Do You Believe in Santa? by Sierra Donovan Page A

away from here before we find one of your snakes.”
    This time he took her by the elbow, rather than her hand, as they walked back to the truck and got inside. After Jake climbed up beside her, he started to put the keys in the ignition, then stopped and turned to her.
    â€œThanks for this. It was really nice of you to bring me here. I’ll need to look at some other spots, too, but this has definite possibilities.” He smiled. “Although part of me kind of wishes I could turn it back into what it used to be.”
    â€œIt’d be fun. At least, until you went broke.”
    â€œWhich is where the business part of my brain kicks in.” His smile faded, and his eyes grew serious. “You see—the business side isn’t such a bad thing. It’s what pays the bills.”
    Mandy nodded. “I know. But I’m not the one you need to convince.”
    â€œRight.” He put the keys in the ignition, but once again, he didn’t start the car. Instead, he turned to face her, as much as the front seat of the truck would allow. “Mandy, there’s something I want to get out of the way.”
    She waited.
    â€œI’m going to start asking around about available property in the next couple of days. This spot, for one. When I do that, people are going to know why I came to Tall Pine pretty quick.”
    She tried to anticipate his train of thought. “So, you want me to wait until that happens, and after that, I won’t need to worry about mentioning it to other people.”
    â€œRight. But there’s something else you need to worry about, and I think you know what that is.” He fixed her with the same direct stare she’d seen earlier, when he asked about her ankle.
    Mandy felt a tickle of apprehension.
    He rested his left hand on top of the steering wheel. “You might not want to be seen with the guy from the big-city hotel chain. From what you’ve told me, there’s probably going to be some friction about that. Whatever kind of flack you might get . . . you probably know more about what to expect than I do. But maybe you don’t want to deal with it.”
    He seemed to be waiting for her response. Mandy wasn’t sure where he was going with this, so she had no idea what to say.
    â€œI’d like to keep seeing you,” Jake said. “But I get the impression you haven’t been anxious to be seen with me in public, and I don’t want to feel like we’re supposed to hide. In a town this size, maybe that’d make things too awkward for you. I can understand that. But I don’t want to be a deep, dark secret. If you’re not okay with that, just tell me now and I’ll get out of your hair. No hard feelings. Seriously.”
    Those brown eyes looked at her steadily. It took several seconds for his meaning to sink in.
    That’s why he thought she’d fibbed about a hurt ankle, and ducked her old classmate at the movie theater.
    â€œJake, I—” She started to correct him and stopped.
    Maybe the easiest thing was just to let him think that. The truth was a lot more complicated.
    He kept his eyes on hers, his expression almost unnervingly calm. Mandy shifted her gaze back to his hand, resting on top of the steering wheel.
    Not just resting on it. Gripping it.
    As if what she said next really mattered to him.
    She took a deep breath and picked her next words carefully. “I didn’t mean to act like there was anything wrong with being seen with you.”
    â€œBut? Is there a disclaimer coming?” He could certainly put things in businesslike terms.
    â€œNo buts. I’d love to keep going out with you. In public.” She’d just have to take her chances.
    His eyes lost some of their serious look, and Mandy saw his hand on the wheel relax perceptibly. Her heart kicked up.
    â€œYou’re sure?” Jake smiled. “People aren’t going to throw rocks at you?”
    â€œWell,