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“Great” She rolled her eyes “What are you now, a mind reader?”

He took hold of her chin, his eyes hardening “Don’t deflect”

“Well, that cop look is effective, I’ll give you that,” she said with a shake of her head to remove his hand

“Why do you think I did it?” He grinned, shoving his hands back into his pockets “But indulge me anyway What’s the real reason?”

She inhaled sharply and strode forward ahead of him now, not really sure howto hit the nice list this year, that’s all” She looked over her shoulder, and Darryl studied her carefully Too carefully, in fact She glanced ahead of her again and shrugged a little “Besides, I knowdrinker because I work as a bartender Maybe I used to be, but that’s not really me anymore I want them to see me for…me”

“Then what happened at the fountain?” he called out behind her

Her throat tightened He suddenly had her hand in his and tugged hiaze met hers, and it was impossible not to answer him “It was just this place It’s so…friendly and Christmas-y…and family-oriented” She paused Then forced the words out “The first few days here were hard I felt outside of everything Apart frootten to be too h”

“Ah, I see,” he said, with no judgment in his eyes

He kept her hand in his as they headed back down the aisle toward the double barn doors, with the tasting room off to the left

Just as she reached for the door, he stopped her, turning her into all his warth “For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you for not only yesterday but today too”

Her eyes stung “Geez, they should just call this town, River Rock, the place where people are so nice they make you want to cry”

He barked a loud laugh then dipped his chin “Or s you should’ve always heard” He didn’t wait for an answer; instead, he kissed her, a warers and toes and other parts of her tingle

When he broke the kiss, he opened the door, leading her outside into the brisk chilly night air

The moment they went out the door, a snowball fleard theh

“Ha Ha Got you,” Mason squealed