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She brightened. “You did?”

“Yes, and you’re the inspiration.”

She pressed her hands together, trying not to let her excitement show. “I can’t believe that. I inspired you?”

He held out her coat. “You did. I’m going to call it ‘Crazy Women I Have Known.’”

Her happiness balloon burst. “You’re making fun of me.”

“I am, and you deserve it.” He put his hands on her upper arms, leaned down and brushed his mouth against hers. “You’re not the one who gets to decide when I’m ready to kiss someone, Dena. Just so we’re clear on that.”

Before she could wrap her mind around what he was saying, she was suddenly outside in the cold, and his suite door was closing in her face. She stood there, not exactly clear on what had just happened. The only thing she knew for sure was the fact that she was going to need a different plan.

“I’m incredibly disappointed in you,” Reggie said with a laugh as she sat in her SUV outside the community center. She shifted her cell phone to her other ear.

“I know. I’m so ashamed I didn’t know Jake was back in town.” Paisley’s voice was thick with humor. “I’m usually so in the know about local gossip. My network has failed me, and I promise everyone in it will receive a stern talking-to.” She paused. “Seriously, though, are you okay?”

Reggie considered the question. “Seeing him again was strange and out of the blue. Plus the whole ‘having dinner with Toby’ thing added a layer that made it harder for me to process what was happening. I don’t feel any regrets, if that’s what you’re asking. I’ve moved on.”

Even if she hadn’t, the passion she’d felt in the brief kiss she and Toby had shared would have pushed her over into the “totally done with Jake” column.

“I suppose he really could be in town for his mom,” Paisley mused. “They were always a tight family, and with the loss of his dad . . . But it seems early to be back for the holidays. I wonder if there’s something going on at the resort. I’ll ask around.”

“Not on my account. I don’t need to know anything about Jake.”

“I’ll be asking for myself. Job security and all that. So, how was the date?”

Reggie smiled. “It wasn’t a date. We just went to dinner.”

“Did he kiss you?”

The smile broadened as her body remembered the very amazing kiss they’d shared.

“Maybe.”

Paisley laughed. “Then it was a definitely a date, and I’m going to want details. Just not right now because I gotta run. I have a meeting in like two minutes. See you soon.”

“Bye.”

Reggie dropped her phone into her bag, then started for the community center. While she wanted to claim that last night had been no big deal, Paisley was right—the kiss changed everything.

She was still smiling as she took a cart to the storage closet and loaded all the totes with their supplies. The stack of boxes containing completed hats was growing by the day. She would have a full carload when she delivered them in a couple of weeks.

She returned to the room they used and found a couple of parents had already arrived to help set up, which wasn’t unusual. The surprising part was that Micah was there as well, holding a guitar case and looking wildly out of place. When he saw her, he crossed to her.

“I’m here to provide entertainment,” he said, his smile almost dazzling enough to make her stumble. How on earth did Dena not fall over in a faint every time she saw him?

“Ah, hi.” She looked at the guitar case, then at him. “You’re really going to play for us?”

He raised and lowered the case. “It’s not empty.”

“But I was kind of kidding when I suggested you do that. I mean, you’re you.”

“I’ve heard that. I am me and you’re you and they are they.” He frowned. “That doesn’t sound right.”

She laughed. “And yet I know what you mean. If you’re serious, everyone will be delighted to listen, but I’m giving you the chance to run while you still can.”

“I don’t scare off so easily.”