“No,” she said instantly. “Definitely not. If I were back in the city, my sisters and I would be fighting our way along Fifth Avenue, dealing with the crush of holiday shoppers. Then we’d stagger with our parcels to Penn Station for the LIRR and pray we get a seat. It’s fun in its own way, but this is definitely more mellow.” She watched a kid and his mother crossing the street with a little dog on a leash.

“So, are you a city girl or a small-town girl?” he asked.

“Both. Oh, and a wilderness girl, too. Does that make me hopelessly inconsistent?” She ducked her head and then looked at him again. “I’m still figuring out who I am when I’m single.”

“Fair enough.” He couldn’t quite tell what she was trying to say. That she liked being single and wanted to stay that way? That she was flexible and open to change? That she wanted him to take her to bed and do all the stuff he thought about when he thought about her?

Which was pretty much all the freaking time.

“You must miss something,” he said.

“Shopping for the kids, I guess. That was always one of my favorite parts. I mean, it’s one thing to pick out the perfect cashmere bathrobe for your mother, or a BugZooka for your dad, but shopping for the kids is the best.”

“I’ve got an idea,” he said. “This way.”

He took her to the local toy store. It was nice, the way her face lit up when she saw the window display—a model train circling its figure-eight route through the fake snow and trees, and a lit village in the background. There was a robot endlessly lifting hand weights, dolls and boxing gloves, bikes and musketeer swords.

“It’s fantastic,” Darcy said. “Every kid’s dream toy shop.”

“Yep.” He nodded at the manager, a woman named Guinevere who had been working here since she was a teenager. He drew Darcy over to a display of the latest and greatest. “I’d like to get your help,” he said. “We’ve got a bumper crop of kids this year, and my ever-efficient older sister China sent me a text message with suggestions.”

They spent the next hour channeling the kids. What would light them up on Christmas morning? What would make them laugh, excite them, give them warm memories of their Christmas at Saddle Mountain?

“We have to try stuff out,” said Darcy.

“That’s right, you’re all about testing gear, aren’t you? Let’s steer clear of the things that need to be plugged in,” he suggested.

“Are you expecting a power outage?”

“No, but up on the mountain, it happens. Nonelectric toys are more fun, anyway.”

“Agreed. Remember Battleship?” She pulled out the classic board game.

“Good one. Everyone’s going to want that.”

“Then let’s get it for the pickle prize.”