The Christmas Catch

were at Mac’s Market, the sole grocers in the tiny village on the outskirts of Burlington. Already they had chocolate bars and graham crackers. Their list was nearly complete. “Can’t forget the cocoa,” she said, smiling at her son. She reached for it but it was high on a shelf, all the way to the back.
    “Here, let me help with that,” a familiar masculine voice said over her shoulder.
    Christine heard a happy bark and turned to find the man from the road behind her. He wore winter boots, jeans, and a gray college sweatshirt beneath his open parka. Up close and personal, he looked even better than he had outdoors, his short dark hair and ruddy complexion a heady complement to his eyes.
    “Well, hello,” he said with a smile. Mason wriggled on his haunches beside him, wagging his tail. Tyler stared up at the guy and his jaw dropped.
    “Are you really an angel?”
    “Beg pardon?”
    “Mommy says you’re an angel.”
    Christine felt her face flush. “Oh no, I think he misunderstood. I was just… What I mean is…” She glanced down at Mason, then up at him, amazed. “They let dogs in here?”
    The man leaned forward with a confidential whisper. “He doesn’t know he’s a dog. He thinks he’s a college student.”
    Why did the mention of college spark some vague recognition? Christine’s eyes locked on his sweatshirt. “Carolina?” she asked with surprise.
    “The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” he said with pride.
    “No way.”
    “Way.”
    “You went there?”
    “Most certainly did.”
    “Small world.”
    “And you?”
    She looked at him and smiled. “I know why the sky’s Carolina blue.”
    “God’s a Tar Heel,” he said with a laugh.
    Tyler studied him with awe. “I thought you might know God.”
    The man eyed Tyler curiously. “Here,” he said to Christine, “let me help you with that cocoa.” He reached for it and easily took it from the shelf, handing it to her. She accepted it, inexplicably spellbound as his blue eyes crinkled at the corners.
    “You know, I never got the chance to thank you for our daring rescue.”
    “Oh, it wasn’t so daring,” he said.
    “We could have been stuck there for hours.”
    “How’s the SUV holding up?”
    “As long as I stay on the road it works like a charm.”
    They shared a bout of companionable laughter, then stood there staring at each other as if each wanted to speak but neither could think up anything to say.
    “Well, I guess that’s it, then,” Christine offered awkwardly. “We’d best finish up. It’s been a long day.”
    “Of course.”
    John thoughtfully watched them walk away, feeling an unfamiliar tug in his chest. She was just some girl from Carolina. So what if she’d wound up in Vermont? That didn’t mean she’d be interested, and certainly didn’t indicate she was available. Mason stood beside him, itching to follow after the woman and her son. How come his dog always knew things he didn’t?
    “You know I was thinking,” John called out.
    She turned on her heels, her cheeks flushed.
    “I was just thinking the same thing.”
    “You were?”
    “I mean, I meant to tell you... wanted to say, it was really great running into you.”
    Boy, was she a looker with those big, dark eyes and neatly compact figure. She was even prettier than he’d given her credit for in the SUV.
    “Yeah, you too. But, you know, I was wondering…” Mason interjected a happy bark, not wanting to be left out. “My dog and I were wondering… what’s a Carolina girl like you doing all the way up here?”
    “I’m a Chicago girl now,” she said, taking her son’s hand.
    “The question stands.”
    “We’re house-sitting for a friend,” she said with a sweet smile. “And you?”
    John shifted on his feet, feeling as if she were assessing him. He’d probably forgotten to shave or something. “I teach over at the college.” He mentally kicked himself for the one little detail that had slipped his mind. “My apologies,” he said extending his hand. “I never introduced myself. I’m John Steadman.”
    She stepped forward to accept his grip and John caught a whiff of her perfume. She smelled all sweet and womanly, like a field full of wildflowers in summertime.
    “Christine White. Nice to meet you.”
    Soulful dark eyes met his and John felt the back of his neck flash hot. There was a tug at his sleeve and John looked down.
    “I’m Tyler!” the little boy said, bouncing on his heels.
    John kneeled to