The Christmas Dare by Lori Wilde

Author:Lori Wilde
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2019-10-21T16:00:00+00:00

An official date.

She and Noah were going on their first official date in a decade. Should she feel this giddy? Kelsey didn’t think so. It seemed too dangerous.

After she and Tasha returned to the Rockabye, Kelsey was desperate to distract herself from her cell phone. She suggested they roll up their sleeves and help Noah and Sean finish decorating the gazebo.

They’d had a blast, the four of them laughing, joking, and bantering as they worked.

Noah looked fantastic.

He stripped off his red plaid mackinaw to reveal a black wool turtleneck pullover that clung to his hunky broad shoulders. His dark hair ruffled in the breeze and his black eye and steri-stripped cheek cut lent him a rakish, bad boy air. He wore rugged Rockport boots and she liked the way he looked in the ensemble—a suave lumberjack.

At dusk, just minutes before they finished, the preliminary round contest judges showed up. The island, boatel, gazebo, and suspension bridge archway were aglow with lights, and Christmas music from the speakers on the Rockabye accompanied the light show.

Joel, who’d just made the finals for the Brazos Queen, came to join his twin for his judging. Raylene too had joined them.

Noah said he didn’t care if he won or not, but to Kelsey his body language said that he wasn’t being honest with himself. His usual laid-back slouch vanished. As the judges, two men and a woman who looked vaguely familiar, oohed and aahed and took notes, he pulled up his spine as if his height could influence their decision.

He fiddled with the zipper on his coat and shifted his weight from foot to foot. Ran his palm over his head repeatedly. Made too many jokes about his facial bruises.

He desperately wanted that prize money for ALS research. He and his mother had been close and losing her at a young age impacted him more than he liked to admit. Kelsey’s heartstrings tugged. She crossed her fingers and said a little prayer that he would win.

But wishing and hoping didn’t seem like enough. What more could she do to help?

“I love how Noah synched the music to the light display,” Kelsey pointed out, in case the judges hadn’t noticed that when “Winter Wonderland” played all the lights turned frosty blue. Or when “All I Want for Christmas Is You” came on, the lights chased each other at a quickening pace, mimicking a racing pulse.

Noah cut his eyes at her. “They get it, Kelsey.”

Goodness, had she stepped on his toes? Quelled, she pressed her palm against her mouth.

“Wait a minute,” said the female judge. “I know you. You’re Kelsey James. We met at the Fourth of July gala for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. We donated to your mother’s mayoral campaign because of how impassioned you were about the good she could do for Dallas.” The woman stuck out her hand. “Judy Paulson.”

“Mrs. Paulson, yes, yes. What a delight to see you again.” Kelsey clasped her hand and went into full political diplomat mode. “Thank you so much for supporting my mother’s campaign.

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