A snowbank wasn’t necessary, after all, but Badger had thought so until he’d left Hayley in the car and walked coatless out into the night. That woman was dynamite. But after five minutes strolling around the parking area, his jeans no longer threatened to turn him into a eunuch.

He’d thought about telling Hayley the solution he’d come up with. He still could when he went back to the car. But if she knew, she might act different with her momma, and he didn’t want her momma to know about this. Not yet, anyway.

There was a slim, very slim possibility that he and Hayley wouldn’t be compatible in bed. He doubted it, but no two people could ever be sure they’d get along between the sheets, even if the make-out sessions were hotter than an Atlanta sidewalk in July.

Consequently, he’d decided to surprise her with this setup and see if it worked out. If so, it wouldn’t matter who knew about it. If their morning interlude was less than wonderful, then it could be one more secret to keep from the rest of the world.

By the time he returned to the car, she was in the driver’s seat with the defroster going and he was eager to have his coat and hat back.

She handed them out the window. “Better?”

“Yes, ma’am. How’re you doin’?”

“Not too bad.” She left the window down and gazed up at him. “Breakfast, huh?”

“That’s right.”

“You didn’t say what time.”

He’d worked that out earlier, thank God. He’d checked on his phone and Pills and Pop, the town’s nostalgic little drugstore, opened at eight because of the holidays. “How about eight-fifteen?”

“Why not just make it eight?”

“Eight-fifteen sounds more interestin’.”

“You have something up your sleeve, don’t you?”

“Who, me?”

“You have that same expression you had when we were on the plane and you suggested this caper. What’s going on?”

“It’s a surprise.” His feet and hands were getting cold. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he stamped his feet.

“Will I like it?”

“I hope so.”

“Okay, if you’re not going to tell me—”

“I’m not.”

“Then I’ll head home.”

He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. “See you at eight-fifteen.” He backed away from the car and waited until she was on her way down the ranch road before he went in the house.

Upon his return to the living room, everyone teased him about the long goodbye. Everybody but Ryker, who looked as if he’d like to have a private conversation. But no opportunities presented themselves and Badger didn’t try to make one.

Ryker probably only wanted to lecture him about getting deeper into something he shouldn’t have started in the first place. But what was he supposed to do? Hayley wanted this as much as he did, and he wasn’t about to disappoint the lady.

The late night was a blessing, because he was still fighting jet lag. Between all the activity that day and staying up longer, he slept later. The night before, he’d told Kendra he’d be taking Hayley to breakfast and had received permission to borrow her truck.

After showering and dressing, he had time to head down to the stable, locate Jim and ask about the sleigh ride schedule. Luckily Jim had an opening at eleven.

“Then I’d surely appreciate it if I could have that slot,” Badger said. “I’d like to treat Hayley to a sleigh ride.”

“You’ve got it.” Jim gave him a warm smile. “What a nice idea.”

“I think she’ll like it.” The sleigh ride was an add-on so that if Hayley needed to tell her momma later what the surprise had been, she could mention the sleigh ride. He thought she might appreciate having that be the reason their breakfast ended up taking all morning.

In his eagerness to get this show on the road, he ended up parked in front of Pills and Pop a few minutes before it opened. He climbed out of the truck and paced up and down the sidewalk in front of the store.

Two display windows had been set up like Christmas windows of old, with an electric train circling in one, complete with cotton snow, a tunnel, and a little village gathered around it. The other window had dolls, toy trucks, a box of magic tricks, a little red wagon and several teddy bears.

Christmas had never been like this for him. He’d only seen it in movies. His childhood holidays had been spent in some exotic place, either a tropical paradise or a skiing destination.

He couldn’t remember any of his gifts. They were usually something his parents bought once they arrived, a toy a local kid might love but not the kind of thing an American kid would long for. His parents were in Biarritz right now. They’d been disappointed that he’d chosen Eagles Nest over a resort town in France.

The lock on the drugstore’s front door clicked and a woman opened it. The lines in her face told him she was at least eighty. But the rest of her looked forty years younger. Her hair was colored a soft brown and carefully styled. Her outfit was fashionable and her four-inch heels showed off slim calves and ankles.

Her gaze was direct. “Young man, you obviously are desperate to get in here. It’s still two minutes before we open, but I’ll let you in early because it’s the holidays.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am.” He tipped his hat.

Her gaze softened. “You’re Southern.”

“Yes, ma’am. Georgia born and bred.”

“My first husband was Southern. He wasn’t worth a plugged nickel but that accent was divine in bed.”

He swallowed a laugh. She didn’t look as if she’d meant it as a joke, just a statement of fact.

“What can I help you find, young man?”

“Well, ma’am, I need a certain item before I meet a beautiful young lady this mornin’.”

“You mean a gift?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s exactly a gift. More like a necessity for a shared event.”

“Are you coming in here at eight in the morning to buy condoms?” She had a voice that could carry.

He stepped closer and lowered his in hopes she’d be more discreet. “I am.”

No such luck. She looked him up and down. “If that don’t beat all. I’ve had customers come in here in the middle of the day looking for that item, planning for a future rendezvous.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And a greater percentage come in during the evening hours because they didn’t plan ahead.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I can’t say I’ve ever had someone pacing outside the store waiting to buy condoms at this hour. That’s a first.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He pictured this story going all over town. Even worse, it didn’t fit the scenario that he and Hayley had concocted. If they were almost engaged, he’d have brought this item with him to Eagles Nest. He wouldn’t be hanging outside the local drugstore so he could buy it the minute it opened.

She laid a hand on his arm. “You look concerned.”

