My Kind of Christmas

tall.
    “How almost?” he pressed.
    She took a breath. “Twenty-three.”
    He groaned and looked down, shaking his head. “God. You’re younger than you look.”
    “So how old are you?” she asked. “Forty?”
    “Hey,” he said. “I’m thirty-three.”
    She leaned her head on her hand, elbow braced on the bar. “Had a hard few years or something?”
    “Whoa! You’re brutal!”
    But Angie was really starting to enjoy this adventurous, flirty side of herself. This was certainly new territory for her, but she suddenly had the urge to explore it. “The way you look at me should at least be considered a misdemeanor. Or a proposal, I’m not sure which. But it didn’t feel that bad and I thought maybe if we talked…”
    “What? You thought I’d ask you out on a date or something? Sweetheart, this is Virgin River. If we sit here and talk for even five more minutes, everyone in town will put us together.”
    “Let’s take a chance,” she said, amazing herself. But then, she was on a mission. She wanted to know someone who she could relate to. Who could relate to her. And it sure didn’t hurt that Patrick Riordian was smokin’ hot . “Talking isn’t against the law.”
    “What if I don’t feel like talking? You don’t want to mess around with the big bad wolf.”
    “Do you feel like listening? Because I can always talk. And we have things in common, you and I.”
    “I don’t feel like fighting off the vigilantes who’ll come down on me to protect your honor, so I think me going home right now is a better idea.”
    At that, Angie smiled so big that Patrick actually leaned back slightly. “So!” she said. “You do like me!”
    “How the hell would I know?” he barked at her. “I don’t even know you!”
    “Then why do you watch me? Stare at me? Get mad when I suggest we spend a little time talking?”
    “Because you’re a cute little sexpot, and while you might be old enough for this flirtation, I can tell you’re way too inexperienced for it, and you have a posse in town looking out for you and I don’t need any trouble! Believe me, I have enough trouble!”
    She glanced down at herself. Old jeans with a torn knee, a pair of battered cowboy boots that she’d been attached to for years, khaki canvas jacket and an oversize white sweater—and no makeup.... She looked up at him and laughed. “Sexpot? Jesus! Are you serious?”
    He pursed his lips and put his hands in his jacket pockets. “Serious,” he hissed.
    “Well, holy shit, if this gets your motor running, I’m not going anywhere! ”
    “Angie…”
    “You should see me when I get dressed up! I can look damn good.”
    “Angie…”
    “Patrick,” she mimicked.
    Suddenly Brie was standing on the inside of the bar holding the coffeepot. She wordlessly refilled their cups without making eye contact and disappeared back to her table. Angie knew they were talking about her. She knew it and didn’t care.
    “I have an idea,” Angie said. “Let’s just have a cup of coffee. Then we’ll reassess things. However, I have to warn you, I kind of like that you find me irresistible.”
    “Did I say that?” he asked, a slight tint creeping up his stubbled cheeks. “I didn’t say that! I find you completely resistible.”
    “Touchy, huh? Maybe you should have something a little stronger than coffee.”
    He gave her a slow look, a full appraisal that made her warm, a feeling she couldn’t remember having before, and she liked it. She was growing more bold by the minute. Then with his eyes narrowed he said, “All right, we’ll have a cup of coffee. You’ll talk. Then I’ll head home and you’ll stop looking for trouble.”
    She stared at him levelly. “Do women actually find you scary?” she asked.
    * * *
    Patrick couldn’t remember ever treating a woman like that, rudely looking her over, trying to make her uncomfortable to scare her off, running roguish eyes up and down the length of her. Especially a sweet young thing like Angie. In fact, he had always been the complete opposite, a gentleman to the core. Present circumstances had put a rough edge on him. Plus, his instincts told him it would be practical if not wise if she just didn’t get too close. He was a wreck without much to offer. The only woman who had his attention right now was his best friend’s widow, that’s how sad his life had become.
    But Angie wasn’t easily discouraged. With a cup of coffee in front of him he said, “No young woman should