A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold #9.5)(31)

“Thank you. Have a great holiday. I’ll be calling.”

She walked off with Charlie. Clay paused to give Evie a brief hug before joining his fiancée.

“Can three-year-olds dance?” Dante asked, sounding doubtful.

“Sure. It’s good for them to study dance as they’re still developing. If done correctly, the practice will improve their motor skills, balance and posture. As long as the training isn’t too rigorous or boring. At that age, dance should be fun.”

“And when they’re older?”

“If they’re serious, then it’s a lot of hard work.” Talent was also required, she thought, remembering what it had been like when she’d been told she didn’t have what it took to make it at Juilliard. It didn’t matter that she’d trained the longest, had given the most. Without the raw ability, she would never be good enough.

They walked toward the square at the center of town. Light from the streetlamps reflected off the decorations, but until it was lit, the huge tree was little more than a hulking shadow in the darkness.

Evie recognized a few families in the crowd and waved at the people who had taken the time to help with her sets. She leaned into Dante.

“Thanks for talking to my brothers,” she said. “For getting them to help.”

“I didn’t do much.”

“You made sure they showed up. That was nice. Thank you.”

He groaned. “Not nice. Don’t say nice. I would rather be the hot, sexy lawyer you can’t resist.”

She grinned at him but thought privately that he was all that and more.

He looked at her. “They want to be there for you, Evie. You just have to give them a chance.”

Before she could decide if she agreed or not, Shane and Annabelle wandered up and stood next to them. Annabelle was flushed from the cold and munching on a funnel cake.

“I’m eating for twenty,” Annabelle announced. “That can’t be good, right?”

“You’re beautiful,” Shane told her.

“I’m going to need my own zip code.” Annabelle took another bite and chewed. When she’d swallowed, she looked at Evie. “I need you to be an elf.”

Evie stared at her. “Excuse me?”

“Okay, technically it’s not me. It’s Heidi. Even not pregnant I wouldn’t be a good elf. I’m too short.”

Evie knew for a fact that Annabelle wasn’t drinking, so she had no explanation for the confusing topic of conversation.

Shane put his arm around his fiancée. “You have to start at the beginning.”

“What? Oh. The ranch offers holiday sleigh rides. We decorate the sleighs and the horses. Of course if there’s no snow, then they’re wagon rides. We have hot cocoa and cookies and…”

“Elves?” Dante offered helpfully.

Annabelle nodded.

“I have to get everyone ready for The Dance of the Winter King,” Evie said quickly, thinking she didn’t have time to be an elf.

“It’s only for a couple of evenings. Heidi will know for sure.” Annabelle finished the last of the funnel cake, then looked hopefully at Shane. “Do you think I could have a cookie now?”

“Sure.”

Dante watched them walk off. “You have a weird family.”

“Tell me about it.”

“You’d be a cute elf. Do you think the costume has pointy ears?” He sounded hopeful as he asked the question.

“You have a thing for pointy ears?”

“No, but I’m picturing an elf costume. It’s very sexy.”

“You’re as strange as my family.”

“I can live with that.”

He leaned in as if he was going to kiss her, but just then a voice came over the speaker system.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Mayor Marsha. Welcome to the annual Fool’s Gold tree lighting ceremony.”

Dante straightened. “Later,” he promised.

She nodded.

The crowd moved in around them. Dante shifted her so she was in front of him, his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, enjoying the contact and the warmth.

After a few minutes of announcements, a song from the high school glee club, a cheer from the high school cheerleaders, and a drum roll, the lights of the thirty-foot tree came on.

They shone brightly against the dark night sky, and the crowd clapped. There was a bright star at the top, and about half the lights blinked on and off. A few feet away, a little boy asked, “Daddy, do you think it’s gonna snow?”

Everyone laughed.

Unfortunately, the skies were clear. Evie found herself agreeing with the little boy—wanting snow on a magical night.

“I have so got to get me one of those,” Dante whispered in her ear.

She laughed. “Where would you put it?”

“I’m not sure, but I’d figure something out.”

* * *

AN HOUR LATER they were back at her place. With the gas fireplace going and the heat up, they’d finally stopped shivering. Without jackets and scarves getting in the way, they could do some very interesting things with each other, as Evie discovered, stretched out on the sofa with Dante.

He had his arms around her and his body pressed to hers. He was all lean muscle—masculine and strong. When he kissed her, she found herself more than willing to surrender. The idea of being sensible was highly overrated.