They were getting into the downtown area. Megan had been in Cottonwood Springs before and was somewhat familiar with the place. “The mall has a store that sells gourmet chocolates,” she said. “What do you say we stop before lunch so I can buy Travis and Maggie a nice assortment.”

“Fine. But only if you’ll let me split the cost. That way, the chocolates will be from both of us.”

* * *

They bought a two-pound box of handmade chocolates at the mall, then ate a leisurely lunch at a Chinese restaurant a few blocks away. Laughing as he fumbled with chopsticks, Conner basked in the glow of being right where he wanted to be, with the woman he wouldn’t mind facing across the table for the rest of his life. It was too soon to be falling head over heels in love, he told himself. But today everything felt so good, so right. It was hard not to give in to the sheer giddiness of it. It was all he could do to keep from jumping out of his chair and dancing.

Maybe today, Megan would finally confess that she was the sexy singer who’d knocked his socks off at last year’s Christmas Ball. Then he would tell her that he’d already figured it out. They would share a good laugh, put the whole silly secret behind them, and move on.

But first, she needed to fess up and tell him the truth. And it would have to be her idea. If she couldn’t be honest with him, he might be smart to rethink their relationship.

“We can do whatever sounds fun to you,” he said as they left the restaurant. “But here’s one possibility. When we were in the mall, I noticed an oldies-style movie theater. This week, they’re showing Christmas classics. We could check it out.”

“That sounds like good, relaxing fun,” Megan said.

“If we don’t hit the start times right, we can just stroll around the mall. You can even sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what you want for Christmas,” he teased.

“Only if you’ll do it first.” She gave him a playful punch.

Conner laughed. “I know what I want, but I’m not sure he could get my present down the chimney. Come on, let’s catch a movie.”

They made it to the theater in time for a choice of two movies: It’s a Wonderful Life and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

“Your choice,” Conner said. “Name it.”

“I’ve seen It’s a Wonderful Life more times than I can count. Every time I see it, I love it more. I vote for that one.”

Conner secretly hated the sentimental classic, but he was out to please his lady. “Sounds like a winner,” he said. “And there’s not even a line at the box office.”