I say. “I probably deserved that.”
“Yeah, you did,” he says as he laughs and jumps up. “Come on, Kira. You’re coming with me.” He grabs her hand and practically drags her up the hill. The boys scoop up their sleds and follow them up.
“Want to get a hot chocolate?” Jason asks as I brush the snow from my clothes and face. I walk with him, and he gestures with a nod of his head. “I think Sam plans to get her to fall in love with the town so she’ll stay.” He glances at the two as they climb the hill. “Think it’s working?”
I turn my attention to the two and fight down the pang of jealousy as Sam wraps his arms around her and they push from the top of the hill. “I don’t know. Her life and work and family are in Victoria, and I don’t think she’d sell the house if she didn’t have to.”
“If we raise enough money, she won’t have to.”
“It’s just not that simple, Jason.”
He nods. “Yeah, I know.”
Jenny from the Grand Banker is at the table serving up hot chocolate. “Hey, guys, what are you two doing here?”
Jason jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “Kira’s never been sledding before.”
She pours us each a hot chocolate and drops in a couple of marshmallows. “Any takers on the B&B?”
“No,” I say. “Bad time of year to sell.”
Jenny snaps her fingers. “I’m sure it will just take the right person to fall in love with it, and it will go like that.” She glances at me and narrows her eyes. “Nate, right here,” she says, and brushes her cheek with the tip of her finger. I wipe my mouth. “No here,” she says and reaches out, runs her thumb over the side of my face. “Marshmallow.”
“Thanks.”
Just then, Sam, Kira, and the boys show up to warm their bellies.
“I want extra marshmallows, please,” Brett says, and I like that he used his manners.
“Me too, please,” Liam says, and Jenny hands them both their hot chocolate, brimming with marshmallows.
Kira gratefully accepts a cup, but her mood has changed. “You good?” I ask.
She smiles, but I know her well enough to realize it’s forced. “I am. That was fun. But exhausting,” she says. She takes a small sip of her drink. “Mmm, delicious. How nice of Jenny to set this up.”
“Very nice,” I say and stare at her for a moment. Is she jealous that Jenny touched me? I’ll have to ponder that later. I check my watch. “These plans of yours—what time do you need to get back?”
“Around two. We have a lot of time.”
“Good,” Sam says. “I want to hit the hill a few more times.”
“Same,” the boys say. We all walk to the nearest picnic bench and sit with our drinks.
“Nate, is the pond out back of Gram’s frozen yet?” Brett asks.
“I’ll have to check it,” I say and sip my hot chocolate. “Why? Do you want to skate?”
“We should do a pickup game,” Jason says.
“What’s a pickup game?” Kira asks, and around the table, jaws fall open in disbelief.
“What kind of Canadian are you if you don’t know what a pickup game is?” Sam asks.
“Apparently not a very good one,” she says and laughs.
I lean into her. “Hockey.”
“Ah, I don’t follow it,” she says.
“Okay, that’s it. We’re shipping you to Siberia,” Sam says, waving a dismissive hand.
“Why Siberia? They don’t play hockey there?” She whacks Sam. “And, hey, why not someplace hot, like the Caribbean. You know I hate being cold.”
I laugh, resisting the urge to lean in and kiss her on the cheeks. She’s so fucking sweet and funny, playful and open, that it hurts my heart.
“I’ll teach you how to play, Miss Palmer,” Brett says.
She ruffles his toque. “Call me Kira, and that’s very sweet of you, Brett. I’ll take you up on that.”
“I’ll help, too,” Liam pipes