the hoops, remembering Rudy’s determination. If the reindeer could face a challenge head-on, so could he. “Will you go on a sleigh ride with me?” His hands grew slick and he rubbed one on his leg, traded the phone hands, and rubbed the other one clean.
“Sure. It sounds like a merry event.”
“Did you just make a Christmas pun?”
She hesitated. “I think I did.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
She giggled.
He pressed on, encouraged by her lightness. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon for a sunset ride.”
“Now I’m impressed.”
“It’s a date.” He wanted to make sure she knew that his intentions were for courting and romance.
“It is—darn it.”
He was on his feet in a blink. “What?” Did she not want romance? Had he jumped from friends to more too fast?
“Well, if it’s a date, I gotta dress up, and I have nothing to wear for a sleigh ride.”
He grinned. She was flirting with him. “Well, I plan to wear everything I own to ward off the cold, if that helps.”
“Aaaah. A no-pressure date.” Something clattered in the background.
“None—come as you are.”
“You asked for it.”
“Ha. I can take anything you can dish out.”
“We’ll see about that.”
They said goodbye, and he hung up. This was good. They were moving in the right direction—together. Maybe she’d go back to the city and her life and they’d have one great date to remember. Or maybe this was the start of something more. He wouldn’t know until he tested the winds.
His hat knocked forward and Flash blew across his vision, barely clearing his head.
“Hey!” Caleb yelled at Jack, who was smirking from the door.
“Have fun with that one. He’s been pent up too long and needs to stretch his legs.”
Flash zoomed circles around the arena. His speed was his greatest strength, but he had two gears: stop and go.
“I thought you were going to help with workouts today.” Caleb enjoyed their time together with Rudy. Seemed like now that they were all grown up, he and Jack didn’t hang out as much. There were times when the distance between them was like ringing a gong and feeling the vibrations in his soul—not an entirely pleasant feeling.
“I changed my mind. I’m off to town to find someone to smooch under the mistletoe.”
“Good luck with that.” In their small town, he was more likely to find a horse under the mistletoe than he was a girl.
“You should take some on your date—it’s a guaranteed goodnight kiss.”
“I don’t need a weed to help me get a kiss. I have my Nichollas charm. Too bad you didn’t get any,” Caleb fired back at him.
Jack flipped his head. “As if.” They both grinned. “See ya.”
“Bye.” Caleb put his hands on his hips and turned to watch Flash. He checked his watch. It would be another twenty minutes before the reindeer wore himself out enough to do anything productive. He sat back down and leaned back, thinking about Faith. A no-pressure date. He liked the sound of that. A chance to get to know one another as potential romantic partners sounded … like online dating. He wanted more than exchanging basic info. He wanted to hold her hand, to hold her!
A normal date wouldn’t do. He’d need to sweep her off her feet without looking like he was trying too hard. That was the trick.
He rubbed his palms together as a plan began to form.
Chapter 24
Faith
“When you said we were going on a sleigh ride, I didn’t think you’d bring a reindeer to my house.” Faith stared in shock at the gray animal with the green leather harness. “Are those silver bells?”
“Only the best for you.” Caleb grinned as he swept his arm out to showcase the two-seater black sleigh.
She had to admit that the color combination was striking—almost royal in appearance. The sleigh itself was made from wood but painted a dark black on the exterior with silver trim and steel runners.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you to the reindeer so he doesn’t try to throw you out on a tight curve.” Caleb took her elbow, but Faith planted her boots in the snow.
“Would he do that?”
“Well …” Caleb scratched the back of his neck. “See, the thing is, there’s an etiquette that’s involved with sleigh rides. Reindeer—our reindeer, at least—are kind of particular about these things.”
“Oh? Now you have my attention.”
Caleb pumped his eyebrows suggestively before assuming a serious face. “Reindeer are happy enough to pull a sleigh, but they are picky about who they let in it. Of course, every reindeer in the herd