Page 16 of A Tiny House Christmas

“Never.”

She’d saved up for months for that gift, wanting to get Joey something special. Why she’d ever decided to put her face on an ornament and give it to an eighteen-year-old she didn’t know.

“It’s what started the tree.”

“I had such a crush on you.”

“I know.”

“Is that why you were so nice to me?” Why he’d let her tag along, join in when she only slowed them down.

“You were a fun kid.”

“Yeah, whatever happened to her? She got the braces off and grew up and got boring.”

“You don’t see yourself, do you?” His hand gently rested on her shoulder, sliding down her arm, and she leaned against him. His hand snaked around her middle, then the other, holding her like she belonged in his arms and always had. “Nothing boring about Karlene Abigail Spragg.”

She tipped her head back, resting it against his shoulder. “Yeah? How’s that?”

“Not only can she outrun the town while riding bareback in high heels, but she gets paid to beat up on poor, defenceless NHL players.”

She laughed. “They’re far from defenceless.”

“You do things your own way. Always have.” There was a hint of admiration in his tone, heady and addicting.

“You make me sound stronger than I feel.”

She leaned against Joey, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She hadn’t done love or her wedding her own way. She’d started dating Thomas in high school because he was cute. They’d stayed together because it was easy and fun and everyone said how great they were together. There was nothing bad or wrong about their relationship. It just probably hadn’t meant to go beyond high school. And then her family had started talking about marriage and how if they collaborated, they could change the face of ranching and some such almighty, lofty things.

Really, there had been no turning back. Not when she didn’t have a reason beyond the fact that there was no big spark between herself and Tom, and that they were probably meant to be friends and not more.

The only thing she’d actually chosen in recent memory was her job as a physical therapist and her city apartment. Well, no. Thomas had selected her apartment from her narrowed down list because it was closer to the highway that ran out toward Sweetheart Creek. But her job she’d chosen, knowing she wanted to work with her hands, help people who felt like their dreams were being taken away from them due to an injury. Sort of like how she’d felt when her grandparents had sold their ranch, a place she’d always assumed she’d inherit or buy from them.

“Why athletes? Why not work on cowboys in town?” Joey asked, his voice low in her ear. “Lots of broken men around here to keep you busy.”

“Broken by animals and tough living.” She’d much rather heal hockey players.

“Broken is broken, is it not?”

“Not always.”

“How so?”

“I know it makes no sense.” She’d gone blue in the face trying to explain it to her family. Why want a ranch here but drive all the way to the city to work on athletes? “The attitude is different.Cowboys are all rub some dirt in it. I feel more like I’m part of the team and the healing process with a hockey player. They’re more likely to stick with the program.”

“That makes sense.”

She laughed. “No, it doesn’t.”

“Maybe not,” he insisted. “But I get it.”

“Well, you’re probably the first.” She shifted so she could see him better, fearing that he was going to unlock his embrace and let her go.

But instead of releasing her, he tightened his arms, his lips drifting downward until they were on hers.

This was the moment she’d waited for almost all of her life. Their first kiss.

His arms felt so right around her, and she was protected and safe in his embrace, his lips dancing over her own in a way that made her sigh with happiness. His kiss was perfect. Firm, yet giving, teasing and testing, and for a beat or two she forgot to breathe at the perfectness of it all.

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