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work?”
    â€œEven a sheriff can use a vacation day. I haven’t taken any time off this year at all. I was due.” Had Libby coerced her into coming? Asked him to bring Delilah before talking to her? He wouldn’t ask Libby that for any amount of money though. For one thing, he didn’t want to know if it was true.
    What would Delilah think if she knew he was looking for her brother? When running the check on her past, he found out she hadn’t heard from her brother in all these years, so he’d decided to try to find Adam for her as a surprise. But the guy hadn’t popped up in his search. It was better not to mention his investigation to Delilah just in case he was dead.
    Homes along the shore were decked out with driftwood “trees” decorated with ornaments that shimmered in the sunlight. They should be pretty all lit up. Maybe the excursion would take long enough that their return would be after dark.
    Delilah leaned forward as he docked the boat on the sound side in Kitty Hawk. “It’s pretty deserted.” She pointed to a black vehicle. “There’s Alec’s truck.”
    Was that a hint of excitement in her voice? At least she was smiling. Whatever had been eating her seemed to have left with the sight of the festive decorations. He helped her off the boat, and she handed him the truck keys.
    The Chevy truck started with the first try. “Where to first?”
    She consulted a note on her phone. “There are quite a few florists in the area. Let’s start with one in Kill Devil Hills. I could use some coffee too.”
    â€œI am reading your mind. Front Porch Café, right?” He headed the truck toward Highway 158.
    â€œMy mouth is already watering.”
    He thought about all the things he could say. Like how pretty she looked and how perfect her skin was in the bright morning sunshine. Or how much he liked the navy jacket against her dark curls. In the end he barely mustered up, “I like red shoes.”
    Her face went a little pink, and she looked down at her red wedges. “Me, too, but I don’t usually have the courage to wear them. Libby talked me into it though. She said they would feel festive and Christmassy. I’ve been so focused on the wedding that I’ve barely thought about Christmas beyond what I’m fixing for dinner.”
    â€œWhat do you say we make a day of it and get your Christmas shopping finished then? I need to get a few things too.” Did he just say that? He shot her a glance to see if she was offended, but she turned her head to smile at him, and the tension in his chest released.
    â€œA guy who offers to take a girl shopping is one of a kind.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You trying to bribe me or something?”
    â€œWell, I wouldn’t say no to a pan of your famous chocolate-and-peanut butter brownies.”
    â€œWe’ll see if you deserve them. It all depends on how much you rush me in the bookstore.”
    The banter between them made him grin down at her. Maybe she liked him just a little. “Bookstore?”
    â€œI like to buy books as gifts. There’s the perfect book for everyone.”
    He crossed his arms over his chest. “And what book would be perfect for me?”
    Her perfectly shaped dark brows lifted, and she looked him over. “Hmm. You’re a man’s man. You’d charge hell with a water pistol, but you have a softer side you don’t like to show. I didn’t quite see it myself until you offered to go shopping. I mean, what man does that?” Her laughter rang out, and her eyes sparkled. “So I’ll have to think about that book for you.”
    â€œDoes that mean I’m invited for Christmas dinner?” He navigated the traffic as he watched for mile marker six.
    â€œAren’t you always?” She turned away to look out the window. “There’s the café. I can almost taste that Morning Glory