Tic-Tac-Mistletoe - N.R. Walker Page 0,46

of the sweetest things someone’s ever asked me.” His frown deepened. “Not sure what that says about my expectations if I thought it was sweet and you felt the need to apologise.”

“No, I’m sure your expectations are fine. I just wanted to apologise in case you felt pressured, that’s all.” I shook my head. “This isn’t going how I planned.”

He surprised me by chuckling. “How was it supposed to go?”

I rolled my eyes at myself. “I have no idea.”

We were quiet for about a quarter of a mile, and when he finally looked over at me, he smiled. “I get it, Ren. I understand why you’d ask. You swore to never get involved with anyone again, and after just three days, you’re questioning everything. Add in the fact that I’m here for just two years and you’re probably wondering now whether you should get involved with me at all. Am I right?”

“One hundred per cent correct, yes.”

“And I get that. Ren, I don’t want to pressure you either.” He sighed and smiled, offering me his hand. “How about we just see where it takes us?”

I squeezed his fingers, feeling much better now. “I like the sound of that. And thank you for understanding.”

“To possibilities, remember?” he said.

“To possibilities.” I drove us into Hartbridge and slowed at the intersection before the store, turning right over the bridge and following the sign that pointed to Beartrap Road.

“Oh my God, this town is so pretty,” Hamish whispered. “Look, Chutney.” He pointed out the window and so help me, she looked where he pointed. “Look at all that icy water. And look at all those trees by the river. It looks like a jigsaw puzzle picture.” Then he looked at me. “I bet it’s even prettier in the summer.”

“You should see it in the spring,” I said. “When everything’s in flower, it’s the prettiest place you’ve ever seen. Then again, it’s pretty in the fall too. When the leaves change.”

“I bet it is.”

We drove for a bit longer and he continued to point out scenic points of interest to Chutney, and she continued to listen and look. From her perch on his lap, she put her little paws on the door and kept her nose to the window, both of them smiling, and it was pretty contagious.

When we got to the corner before the descent down the mountains, Hamish put his hand out to grip my arm. “Oh my God.”

I immediately slowed to a stop, thinking something was wrong. “What is it?”

“Look at that,” he whispered, his wide eyes fixed on the view out the windshield. This was the view from the top of the mountains before we started to wind down to the valley below, and the view was impressive.

A sea of trees and far off lands lay out before us; the forests, mountains and hills, everything was blanketed in white.

“It’s beautiful,” Hamish said, looking at me then, and his smile was something special.

“It is.” I had to make myself look out the windshield. “Guess I’m used to the view and forgot what it’s like to see it for the first time.”

Hamish sighed and shook his head disbelievingly. “I can see why you love it here.” Then he peered down the direction of the road. “And I cannot believe I was going to attempt to drive this road in a snowstorm in the dark!”

“It’s pretty narrow in some spots,” I agreed.

“And I’d rather have run off the road at your place than over that edge,” he said, tapping his window. “I’d have died for sure. They’d never have found the car, let alone my body. What is that drop off the edge? Two hundred metres down?”

I had to do a quick calculation from metric. “Maybe more.” I began driving again, not wanting to think of that. “This road used to be the old logger’s road. It hugs the side of the mountain to the bottom.”

“Well, it’s pretty. But I’m glad you’re driving.” He gave Chutney a cuddle. “Thanks again for taking me to Liv’s place. And thanks again for joining us for Christmas. I’m really glad you agreed.”

“Me too. Though I feel weird about not bringing anything. It’s a bit rude even, to turn up and not bring anything. Well apart from the cookies, but that doesn’t feel like enough.”

“You’re bringing me,” he replied with a smile. “Best gift ever.”

I snorted. “Right.”

“And the cookies are plenty good enough.”

We were quiet for a few miles as Hamish continued to point things out to Chutney