Page 52 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

“Lunch,” he said, pointing in the direction of the food truck. They climbed out of the aircraft, and he asked as he secured it, “Have I convinced you how awesome plane rides are?”

“It was nice.” Hannah paused, then added, “Actually, it was really great. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. And as a first date bonus, that was another landing where everyone can walk away.”

“First date,” she muttered, but he could see she wasn’t actually upset.

He gestured to the taco truck as they drew closer. “Right, sorry. I forgot. You said this isn’t a date, but can I treat you to lunch anyway?”

“I thought you said you couldn’t hear me without the microphone thingy turned on?”

He smirked. Of course he’d heard her.

“How did you know this was here? Did you plan this?” She was watching him, a small smile toying at the edges of her lips.

He wanted to say he had, but gave a casual shrug instead.

“Thank you, Louis.”

“You’re welcome. But you don’t need to thank me yet. You still have time to get mad at me and walk home from here. I’ll warn you, though, it’s an hour by car, so a bit of a leg stretcher.”

Hannah laughed as they lined up for food. “Well, don’t get me angry and I’ll accept a flight home again.”

The man in front of them, a familiar-looking pilot, nodded to Louis and shook his hand. “Tough season so far.”

Louis grimaced. “Sure is.”

“Game tonight?”

“Yup.”

“Good luck.” The man chuckled and faced the front of the line again.

Yeah, the Dragons might be becoming a bit of a joke with their losing streak. But his plan to turn things around was starting to work. He just needed time and patience.

“Do people recognize you often?” Hannah whispered, leaning closer.

“It happens.”

Then, as though realizing where they were—on a date in the middle of nowhere—they smiled at each other, a giddiness growing between them. Louis felt like a teenager, and he liked how Hannah was unable to hide her growing grin.

“I feel like the kids at the day care when I told them Santa is coming to visit on Monday,” she confessed.

“Yeah?”

“Garfield Goodwin is dressing up for us.”

“Really?” The man would make a natural Santa. He had wild white hair and kind eyes. The kids would adore him.

“I love this time of year.” Hannah gave a happy sigh, her eyes lingering on the colored Christmas lights strung on the food truck and the chef’s crooked Santa hat.

The woman loved Christmas, and Louis hoped that some of her spirit would rub off on him. He hadn’t felt very jolly about the season in a long time, but this year he had hope. And maybe someone to spend it with—his dad, now, of course, but maybe he’d see Hannah, too.

“Is this what your life is like? Just going with the flow?” she asked.

“I’m pretty scheduled with hockey, but when I can allow some space for spontaneity I seize it. You don’t?”

“I’m used to controlling things so I don’t have children melting down on me. I’m not used to going with the flow.”

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