Page 6 of A Perfect Christmas Dance (Kringle, Texas #7)

From his spot across the room, he noticed the way her eyes darted around, taking in the women who had been circling him like hawks all afternoon. He suppressed a smile, sipping his coffee and leaning back in his chair.

It was the annual Kringle Senior Citizen Community Center Christmas party, and everyone was in a particularly festive mood, probably because his friend Charlie Gunter had spiked the punch bowl.

Jean stood up, her gaze fixed on him, and he felt his heart beat a little faster.

She was a striking woman, confident in a way that drew people to her.

He’d always thought of her as more of an acquaintance, but lately, he’d noticed the way she looked at him, and it stirred something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

As she made her way over, Garrett saw a couple of the other women shift, their gazes narrowing slightly. He couldn’t help but be impressed. Jean was bold, that was for sure, and she looked radiant in pine-green slacks and a red cashmere sweater.

She slipped between the tables, weaving past a tray of barbecue sliders and a platter of cookies from Ellis Early Eats frosted in red and green.

“I’m gonna get some more punch,” Charlie said. “You want some?”

“No, I’m good,” Garrett said, his eyes locked on Jean.

Charlie winked and nudged him in the elbow and then ambled off to the beverage table.

“Hello, Garrett,” Jean said.

“Jean.” He nodded and took a casual sip of his coffee. “Congrats on besting those old codgers. You’ll have fun on Padre.”

“Sadly,” Jean said, lowering her lashes. “I have no one to accompany me on the trip, but then again, I’ve never been afraid to travel solo.”

Was that an invitation? Garrett’s heart skipped a couple of beats. Maybe he should lay off the coffee.

“Enjoying the party?” he asked because he didn’t know what else to say.

“It’s a little stuffy in here. Would you mind accompanying me outside for a walk?” She put a hand on his forearm.

“Sure.” He tossed the paper cup in the nearby trash can, wondering what brought all this on, but not wanting to jinx things by asking.

Jean slipped her arm through his and leaned in to whisper, “I saw Betty Pats heading your way and thought you might need a rescue.”

“Oh,” he said, feeling a little disappointed. “Is that what this is?”

“I know how she can natter on, bless her heart.”

“A rescue, huh?” He lifted his eyebrows and quirked a grin.

“Let’s call it that, just in case.”

“All right, then.” He guided her to the coatrack. “Which one is yours?”

“The red one.”

Of course, it was. Nothing shy and retiring about Jean. He helped her on with her coat, then held open the door. They stepped outside together.

“Which direction?” he asked.

“How about the lake?”

“That’s a good mile away.”

“Are your knees acting up?”

“No.”

“Mine either.”

“It’s another mile back.”

“I’m fully aware of how walking works, Garrett Ellis.”

He laughed and they set off, the fallen leaves crunching beneath their feet, the afternoon sun peeking through the clouds.

“We should do this more often,” she said. “Why haven’t we done it before?”

“I don’t know.” He slid a glance over at her, her arm still tucked through his. It felt nice against his side.

Jean smiled, pleasure in her eyes. “Are you planning on attending the Danvers Christmas Eve party at the Double D?”

“I go every year they have the event,” he said. “I delivered both Ryan and Jenny.”

“You delivered most everyone in Kringle.”

“Not your kids.” He’d been the only doctor in Kringle for years, but Jean had never come to see him, preferring to drive to Fort Worth instead, but he’d never taken it personally.

“It’s nice to see the Danvers’ place return to life,” she said. “I was afraid Ryan and Jenny weren’t ever going to shake their grief.”

“Me too. It’s a hard thing, for sure. Losing people you love. The pain never really goes away, does it?” Garrett gazed out over Lake Kringle and watched a pair of cranes skim over the water.

Jean gave his arm a gentle squeeze. “No, it doesn’t, but we’re still here, Garrett. We’re still living.”

“True.”

“How’s bakery life treating you?”

“It’s a lot sweeter than medicine,” he deadpanned.

Jean pulled back and stopped walking.

He stopped, too. “What is it?”

“You’re a funny man, Garrett Ellis. Why didn’t I know that about you?”

“Probably because we’ve never spent much time getting to know each other. All these years, we’ve been mere acquaintances because you didn’t trust my medical opinion,” he teased.

“Oh, but that is not true,” she said. “I just wanted to keep my secrets secret.”

“What secrets might those be?”

“Well, would it be as much fun to walk with me if you were thinking about that ugly scar on my knee? Or how hideous my appendix looked when it came out?”

He laughed. “So you’re an enigma.”

“It makes this a lot more fun, don’t you think?”

“Walking? Or did you have something else in mind?”

“I might,” she said. “If you’re interested. I did win a trip for two to Padre.”

“Why don’t you come by the bakery on Thursday morning, say around seven, if you’re an early riser? We can have a cup of coffee and some of Nina’s blueberry cinnamon rolls and a good conversation to start the day, see how things go.”

“Call it date?”

“Yes, Jean, I think we should.”