Buffalo Valley by Debbie Macomber Page B

with the earflaps dangling. They were large men and did their best to appear intimidating.
    She made the introductions, gesturing weakly toward her brothers. Vaughn stepped forward and shook hands with both of them.
    â€œNice to finally meet you,” Tom said, resting his foot on the truck’s bumper. “Now I’d like to know what your intentions are toward my sister.”
    â€œTom!” Furious, Carrie clenched her fists. “This is none of your business.”
    â€œThe day you stop being my sister is the day I stop caring who you date.”
    â€œWell…” Vaughn clearly had no idea what to say.
    Her brothers putting him on the spot like this was outrageous. Picking up a handful of snow, Carrie immediately formed a ball and threw it at her oldest brother, hitting him square in the chest. Not waiting for his reaction, Carrie grabbed Vaughn’s arm and shouted, “Run!”
    â€œYou asked for this, Carrie Ann,” Tom shouted as Carrie and Vaughn raced across the street. They had just entered the park when Carrie felt her backside pelted by two snowballs.
    â€œThis is war,” Vaughn yelled when he saw that she’d been hit. He leaned down and packed his own snow, then hurled two balls in quick succession, hitting both Pete and Tom. Her brothers reacted with stunned surprise.
    Laughing and dodging around the play equipment with her brothers in hot pursuit, Carrie had trouble keeping pace with Vaughn. He yelled instructions and pointed toward the back of Hamburger Heaven. Thestand was closed for the winter and offered ample protection, but a few moments later, her brothers found them and began to bombard them with a flurry of snowballs. Although most of them hit the side of the building, it was obvious that Vaughn and Carrie couldn’t stay there long.
    â€œYou ready to surrender yet?” Pete demanded.
    â€œNever,” Vaughn answered for them.
    â€œThis way,” Carrie told him. With the community Christmas tree blocking their movements, she led him across the street. Hidden by a loaded hay truck that passed behind them, Carrie steered him toward her parents’ store.
    â€œThis is what I’d consider enemy territory,” Vaughn whispered as they slipped behind the building and out of view.
    â€œBut it’s the last place they’ll look,” she assured him.
    â€œSmart thinking.” Vaughn beamed her a delighted smile.
    She smiled back—and realized she hadn’t felt this kind of pure, uninhibited pleasure in…years. Since childhood, probably. When she didn’t break eye contact and started to laugh, he said, “What?”
    She shook her head, not wanting to put into words the joy she felt.
    A sound startled them both, and they froze. Carrie was certain her brothers had found them again, but if it was Pete and Tom, they left without searching farther.
    Relieved, Carrie sighed and slumped against the wall. “I believe we’re safe for the moment. Are you still interested in that pizza?”
    Vaughn nodded, but she saw a strange expression in his eyes as he continued to gaze down at her. Carrie tried to look away and couldn’t. She knew he intended to kiss her, and she shut her eyes as he moved closer. She’d been waiting for this moment, anticipating it. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned into him. He drew off his gloves and then her wool hat and dropped them. Weaving his hands into her hair, he kissed her…and deepened the kiss until they were both breathless. Carrie trembled and buried her face in his shoulder. Neither spoke. As he held her tight, it seemed for those few moments that their hearts beat in unison.
    He kissed her again, his mouth both firm and soft. When he eased away, Carried noticed that his browhad furrowed, and she thought she read doubt in his eyes. Uncertainty. She touched his face, wondering at the confusion she saw in him. “Is anything wrong?” she asked.
    He