“Lana, you’re late for your own meeting,” Jonah said as they entered the barn.

“Unfortunately, this afternoon has been a little more packed than I expected,” she said cheerfully to the room full of eyes watching her warily. “However, I appreciate—”

Midsentence, Rick stole her hand, causing her to pause and turn. “Rick?” She tilted her head in question.

He knew he’d hurt her, and the absolute last thing Rick wanted Lana to feel was rejected by him. This was her decision; the ball was in Lana’s court. But dammit, Rick was playing too. And he wanted the win.

“You’re standing under mistletoe,” he told her, not caring if the whole town heard the husky tone in his voice.

Lana looked up. Sure enough, she was just beneath a sprig of mistletoe that had been suspended from the barn rafters. Her eyes flickered to the crowded room, then back to him. When she tugged on his hand, Rick came willingly, stepping in close. Close enough that everyone would know exactly who Rick had come here with.

“Now you are too.” Lana flashed him a little grin, going up on her toes and kissing him.

When she wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling his head down to hers, Rick laughed, taking the opportunity to dip her dramatically. Someone catcalled, and he was pretty sure Ash started gagging. He couldn’t have cared less.

“I wanted to do this the last time you were under mistletoe, but I thought I might get in trouble.”

“You still might,” Lana said archly, but her cheeks had a rosy tint, and her eyes sparkled.

Instead of taking a seat with the rest of the group, Rick leaned against the refreshment table, arms crossed, watching Lana take the stage next to Jonah.

“Thank you all for coming out here.”

“We didn’t think we had any choice,” Graham spoke up teasingly. “Word gets around that you’re a dangerous shot, L.”

“Only for those who annoy me, Graham.” Lana smiled sweetly at her longtime friend before continuing. “It’s not lost to me that there has been a lot of concern and unrest in town, most of which is centered on the Montgomery Group’s investments. I think everyone would feel better if they had a strong political figure to champion their concerns. As for myself, it would be easier to streamline those concerns through a focused entity with whom we can do business.”

Lana’s smile widened. “Therefore, I nominate Graham Barnett as mayor of Moose Springs. For a full term, not a couple of days until he can pass it off on someone else.”

The look of sheer astonishment on Graham’s face was only matched by the expression of glee on Ash’s. Easton’s beard twitched in what might have been a smirk.

“I second the nomination,” Ash said, hopping up.

“Wait, this isn’t how mayors are elected,” Graham protested. “I can’t be elected against my will.”

“Everyone in favor?” Easton rumbled, earning a resounding “aye” from the gathered townsfolk. Horror dawned on Graham’s features.

“Did you know about this?” Graham demanded of Rick and Zoey.

“Why would I know about it?” Zoey asked.

“Because you two have been in cahoots with her.”

Rick flashed Lana a grin, even though he hadn’t known a thing about her plans. “I like being in cahoots with her,” he told Graham.

Glaring back and forth suspiciously, Graham narrowed his eyes at Zoey. “Zoey Bear?”

“Yes?” She sounded perfectly innocent, but her eyes flickering to Lana gave her away.

Lana brushed a piece of imaginary lint from her leg. “Zoey had nothing to do with it. If you’re going to be upset, be upset with me.”

“Oh, trust me, L,” he said. “I am.”

Jonah looked around the room. “Anyone object to Graham Barnett as mayor?” No one raised a hand except for one.

“I object!” Graham said. “Lana, you can’t be serious.”

“Actually, you would make the perfect mayor, Graham. You pretty much do it anyway, and at least this way, you’ll get paid for the trouble.”

“I don’t want more money; I want to be left alone.”

“Then maybe you should have thought about that before you decided to take care of every single person in town.” Zoey said cheerfully, “I love you, by the way.”

“I love you too, traitor.” He turned puppy dog eyes to Lana. “L, this is the meanest thing you could do to me.”

Lana flashed him a sweet smile. “The way I see it, you care about Moose Springs, and you’re willing to do anything necessary to protect it. I want to work with the best person I can to keep Moose Springs’ interests at the forefront of any changes the Montgomery Group makes to their properties.

That’s you. Sorry, Graham. You care too much.”

Groaning overdramatically, Graham slunk out of the barn, Zoey following. She gave Lana a double thumbs-up behind Graham’s back.

