Page 6 of Holiday Reunion

He was starting to sound a lot like Brie. What was it about people who had lived in other parts of the world that they continued to think this town was on its way out?

“I’m thinking we need an attraction that will draw in neighboring communities. Maybe we could do a light show.”

“Absolutely not.”

James frowned. “That’s where you draw the line? You’re pushing for ice castles and ice skating, Santa’s workshop and areindeer petting zoo, but you won’t let me figure out a way to do a drive-through light show?”

“Drive through? What you’re suggesting is for people to come drive through our town and not even bother getting out of their vehicles. I thought you wanted people to come and sample what we have to offer. How can you be promoting new businesses when you’re not trying to figure out a way to get customers to visit?”

His frown deepened.

“See? You get it. Even in your mind, you can agree I’m right. People who aren’t willing to get out of their vehicles to see the sights aren’t going to want to get out to wander down Lake Harbor Avenue. The answer is no.”

He leaned over the table and punched his finger onto her paperwork. “Lucky for you, this isn’t just your job. I can make suggestions just as much as you can. And if it comes down to budget, who do you think the mayor will side with? Reindeer are expensive.”

Her eyes locked with his in a staring match. So much for him being willing to see things her way.

FOUR

James slapped his hand down on the documents in front of him to prevent Sarah from taking them. “I get you don’t want to hand off the proposal to the mayor with the light show, but you have to hear me out.”

“Not going to happen. I already told you, it would only draw people who aren’t willing to come spend money at the shops. Why do we have to keep going through this?”

“You’re wrong,” James insisted. “When people go to a drive-in movie, don’t they get out and buy concessions?”

“That’s different.” Sarah folded her arms in defiance.

“In what world is that different?” He asked with exasperation. “People are watching a movie from their cars. They’d be driving through the lights in their cars. Same thing. They’re watching a show from the warmth and comfort of their vehicle.”

She groaned. “Do I really have to spell it out for you? I swear. When you get attached to something, you won’t let go.”

“Says the girl who can’t let go of what she calls tradition.”

Sarah scowled at him. “Fine. I’ll tell you. When you go to a movie. Youpark. You shut off the engine and you watch a screen play a movie. The light show requires you to keep moving. Youstart at point A. You end at point B. Then by the end of it, your kids are in the back seat screaming and fighting about their siblings stealing their air. Wouldyouwant to find parking and drag those children through town?”

She was right. Dang it, he hadn’t thought about that—probably because he’d been so caught up in his idea. His jaw tightened as he scrambled to come up with a solution before their meeting with the Mayor. He still thought the light show would draw a lot of people. He just needed a way to incorporate it into the festival in an organic way.

Sarah snatched the paperwork. “Our meeting is in ten minutes. I have everything ready, sans light show. All I ask is that you don’t try anything. We need a rubber stamp of approval from the mayor to start making purchases and scheduling people for the event.”

He frowned. While she was very much a stubborn woman, he couldn’t help admire her tenacity. She’d thought about everything from the food, drink, and activities for children to the parking, admission, and everything in between.

The mayor had been smart to ask her to help. Heck, if she wasn’t so tied down to her bakery, he might have been interested in hiring her to be the project manager for the harbor.

She was ignoring him now. It was as if looking at him caused her trauma of some kind. That didn’t matter. It gave him a chance to really watch her. He’d noticed a lot about her while she refused to acknowledge him.

There was a freckle behind her left ear that was only visible when she fiddled with her hair. Occasionally, she take a strand of hair and twist it around her finger before tucking it away. When she needed to sneeze, she’d wrinkle her nose, scrunching it side to side in order to fight it. She was never successful, but it was adorable anyway.

What was he thinking?

He shouldn’t be thinking about Sarah that way. She could barely stand him. He had a feeling he was one mistake away from her pushing him into that icy lake.

Sarah’s eyes cut to him then they narrowed. “What?”

“Nothing,” he was too quick to say.

“You’re staring at me…”

Yeah, because she was beautiful, strong, and maddeningly irresistible. He coughed, looking away. “I’m not going to change my mind.”

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