“You’re a pro at this.” Evan threw a wave and a smile at the crowd gathered under the pavilion at the marina. She thought he did a pretty good job on his own of capturing fans. It was that killer smile of his and the dark smoldering eyes.

They were quickly approaching the judges’ table. Kyle slowed the boat, stalling it by the pilings.

Cami spoke through her teeth, smiling widely. “Lots of practice in Nashville.” Her wrist moved back and forth. She wasn’t sure how much people could see of them in the dark, but she kept waving and smiling anyway.

“What’s that?” Cami saw a group of kids at the edge of the boardwalk throwing something toward them.

Evan leaned forward over the railing, watching whatever it was skimming the top of the water.

“Are they throwing rocks?” She held her breath. She thought everything was going well until now. Had they turned on her?

“No.” He shook his head. “Not rocks. It’s boughs of mistletoe.”

“What?” Her voice squeaked.

“I think they want me to kiss you.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. The boughs kept splashing in the water around them. Did he know her stomach was doing somersaults? Did he have any idea how heavy her lips suddenly felt? Was he going to do it? Was he going to give in to the taunting requests of a bunch of kids?

Evan didn’t give her much time to think. He scooped her up in his arms and his lips crashed into hers. His mouth was warm despite the cold circling them. He tasted like peppermint. She sighed as he broke away.

“I think they stopped throwing things,” he whispered.

She nodded. She was completely off-balance now and had to grab Evan’s arm to steady herself. That kiss had tipped everything off its axis. The boat rocked gently.

“Kyle’s pulling us into the slip. Ready to go?” he asked.

All she wanted to do was throw her arms around his neck and get lost in another kiss. She didn’t care anymore who was watching. She didn’t care if mistletoe was involved or not.

“Yes.”

“I need to stop by the judges’ table and watch the rest of the boats come in. We can head to the oyster roast as soon as this wraps up. The guys know this takes a while.”

She nodded, understanding Evan had responsibilities tonight. They had passed by oyster roast when they rounded the point on the way in. Cami had seen the small fire pit from the boat. She couldn’t make out how many people were at the party.

Kyle cut the engine and tied up the boat.

“Thanks so much.” Cami shook his hand as Evan helped her to the dock.

“Sure thing, Miss Cami. It was nice having you aboard tonight. Think you two might make this an annual thing?”

She saw the crease on Evan’s forehead.

“Thanks, Kyle.” His voice was gruff.

She sighed and followed Evan to the end of the marina where the judges could watch the boats and give them a score based on creativity and wow factor. It wasn’t that Evan was unkind, but something about his abrupt answer made her uncomfortable. Every time they found their own rhythm. Their own tiny piece of happiness, something from the outside blew in and made them start over. She was determined that wasn’t going to happen tonight. This town could pressure them all it wanted. She knew they had Christmas magic, and she’d hold on to it no matter what. She was still earning everyone’s trust, and that included Evan’s. She wasn’t going to let something as small as grapevine gossip put him in a bad mood.

“Who do you think is going to win?” she asked as they approached the table.

The judges sat under a propane heater. They drank hot cider and checked off each boat on a clipboard as it sailed into view.

“I’m not sure. There were some elaborate floats this year.”

She leaned toward his ear. “I’m slightly partial to the gingerbread house.”

He chuckled. “You would be. You always loved that gingerbread house in your aunt’s shop.”

“Maybe next year I’ll have one too. I didn’t have enough time to build an entire replica of Harpers Point. I don’t know how she did it. I’m barely fixing the kinks in the fudge recipe.”

Evan stopped. “Wait. I just thought of something.”

“What?”

“My grandmother.”

“Oh no. Were we supposed to stop by?”

He shook his head. “No. She has a box of recipes in her kitchen. She and Sophie shared everything, right?”

Cami nodded. “They did. You think she has the fudge recipe?”

He shrugged. “It’s possible. We should see her tomorrow and look through the recipes. Maybe it’s there.”

“Do you know how happy that would make me?”

He grinned. “I think I do know.”

His arms wrapped around her, pulling her snugly to his chest. She couldn’t feel the cold coming off the water any more. All she felt was the strong beat of his heart and his hands at the small of her back. Evan’s massive shoulders blocked everything, even the flash from Laney’s camera. There was no doubt what the story in the paper would be tomorrow.

* * *

By the time they arrived at the oyster roast Cami knew she and Evan were behind a few drinks. Hamp and Ben had rosey cheeks. She wouldn’t say they were drunk, but definitely on the toasty side.

“You made it!” They hopped up and walked over to shake Evan’s hand.

“Hey, Cami.” They each circled her in a hug.

“Hey, guys.”

They hadn’t been together like this since high school. She wished Samantha and Jamie were here too, but Samantha had to tuck her children in, and Jamie said her fiancée was coming down with a cold. They both left as soon as the flotilla ended.

“Want a beer, Mayor?” Ben offered. “It’s the holiday brew.”

“And strong,” Hamp chimed in.

“I’ll take one. Cami?” He looked at her.

“I will try one of Ben’s famous home-brewed beers.”

Ben jogged to a cooler near the small bonfire. “It’s not home-brewed. I have a brewpub.”

“I’m only teasing.” She smiled as he twisted off the top and handed her one. “Congratulations on your business. That’s great, Ben.”

“It’s pretty dead around here in the winter. So thank God we have Christmas to fall back on. The crowd for the flotilla looked huge.”

Evan smiled. “Sure was. Might have been the biggest turn out in five years.”

“Who won first place?” Hamp asked.

Cami giggled. “I think the judges were biased.” She looked upward toward Evan.

“Don’t tell me you two won.”

Evan sat on one of the logs by the fire. “I had nothing to do with it. What can I say? Claudine and Lottie put a lot of work into their float.”

Hamp and Ben laughed. “Sure. And the fact that you and Cami were on the float together, didn’t influence the judges?”

Evan held his hands in the air. “I didn’t put my boat in this year, for this exact reason.”

“Do you still have your dad’s boat?” Cami asked.

“Yeah. I keep it in the creek behind the house.”

She nuzzled next to him while the fire crackled and popped. “Maybe we could go out in her sometime.”

“When it’s warmer.” He smiled. “How does spring sound?”

That was everything she needed to hear.