“Here he is,” Roxanne said as Fred pulled up, her voice husky. It had been a while since anyone had affected her like this. Liam’s fingers lingering on her shoulders hadn’t escaped her notice.

“Let’s go,” he said, opening the door for her, placing his hand on the small of her back.

Outside, the snow had started to fall again. They rushed through the white puffs floating in the air toward the limo. Liam quickly opened the door, letting her climb in first. Then he slid in behind her.

“Where to?” Fred smirked and there was a twinkle in his eye when he saw that Liam was with her. Obviously, he was pleased that she was with someone. In fact, this had been the first time that she had been with someone in a while.

“Santa’s Cafe?” Roxanne asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Sounds good,” Liam replied. “It’s been a while since I’ve been there. My treat, of course.”

Roxanne laughed. “That’s okay, Liam.”

Liam leaned forward. “Santa’s Café, please.”

A broad smile spread across Fred’s face. “Yes, sir.” He pulled down the long, narrow drive and onto the main road.

Liam laughed, shaking his head.

“What?” Roxanne asked.

“I feel like we’ve just gotten away with something, for some reason.” Liam chuckled. “My parents will be livid that we snuck off and didn’t give them the opportunity to gush over us.”

“I’m surprised that my mother hasn’t called yet.” Then she thought of something. “Liam, let’s agree not to answer our phones tonight. It’ll do our parents some good to stew a bit.” After all, they were adults and had the right to disappear for the evening, if they choose.

Liam nodded, smiling. “Yes, I think it would.”

They both looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“You do realize that we’ll pay for this tomorrow, don’t you?”

He shrugged. “Yes, but it’ll be worth it.” Then he reached over and took her hand. Somehow, the minor gesture didn’t feel as awkward as it had at the ball. Then his expression suddenly turned serious. “We’ll have to make a plan.”

Roxanne nodded, smiling. “Yes, but let’s do it tomorrow. Tonight, let’s just have fun.”

“Sounds good.” Liam smiled as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “So, where do you live?”

“I have a condo at the Evergreen Tower Condominiums.”

One corner of his lips lifted into a sexy smile. “Oh! You do, do you?”

“Yes, but I’m still not an elitist.”

Liam bit his upper lip to keep from smiling. “So, which floor is your condo?”

“The Penthouse.”

They looked at each other and burst out laughing again.

“Okay, smartypants,” Roxanne teased. “Do you live at The North Pole Lodge?”

Liam nodded. “Yes. I have a two-bedroom suite.” He shrugged. “It came with the job.”

Roxanne smiled. “It must be nice to have a condo come with your job.”

He sighed, looking into her eyes. “If I had chosen to live away from the lodge, they would have given me a housing allowance.” He shrugged. “But I’m single, and I’m often needed for emergencies. So, I opted to stay there. Win-win.”

Roxanne nodded. “So, do you think you’ll ever... move?”

Liam chuckled and then whispered low so Fred couldn’t hear. His breath tickled her ear. “I thought we weren’t really engaged.”

“Oh, I know.” Roxanne giggled. “I’m just making conversation.” Then she pulled back to look into his eyes. “So, have you ever thought of getting married one day?”

Liam nodded, tilting his head to the side. “Yes, to the right person one day.” He raised an eyebrow. “And you?”

She shrugged. “Well, right now, I have my hands full with the shop. But one day, if I meet the right person, then yes. Of course.”

Liam nodded. “That’s good enough for me.”

Roxanne burst out laughing. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that’s enough... for now.” Liam smiled. “Just to let you know, when I say something, there’s not a hidden meaning behind it. With me, what you see is what you get.”

Roxanne nodded thoughtfully. “Good to know.” It was refreshing to be with someone she didn’t feel like she had to put on airs for. Then she realized that she had been entirely wrong about him. Despite the circles Liam frequented, he wasn’t a snob at all but a down-to-earth, regular guy.

Outside the window, the snow fell lazily onto the ground, sparkling in the moonlight as it gently touched the evergreens and the ground. Everything seemed more beautiful tonight, for some reason. Was it because she was with Liam, or because she had never taken the time to notice it before?

Soon, they pulled up in front of Santa’s Cafe, and, luckily, it was still open. After Fred pulled the limousine to a stop in front, Liam looked into her eyes, giving her a sexy smile without trying. “Shall we?”

Roxanne nodded. “Fred, I’ll call or text when we’re ready.”

He nodded, smiling. “Take your time, Ms. Kincaid.”

She returned the smile and took the hand that Liam offered, letting him help her out. Then he opened the door for her at the cafe, and a gust of warmth rushed toward them.

“Hello, and welcome to Santa’s Cafe!” a waitress asked, wearing a warm smile as she took two menus from the rack on the partition by the hostess stand. Her name tag read SANDY.

“Yes, please,” Liam said, taking charge. Roxanne had been so used to taking charge of every aspect of her life that it was nice to be with a man who took the lead. Even if it was as simple as being the one to answer first.

A broad smile spread across her caramel skin. “Well, right this way, then!” Sandy walked away, expecting them to follow, and stopped beside a booth toward the front of the diner.

“Do you have something a bit more private?” Liam asked before Roxanne could.

“Oh! Yes, of course!” Sandy headed toward a vacant booth in the back corner. “Is this a little better?”

“Perfect.” Roxanne slid into one side of the booth and Liam the other.

Sandy laid the menus down on the table before them. “So, can I get you two some hot chocolate or some warm apple cider, along with a plate of Mrs. Claus’s Christmas Cookies? They’re hot out of the oven!”

Liam smiled at Roxanne, letting her order first.

It had been a while since Roxanne had been out with a gentleman, and she was enjoying it. “No cookies for me, but I’ll take a cup of hot apple cider, please.”

“The same for me, but I can’t resist Mrs. Claus’s cookies,” Liam replied.

Roxanne giggled.

“Sounds good!” Sandy chirped.

It appeared that excessive cheerfulness was a quality required of nearly everyone who worked there. But then again, that was true of nearly every business in Christmas Cove, which was one of the reasons why Roxanne loved the town.