Marriage Under the Mistletoe. Helen Lacey

Evie. It’s a board, a sail, some wind and a bit of balance. Can you swim?” he asked.

      Evie nodded. “Of course.”

      “Then you can probably sailboard,” he said, and an idea formed in his head. “I’ll teach you.”

      She didn’t bother to conceal her surprise. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

      “Sure it is,” he said easily, and smiled. “I’m on vacation, remember? You don’t want to ruin it by refusing to help me enjoy the sights of your little town, do you?”

      “No,” she said after a long, cautious-looking moment. Finally she smiled back. “I guess I don’t.”

      “If it makes you feel better, we could get Trevor to come as a chaperone?” he suggested, smiling to himself.

      She frowned and he liked the way her nose wrinkled when she worked out he was teasing her. “We hardly need a chaperone,” she said purposely, and her green eyes lit up with a kind of defiance. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

      Scott wasn’t sure what the feeling was that pitched in his chest. Relief maybe? The idea of spending time with Evie pleased him. Too much.

      They said good-night, lingered over the words for a few moments before Scott left the kitchen and headed to his room. He had a restless night. The time zone difference caught up with him and he spent most of the night lying on his back in the big bed, staring at the ceiling. And he thought about Evie just a few doors away.

      He’d planned to go into Bellandale the following morning and hire a car. He needed wheels—and didn’t want to spend every day until the wedding hanging around the B and B like loose change.

      He’d come to Crystal Point for his sister’s wedding. Only he hadn’t expected Evie.

      Scott tossed in the bed, looked at the digital clock on the small table to his left and pumped the pillow with his fist. I’ve had too much sleep...and too much coffee...and way too much Evie for one evening.

      He thumped the pillow again, dropped his head back and closed his eyes.

      * * *

      Why is there a motorcycle in my driveway?

      And not the basic model, either. This was huge and powerful and clearly designed for cruising. Evie grabbed the pair of planet-friendly shopping bags from the passenger seat of her Honda and stared at the big, noisy-looking machine parked in front of her studio. She figured out who the culprit was once she went upstairs and spotted two helmets on the kitchen table and a leather jacket hanging on the back of a chair.