Christmas With Her Daredevil Doc. Kate Hardy

apartment building. Every time they’d accidentally touched that day, she’d been so aware of him. And she didn’t think she was alone in that reaction.

      ‘Shall we walk along the harbour again to catch the sunset?’ he asked.

      ‘That’d be nice.’

      At her hotel, he turned to face her. ‘Goodnight, Hayley.’

      ‘Goodnight. Thank you for such a lovely day.’

      ‘My pleasure. Would you like to see the glacier, waterfalls and beaches tomorrow, if it looks as if it’ll be dry?’

      Spending more time with him? Part of her thought it was a good idea; part of her didn’t. But she found herself agreeing.

      ‘You’ll need sturdy shoes,’ he said.

      ‘And a waterproof, just in case the weather changes?’

      He smiled. ‘Yes. Wear layers. And hiking trousers are better than jeans, if you have them—we’re going to get wet by the waterfalls, plus they’re better protection than denim against the wind.’ And then the look in his dark eyes grew more intense. He lifted one hand and placed it gently against her cheek. In answer, she tipped her head back very slightly. And then he brushed his lips against hers—more asking than demanding. She slid her arms round his waist, and he kissed her again, his lips teasing hers until she opened her mouth and let him deepen the kiss.

      Desire flooded through her, mixed with a dose of guilt. But this wasn’t being unfaithful to Evan. He wouldn’t have wanted her to spend her life alone and mourning him. He would’ve wanted her to keep seeing the joy in life and focus on the good stuff. Sam Price was the first man she’d wanted to kiss since she’d lost Evan. And this was meant to be the Year of Saying Yes. So she leaned into Sam, kissing him back.

      When he finally broke the kiss, there was a dark slash of colour along his cheekbones and his mouth was reddened; she was pretty sure that she looked in the same state.

      ‘Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he said. ‘I’ll meet you here at nine—if that’s not too early?’

      ‘That’s perfect,’ she said.

      And she couldn’t wait.