He took her hand and dropped the keys in her palm. His eyes were on the same level as hers, and his mouth inches from her lips. “Slow down.

Slow down ? Her heart raced and her breath caught in her throat as she waited for him to kiss her. He was so close, if she leaned forward just a little . . .

“Slow down before you kill yourself, he said, then turned and headed back down the stairs.

Disappointment slowed her racing heart to a distressing thud. Over the side of the rail, she watched him walk into his office, then she moved to the Cadillac parked below. She peered through the windows at the cans of hair spray and gel shed thrown in the back the night before. No dents. No dings. The car looked the same as it always had— except it now had four studded snow tires, so new they shone.

Monday morning started slowly enough that Delaney could hang Christmas lights on the little tree shed bought for the reception area. It was only three feet tall, but it filled the salon with the scent of pine. By noon business had picked up and remained steady until she closed at five thirty. The judging for the ice sculptures would begin in Larkspur Park at six, and she hurried and changed into jeans, her beige cotton sweater with the American flag on the front, and her Doc Martens. She wasnt so much interested in the ice sculptures as she was in finding a certain Basque man whod changed the tires on Henrys car yesterday.

By the time she arrived at Larkspur, the parking lot was nearly filled and the judging was under way. The sun had set and the park lights shone on the wonderland of towering crystal shapes. Delaney walked past a ten-foot Beauty and the Beast, a burly mountain man with his pack mule, and Puff the Magic Dragon. Exquisite detail had been given to each sculpture, bringing them to life in the black night and bright lights. She moved through the crowd past Dorothy and Toto, a huge duck, and a cow the size of a mini-van. The crisp air chilled her ears, and she shoved her bare hands into the pockets of her wool coat. She found the Allegrezza Construction entry at the far west end, surrounded by people and judges. Nick and Louie had sculpted a gingerbread house complete with ice gumdrops and candy canes. The house was big enough to walk through, but was roped off until after the judges made their decision. Delaney looked around for Nick and saw him standing to one side with his brother. He wore a black North Face parka with a white lining, jeans, and work boots. Gail Oliver stood next to him, her arm threaded through his. A hot lump of jealousy churned in Delaneys stomach, and she might have lost her nerve and walked past if he hadnt glanced up, locking his gaze on her.

She forced herself to move toward him but spoke to Louie because it was easier. “Is Lisa around here somewhere?

“She and Sophie went to the bathroom, Louie answered, his brown eyes moving from Delaney to Nick, then back again. “Stick around though, shell be right back.

“Actually I wanted to talk to Nick. She turned and looked up at the man responsible for the chaotic feelings colliding in her heart. She stared into his face, and she knew shed somehow fallen madly in love with the boy who used to fascinate and torment her at the same time. They were both adults now, but nothing had changed. Hed just found new and better ways of torturing her. “If you have a minute, I need to talk to you.

Without a word he disengaged himself from Gail and moved toward her. “Whats up, wild thing?

She glanced at the people around them, then looked into his face. His cheeks were red and she could see his breath against the darkness. “I wanted to thank you for the snow tires. I watched for you today, but you didnt go to your office. So I thought I might find you here. She rocked back on her heel and looked down at the toes of her boots. “Why did you do it?

“What?

“Put snow tires on Henrys car. No man has ever given me tires. Nervous laughter escaped her lips. “It was a really nice thing to do.

“Im a really nice guy.

One corner of her mouth lifted. “No, youre not. She shook her head and lifted her gaze to his. “Youre rude and overbearing most of the time.

His smile showed his white teeth and creased the corners of his eyes. “What am I when Im not rude and overbearing?

She made a fist and blew her breath into her cold hand. “Conceited.

“And? He reached out and sandwiched her fingers between his warm palms.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of Gail moving toward them. “And I can see that Ive come at a bad time. She pulled her hand free and shoved it into her pocket. “Ill talk to you some other time when youre not busy.

“Im not busy right now, he said just as Gail came to stand next to him.

“Hi, Delaney.

“Gail.

“I couldnt make it to the fashion show Saturday night. Gail glanced up at Nick and smiled. “I had something else going on, but I heard you did a real good job with the hair this year.

“I think everyone had a nice time. Delaney took a step backward. Jealousy twisted like a hot knife in her gut, and she needed to get away from Nick and Gail and the sight of them together. “See ya around.

“Where are you going? he asked.

“I have to check in on Duke and Dolores, she answered, sounding pitiful to her own ears. “Then Im meeting some friends, she added the lie to salvage her pride and lifted her hand in an abbreviated wave, then turned to leave.

In three long strides Nick caught up to her. “Ill walk you to your car.

“You dont have to. She looked up at him, then over her shoulder at Gail, who stared after them as they moved toward the parking lot. “Youll make your date mad.

“Gail isnt my date, and you dont need to worry about her. He took Delaneys hand in his and slid it into his coat pocket. “Why do you have to check on Henrys dogs?

They walked by an ice genie sitting on his lamp. She didnt know if she believed him about Gail, but decided to let the subject drop for now. “My mother left town with Max Harrison. He wove his fingers through hers and hot tingles spread to her wrist. “Theyre going to celebrate their Christmas on one of those love boats.

Nick slowed as they moved around a crowd gathered in front of the genie. “What about your Christmas?

The tingles swept to her elbow and further up her arm. “Well celebrate when she gets back. No big deal. Im used to being alone during the holidays. I havent had a real Christmas since I left town anyway.

He didnt say anything for a few moments as they walked from beneath a park light and through a patch of night. “Sounds lonely.

“Not really. I usually found someone who took pity on me. And besides, it was always my choice to stay away. I could have come back and apologized for being such a disappointment and pretended to be the daughter my parents wanted, but a few presents and a yule log werent worth my pride or my freedom. She shrugged and purposely changed the subject. “You never did answer my question.

“What was that?

“The tires. Why did you do it?

“No one was safe with you driving that big boat of Henrys. It was only a matter of time before you took out a couple of kids.

She looked up at him, at his dark profile. “Liar.

“Believe what you want, he said, refusing to admit he might care for her.

“How much do I owe you?

“Consider them a Christmas present.

They stepped off the curb into the parking lot and walked between a Bronco and a van. “I dont have anything to give you.

“Yes, you do. He stopped and raised her hand to this mouth. He brushed his lips across her knuckles. “When Im not rude and overbearing and conceited ... what am I?

She couldnt see his features clearly through the darkness, but she didnt need to see his eyes to know he stared at her over the back of her hand. She could feel his gaze just as surely as she could feel his touch. “Youre ... She could feel herself melt, right there in the parking lot with her toes frozen and the temperature below zero. She wanted to be with him. “Youre the man I think about all the time. She pulled her hand free and raised onto the balls of her feet. “I think about your handsome face, wide shoulders, and your lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed into him. He ran his hand up and down her back, holding her close. Her heart pounded in her ears and she buried her cold nose just below his ear. “Then I think about licking you.