“Sounds like fun.” He put his phone in his pocket. “Is Carina with you?”
“She’s at the store. I’m on my own today.”
He tilted his head. “And now I am too. Would you mind givin’ me a wee tour?”
Oh, his deep voice and light Irish accent was doing a number on her knees. Her first instinct was to say no. He had an effect on her, one she was still trying to figure out. But there wasn’t any harm in showing him around the festival. It wasn’t like she was going to be infatuated with him again by the time the fireworks went off.
“Sure,” she said with a smile. “I’d be happy to.”
***
Kierandidthink Jingle Fest was magical. He thought Mistletoe had gone all out for Christmas, but it paled in comparison to the way Bird Valley had transformed its entire downtown area. The last time he’d been here was the Christmas before his father had died. Back then only one street had been decorated, and there had been only a few vendors. Nothing compared to what it was now.
Similar to the feeling he’d had eating fish and chips at the diner, nostalgia washed over him, along with muted, unexpected grief. The grief wasn’t new. He’d experienced it more than once during his visit, since almost everything seemed to remind him of Dad. It didn’t help that his mother kept a gallery of family pictures with his father prominently displayed all through the house. When he’d decided to visit, Kieran had reckoned since so much time had passed since Dad’s death, he didn’t have to worry about missing him when he returned to Mistletoe. He’d been wrong.
“Kieran?”
Emmy’s sweet voice brought him out of his reverie. They had been walking along Main Street and were now at the end of it, the snow falling thicker and faster than it had moments before. “Aye, lass?”
“Are you okay?” She moved closer to him. “You got quiet all of a sudden.”
He had the urge to take her hand, and not only because he wanted to hold it. Just the brief feel of her soft skin against his fingers had sent his senses into overdrive, so strong and quick that he had to distract himself with the coffee to get his bearings. But he also needed some grounding right now. “I’m fine,” he said, mustering a smile.
She stopped walking and faced him. “You’re missing your dad.”
His eyes widened. “How did you know?”
Her expression turned soft. “I would be missing mine if I were in your shoes. Christmas is a magical season, but it can also be painful.”
And just like that, he had the grounding he needed. “I think that might be part of the reason I never came back here,” he murmured. “As long as I focused on chasing adventure and then renovating Castle O’Neill, I didn’t have to think about Dad too much. Truth be told, he’s never been far from my mind... and heart. Even in Ireland. But here...” He shook his head. “I don’t know why I’m tellin’ you this.”
Her chilly hand slipped into his. “Because you need to.”
Kieran met her gaze. Sparkling green eyes filled with understanding looked back at him. “Thanks, Emmy.”
Theclip-clopof a horse’s hooves and jingling bells sounded behind them. Emmy began to pull her hand out of his, but he held on to it.
She glanced at their clasped hands. Then at him. And to his endless relief, she didn’t pull away.
When he looked over his shoulder, he saw a horse and canopied carriage, gaily decorated with green and red garlands and gold bells. He turned to Emmy. “Want a carriage ride?”
Her pretty face lit up. “Absolutely.”
A few minutes later they were tucked in next to each other in the carriage, but they weren’t holding hands anymore. The driver, wrapped up in a thick coat and wearing an old-fashioned top hat, signaled for the horse to move. The pace was slow as the carriage meandered through the winter wonderland, and Kieran didn’t mind that one bit.
Emmy rubbed her hands together, and in one move Kieran entwined his bare fingers with hers again. “We’ll keep each other warm,” he said. When she relaxed against him, he couldn’t stop smiling.
“Do you think they planned this?” Emmy said. At his questioning look she added, “Sheryl and Maggie. It seems coincidental they would go home just as you showed up.”
“The thought had entered my mind,” he admitted. “Mum’s been after me to find someone for years. Sheryl too.”
“And Carina’s been hinting for me to start dating again.”
His ears perked at the wordagain. “You, um...” He cleared his throat. “Were you serious about someone?”
“Yes. The wrong someone.” She sighed. “I have terrible taste in men. The last one was a complete jerk. So were the other two, back in college. Then there was...” She stiffened next to him. “Never mind. Let’s just say I’m resigned to being single.” Her hand moved out of his, and she stuffed it into her coat pocket.
“Me too.” But he said the words with little enthusiasm. It wasn’t that he was opposed to marriage. He’d just never met anyone who made him want to settle down. To share a home together. Even have children, if the good Lord was willing. Not a single lass he’d gone out with had ever caused his heart to—