Everyone was watching her, and for once, the eyes pointed her way weren’t filled with distrust. Well, maybe some distrust. But definitely not the normal animosity.

“This town is the most important thing to Graham,” she told them. “And he’s not afraid to go head-to-head with me. He’s going to make the best mayor, no matter how much he whines about it.”

“Why would you give Graham the power to shut you down?” Ash wondered. “You know he’s going to try.”

Ash may have asked the question, but curiosity was on more than only her face. Everyone stayed quiet, waiting for Lana’s answer.

“Because the town matters to me too. I know you don’t believe that, but it’s true.”

“Well, thank goodness that’s been arranged.” Jonah sounded relieved. “Town halls are now up to the mayor to hold. Show up to the Tourist Trap on the second Monday of every month from now on. If he tries to leave, I’ll block the door.”

The crowd started to disperse, the townsfolk energized at the new change in their local government. Rick joined her, wrapping his arm around her waist. A buzz of conversation followed everyone out the door, leaving Lana and Rick in the relative privacy of the emptying barn.

Rick pulled her in for the biggest, best hug she had been given in years. “This was a good call. You’re brilliant.”

Flushing at the compliment, Lana said, “Graham being in a position of power will actually make doing business in Moose Springs easier. It’s better to deal with a figurehead than an angry group of people. The town needed a strong protector now more than ever.”

She started to say more, but Lana grew distracted when Rick took her face in his hands, pressing a kiss to her left cheek, then another to her nose. A third to her lips, leaving his own tingling, like cayenne pepper in chocolate. Sweet and rich but fiery. He couldn’t get enough of her.

“I promise I’m not the enemy,” Lana whispered, breathless.

He tilted his head down so that his forehead rested against hers. “I know. I’ve always known. One day, they’ll know it too. From now on, I’m going to help you prove it to them.”

“You’ll help me catch a moose?”

“Only if you aren’t holding the tranquilizer gun.”

“I shoot you one time by accident, and you just won’t let it go—” Lana huffed, then she could only laugh as he pulled her close, kissing her all over again.

Chapter 12

It was usually a bad sign when someone showed up first thing in the morning without an invitation. But considering this someone was carrying an armful of Frankie’s bear claws while wearing the sexiest ugly Christmas sweater in existence, Rick was willing to let it slide.

Besides, Lana was welcome on his porch any day of the week, pastries or no.

“I tried to call you, but I was having reception issues,” Lana said as a way of saying hello when he opened the door. “It occurred to me that maybe I’m overstepping my welcome here.”

Drawing her in for a long, slow kiss, Rick allowed himself the luxury of resting his cheek against her hair as he held her. “You’re always welcome with me.” His voice was still low from sleep. He’d been up for a bit but was not nearly the level of awake Lana was.

The look she gave him was better than caffeine, and the second kiss left him far more alert than the first.

“Where did you find a sweater with Jake on it?” He flicked the jingle bell attached to Sweater Jake’s snout.

“A girl has her secrets,” Lana said. “Especially one who flies too much and always reads SkyMall.”

“So to what do I owe the surprise?” Rick led her inside, out of the brisk cold. He set them both a seat at the kitchen table, speaking quietly because Diego was still asleep.

“I figured you had a busy day ahead of you with the tournament, and I have a busy day ahead of me with the Christmas party. Since I’m not the one who has to stay up all night, I thought I’d bring you some breakfast.” She shot him a cute look. “A healthy breakfast, of course.”

“Naturally.”

“And…maybe I didn’t want to wait until tonight to see you,” Lana said. The flirty statement came out more shy than normal for her. Rick had the feeling whatever had happened at her job yesterday was still on her mind. She seemed distracted and uncertain. That was okay. He was happy to eat another bear claw and prove to her that she was right where she belonged.

“You didn’t think I would show up to your party?”

Lana shrugged, focusing on a forkful of pastry. “I think you have a business to run. The last thing I would do is divide your attentions from where they need to be.”

This time, her lips tasted like sugar and cinnamon.

“I wouldn’t miss it, gorgeous.”

“Well, in that case…” Her speculative glance made him immediately shift in his seat. “Are you still not opening the pool hall until tonight?”

Rick nodded. “That’s the plan.”