“Looking for hints as to what you might get?”

  “No!” As a matter of fact, she’d never thought about getting a Christmas gift from Wyatt. She hadn’t expected him to be here for the holiday. Now she had to get him a gift and include him in their celebrations! “Really, don’t feel obligated to get me anything.”

  “I don’t. I just like to find things that people might like. I haven’t found the perfect something for you, but I did find a terrific gift for the Brodys.”

  “Oh?”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Brody are getting too old to ride their property on horseback, especially since he had a stroke. And James and Sandy are out there often, so I got them four all-terrain vehicles. ATVs, a lot like I had when we were younger.”

  “I thought those were mostly for kids and hunters.”

  “No, they’re for everyone. The salesman at the dealership told me lots of ranchers use them. I think James and his father, especially, will get a kick out of them.”

  “Yes, I’m sure they will.”

  “Have you ridden an ATV since you graduated from high school?”

  “No, of course not. Why would I? Where would I?”

  “I’ll see if James will let us use his, as soon as they’re delivered.”

  “Well, I’ll see.”

  “Come on, where’s your sense of adventure?”

  “Firmly locked in a box on a top shelf in my closet, where I can keep it away from the reality of broken bones. The older I get, the more concerned I am about my mortality.”

  Wyatt laughed and turned right on the road to Dewey’s. The sun had set and the night was dark. Toni thought of another night, when she’d driven him with stealth to the water tower. She felt a little strange to be out in public with Wyatt, partly as if they were both eighteen again, and partly as if they were near-strangers who hadn’t made love—correction, had sex—beneath the stars just ten days ago.

  There had been no talk of love as they’d lost themselves in each other. There had been little talking at all until later, when Wyatt had become amazingly chatty.

  Tonight, they shared a surprisingly fun dinner of salads, steaks, baked potatoes and a glass of red wine each. Nothing extravagant. They saw a lot of people they both knew, but no one seemed all that surprised to see them out in public together. Toni looked around for anyone who seemed to be whispering about them, but she didn’t see anyone.

  Okay. So far, so good. She breathed a sigh of relief when Wyatt paid the tab and left a generous tip. He helped her into her leather jacket like a perfect gentleman and escorted her outside.

  “You know that sweater is driving me crazy, don’t you?” he said when they settled in the SUV for the drive to the theater.

  “Really? It’s red. For Christmas.”

  “It has a zipper. For unzipping.”

  “It’s a fashion statement.”

  “It’s a temptation.”

  She wouldn’t dare let him know she was secretly pleased. Payback was tough, she thought. “You’re not going to do anything about it, though, right? You promised to be on your best behavior.”

  “Don’t you remember that old saying. ‘When she was good, she was very, very good. And when she was bad, she was terrific.’ That applies to men, as well.”

  “Hmm.”

  “You were terrific last weekend, you know.”

  She kept her expression bland. Bored, really. But inside she smiled. “We’re starting over, remember? Last weekend didn’t exist.”

  “Oh, yeah, it did. But I’m willing to avoid talking about it, if that makes you happy.”

  “I’m just looking forward to the movie.”

  Wyatt ran his gaze up and down the zipper on her sweater. “Me, too.”

  The Rialto wasn’t crowded on a Tuesday night. They’d strung bright white lights around the marquee and poster windows. Inside, a silver tree stood beside the end of the concession stand. The interior of the theater hadn’t been changed in twenty or thirty years, and Toni really felt as if she and Wyatt were reliving the past.

  “Come here,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her toward the balcony.

  “I’m not sitting up there with you. No way.”

  “Okay, but just let me go upstairs and see the old place. I have a lot of good memories of that balcony.”

  “We are not making out in the balcony.”

  “As much as I enjoyed that, there are other memories, too,” he said, pulling her toward the staircase. A thick red velvet rope with a clip on one end barred their entrance, but Wyatt made quick work of that obstacle.

  “Wyatt, we’re going to get into trouble,” Toni whispered.

