Dancing in Lake Mistletoe (Lake Mistletoe #4)

Chapter Sixteen

Mindi

T he air is crisp and cold, biting against my cheeks as I pull my scarf tighter around my neck. My breath puffs out in little clouds as I step out onto the porch of the inn, where Dutch is standing with Keller.

The sky is a pale gray, thick with snowflakes that float lazily to the ground, covering everything in a soft white blanket.

“Good morning,” I greet.

Dutch’s gaze comes to me, and his eyes crinkle with his smile. “Hi.”

I hear a whinny, and my attention shifts from him to the sound.

A sleigh is parked just at the edge of the yard, and as soon as I see it, I can’t help but grin.

“What’s that?” I point at the road.

“Your chariot,” Dutch replies.

Excitement bubbles in my chest as my eyes fly back to him.

“You’re really taking me to work in that?” I ask, half-laughing as I make my way down the steps toward him.

He grins, his blue eyes twinkling beneath the brim of his cable-knit hat. “What, you don’t trust my sleigh-driving skills?”

I laugh and shake my head, my boots crunching through the fresh snow as I reach him. “I trust you. I just can’t believe you did this.”

He shrugs, giving me that easy smile of his that makes everything seem like a good idea.

“Seemed like a fun way to get you there. Besides, the truck’s stuck in the barn after last night’s snowstorm, and the roads are slick. So, horse and buggy it is.”

I glance over at the sleigh, taking it all in. It’s an old-fashioned wooden sleigh, painted red with white trim, and it’s attached to two gorgeous horses.

“You have horses? And a sleigh, just at the ready?”

“Yep. That’s Prancer and Holly, and they pull that sleigh at the Christmas Market every year,” he says.

I stare at the animals in disbelief. Their coats are sleek against the cold, and their breaths come out in big white puffs. The sleigh bells strapped to their harnesses jingle softly with every little movement, a sound that immediately fills me with glee.

“It’s beautiful,” I say, my voice softer now.

Dutch steps closer, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me gently against his side. “Glad you like it,” he says, his breath warm against my ear. “Now, let’s get you to work before I decide to whisk you off into the woods.”

My eyes flutter up to his.

“I think that’s my cue to go. You two enjoy yourselves,” Keller says as he climbs the steps.

Dutch laughs. “I’ll meet you and Bran at the shop once I get her to the resort.”

Keller nods his acknowledgment before disappearing into the inn.

I let Dutch lead me to the sleigh, where he takes the bag I packed with a change of clothes and helps me up into the seat. The wood creaks slightly beneath me, and I sink into the thick wool blanket that’s draped across it. Once I’m settled in, he places my bag in the back and climbs up next to me, grabs the reins with practiced ease, and gives a quick click of his tongue. The horses move forward slowly, the sleigh gliding smoothly across the snow. The bells jingle louder now, blending with the steady sound of hooves crunching over the snow-covered ground.

I’ve watched thousands of excited visitors climb up to enjoy a horse-and-carriage ride around Central Park, but never done it myself. As much as I loved the thought of a romantic sleigh ride, tourists being herded on a train of carriages for exorbitant fees and rushed through the park in thirty minutes didn’t fit the bill for me. But this? The gorgeous mountain scenery, a beautiful custom sleigh, with two well-loved thoroughbreds attached, a cozy blanket, thermos of hot cocoa, and a handsome, flannel-clad mountain man at the helm—this is the stuff romantic snowbound fantasies are made of.

As we set off down the long, winding road that leads to town, I lean back into the seat, letting the cold air wash over me. It’s freezing, but in the best way, the kind of cold that makes you feel alive. Snowflakes land on my hair, my gloves, and my eyelashes. Delicate, tiny crystals that melt as soon as they touch my skin.

“This is something else,” I say, half to myself, half to Dutch.

He glances over, his eyes bright, his smile easy. “Something else good or something else bad?”

I sigh. “Good. Definitely good. It’s magical.”

His smile softens, and he gives a little nod. “Yeah, I figured you might like it. Not every day you get a sleigh ride to work, huh?”

I turn my head to look at him, studying the way his cap is pulled on his brow, how his jawline is sharp beneath his scarf, and the way his strong hands grip the reins. There’s something about Dutch in the snow that makes him seem even more rugged, like he belongs to the land in a way that I will never quite understand but can definitely admire.

“You ever done this before?” I ask, pulling the blanket tighter around myself and snuggling into his side.

“Have I ever taken a horse to work?” he asks.

“Whisked a girl off to work in a sleigh,” I say.

“A few times,” he says, his voice low.

“Smooth move, mountain man,” I murmur.

He chuckles. “When the snow’s deep, I’ll pick Mom up and take her to her shop, and Josie begs for sleigh rides to school in the winter. She loves it. Thinks it’s the best thing ever.”

I smile at the thought of Josie, her bright eyes full of wonder as Dutch drives her through the snow. “I bet she does.”

Dutch nods, his eyes flicking toward me for a moment before returning to the road ahead. “It’s peaceful out here, isn’t it?”

“It really is,” I agree, gazing out at the snow-covered fields stretching out in all directions.

The world feels quiet, hushed by the blanket of white. There’s nothing but the soft jingle of the bells, the steady rhythm of the horses, and the whisper of snowflakes falling around us.

We ride in comfortable silence for a while, the cold air tingling against my skin, but I don’t mind. There’s something about the quiet that feels right, unlike the sounds of the city in the morning with the honking horns and roaring traffic. It’s serene, and we don’t need to fill the space with words. It’s just us, the horses, and the snow.

As we get closer to Sun Valley, the trees lining the road become denser, their branches heavy with snow. Dutch slows the horses a little, guiding them carefully through the narrow path. I watch the way he moves, the ease in his posture, and the calm control he has over the horses, and I can’t help but feel a little in awe of him. He’s a thoroughbred himself.

“I like you,” I say softly.

Dutch glances over at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he smiles. Amusement on his lips. “Thanks. I like you too.”

I smile back. “Your way of sweeping a girl off her feet—it’s impressive.”

He doesn’t say anything, just gives a little nod and keeps his eyes on the road, but I can tell he’s fully aware of what he’s doing.

As we come to the front of the resort, it’s quiet. Most people are still hunkered down inside, waiting to start their day on the freshly powdered slopes.

Dutch steers the sleigh toward the sidewalk, and when we come to a stop, he hops down and helps me out of the sleigh.

“Thanks for the ride,” I say, my voice full of gratitude. “Definitely the best commute I’ve ever had.”

He grins, and bringing his lips to my ear, he whispers, “Anytime.”

I glance toward the door, knowing I should head inside, but part of me doesn’t want to leave just yet. I look back at him, at the sleigh and the snow dancing around us, and I want nothing more than to climb back up and be beside him.

“I’ll see you later?” I ask, the words coming out a little more pleading than I intended.

Dutch meets my gaze, his eyes warm, a quiet promise in them. “Josie is staying at Sela’s tonight. She and Cobie are helping her make stockings for the mayor’s booth at the Christmas Market. So, I’m all yours tonight. We’ll get dinner and see where the night takes us from there.”

“Perfect,” I say instantly.

“Great. I’ll be back to pick you up this evening—in the truck,” he clarifies.

I stick my lip out in a mock pout.

He places a finger under my chin and lifts my face to his. “It’s hard to find a restaurant with available sleigh parking, but I promise I’ll take you out on it again before Christmas,” he says before quickly kissing the corner of my mouth.

“Okay,” I whisper. “See you tonight.”