Page 7 of Christmas With The Broken Mountain Man
"Uh-huh." I can practically hear his smirk. "Because getting a predator back off is always so simple. Right."
"Don't start," I warn him.
"Wouldn't dream of it. See you at Darlene's."
Destiny comes downstairs as I'm hanging up. She's done something impressive with makeup, the bruise nearly invisible unless you know what to look for. Her blonde curls are tamed into a stylish ponytail, and she's wearing jeans with a green sweater that brings out the gold flecks in her hazel eyes.
"Will I pass inspection?" she asks, doing a little twirl.
My mouth goes dry. "You look great."
She beams at the simple compliment, and I'm struck by how little it takes to make her happy. A safe place to sleep. A hot meal. A few kind words. The bare minimum any human deserves, yet she acts like I've given her the moon.
It makes me want to punch her ex in the face.
"Ready to go convince a town we're in love?" She loops her arm through mine, leaning close enough that I can smell her fruity and light shampoo.
"As I'll ever be."
The drive into Whisper Vale takes fifteen minutes, the winding mountain road offering spectacular views of snow-covered pines and the occasional deer. Destiny presses her noseto the window like an excited kid, pointing out particularly beautiful vistas.
"It's like a Christmas card," she sighs happily. "I've never lived anywhere with actual seasons. San Diego is basically seventy degrees year-round."
"You might change your tune when it's negative ten and your car won't start."
"Nope." She shakes her head firmly. "I love it. All of it."
Her enthusiasm is contagious. I point out landmarks as we drive, the old copper mine, the hiking trail that leads to Crystal Falls, the overlook where locals go stargazing in summer.
"We should go there," she says. "To the overlook. For our fake engagement story."
"It's covered in three feet of snow right now."
"Even more romantic! You proposed under a blanket of stars, snowflakes catching in my eyelashes..." She sighs dramatically. "No one would doubt our love story with details like that."
I chuckle despite myself. "You missed your calling as a romance novelist."
"Please. I'd be terrible at it." She leans back in her seat. "I'm too practical for all that swooning and pining."
"Says the woman who just invented a snow-covered proposal scene straight out of a Hallmark movie."
"That's different. That's strategy." She winks at me. "Know your audience, right?"
We arrive in town, Main Street decorated for Christmas with wreaths on every lamppost and twinkling lights strung between buildings. Destiny's eyes widen with delight at the giant Christmas tree in the town square.
"Oh my God, it's perfect!" She claps her hands together. "When's the tree lighting ceremony?"
"Tomorrow night." I park in front of the general store. "How did you know we have one?"
"Every small town has a tree lighting. It's like, required by law." She unbuckles her seatbelt. "We're going, right?"
"If you want to."
"I definitely want to." She reaches for my hand as we exit the truck, her fingers warm despite the cold air. "Proper couples hold hands," she whispers, squeezing gently.
Her touch sends an unexpected jolt through me. It's been so long since I've held anyone's hand that the simple contact feels startlingly intimate.
The general store is busy with holiday shoppers. Destiny stays close to my side, our joined hands drawing curious glances from locals who know me as the perpetually single therapist.
