Page 18 of A Perfect Christmas Dance (Kringle, Texas #7)

Back inside, Nina escorted Gee to his table and then searched the crowded barn for one dear face among the sea of partygoers. The Christmas party was in full swing, laughter and chatter filling the air, but Nina couldn’t shake the knot of anxiety in her stomach.

Where was Ryan?

He’d been right here, playing the host, but now he’d vanished.

She weaved through people, smiling politely at greetings but not stopping to chat. Her gaze darted from face to face, looking for Ryan’s tall frame and warm brown eyes, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“Nina!” Scott’s voice called out over the din. He approached, a glass of punch in hand. “Great party. Thank you so much for all you did helping Ryan this year.”

“It was my pleasure,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without the town pitching in. Have you seen Ryan, by the way?”

Scott pursed his lips. “Hmm, not for a while, but if I see him, I’ll let him know you’re looking for him.”

She checked the refreshment tables and then the dance floor and finally poked her head into the old tack room converted into a coat check.

No Ryan.

Nina passed by a group of older women from her church and overheard a snippet of conversation.

“…selling the bakery,” one of them whispered. “Can you believe it? After all these years…”

“I heard she’s leaving town,” another added. “Such a shame. That bakery’s been a fixture in Kringle for generations.”

Good grief. The grapevine had gone into hyperdrive. How had they found out so quickly? But if they knew, had Ryan also heard the rumor?

Where had he gotten off to?

Nina pushed open the barn doors and stepped out again. Strings of lights illuminated the guests huddled around the fire pit or heading to their cars. Was Ryan here bidding people good night?

She walked around the fire pit, anxious to see him, excited to tell him her big news, but didn’t see him.

Had he gone to the house for something?

Turning, she was about to head for the farmhouse when she spied him leaning against the old oak tree next to the barn. His back was to her, shoulders tense under his jacket. Was his knee hurting him? Was that why he’d taken a break?

“Ryan,” she called.

His shoulders stiffened, and he didn’t turn around.

Alarm fled through her. “Ryan, you okay?”

Slowly, he rotated his body toward her, but his face stayed hidden in the shadows. “I’m fine.”

“I’ve been looking for you.”

Ryan stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets. “Yeah, it’s been a busy night. Lots to do.”

Nina frowned and walked closer. His tone was polite but distant. “Are you sure everything is okay? You seem…”

He shrugged, his gaze drifting past her to the people around the firepit. “Everything’s fine. Just tired, I guess.”

Nina searched his face. “No, it’s more than that. What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing, Nina. Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s not nothing. Talk to me, Ryan. Please.”

He was silent for a long moment, his jaw clenching and unclenching. Finally, he met her gaze. “I heard about you selling the bakery, and I’m happy for you.”

Nina’s heart sank. What must he be thinking? “Oh, Ryan…”

“It’s okay. I get it. This is your chance to see the world. Travel. Do the things you never got to do because you took over the family obligation. I just… I thought we had something going, but I understand. We’ve only been hanging out for two weeks, and I don’t really figure into your plans.”

“Leave Kringle?” Nina blinked, stunned. “Ryan, no. That’s not?—”

He held up a palm. “You don’t have to explain. You’ve dreamed of traveling, of seeing the world. I don’t want to hold you back. It’s best to step away from our relationship now before…”

“Before what?” Nina asked, her heart racing.

Ryan’s eyes met hers. “Before I fall any deeper.”

Nina’s breath caught in her throat. She reached out, taking his hand in hers. “Oh, Ryan. You’ve got it all wrong.”

He looked down at their joined hands and then back up at her. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not selling the bakery to leave,” she explained, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m selling it so I can have time for us .”

Ryan’s eyes widened. “What?”

Nina took a deep breath and squeezed his hand. “The bakery has been my life. Every minute, every decision has revolved around it. And I love it, I do. But…” She paused, searching for the right words. “There’s been no room for anything else. No room for me. No room for more.”

A smile crept across his face. “So you’re not leaving?”

Nina shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “No, I’m staying. I’ll still work at the bakery as the manager, but without the financial burden hanging over me. I’ll still be part of it. I’m just making space for the things that matter.”

“And what matters?” he asked.

Nina pressed a palm to his chest and felt the rapid beat of his heart that matched her own. “You. Us. The life we could build together, if… if that’s what you want too.”

For a moment, Ryan just stared at her, his eyes searching her face. Then he tugged her into his arms and held her close.

Nina melted into his embrace and buried her face against his chest.

“Really?” He exhaled.

“Really.”

“I thought I was losing you,” Ryan murmured against her hair. “I’ve been so afraid of that; I didn’t even let myself hope…”

Nina pulled back to look up at him. “You’re not losing me, Ryan. Not at all.”