  “No, I already asked the manager if I could just go upstairs to see the old place. He said it was okay.”

  “I’m not sure I believe you.”

  “Why would I lie about something so simple?” he asked, sounding genuinely confused. “You could always ask him.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Oh, okay, then. Go on.” She shook her head at his grin and tromped up the stairs after him. She was not going first, where he could stare at her bottom.

  In the musty, dimly lit balcony, time had indeed stood still. The old projector, just over their heads, sent a stream of dusty light toward the screen, on which a cartoon trash can was gobbling up empty cups and candy wrappers. The smell of old velvet fabric, spilled soft drinks and popcorn permeated the air.

  “This place is still exactly like it was when we were kids,” she said.

  “Yeah, isn’t that great? I used to shoot my water gun down to the front row, hitting you and Jennifer, if you were in the audience, or any of my other classmates or friends.”

  “I remember that. You threw popcorn, too.”

  “No, that was James. He didn’t have a water gun.”

  “Good thing. One was enough.” Toni folded her jacket over her arm and wandered down the row. On the screen below, the previews were starting. She felt Wyatt more than heard him over the soundtrack.

  “We should find a seat down there,” she whispered, turning back so he could hear her.

  “You always did like the previews.”

  She nodded, letting herself feel the past. The memory of another movie date pushed into her thoughts. She and Wyatt, Jennifer and Tommy, double-dating, sitting in the balcony. They’d gone to see A Few Good Men, although she and Jennifer had wanted to see The Last of the Mohicans again. They could have sat through that movie a hundred times, staring at Daniel Day-Lewis running through the forest with his long rifle. Yummy.

  And since they’d seen A Few Good Men before and Wyatt and Tommy already knew most of the dialogue, she and Wyatt had ended up pairing off and making out. She’d worn a blouse with cute little tabs instead of buttonholes. Wyatt had managed to get them open, but when the manager stomped up the steps in the middle of the movie, neither she nor Wyatt had been able to get them closed. She’d been terribly embarrassed, certain that she’d be sent home in disgrace, her white lace demicup bra showing. Instead, the boys had been sent downstairs and she and Jennifer had sat upstairs, silently watching a movie they didn’t want to see.

  “Toni?” Wyatt said, bringing her back to the present.

  “Yes?” she managed to say before he kissed her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Wyatt’s kiss was sweet, his lips soft and firm. Her folded jacket kept them from coming together fully, which was just as well because she was tempted to put her arms around him and keep him in this balcony for as long as the movie was playing. But that would defeat the purpose of dating, spending time in public and seeing if they had a future together rather than just a past.

  He pulled back. “If you’re going to keep me away from that zipper, we should really go downstairs.”

  “You’re right. Enough of the walk down memory lane.”

  “I have some very good memories of this place.”

  “I have good and bad. I don’t think you ever realized how much I dreaded getting caught doing something we shouldn’t have been doing. That time we were discovered with my blouse unbuttoned was particularly embarrassing.”

  “I’m sorry. Most of the time it seemed funny to me.”

  “You never got into any trouble.”

  “That’s not exactly true, but I didn’t get into trouble like the rest of you.”

  “I don’t want to feel that way again, like I’m doing something wrong and everyone will know.”

  “And judge you.”

  “Well, yes. They’ll have their opinion, and let’s face it. If I get caught undressed in public as an adult, as their mayor, they have a right to be judgmental. And even angry. They put their faith in me and I let them down.”

  “Still, you’re not a nun. Or a saint.”

  “No, but I’m supposed to be a good example. That means I have to be careful.”

  “I’m not going to do anything to compromise your reputation.”

  “I want to believe you, Wyatt. Really, I do.”

  He sighed. “I know it’s going to take more than words.”

  “You’re doing fine.” She felt as if she should cross her fingers or knock on wood. How long could Wyatt remain “good”?

  “Sometimes, I wish you weren’t the mayor.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that, so she took his hand and led him down the stairs. The movie was starting and this conversation had come to an end.

