The Holiday Secret. Kathryn Springer

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      Carter would rather chase bad guys than be the opening act for a high school marching band decked out in fake antlers and red plastic noses.

      Not that he’d been given a choice.

      Carter had had no idea when he’d been called into work for a “special assignment,” it would involve the annual parade. A parade Carter should have been watching from the sidelines, with Bea.

      It’s your hometown, Bristow, Carter’s supervisor had said. Consider it an honor.

      An honor? No. More like a punishment.

      Riverside, the town’s main street, was only three blocks long and yet it was crowded with moments he’d rather forget.

      He’d been home on leave for the first time when he’d met travel blogger Jennifer St. John. She’d checked into the Evergreen Inn on her way to the Great Lakes Circle Tour, seeking out “backwoods beauty” on her latest adventure. To say that Carter was flattered when Jennifer had asked him to show her some of the sights around the area was an understatement.

      Jennifer was stunning and vivacious—and Carter had fallen hard. In his pursuit of her attention, it didn’t matter they’d been raised in different environments. Had very different goals.

      Carter’s mom had expressed some concerns about the relationship, but he’d brushed those aside, as well. Sure, Jennifer came from a wealthy family, but she was assertive, not entitled. Goal driven, not self-centered.

      And the most amazing thing? She seemed to be wild about him, too. Delayed her trip so they could spend more time together.

      Carter had been devastated when Jennifer announced it was time for her to move on. Earning a coveted spot with the SEALS meant going off the grid for months at a time, and he had no doubt there would be guys lined up to take his place at Jennifer’s side.

      A week before Carter was deployed again, though, she’d shown up at the inn to say goodbye. Carter’s fear of losing Jennifer was stronger than any misgivings he’d had about marrying a woman he’d known less than a month. He’d stumbled through a proposal and wonder of wonders, Jennifer accepted.

      It wasn’t until Carter had begged her not to give up on their marriage only a few years later that he’d found out why.

      Unbeknownst to Carter, Jennifer had posted a photograph of her local “guide” on one of their outings and her popularity had skyrocketed. As she began to document their romance, her followers had clamored for more. Carter had unwittingly provided it in the form of a proposal.

      Jennifer had never loved him. Not really. She’d loved what Carter had done for her career. He’d been convenient. And their child was collateral damage when Jennifer decided a family didn’t fit her long-range goals.

      Three-quarters of the people waving at the squad car weren’t privy to all the gory details, but there was no hiding the fact Carter’s marriage had crashed and burned.

      One more reason he avoided the town.

      You have to replace some of the bad memories with the good ones, his mom had said.

      But it was difficult when the bad ones had become embedded in his heart like shrapnel.

      A flurry of movement on the sidewalk caught Carter’s eye.

      A six-foot-tall Dalmatian wearing a gaudy plaid tuxedo was handing out candy canes along the parade route. Dash, the animal shelter’s official mascot, was a fixture at events like this and never failed to attract a crowd of his own.

      Carter watched Dash pause in front of an attractive young woman and two little girls. Everyone who’d turned out for the parade boasted more layers than Karen’s beef Wellington, but Carter recognized Anna Leighton and her twin daughters immediately. The Leightons were the only family in town with hair the color of a newly minted penny.

      Anna reached for a candy cane, but Dash was faster. In a daring move, he planted a kiss on the back of Anna’s hand...and instantly blew his cover.

      Liam Kane.

      Carter still hadn’t sent back the response card for the couple’s Christmas Eve wedding. Maybe because he was still trying to figure out why he’d been invited.

      Liam and his brothers ran Castle Falls Outfitters a few miles outside of town, but their paths hadn’t crossed until Aiden, the youngest of the three, was involved in a hit-and-run.

      Aiden had a reputation for being a daredevil, so his claim that a vehicle had forced him off the road had been met with skepticism in the community...and in his own family.

      Carter had believed the guy, though. There were times when his own survival had been dependent on his ability to discern whether or not a person was telling the truth, and something in Aiden’s story had pushed Carter to do a little more digging.

      When the driver of the vehicle turned out to be the younger brother of one of the teens Aiden had been mentoring, he’d decided not to press charges.

      Carter had heard that both Justin and Tim Wagner had been spending a lot of time with the Kane family since then, learning how to build canoes and maybe some valuable life skills, as well. A risky move on Aiden’s part—believing in second chances—and Carter hoped the boys wouldn’t take advantage of it.

      His role in the case had officially ended when he’d filed his report, but apparently the Kane family thought they owed him something for doing his job. Hence the invitation to the wedding.

      But as far as Carter was concerned, weddings ranked right up there with Christmas.

      If it were up to him, he’d happily skip them both.

      Dash moved to the next family and Carter did a double take.

      The child standing next to the Leightons looked familiar, too.

      Because it was his child...

       Thank you, Mom.

      Relief poured through Carter as his gaze cut to the woman standing next to Dash. He choked back a laugh.

      Not only had she brought Bea to the parade, his mom must have taken his daughter’s advice on what to wear for the occasion.