Page 48 of Valentine's in Bayberry

“Never. Don’t you remember how we would race down the hill. You always wanted to beat me, but you never did.”

“I did too!” She frowned at him. “Plenty of times.”

“I guess we each have slightly different memories.” But this evening he planned to make new ones with her.

He needed this time with her. Tonight, he was letting go of his worries and stress. Tonight, he was just going to focus on Carrie and making new happy memories before the house was sold.

She couldn’t stop smiling.

Then again, maybe the smile was frozen in place.

Carrie didn’t know how long they’d been sledding on the big hill at the back of Jackson’s property. He’d turned on the house’s spotlights. The light reflected off the snow and lit up the area.

After everything that had been going on with opening her chocolate shop, this was a welcome distraction. And she couldn’t think of anyone she’d rather share this moment with.

They’d raced down the hill enough times for them to tie for the fastest down the hill. She hadn’t had this much fun since... Well, since Jackson still lived in Bayberry. He had a way of making even the simple things in life, like sledding, memorable.

She didn’t want this evening to end. She knew with each passing day that his departure was growing closer. The thought saddened her.

At the bottom of the hill, she stood and picked up her innertube. “I won.”

“I don’t know about that. I think it was more like a tie.”

She shook her head. “Not even close. I won by the length of an innertube. And by my calculation, we’re tied.”

He looked as though he were going to argue with her, but then he said, “I guess you’re right.”

“Then I suggest we go one more time.”

His brows rose. “Aren’t you tired?”

She might be, but she was having too much fun to stop now. “Come on. Surely, you’re not too old to trudge up the hill one more time. Or are you just afraid that you’ll lose your title, and I’ll be the sled-racing champ?”

“Is that a challenge?” he asked.

“Most definitely.” Then, without waiting for him to respond, she turned and started up the hill once more.

She was about halfway up when she started to regret issuing the challenge. The snow was deep and hard to walk in. Her legs protested the unfamiliar strenuous exercise. She definitely needed to start going to the gym. But she wasn’t stopping now.

Finally, she made it to the top. When she turned, she found Jackson had followed her after all. She smiled.

They positioned the tubes at the top of the runs they’d created in the snow. They both sat down.

She looked over at him. “Are you ready to do this?”

“You mean am I ready to beat you? Yes, I am.”

“We’ll see. Three. Two...”

On the count of one, they both pushed off. And then gravity took over, and she was gliding down the hill. Each bump that bounced her around made her smile all the more. She leaned back, hoping to lower wind resistance and pick up some speed.

When she glanced over at Jackson, he was right there with her. This was going to be close. She leaned back farther. It was working. She was pulling ahead.

At the bottom, she jumped to her feet. “I win!”

“Hey, I thought it was a tie.”

“Nope. I was a half a length ahead.” She grinned at him.

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