and put the decorations away, we did the work and Mom shopped the after-Christmas sales.”
Rather wistfully, Savannah said, “We used to steal our Christmas trees.”
Zach swung his head around and arched a brow at her. Savannah chuckled. “It’s true. I’m not a drug trafficker, but I’ll cop to being a Christmas tree thief. It was a family tradition, and I admit it was one I just loved. My dad and brothers and I would pick one out every summer as we hiked up to the stills. When we finally settled on one, I’d tie a red hair ribbon around it, and then the Sunday after Thanksgiving, no matter what the weather was like, we’d pile into Daddy’s truck and go get it.”
“Tell me you’re not carrying a red hair ribbon today.”
“I haven’t owned a hair ribbon in years.”
“Good. Don’t make me arrest you come December, Peach.”
“Well …” she drawled in that slow molasses voice as she made a show of studying the nearest Douglas fir. He scowled at her, and this time her laughter pealed out like church bells. “Don’t worry. After she caught me shoplifting toothpaste at the local Walmart, Grams made me swear I’d never steal anything ever again.”
“You stole toothpaste?”
“Let’s just say I learned early on in life how to stretch the grocery budget. What about you, Zach? Did you ever shoplift or were you always a Boy Scout?”
“I didn’t shoplift and I am an Eagle Scout, but I did steal a car one time.”
She halted abruptly, her eyes bugging, and now it was Zach’s turn to laugh. “Undercover cops get to do all sorts of criminal things in order to protect their cover.”
“That is so not fair.”
Zach gave Ace’s leash a tug, and the whippet abandoned his intent sniffing at the base of a fallen log and returned to the trail. Like a pesky younger sister, Inny followed right at Ace’s heels.
Their conversation lagged as the trail took them on a rocky incline that required concentration. Twice Zach reached back to give her a hand up, and the second time he didn’t release her, but laced her fingers with his. “You mentioned brothers. How many brothers do you have?”
“Three.”
“Older? Younger? Any sisters?”
“Older brothers, no sisters. You?”
“None of either. I’m adopted. My parents were beginning the process for a second child when my grandmother had a stroke, Mom became her primary caretaker, and they decided she had her hands full. I always wished I had a brother.”
“Is your grandmother still alive?”
He shook his head. “I lost all three before I turned twenty-three. Nana had another stroke, my mom died from breast cancer, and my dad … they said it was a heart attack, but I think losing Mom broke it.”
Savannah’s eyes went soft and caring. “Oh, Zach. That’s terrible. I’m so sorry. That must have been very difficult for you.”
“It was hard. My heart was broken, too. I loved them very much. Being on my own at that age was tough. Took me a little while to adjust. I almost flunked out of school.” Now why the hell had he told her that? He didn’t talk about that. He wasn’t one to delve into his past.
“Did you ever try to find your biological parents?” she asked, then winced. “I’m sorry. That’s nosy of me. It’s none of my business.”
“No, it’s okay,” he replied, and continued his blabbermouth ways. “And the answer is no, I never have. Never wanted to. I had great parents. I guess I didn’t think it’d be right to go digging around in the past looking for replacements. That said, I always wished I had a brother.”
She pulled her hand from his. “Sometimes brothers are more of a pain than they’re worth.”
“Tell me about yours.”
Savannah took another ten paces before replying. “One of my brothers left home when I was still in high school. One went to jail for drugs and the last I heard was still there. The other married and had a kid.”
“Niece or nephew?”
Her smile was bittersweet. “A nephew. Tommy. But can we talk about something else, please? We should be talking about the weather or the hot springs at Angel’s Rest or the Fourth of July fireworks over Hummingbird Lake. This is our first date. We should be talking about the scenery and making small talk!”
“Small talk is okay. Making out is better.” With that, he pulled her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. His kiss was hot, passionate, and carnal, and as Savannah melted into his