Page 31 of Christmas Promises

Her question surprised him. “What makes you ask?”

“I’m curious. I want to know everything about you.”

“A lot of things. But in a nutshell, we weren’t suited. She found me overly sentimental and prone to melancholy.”

Laney laughed. “No way.”

“Yes, that’s actually what she told me when she broke off our engagement. Those were her words exactly.”

“She makes you sound like a Dickens character.”

Nolan reached over to tuck a stray hair under Laney’s knit cap, stealing a brief kiss. “You keep talking like that and I’m going to beg you to never leave my side.”

“You wouldn’t have to beg.” Laney’s pretty eyes reflected the flames of the gas firepit. “If you wanted me around, I would stay.”

He leaned over to kiss her again, the air warming between them. When he pulled away, she looked at him with stark vulnerability, as if she trusted him without reservation. It was a heady feeling.

“I got us a reservation at Mia’s for tomorrow night,” Nolan said.

Between the cookie decorating and dinner, he had stolen away to call Mia’s to see if he could score a reservation for tomorrow evening. As luck would have it, she’d had a cancellation. The restaurant was located up in the mountains in what was once a log cabin. Mia had come from an esteemed career as a chef in New York City but had decided to leave it all behind for a simpler life. Or that was the story she told people. Nolan had a feeling it might be more complicated than that. Regardless, the restaurant only seated six tables at a time and was so popular it was hard to get in. He planned on making sure Laney had the best date of her life. Maybe the last first date she would ever have? Nowthatwould be a Christmas miracle.

But the way everything seemed to be going his way this holiday season, he had no reason to believe it wouldn’t come true.

The next eveningNolan picked Laney up right at six. When she came to the door of her aunt’s apartment, his breath caught. She looked like a dream in a red dress and black boots. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders in gentle waves, and her skin glowed with health and youth. If he wasn’t mistaken, she’d grown even prettier since she’d arrived. She no longer had dark smudges under her eyes, and she seemed lighter on her feet, as if the burdens of the past had lifted.

After saying hello to Edna, he escorted Laney to his SUV. Once he had her tucked into the passenger seat, he jogged around the back of his vehicle and slipped inside, thankful for the heated seat. “The temperatures are dropping fast tonight. Hopefully the roads won’t be too slick.”

“I’m glad you’re driving.” Laney smiled at him as she reached over to squeeze his hand. “Thanks for taking me out. It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper date.”

He started the vehicle and pulled out cautiously, aware of folks enjoying an evening in town. Soon, they were headed down Rabbit Run Road toward the mountain road that would lead them up to Mia’s. On the way he told her a little about what to expect.

“During snowy months, Mia has a driver pick up guests from the parking lot and take them to the cabin in a horse-drawn sleigh.”

“You’re kidding?” Laney gaped at him.

“No. I haven’t been there yet, but Luke took Abby last year, and he said it was like a fairy tale.”

“I would go anywhere with you, but it does sound intriguing.”

He smiled, keeping his eyes on the road. How was it that this woman always said exactly the right thing to make his heart sing? “The restaurant is small, and there’s a fixed menu. I hope you won’t mind that part?”

“Absolutely not. I can never decide what to order,” Laney said. “I actually looked Mia up today and found an interesting article about her from a few years back. She left her restaurant in New York abruptly. The article hinted at a love affair gone wrong and some kind of scandal involving a chef from another restaurant.”

“Maybe that’s why she came here. To start fresh.”

Laney nodded. “Seems to be a common theme here in Sugarville Grove.”

Soon, they had arrived at the parking area where they would be picked up and taken through the woods to the restaurant. However, the driver and sleigh were nowhere to be seen, but given the other cars parked, Nolan figured he was taking other guests to the cabin and would be back soon.

“Let’s stay in the car until he arrives,” Nolan said. “I don’t want you to get cold.”

While they waited, Nolan kept the vehicle running so they wouldn’t lose heat. A few minutes later, the sleigh appeared, lit with old-fashioned lanterns on either side. He turned off the ignition. “Wait for a second. I want to help you down in case it’s icy.”

“If you insist.”

He leaned over to kiss her quickly. “I do, in fact.”

The cold air hit him in the face the minute he was outside. He quickly went around to open Laney’s door and offered his hand to help her down. Although snow had fallen recently, the parking area had been plowed. But at this time of day, with the frigid temperatures, there were some icy spots. He made sure to hang on to her tightly as they approached the sleigh.

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