwear. He’s clearly not fit for the task of measuring her sleeping doses and administering the correct thyroid pill.
“I bet they’re thankful for you.” He grabs the sled, and we make the slow journey up the hill. “Though I can see how it can get overwhelming.”
“Yeah, but when I think about what I’m doing, it’s rewarding.” It probably sounds like I’m trying to convincemyself, but I honestly believe my words. “It’s something of value. I mean, what’s more valuable than a human life?”
He slows his steps. “I wish more people felt like you.” There is something in his gaze that makes my heart stretch toward him a little. I don’t know his background, but while I’m gabbing on about family, he hasn’t mentioned his once. I’m excused from answering because my feet slip like Bambi on ice.
Leo reaches out and saves me from faceplanting into the snow.
“Thanks,” I mutter. Another strike against my “mystery girl” persona. Instead of exuding an air of intrigue, I’m showing off my awkwardness.
He offers his arm. “I’d volunteer to give you a piggyback, but Mitchell might come after me.” He nods to the top of the hill where the Silver Creek deputy is indeed standing guard.
I laugh. “He’s a bit protective of me.”
“I’d be too,” he says casually as if it doesn’t make my pulse stutter.
We safely reach the top of the hill. Mitchell gives me a nod and wanders off to the apple dumpling food truck. Oh, that reminds me. I grab my wallet and fish out a five. “Here.”
He eyes my wadded, probably mildly damp, bill. “And this is for?”
“Have you learned nothing?” I would shake his shoulders, but I’ve touched the man enough for one evening. “Your hot chocolate. It’s what you do after sledding. I have to run, but don’t let that keep you from experiencing the full effect.”
He takes my hand and gently curls my fingers around the money. “I’ve a better idea. How about we both go for hot chocolate when you have more time?”
“But—”
“It’ll technically still beaftersledding.”
“It’s more than that.” A group of teens is moving like an amoeba down the walkway, so I step closer to Leo, letting them pass. “It’s that jolt of warmth after being in the cold.”
“I can’t have my first hot chocolate experience without you.”
“Looks like we’re at an impasse.”
His mouth arcs into a flirty smile that I’m not prepared for. “Not if you agree to meet me again.”
We haven’t even exchanged numbers or last names. The romantic part of my brain is on its knees begging me to say yes. The practical side has its arms folded with an upturned sniff because I don’t even have time to paint my toenails, let alone date anybody. I barely get time to shower and cram food in before duty calls me away. But a man, a very handsome man, is interested in me. Although … he hasn’t yet seen me in the light of day. Once the ambiance of this night fades, his interest might as well. Tonight I’ve been spontaneous and fun, but the everyday-life Greta Carlton gets a dopamine hit from changing the bed with freshly dried sheets. “I … don’t know.”
“How about this …” He holds the sled in front of him and crosses his arms over it. If it were anyone else, I’d totally call them a poser, but Leo looks so natural and attractive that my resistance is weakening. “I’m going out of town, but I’ll be back a couple of weeks before Christmas.”
I nod, but my mind’s like some freakish snow globe—thoughts swirl about, but as soon as one almost settles, my rattled nerves decide to give my brain another shake. It’s been forever since I’ve been on a date. The last time was because Leonard, the ear-haired Maverick, set me up with his great-nephew. As far as dates went, it was about as delightful as a case of food poisoning. The guy smelled like McDonald’s onions and claimed to use the restroom and never returned, leaving me with the steakhouse bill.
Leo is completely unaware of my inner struggle. “I’ll be by the bench near the turtledoves display with two hot chocolates on December fifteenth. Say, around seven.”
“No.” I sigh. “I can tell now that I’m no good for you.”
