Page 51 of Never Sleigh Never
“You’re such a gentleman,” she says, giving me a sultry once-over as I drape her coat over the chair.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “How’d you even hear about the carnival?”
“Actually, your carnival was nominated for the Best Hometown Christmas contest, and it’s in the finals as one of the top three events.”
My first thought is somehow Brooke entered the contest from beyond the grave since it’s what she always wanted, but I quickly shake that thought away. I glance around the coffee shop on the lookout for any guilty faces who could have outed me. It could be anyone here. Hell, anyone in this town. Maybe my mom? She subscribes to the magazine.
My brows pinch together. “Who submitted it?”
“It was anonymous. But when I heard hockey legend Logan Crawford was running a small-town Christmas carnival, I had to see for myself.”
I nod. “So you came here because of who I am?”
“Not every day do I get the opportunity to meet a hockey star.” Emma reaches across the table and rests her hand on mine. “Let me say, I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your wife.”
My eyes drop to the stark contrast of her red snowman nails against my skin. It twists something in my gut like eggnog left out overnight. “Thanks,” I mutter before pulling my arm away.
A frown twitches on her lips before she recovers. “So tell me, how does a hockey star trade slapshots for sleigh bells? And why Mount Holly?”
My foot taps under the table. I can talk penalty kills all day long. But this? This is Brooke’s story. “I grew up here. The town has always been about tradition. And now, with my daughter… I wanted her to feel the same Christmas magic I did.”
“And the carnival?”
I huff out a laugh and lean against the chair. “That wasn’t my idea. It was something my wife had always aspired to do. She loved Christmas. All aspects of it. She wanted to create something fun and magical for families to enjoy during the holidays. She planned every detail—layout, buildings, even the decor in the hot cocoa stand. My voice goes tight, and I drop my gaze to the table. “The year she passed was supposed to be the carnival’s inaugural year. Obviously, it didn’t pan out. But I wanted her dream to live on.”
Emma’s smile softens, her pen pausing. “That’s really beautiful. How has the carnival planning been so far?”
“Challenging?” I chuckle. “But I’ve always been up for a challenge. It’s the competitor in me. But now that things are coming to fruition, it’s exciting to see the finished product.”
She jots notes in her notepad. “What has been the biggest challenge so far?”
I want to say Brie, not because of the competition but, because I can’t get her out of my head. “The execution. Making sure it’s perfect. The way Brooke wanted it.”
“And the town has been supportive of the carnival?”
I grin. “Oh, yeah. Everyone’s excited. Well… most people.”
Her brows lift. “Why most people?”
“There’s a tradition in Mount Holly called the Holly Jolly Festival. Another similar Christmas festival.” I rest my elbows on the table.
She nods along. “So, dueling festivals.”
“Something like that. The organizer is Brie McKenna. We grew up together.”
“You two are friends?”
I bark out a laugh. “Friends might be a stretch. More like lifelong enemies.” This time she laughs. “We didn’t necessarily get along growing up. A lot of competition.”
She perks up, scribbling furiously. “So it’s personal?”
My chest tightens. “The purpose isn’t competition. But it’s there. Mount Holly loves Christmas, and there’ll be support for both events from the entire town. For me, the most important part is honoring Brooke’s dream.”
“Of course,” she says, but the gleam in her eyes says she’s already writing the headline: Hockey Legend vs. Hometown Heroine: Dueling Festivals in Mount Holly. “Tell me more about Brie?”
I fight the urge to smile hearing her name. “She’s so strong-willed, fierce, and determined. She works her ass off. Shit, can I say ass?”
“I’ll edit it out.” She chuckles.
