Page 15 of The Christmas Romance Wish

“I’d like to go there someday too. It’s about as far away and different from where I grew up as possible.”

“Do you camp much? Hike?”

She laughs softly. “That would be a no.”

“So, you’re a city girl.”

“Through and through, at least these days.”

“I neglected to send you a packing list, though I don’t suppose you have much in the way of hiking gear.”

Glancing at Emmie, a smile lifts the corner of her mouth. “Do sugar shoes count?” Her eyes widen and her cheeks turn rosy. “Don’t mind me. Just putting my foot, er, my shoe in my mouth. I wasn’t altogether practical when packing.”

Not going to lie, I wouldn’t mind seeing her in sugar shoes, whatever they are. I drag my gaze back onto the road ahead.

Having worked so closely with Emmie for the last nine or so months, the image of her I had in my mind was more small-town girl and less city girl, but I don’t mind. Not one bit. She’s sweet like sugar from head to toe.

“I’m sorry for not mentioning the hike. We don’t go too hard if you’d like to join us. We can get you outfitted. Tricia was supposed to come, but her son had a lacrosse tournament so she canceled. So, it’ll just be you and us guys.”

“And Ginny.”

I chuckle. “I’m not sure she’s up for the ruck.”

“I have four brothers, so I’m comfortable around guys.”

She’s mentioned them a few times but doesn’t talk much about her family.

“Tell me about city life. What am I missing out there in the concrete jungle?”

She laughs. “Peppermint mochas.”

“Are you kidding? We have those at the ranch.” I have no idea if that’s true or what the ingredients are.

“You do?”

“It can be arranged.” I wink, overwhelmed with the desire to acquire whatever it is that’ll make Emmie have the perfect visit.

She bounces a little in her seat. “Seriously? I’ll love you forever if you—” She cuts herself off. “I mean, I’m kind of addicted and when you said we’re going hiking, my first thought was how will I survive without my late afternoon peppermint mocha?”

I chuckle.

I can’t help but wonder why the wordloveis so loaded that when we both used it, we instantly backpedaled.

“The guys and I have spent a lot of time roughing it, so we indulge in a few creature comforts like really good coffee nowadays.”

“Don’t get me wrong, the city has its drawbacks and its dangers. I’m the little sister, the baby in the family, and my brothers are crazily overprotective of me. So much so that I escaped to the city to live my life where they can’t track my every move to make sure I’m safe. They hate that I live there. I wouldn’t be surprised if I turned around one day to discover a security detail following me.”

As the Jeep climbs toward the mountain pass road, forget the bagels, Emmie is precious cargo. With every second I spend with her, my desire to protect her grows. The idea of someone so sweet and gentle living in the city makes me want to join her brothers in the fight to protect her from evil...and guys who’d so much as look at her the wrong way.

Leaving the glowing lights of Salt Lake City behind us, we approach the last turnoff before we reach Frosthold Gap which leads to the valley where I live. “The town is that way. If you were staying longer, we could visit. I bet you’d like the market they host this time of year.”

“I’m not big on the holiday madness, all the fuss, and craziness.”

“Me neither, I suppose.” In fact, I haven’t taken the decorations I inherited from my grandmother out of the attic yet.

A little farther on, we go through the gate to my property. “Here we are. Dale, former special ops who became a blacksmith, forged the sign.”

“Eaglewood Acres,” Emmie reads.

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