“I am, a little, because—”

“Don’t be.” She took his arm and guided him over to the condom display. “Choose what you need. I won’t ask questions. And you won’t hear this gossip anywhere in town.”

“I won’t?”

“It’s not my style.” She held out her hand. “Ellie Mae Stockton, at your service.”

He shook her hand. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am. I’m Badger Calhoun.”

“Badger! Are you Ryker McGavin’s Air Force friend?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“How long have you been in town?”

“I got here Wednesday afternoon.”

“And this is only Friday morning. You’re a fast worker, Badger Calhoun.”

“Well, you see, I—”

“No explanation necessary. I know from personal experience that a Southern accent can convince a girl to ditch her panties.” She patted his arm. “Thirty years ago, I would have been just as willing as whoever you’re buying these for. She’s a lucky lady. Now get what you need and take off. Clearly you’re in a hurry.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then let’s not keep her waiting. Get what you need. I’ll meet you at the cash register.” She bustled off.

He paid for the condoms and left the store, but not before he glanced at the old-fashioned soda fountain. It wasn’t open for business at this hour and might not be as popular in the winter months.

Hayley might not come here in the summer. But if she did, if circumstances were such that they were both here, he’d want to invite her to Pills and Pop for hot fudge sundaes, or milkshakes, or root beer floats.

Despite what he’d said to Ryker about needing a city that was open for business 24/7, he was developing a fondness for this little town. A clerk in a chain drugstore wouldn’t have taken a personal interest in his need for condoms at eight in the morning.

Yesterday he would have said he preferred the impersonal nature of buying condoms in a big city. The purchase was nobody’s business. Today he’d met Ellie Mae Stockton, who’d told him his accent was special and his girlfriend was a lucky lady. That interaction had changed his preference. Being an anonymous customer didn’t deliver the biggest bang for the buck.

In fact, buying this package of condoms, a feat he’d had to engineer because he wasn’t in Atlanta, had been a hundred times more satisfying and even significant than if he’d dashed into a drugstore chain. There he would have grabbed something off the rack, paid for it and hurried out of the store.

Before he left the parking space, he opened the package and tucked two condoms in his jeans pocket. He might not need both. If Hayley rejected the entire program, he wouldn’t need any.

He parked in the parsonage driveway. Hayley’s rental was parked in the street, probably so she wouldn’t block the drive when either of her parents needed to come out. But he wouldn’t be here long so he’d take a chance.

Ringing the doorbell should have been a cinch after breaking the ice the night before, but this time he had two condoms burning a hole in his pocket. It wasn’t the first instance he’d walked into a girl’s parents’ house packing raincoats, but it might be the first time he’d done it before nine in the morning.

Hayley greeted him at the door looking festive in a bright green sweater and jeans. “Hey, you.” She grabbed him by the lapels of his sheepskin coat and pulled him into a quick kiss.

“Hayley, is that Badger?”

“Yeah, Mom!” She let go of his coat and smoothed the lapels back in place.

He grinned at her. “Nice welcome.”

“I missed you. I—”

“Will you ask him to come talk to me for a minute? I have a question about dinner tonight.”

“Sure!” She turned back to him. “You don’t have any food allergies, do you?”

“Nothing that I know of.”

“That’s what I thought, but I’d hate to be wrong and have you swell up like a balloon at dinner.”

“My swelling issue has nothing to do with allergies.”

“You’re a bad boy.” She smirked and gave him a little push toward the kitchen.

Taking off his hat, he walked through the quiet living room and into the kitchen.

Virginia had a recipe book open on the counter and was stirring ingredients into a large bowl. She glanced up. “Hi, Badger. Once I get into this, I need to keep going or I’ll forget what I’ve added.”

“What’re you makin’?”

“Christmas cookie dough. I’ll chill it this morning and then Hayley and I will bake and decorate the cookies this afternoon. Want to help?”

“Wish I could.” He’d never made Christmas cookies and doing it with Hayley and her momma would be fun. “But I promised Zane I’d check out his raptor operation this afternoon.”

“No worries.” Virginia put in a teaspoon of this and a teaspoon of that. “Hayley and I make Christmas cookies every year, so you’ll get a chance next time.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His conscience gave him a little kick and he avoided looking at Hayley.

“There, that does it.” She stepped back from the bowl and turned to Badger. “I’ll mix it after you two leave. But I wanted to check with you about tonight’s menu. We’re having chili, cornbread and a side salad. Are you okay with that?”

“Sounds mighty fine to me.”

“Good. Why don’t you come at five? That way you and Luke will have a chance to get acquainted before we sit down to eat.”

“I’ll do that.” He glanced at Hayley. “Ready to get some breakfast?”

“Sure am. I’ll grab my coat.” She left the kitchen.

Badger put on his hat and smiled at Virginia. “We’ll be off then. See you tonight.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me, too.” He paused. He didn’t want her to fret if Hayley didn’t come home until past noon. “Listen, do you need Hayley back at any certain time this mornin’?”

“Not really. Why?”

He lowered his voice. “It’s a surprise. I’ve scheduled a sleigh ride.”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “How romantic.” She moved closer. “Is that it? Just a sleigh ride?”

His cheeks warmed. “Well, I—”

“You sly devil, you. I’ll bet you have a certain item in your pocket.”

Now his face was hot. Could she have guessed? “Um…”

“Never mind. I can be surprised, too. But what a perfect setting. Although you’d better not get down on one knee in the—”

“I’m ready to go.” Hayley walked into the kitchen with her parka zipped and her purse over her shoulder.

“Then let’s do it.” He tipped his hat to Virginia. “See you tonight.”

She gave him a conspiratorial wink. “See you then!”

Great. In trying to keep her from worrying about her daughter, he’d created a whole new problem.