Page 59 of Two Hearts' Christmas Homecoming

Tugging open the latch, she peeked inside curiously, pulling out the instructions and checking them out. She knew right away what he’d bought since there were diagrams included.

“Oh, Lex. That’s so generous of you. Everyone’s sure going to get a kick out of setting these up.” Her eyes lit up in obvious excitement. “And you got meRudolph.”

Lex started laughing. “Clarissa is there with him too.”

“I still have to watch that movie every year when it’s on TV,” she admitted, looking sheepish. “I just can’t resist.”

“Can I tell you something?” he asked in a whisper.

“What?”

He grimaced. “I might have been four or five years older than you, but it was always my favorite too.”

They burst into laughter.

A few minutes later, Lex pulled into the parking lot of the Crystal Rock Tap. “The band starts early tonight since it’s Friday, I was told. I thought we could hang around for a while since everyone’s busy at the winery.”

“The perfect place for our first date,” Amy said, giving him a wide smile as he stepped out from the car, making his way around to open the passenger door for her.

This was a place where they’d eaten a lot as a family, so there were several people to talk to once they went inside.

After they were seated in a booth near the bar, they ordered their lunch.

“I still love the Reubens,” Amy said to their waitress Julie, also the daughter of the owner.

“That, and the French Dip are still our most popular items, although we’re always packed for breakfast now too,” Julie replied, turning to Lex with a smile. “Speaking of French Dip…”

Lex smiled. “You’ve got it, Julie. I can’t believe you remembered. I haven’t had one for a couple years. That was the last time I was able to visit home for more than a day.”

“Would the two of you like anything to drink?”

“You know, Amy just finished her finals. Maybe I’ll have a beer since we’re going to stick around and listen to the band.”

“What about you, Amy?” Julie asked. “You know, you’re still so tiny, you don’t look any older than you did when I first met you. You’ve got to be what—twenty, now?”

“If I could, I’d have some Chablis, but I’ll just have water,” Amy said dryly. “I’ve always found it nuts that at nineteen you can get married here or own a gun, but you can’t even drink one single glass of wine.”

“I get it,” Julie agreed. “And don’t get me started on guns. My husband Dylan is our local game warden but he’s always the first to protest the fact that there aren’t rigid enough gun control laws.” She glanced back and forth between Lex and Amy. “Wait a minute. Don’t tell me that the two of you are together?”

Lex winked at Julie. “We are.”

“To tell you the truth, I’m not surprised. Lex was always so protective of you Amy, especially when you were a teenager. You two make such a cute couple. I’m going to quit talking so much so the two of you can celebrate, since you’re probably here on a date,” Julie said, turning away. “I’ll put in the order and then go get your drinks.”

Lex quickly changed the subject after Julie walked away. “Do you think that Matthew would be up to climbing on the roof so we can display Santa and his reindeer up there?”

Amy blinked, and then grinned. “Of course, he will. He’d probably do anything you want. He still talks about you all the time to his friends. He really got attached to you, Lex. You should probably keep in touch with him a little more. I think he might be in a rut thinking about the future.”

“I’ll be sure to make more of an effort. I haven’t even seen him since we’ve been back.”

“I don’t think he realized you were home, otherwise he would have shown up for breakfast this morning. He must have headed back to the winery since it’s going to be so busy because of the holidays. I’m not sure if you knew that he’s actually running the place now? He’s also become a pretty good cook.”

Lex grinned. “But not as good as you?”

She grimaced. “He’s trying.”

They laughed.

* * *

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