Risking It All for Love (A Christmas in Snow Valley Romance) by Kimberley Montpetit Page B

California.”
    “I went to high school in southern California. I guess it still
shows at times.”
    Now it was my turn to be amused. “California, huh?”
    “Alright. Enough with the grinning,” he shot back, smiling
broadly. “Don’t hold it against me. I did med school at Stanford. Better?”
    Behind
James’ back, my brother shot me a stupid grin and gave me a peace sign.
    I shut my eyes for a moment, trying
not to laugh.
    “Um, yeah. Anyway, where’s Pastor
John?”
    “He’s not here right now. His flock
called.” James Douglas pulled back the plastic wrap. “Mind if I try one? I’m
starving from all this hard work.”
    “Be my guest.”
    All at once both James and Sam were
munching on my mother’s famous chewy chocolate chip cookies.
    “Sam! Those are not for you!”
    “I can’t help it.”
    “You told me yourself that Mom has
two dozen more plates at home.”
    “That’s impressive,” James said.
“Say, do you think I could get my very own plate?”
    “Uh, okay. Sure.” I gave a little
laugh. I’d never had anybody just come right out and ask for cookies. I kind of
liked his open honesty.
    “Can you bring them tomorrow? About evening? At the town square?”
    This time I laughed out loud. “What are you talking about?”
    “We’ll have cookies with our hot chocolate. It’s the reading of ‘Twas
the Night before Christmas. ”
    “Oh, right. I think my sister is bringing my nieces.”
    “Perfect, then. It won’t be out of your way at all.” He smiled
again and popped the rest of the cookie in his mouth.
    This guy sure liked to push his luck. I let out my breath,
watching the masculine line of his throat as he swallowed the cookie. To cover
up my staring, I started to chatter. “So, wow, I forgot about all these daily Christmas
festivities. My favorite was the Polar Express when I was six. When I got older
I loved the fireworks and the sleigh rides—and then when I was in high
school I was so excited to finally get to attend the Christmas Ball
with—” I stopped, aware that I was about to say Michael’s name. Again. I
must be annoying people by always bringing him up in the conversation. The
sudden realization floored me.
    “Sounds like we’ll have a second chance at hot chocolate on Saturday
then,” James said smoothly, covering over my faux pas.
    “What are you talking about” I blinked, trying not to show my discomfiture.
    “The sleigh rides at the Winter Carnival. I’ve already got
tickets. You can never drink too much hot chocolate in December.”
    “You mean you want me to go with you on a sleigh ride, too?”
    My brother burst out with a laugh. “You are so dense, Jess.”
    “Well, a girl can’t make
assumptions about invitations.”
    Good grief, I sounded just like an
uptight school marm now.
    James Douglas leaned against his shovel, starting right into my
eyes. “Nope, you can’t. But I’ll try to be very clear. I’ll see you at the town
square tomorrow, Jessica Mason.”
    “Right. I’ll be the adored aunt with two little girls in tow.”
    I could see Sam holding back a snort as James Douglas flirted with
me.
    And . . . I guess I was kind of—sort of—flirting back.
     

Chapter Nine
    The next
night I was hurriedly doing the dishes with Mom while Amber and Joanie were
jumping around our feet on the kitchen floor, anxious to go hear ‘Twas the
Night before Christmas .
    “We’re going, we’re going,” I said.
    “Hurry and get your coats, Amber and Joanie,” Mom told them.
“Dress warm!” She poured dishwasher soap and started the machine’s cycle, then
turned to me as I was drying my hands.
    “My car is first out the driveway,” I said. “I’ll drive if you’d
like.”
    “We’d have to move the car seats from Catherine’s van. Let’s just
take hers,” Mom said. “Besides, a little bird told me you’re meeting James
Douglas at the town square.”
    I felt indignant. “Who told you that! Oh, wait. Sam, right? Of
course.”
    “You can’t