Page 50 of Christmas Cove

“I am?”

“They can’t stop talking about the Cove. Mr. Janowitz told someone, and there was even a message board where people were taking bets on how this whole thing would pan out, if you know what I mean?”

“No, Poppy, I do not know what you mean!”

“It’s possible that I added to Mr. Janowitz’s story and told everyone about the guy.”

“You didn’t!” America felt vomit rising in her stomach. If there was one thing that she dreaded more than being late to something, was being the center of any kind of office drama. It was better for her as the editor to be trusted and neutral. Now what would people think?

“I didn’t say anything about the almost kiss. But people figured it out pretty easily that there was way more going on at the Cove than just Christmassy things. Everyone thinks you are crazy for coming home instead of staying there and fixing things with him,” Poppy said and switched lanes.

America didn’t like highways. There were too many uncontrollable factors for her liking. By now, they were one exit away from their ramp, and then just two blocks more to the office. She took a deep breath and checked her watch. It had died. She supposed she had too much on her mind last night to plug it in.

“What’s the plan when we get to the office?” Poppy asked. “I’m at your service.”

“I know you are,” America said.

“And not just because you pay my salary,” Poppy added with a smile. “I really want you to be happy.”

“Thanks, Poppy. Tell me, is it going to be bad for me in there?”

The hatchback screamed around the corner, and Poppy pulled right into an empty parking spot. America’s nails dug into the side handle and her knuckles turned white. If she hadn’t thrown up at the thought of everyone in the office knowing her business with Leo, she certainly thought about doing so now from Poppy’s wild driving.

“It’ll be fine. I promise. Just cover your head with your scarf and wear those big sunglasses you like. Also, stay low and crouch behind me. Piece of cake.”

America nodded and donned her disguise, all the while feeling absurd. Poppy was bold, she had to give her that.

“Do you want to talk to the boss first?” Poppy asked.

“No. That won’t be necessary. I need to get some things figured out. Does he know I’m coming?”

“America, everyone knows you’re coming back, though they might be surprised to see you in the office today.”

Being close to lunchtime, the office was nearly deserted. Lucky for them, they rode the elevator alone and made it down the long glass hallway to her office without so much as a look from another person, though she knew it was but a matter of time before she was found out. Knowing a confrontation was inevitable, she unwrapped herself and sat at her desk.

Poppy pulled up a chair on the opposite side and took out a notebook and a pile of colorful pens. “Hit me!”

America laughed at the rainbow explosion on her desk. “That’s funny that you think I have any kind of a plan.”

“You always have a plan. It’s kind of your thing.”

“Consider me reformed, then.” America rocked back in her chair while she considered her next course of action.

“Let’s start with the problem.” Poppy opened her notebook and uncapped a red pen. On the top line, she drew a little holly berry as a bullet point. “You want Leo, but you screwed things up, and now you want to fix it, but you don’t know how?”

“Don’t write that!” America slapped her hand on the desktop. “And no. The problem is that Christmas Cove needs five more people to move in before Christmas Eve or the city will cease to exist.”

“Could have fooled me,” Poppy said under her breath.

“I heard that. And you aren’t entirely wrong.”

“Is there a way we can do both?”

“Both, huh?” There was no immediate reason that she shouldn’t at least try. Even if the city were somehow saved, Leo deserved more than she’d given him at the dance. He was the kindest man she had ever met, and sexy as hell. He had gone out of his way to give her the sort of Christmas she expected, and she had given him nothing but dashed hopes and broken trust.

“Let’s just say, hypothetically, that you get five more residents within the next week. Then what?” Poppy asked while she scribbled her ideas on the white pages.

“Pray that everything works out.” America said. “And someday, who knows, Leo finds his match and lives happily ever after.”

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