  WYATT HAD HOPED TONI would ask him to come into her house when he took her home. She reminded him that she had an early morning at the job site on Wednesday, so she couldn’t stay up late. Then she’d leaned across the console and kissed him until his toes curled. When she pulled back, she said that he was so tempting that she couldn’t trust herself alone with him, and then she’d smiled sweetly and gotten out of the SUV. He’d scrambled to catch up, walk her to her door and act like a gentleman.

  How was a man supposed to react when a woman said he was too tempting? She’d told him that twice now. He wanted to push her door open, pick her up in his arms and carry her into her bedroom, à la Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind.

  But Rhett Butler was married to Scarlett O’Hara in that classic movie, plus he was trying to prove something. Wyatt wasn’t married, and he was still having a hard time contemplating taking such a big step. Even with a woman he’d known most of his life and wanted so much he could barely see straight.

  He was too wound up to go back to the motel, so he drove out to Dewey’s to have a beer and listen to some bar talk.

  Unfortunately, there were only five guys listening to country-western music, watching a Stars game and sipping brews. Three of them were cowboys he didn’t know. One was Bud Hammer, who’d been a grumpy old man years ago, and the last one was Leo Casale.

  He wasn’t sure how he felt about chatting with Toni’s brother, but it was too late now. Wyatt knew he’d been spotted.

  “Hey, Leo,” he said, taking the bar stool between him and Bud. “What’s up?”

  “My cable’s out,” he replied, “so I came here to watch the game.”

  “You should sue that cable company,” Bud advised.

  Leo shook his head and ignored the older man. “What’s up with you? Didn’t you have a date with my sister tonight?”

  “I did, and I got her home nice and early, as requested.”

  Leo looked surprised. “Good for you. She’ll like that.”

  “It’s the least I could do. She has a lot going on in her life.”

  “Woman mayor,” Wyatt heard Bud grumble. “Don’t seem right.” The curmudgeon slapped a few dollars on the bar and walked off.

  Leo took a sip of beer, then said, “Yes, she does. The hotel project is a big one. We’ve got our own money and time invested in this one, along with Christie Crawford’s bankroll. Toni’s also been working hard on the Christmas activities and the budget.”

  “She said her final city council meeting was last night.”

  “It was, but she’ll probably still have more to do. There’s always something going on.” Leo took a drink from his longneck, then glanced at Wyatt. “Are you up for that? The demands of her office? She loves her job as mayor and her career as a renovator, you know.”

  Wyatt felt like twisting on his bar stool. Had Leo been reading his mind? “I have to admit, I think Toni works too hard sometimes. I think she should spend more time having fun. But, if being mayor is what makes her happy, then that’s something I can live with.”

  “Sounds like you’re planning a long-term relationship.”

  “It’s a scary idea for me, but your sister is special.”

  “Special enough to marry?”

  Wasn’t that the real question? “She’s definitely special enough to marry. Whether I’m the right man for her is another question. And truthfully, I don’t know the answer to that one.”

  “Well, that’s honest.” Leo took a sip of beer. “Just don’t mess with her head. She got on with her life after college, but she never really got over you, you know.”

  “I guess I knew that on some level, but I hadn’t thought about it much until recently.” Guilt, most likely, had driven the memories away. That, and the fact that Wyatt didn’t spend much time in town and had gone out of his way to avoid Toni, Leo and their parents in the past.

  “She doesn’t date. She’s never had a serious boyfriend since you left town. Did you know that?”

  “No, I didn’t.” Toni was so beautiful and talented. Any man would be lucky to spend time with her. And she was a young, healthy woman, who obviously enjoyed going out and having fun. Having sex. He shifted uncomfortably on the seat. The idea of Toni with another man was more than upsetting, which was another sign that he was headed toward something more serious than he’d have thought possible just two weeks ago.

