Page 68 of Stuck with my Mountain Daddies

Too long.

Too close.

Her mittened hand was pressed against my chest. Her mouth parted like she wanted to speak but didn’t know how.

Or maybe she didn’t trust what would come out if she did.

The sound of the parade faded to a dull thrum. It was just us.

And everything we hadn’t said.

“Hi,” she half-whispered. It shattered something in me.

“Hi,” I breathed.

Lucy’s voice broke the moment. “Beckett Wolfe, you absolute hero. Well done.”

She reached to take Biscuit, who had the audacity to look proud of himself.

“I, uh. Sorry.” Riley moved to get down, flustered now. “He came out of nowhere?—”

“You okay?” I asked, not moving.

Her breath hitched. “Yeah. I think so.”

She didn’t push me away. Not right away. And I didn’t let her go.

Until I had to.

Carefully, I lowered her back to her feet. Her cheeks were pink, but it wasn’t just the cold now. Mine were probably the same.

Biscuit circled our feet as if he’d orchestrated the whole thing.

“Thanks for the save,” Riley murmured, brushing a curl from her face.

“I’ve got quick reflexes,” I said. My voice sounded rough. Like I hadn’t used it in days. “When it counts.”

The air between us hummed. Behind her, Lucy gave me alook.

And all around us, Medford carried on. Lights dancing, cider steaming, kids yelling, Hattie Cooper passing out cookies, Charlie Dunn rambling about the classic film potential of falling into someone’s arms at a parade.

But for me, there was only Riley.

And the truth that no matter how much time had passed, I’d never stopped being ready to catch her.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Riley

There were exactlythree things I swore I wouldn’t do when I agreed to come with Lucy to the Winter Lantern Parade:

1. I wouldn’t stay long.

2. I wouldn’t run into any of the Wolfe brothers.

3. And underno circumstances whatsoeverwould I go anywhere near Sadie’s ridiculous charity Matchmaker Hot Cocoa Booth.

And yet, there I was.

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