Page 5 of Christmas In Love

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Natalie skirted around the counter and wiggled the computer mouse, finally feeling like the room was not tilting on its side, sending her thoughts spilling from her ears. She pulled out a brochure. “The Aspen room, Mountain room, and Pirate room are available.”

After a brief hesitation, he grabbed the offered trifold. His eyebrows raised as he glanced over it, then up at her. “You have themed rooms?”

Natalie narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin slightly. “Yes.” Themed rooms were cool.

“Why a pirate room?” He was looking down again.

“It was fun to decorate.” And she’d wanted an excuse to buy a bunch of cool-looking gold coins and a stuffed parrot. Who wouldn’t?

“Uh-huh… okay.”

“The Tree House room is a particular favorite, but it’s currently booked. So is the Beach room.” Why was she telling him this?

“Bummer.” Somehow, he didn’t sound sincere. He handed back the brochure, and Natalie expected him to announce his plans to drive to Woodcastle. “I’ll take the Mountain room.”

Oh. “Uh… Perfect.” She pulled out a contract and another pamphlet, handing them over. “It’s $95 a night, breakfast is included, and parking is around back.” She looked up at him. “But I’m guessing you already figured that out.”

He nodded, so she continued—bull-dozing through the conversation much faster than her construction crew had done pretty much anything when they’d fixed up the B&B.

“I lock the doors each night at ten. You’ll have a personal keycode if you need to get in or out after then. Yours is written right here. Checkout is at eleven in the morning. How long will you be staying?”

His brow furrowed again in thought, and Natalie took a moment to scan his appearance. Appreciate it. Her eyes had missed him if nothing else.

His dark hair, dark eyes, and impressive shoulders hadn’t changed, but the lines on his face had. There were more deep grooves around his eyes and a few lines around his mouth that indicated he did occasionally smile, just not now. He stood tensely, with one hand in his pocket and the other grasping a pen and scanning the contract. Natalie pulled her gaze and thoughts away from the rabbit hole they were circling not a moment too soon, as his eyes lifted.

He clicked the pen closed and set it on the counter with the contract.

She thought she saw him quickly check her out as well, likely taking in her auburn hair pulled into a messy ponytail, slightly wrinkled blouse, and the extra eight pounds that wouldn’t leave her hips. Yes, it was exactly eight. She needed to start asking the nurses at the doctor’s office to weigh her in kilograms so she could feign ignorance.

As she typed his full name into her booking software, Natalie fought the despairing feeling that surged in her stomach and crept up her throat. She’d never planned to see Cade Davis again, but she would have liked to be wearing a pretty little number with a full face of makeup when she did.

“I don’t really know. At least a few days. Can I book three nights for now, then extend my stay if I need to?”

Natalie blinked, forcing her mind back to business mode. Business, business, business. She was the epitome of professionalism. “Yes, that’s fine.” She stooped, unlocked a small box under the desk, and grabbed a key from the hook inside. “Would you rather pay cash or…” She trailed off as she saw him holding out a credit card. “Right, okay.”

As quickly as she could, she took his payment, filed his paperwork, and gave him a key and directions to his room. Then she sent him on his way with a healthy dose of relief, and one too many lingering glances as he walked up the stairs.

Okay, maybe five too many of those.

She watched the spot at the top of the stairs where he’d disappeared for too long. Finally, she locked the front door, turned the sign to “closed,” and trudged back through the kitchen to her room in a state of distraction.

Cade Davis was in her bed and breakfast. Cade Davis. Ex-boyfriend. Only man she’d ever loved.

The guy she’d dumped just before Christmas. That very week.

She winced. Man, she’d been a pretty terrible person back then.

She had managed to pull her pajamas on—only putting her shirt on backward twice—when a buzz alerted her to a text on her phone. She grabbed it, her mind immediately leaping to the possibility that Cade had texted before realizing how ridiculous that was. He didn’t even have her new number.

Still, she was minorly disappointed to see her best friend’s name on the message.

April:Mrs. Foster asked me to make sure you’re still organizing the Christmas parade.

April: *gif of man rolling eyes*

Natalie emitted a sound that was half-laugh, half-groan. At that exact moment, she didn’t want to think about the commitment she’d made four months ago, back when she’d wanted to take this town by storm. She also didn’t want to think about how Mrs. Foster had been checking in on her progress every week since then.

So, she rolled over and went to sleep.

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