Ryan cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb across her skin.

“I’ve wanted to get to know you better for years, but I was just in such a bad place after my parents died.

I wasn’t ready to move on. But now, this year, I’ve felt ready to live again, and when you invited me to dance that day in the bakery, I thought, well, maybe you wanted to get to know me better, too. ”

“It is what I want,” Nina said, reaching up to trace her fingers over his beard stubble. “I want this. I want you. I want us .”

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other’s arms, the night air forgotten. The sounds of the party faded into the background, leaving just the two of them in their own little world.

Finally, Ryan pulled back slightly, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“Dance with me?” he asked softly.

Nina blinked, surprised. “Here? Now?”

Ryan nodded, already pulling her closer. He cocked his head toward the barn where the sounds of “Christmas Cookies” seeped through doors. “They’re playing our song.”

“But your knee?—”

“Never mind that. Please, right here, under the stars. Just you and me.”

She smiled up at him. “I’d love to.”

They began to sway gently, barely moving. It wasn’t a graceful dance—Ryan’s knee made sure of that—but it was perfect in its own way. Overhead, the bright moon shone down on them. Nina rested her head on Ryan’s chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart.

“Tell me something,” Ryan said.

Nina lifted her head to look at him. “What?”

“Tell me about your dreams. The ones that don’t involve the bakery.”

She thought for a moment. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to paint. To capture the sunrise over the fields or the way the light hits the town square in the evening.”

Ryan’s smile deepened. “Really? That sounds amazing. I bet you’d be great at it.”

Nina ducked her head, suddenly shy. “Maybe. What about you? What are your dreams?”

Ryan was quiet for a moment, his fingers tracing small circles on her back. “I’ve been thinking about doing more with the ranch. Maybe adding some educational programs, teaching kids about sustainable farming practices.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. The schools would love it, I bet.”

“Yeah, but it’s a big undertaking. I wasn’t sure I could manage it all on my own, even with the help of my ranch hands. Scott and Jenny will be too busy raising their little one to pitch in much.”

“You’re not on your own anymore, Ryan,” she said. “Whatever you need—whether it’s help with the programs or just someone to bounce ideas off of—I’m here, and I can say that because I’ll have time for the people I care about.”

“I like the sound of that,” he said. “And I’m here for you as well.”

They fell silent again, continuing their slow swaying dance under the stars. Ahead of her lay a future she’d never dared to imagine before, but now it felt tantalizingly within reach.

“Oh!” Ryan said. “I almost forgot. I have something for you.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small wrapped package.

Nina blinked in surprise. “Ryan, you didn’t have to get me?—”

“I wanted to. Open it.”

Nina unwrapped the gift. Inside was a delicate silver charm in the shape of a whisk. She looked up at Ryan and laughed. “It’s perfect.”

“I bought it before I knew you were selling the bakery,” he explained, “but I wanted you to have something to remember where you came from. The bakery might not be yours anymore, but the talent, the passion—that’s all you, Nina.”

Her eyes misted, and she clutched the charm to her chest, overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness. “I love it,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

“Merry Christmas, Nina,” he murmured.

As they resumed their dance, a sense of peace settled over her. The anxiety and uncertainty that had plagued her melted away, replaced by hope and happiness.

She thought about the long road that had led her to this moment.

The years of early mornings and late nights at the bakery, the weight of family legacy on her shoulders.

She thought about the first time she’d really noticed Ryan—not just the handsome rancher, but as someone who saw her in a way no one else did.

And now, here they were, on the cusp of something new and wonderful.

“What are you thinking?” Ryan asked.

Nina smiled, tightening her arms around his neck. “Just… how lucky I am. How excited I am for the future.”

Ryan’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back. “Me too,” he said. “I can’t wait.”

“Should we head back inside?” Nina asked, though she made no move to let go of Ryan. “Be sociable?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. Let’s stay here a little longer. Just us.”

Nina looked at Ryan. His eyes met hers, dark with desire. Without a word, he pulled her close, one hand on her waist, the other intertwining with her fingers.

They moved, not to the faint music from the barn, but to a rhythm all their own. Ryan dipped his head, and when his lips met hers in a searing kiss, she melted into him.

Ryan’s arms tightened around her, and she slid her free hand up to tangle in his hair. They swayed together, lost in the taste and feel of each other. The kiss deepened, hungry and passionate, full of beautiful nights to come.

When they finally parted, both were breathless. Ryan rested his forehead against hers, their bodies pressed together.

As snowflakes began to drift down around them, Nina knew she would remember this precious moment forever.

It was, without a doubt, a perfect Christmas dance.