As they made their way out of the theater, Gavin pressed his hand to her lower back, each one of his fingertips radiating heat. Getting through the crowd was a slow process. Not only did they know everyone, the entire town wanted information on their football star’s shoulder and what he thought their odds were in the playoffs. Oh, and did he think the Mustangs could seriously go from last in the league to first?
“I never say die,” Gavin responded each time, “but I’m also too superstitious to get too cocky.”
The overhead lights reflected in the shiny bald spot atop the mayor’s head as he jockeyed his way into front and center. “But you’d bet on the Mustangs heading to the Super Bowl.” Mayor Foster added an over-the-top wink that made her reconsider winking as a flirty move. Others might be able to pull it off, but she and the mayor definitely didn’t belong to that group.
At long last, they made it to the exit.
Julie gripped Gavin’s injured shoulder and dug her thumb into the front of it, gently rubbing at the knotted muscles. “How you holding up?”
Darlene popped her head between both of theirs. Before Julie could fully recover from the sudden intrusion, Mom squished her way into the bubble, the two of them forming a maternal totem pole. “Who’s ready for a carriage ride through town to marvel at the lights?”
While Julie loved checking out the various Christmas decorations, she preferred to do so in a warm car with the heater blasting, not the slower horse-drawn kind. “I worry about Gavin’s shoulder.”
A mischievous grin accompanied his sidelong glance. “I’m sure your willingness to jet early has nothing to do with the frigid temperature.”
Before Julie could offer a rebuttal about being perfectly capable of multitasking the things about the ride that concerned her, Mom whipped out her dressy gloves with the fleece lining. “We reserved a sleigh just for you two, since you’re both grown adults who need your space.”
How on earth? Only the moms could manage to twist her and Gavin’s repeated requests not to meddle in their affairs into an opportunity to do exactly that.
The devil on Julie’s shoulder whispered for her to respond with, “What about a romantic carriage ride with Kory instead? Aren’t he and I supposed to be dating by Christmas?”
Considering Mom hadn’t mentioned Kory in days, Julie suspected there’d been ulterior motives, although she still couldn’t follow the logic. Perhaps her family had merely seen the writing on the wall—she’d accidentally ended up swept up in Gavin.
“You two take the next one,” Mom said as Dad helped her into one of the horse-drawn sleighs lined up at the curb. Darlene and Rashad piled in next, and then they motioned for Niki. Gavin’s little sister gave them a longing glance, and Julie almost insisted she come with them, since it’d likely be more fun for her.
Apparently she wasn’t that angelic, because her lips remained sealed.
Rashad waved, and Dad hollered, “You two kids have fun now.”
With their audience out of view, Julie turned her full attention to Gavin. How unfair that she took well over an hour to shave her legs, blow-dry and curl her hair, and apply makeup, and all he had to do was pop on a shirt and tie to look like a million bucks? Then again, even in his casual getup, he had the muscles, the rugged features, the perfect hair—basically, all the things were going for him.
“So, do you let your parents plan all of your dates?” she teased, slipping her arms around his waist. “Or am I just special?”
“You’re definitely special,” he said, a pinch mocking, but the accompanying stroke of her sideswept curls caused a full body shudder. “But yeah, whenever I’m around this certain woman, they spring preplanned dates on us. It used to drive me bonkers, but lately…” He lowered his forehead to hers. “Lately, I’m digging it more than I should.”
Relief coursed through her in a calming wave. If he’d admitted that, it made it safer to give in to the overpowering magnetic pull, right? She tipped onto her toes, a breath away from kissing him, when hoofbeats and the jingle of bells broke through.
“Whoa.” The driver tugged on the horses’ reins, drawing the carriage to a stop, and the previous group of riders barreled out of the sleigh, excitedly chatting about their favorite light displays.
Gavin climbed into the metal contraption and then turned to help Julie onto the lightly padded green velvet seat. Before she could request the wool blanket, he’d spread it across both of their laps. He even tucked one corner behind her shoulder so she wouldn’t have to hold it herself.
A gloved hand appeared, gripping the ridge of the sleigh, and then the town preacher popped his head into the opening. “Gavin. Julie.” A nod accompanied each of their names. “I was hoping to catch you, and it looks like I made it in the nick of time.”
The butterflies that’d been stirring in Julie’s gut crashed to the ground in sad little death spirals. In small towns, everyone had a history with everyone, so predicaments such as these were pretty much inevitable.
“Would you mind if I ride with you? My wife and daughter went on ahead, since I had some matters to attend to, but they called and told me this year’s light show couldn’t be missed.”
Julie wasn’t sure who flinched harder at the mention of his daughter, her or Gavin.
But, for the preacher, she adjusted her figurative halo and plastered on a smile to hide her disappointment over having her limited solo time with Gavin interrupted… by his ex-girlfriend’s father.
A quick glance at Gavin revealed he felt similarly—as in Why, God, why—but that neither felt they could refuse. “Of course. Hop on in.”
Preacher Abbott took the bench seat facing them, and the driver checked everyone was seated and ready and then nudged the horse down the road.
They oohed and aahed at the light displays. Some were classic and simple, with glowing white lights. Other yards contained a menagerie of decorations, everything from Santa to snowflakes to deer and lit nativity sets.
The conversation veered into familiar territory: football and the Mustangs’ playoff odds. It was already on Gavin’s mind so much as it was, and she couldn’t imagine the added pressure of having to talk about it, his shoulder, and whether he’d be joining his team.
Underneath the blanket, Julie sought his hand, and Gavin turned his palm face up to meet hers. Even through the gloves, a steady current of electricity coursed up her arm and settled in her heart.
“Sorry, Julie,” Preacher Abbott said. “We got all caught up talking sports—I’m sure you’re a Mustangs fan as well, though.”
“I’m a Gavin Frost fan, so I’ll pledge my loyalty to any team he leads.” She flashed him a smile, and he drifted his thumb over the back of her hand in circles. The walking-a-tightrope sensation made her question every movement and word, including whether she was coming across as too flirty. But the guy holding her hand deserved to hear how unconditionally she supported him and his career.