Christmas in Bayberry

“You don’t have to twist my arm. I was sold at chocolate and marshmallows.”

Her eyes lit up. “A man after my own heart.” And then her face reddened. “Well, you know what I mean.”

When Carrie returned to their table, they ordered a couple of hot chocolates. Silence fell over them. Kate tried to come up with something to talk about other than the candle company. They’d already talked about it more than enough.

Wes fidgeted with a spoon. “You know, I was thinking about the candle company—”

“No.” She held up her hand. “Tonight’s too good to ruin with work talk.”

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to help.”

Carrie arrived with their hot chocolates smothered in little marshmallows. It was just the way Kate loved it. She immediately took a sip of the rich, creamy concoction. She moaned in delight.

“Perfect,” she said before returning to their conversation. “It’s just that I’d rather think about you in the snowbank. It makes me smile.”

He feigned a frown. “I like how my near-death experience amuses you.”

“It’s the little things in life.” A small giggle escaped her lips before she took a drink of her cocoa.

“Then I guess that chocolate mustache of yours is another one of those small amusing things.” He sent her a teasing smile.

Heat flooded her cheeks. She quickly reached for a napkin and wiped her mouth.

“Better?” she asked.

“I don’t know. You looked kinda cute with the ‘stache.”

She sighed before stirring the marshmallows into her cocoa. “It won’t be long until the dance. Everyone is chipping in. I just hope it turns out okay.”

He stirred his own cocoa. “It’ll all work out. Just wait and see.”

“Tomorrow, everyone is meeting at the community hall and we’re going to start looking through last year’s decorations. We’ll see what needs to be replaced. Abby let me know the quilting group has agreed to do the baking instead of having to buy desserts. And Carrie arranged to have everyone bring a covered dish instead of having the event catered. And the young man I was talking to after the race? He rearranged his calendar and he’s able to DJ the dance, so we won’t have to pay for a band.”

“Do you want to go with me to the dance?” The words came out of his mouth in one big garbled rush.

Had he just asked her to the dance? Her heart leapt into her throat. But his words had been so rushed, she wasn’t quite sure. She really hoped she’d heard him correctly.

Kate swallowed hard as her palms grew damp. “Did…did you just ask me to the dance?”

His gaze met hers. “I’ve been waiting to ask you that question for seventeen years.”

Her eyes widened as her brows rose. “You have?”

He nodded. “I’d planned to ask you to the Candlelight Dance all those years ago. I was so nervous because I’d never asked a girl to a dance before, and I was pretty certain you were going to turn me down. It took me a while to work up the courage, and just when I did—just when I’d promised myself I would ask you the next day at school, my father came home from work that night and told us that we were moving—again. We were leaving right away—before the dance.”

“And so you never got to go?”

He shook his head. “So I’ve been waiting a very long time to ask you. And I have to admit that after all these years, I’m still nervous. I know that sounds silly.”

“Not at all.” Her insides trembled with excitement. “Go ahead.” When he gave her a puzzled look, she said, “Ask me.”

A look of comprehension dawned. “Oh.” He visibly swallowed and then took her hand in his. His touch was warm and sent goosebumps up her arm, setting her heart aflutter. “Kate, I would be honored if you’d agree to be my date to the Candlelight Dance—”

r /> “Yes! I’d love to!”

“You would?” He stared at her for a moment as though digesting her words. “I mean, don’t feel like you have to—”

“Did it sound like a pity acceptance?” She threw him a dazzling smile.