The Christmas Catch

how it all comes out in the end that matters.”
    She stared at him dumbfounded, lost in his blue gaze. He probably thought she was some sort of inexperienced city slicker. And he was right. Christine didn’t even own a car in Chicago and it had been some time since she’d driven one. She’d never been in anything with four-wheel drive, particularly anything this big.
    “Where you folks headed?”
    Christine lifted a map from the front console and handed it to him. The GPS had gotten them so lost, she’d turned if off over an hour ago. “Are we even going the right way?”
    He studied the name of the village she’d circled, as the wind picked up around him. “Only if you want to take the long way there.”
    “Oh, no.”
    “You need to stay on this road for about five more miles then turn right at the fork. From there, you can follow the signs toward town. You got enough gas to help you along?”
    Christine nodded, feeling her tension ease. Things would be all right, wouldn’t they? It hadn’t even been snowing when she’d picked up the SUV. Surely they were caught up in a sudden burst of storm that would abate in a short while.
    The man stepped back and surveyed her vehicle with a shrill whistle.
    “Looks like that front tire’s wedged in pretty deep.”
    Her previous panic regained steam. “We’re stuck here, aren’t we?”
    “Not for long,” he said with a grin. “Lucky for you, I carry a chain in my truck.”

    Christine blinked hard, trying to gather her thoughts. She didn’t even know this guy, but still, when he looked at her, her silly heart went all a-flutter. Ellen was right. She’d been out of the scene so long she’d lost her ability to cope. She apparently couldn’t even make casual conversation with an attractive man without assessing his age and availability. Not that she was in the market, or anything like that. For all she knew, Mr. Good Samaritan and his trusty dog were taken. Though it was impossible to know about a wedding band, given the sensible gloves on his hands. Christine gasped when she realized that she’d been checking.
    “Just hold it nice and steady!” he called through the howling winds. “I’m going to pull up ahead of you. Then, once you get going, I’ll let the chain drop. Whatever you do, keep your eyes on the road—and don’t stop!”
    Christine’s heart hammered against her chest as she gripped the wheel. How nutty could she be? She was here to rebuild things with Tyler, not to find some fly-by-night romance for herself. She didn’t even believe in romance anymore. She’d already had the romance of a lifetime with Tyler’s dad, and he’d left her with responsibilities. At the moment, her number one priority lay in getting her son to safety.
    “Get ready now!” the man shouted. “On three! One… Two…”
    “Mommy, I gotta pee,” Tyler interjected.
    “Not now, baby. Just hold it.”
    “Three!”
    At once, the front of their vehicle was airborne and Christine feared they’d careen off the road. Then the pickup moved ahead at a gradual pace until her fishtailing SUV centered itself on the road. Sweat beaded her brow as Christine muttered prayers under her breath. Finally, they were moving forward, going straight as an arrow down the narrow road. The pickup slowed, pulling onto the shoulder to let her pass. The heavy chain dropped to the snowy lane. Christine glanced in her rearview mirror as the man scurried out of his truck to scoop it off the road, his tail-wagging dog behind him.
    “Who was that?” Tyler asked, as the pickup faded from sight.
    Christine heaved a grateful sigh. “Our guardian angel.”

    John sat in his truck with Mason, watching the beautiful woman and her son disappear through the snowdrifts. The kid was cute enough, but it was the mom who’d held his attention. What with those big, dark eyes and that long brown hair that fell in waves to her shoulders, it would be impossible for a man not to notice. Still, it was nonsensical that he’d paid attention to her looks. It wasn’t like he’d consider dating someone that homicidal behind the wheel. Besides, where there was a boy, there was bound to be a father. John was nowhere near interested in getting tangled up in that. He had his fair share of picks in Burlington, and had always steered clear of single mothers. He wasn’t even sure he had room for a woman in his life. At this point in his career, a full-blown family was a nonstarter. If she was still married