  “I was barely a teenager when you left her before, so I didn’t understand everything that was going on. But I’m a man now, Wyatt.” Leo sat his empty beer bottle down on the bar with a decided thunk. “Don’t mess with her head again.”

  Wyatt filled in the blank. Or else. He believed Leo was serious. Wyatt just needed to figure out how serious he was about a relationship with Toni, because the more time he spent with her and the longer he stayed in Brody’s Crossing, the more he realized it was going to be all or nothing.

  TONI AND LEO MET WITH their flooring subcontractor early Wednesday morning. For simple hardwood, tile or laminate floors, she had her own crews do the installation. However, Christie had suggested vintage-style black-and-white marble pattern for the foyer, reclaimed oak planks for the restaurant and bar areas and granite tiles for the restrooms. Toni had initially hesitated about the cost and inconvenience of laying so many different floors, but then she’d begun to appreciate Christie’s vision of the place and she knew they had to go forward.

  After the flooring contractor had finished taking measurements and conducting an examination of the subfloor, he left with a promise to send an estimate later in the day. Christie checked on the progress of the wainscoting and drywall, then left for breakfast at the café with an informal group of business owners. They were excited about the opening of the hotel project and wanted to discuss the possibility of renovating the old train station. Toni didn’t think that the train station project was viable at this time, but she would listen to their objectives. Perhaps there was something the city could do, although the money wasn’t in the budget this next year.

  Her busy morning left her little time to think about her date. Her very normal, very “nice” date. Wyatt had been a gentleman, with just a brief kiss during their balcony detour. She’d been apprehensive most of the night, afraid that he’d do something wild to live up to his reputation. But he’d behaved himself, just as he’d promised.

  At the end of the evening she’d been almost disappointed, which was an odd reaction. She thought she wanted Wyatt to behave himself, but when he did, he didn’t seem quite like himself.

  She shook her head to clear her thoughts as she parked in back of her office. She had some calls to make, and then later Sandy was going to trim her hair at Clarissa’s House of Style. Toni decided she might even splurge on a manicure. Just for herself. Not because she was dating one of the world’s most eligible bachelors.

  She would push Wyatt out of her mind until he got in touch with her again. He’d promised to call later. Until then, she was focusing on her business.

  “NO, I’LL CALL HER,” WYATT promised his mother. “We’ll see you around six o’clock.”

  His mother wanted him to bring Toni to dinner at their house tonight. For what reason, he didn’t have a clue. He probably should have spent another evening with his parents already, but he’d been busy. He’d gone all the way to Dallas for some Christmas shopping, and he’d spent time in front of his laptop on an online conference call regarding the foundation.

  Besides, he didn’t see the point of too much parental socializing. They rarely had anything to talk about except the weather, their friends—many of whom he didn’t know or could no longer remember—and upcoming vacations.

  Sometimes he wished he had a closer relationship with both his mother and father, but that probably wasn’t going to happen at this late date. They just didn’t have much in common, and he still had a lot of resentment. Plus, his mother harbored her own guilt over her drinking all through his childhood and teenage years. She hadn’t gotten sober until he was in college, and only then because of a medical crisis.

  Stop drinking or die, the doctor had told her. She’d stopped. Not because of her family, but for herself.

  So if she wanted Toni to come to dinner tonight, there was a selfish reason, Wyatt was sure.

  On the other hand, he now had a reason to call Toni that didn’t seem made up. Before his mother’s call, he’d been trying to think of some ordinary reason to see Toni tonight.

  He could still think of lots of extraordinary things they could do together. Fly to Europe, watch the sun set in Carmel, see a Broadway play in New York City. He was coming up short on what he could do that was reasonable from Toni’s standpoint, plus fit her schedule. He couldn’t ask her to fly off with him on a whim, when she had civic obligations and a major renovation project going on. The holidays hadn’t meant all that much to him, other than extra parties and reasons to buy expensive gifts. But to Toni and most of the people of Brody’s Crossing, Christmas was about traditions, friendships and good food.