Page 13 of The White Chocolate Christmas Wish

The heavy bag swayed with each impact, absorbing the force of my punches. Left jab. Right cross. Left hook. The rhythmic thud of my glove against the bag echoed through the empty gym, and with each punch, a different thought flashed through my mind. Nashville. The case. Hope. Charlotte Oaks. Possibilities, and also consequences.

“You trying to kill that bag, or just give it a really bad day?” Tucker’s dry voice cut through my concentration.

I paused, chest heaving, and turned to see my best friend settling onto a nearby bench with his wrist wraps in hand.

“Maybe both,” I replied, wiping sweat from my brow. “Got a lot on my mind.”

Tucker nodded, studying me in a way that always made me feel like he could read my thoughts. “I can seethat. Want to talk about it, or should I leave you to your one-sided boxing match?”

I chuckled and began unwrapping my hands, buying myself a quick second to gather my thoughts.

“It’s about that case in Nashville,” I said after a minute.

I’d gotten the call last night, and ordinarily, I would’ve jumped at the chance for a high-paying, high-profile job like this. It was a referral thanks to Tucker’s sister-in-law being a famous country music singer, and the fact that the job in Nashville involved a star-studded mystery made it the kind of case I couldn’t imagine passing up.

Tucker pursed his lips. “Could be a game-changer for the business. I really don’t want us to have to turn it down.”

“Yeah, I know,” I agreed, running a hand through my sweat-dampened hair. “But it’s not just about the business, you know? It’s...”

“It’s about Hope,” Tucker finished for me.

I nodded.

Tucker’s face shifted to one of understanding. “I get it. You don’t wanna leave her for Christmas.”

“We’re just starting to figure things out,” I said. “And the thing that got us to this point is that list of stuff to do in Charlotte Oaks at Christmas. How can I bail after I worked so hard to convince her to do it with me?”

The thought of missing it—missing that time with her—made my chest ache in a way I wasn’t used to. I looked away from Tuck, surprised to see Gertietrotting in like she owned the place. The goat made a beeline for me, her little hooves clicking on the boxing gym’s floor. She butted her head against my leg, looking up with those oddly knowing eyes.

“Hey there, troublemaker,” I said, bending down to scratch behind her ears.

“Listen, Colt,” Tucker said, “I could take the case in Nashville if you want.”

I straightened up, shaking my head immediately. “No way. It’s your first Christmas with Dakota. I can’t ask you to give that up. Plus, she scares me a little.”

“As she should. But for real, maybe I could take Kota up to Nashville, and she can help me.”

“You actuallywantto let her help you with a case?”

He wrinkled his nose. “No. But since she’s obsessed with trying to get me to let her, I could call it a Christmas present.”

“She’s gonna want to spend Christmas with her family.”

He seemed to think that over, then nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. You sure you don’t mind going? It’ll be a hefty payday, but you need to decide if it’s worth it.”

“I know.”

As if on cue, Gertie headbutted me in the shins, nearly knocking me off balance. I looked down at her, bewildered. “What’s gotten into you?”

Tucker chuckled. “I don’t think she thinks it’s worth it.”

I felt my face heat up, realizing how transparent my feelings must be if even a goat could pick up on them. “Hey now,” I said, feeling ridiculous as I addressed Gertie directly. “I haven’t made any decisions yet, alright?”

Gertie bleated in response, fixing me with a stare that seemed far too knowing for a goat.

“I can’t believe I’m trying to defend myself to a goat,” I muttered.

“Welcome to Charlotte Oaks,” Tucker quipped.

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