Page 38 of Christmas at Pine Ridge Inn
Brady was quiet for a moment. “Not much, and probably even less going forward with Tom and Carol slowing down. They’ve put their whole lives into this place, and they need to know it’ll be in good hands.”
“That’s a big responsibility.”
“It is. But it’s also what I want. I can’t imagine working anywhere but the inn.”
There was something wistful in his voice that made her chest tighten. “Would you ever be able to get away? Even for a few days?”
“Maybe in the spring, after the busy season winds down. May is pretty quiet here. We call it ‘Mud Season’ because the snow has melted too much for winter activities like skiing, but there are still patches making it too muddy for many of the summer activities. A lot of stores and restaurants, here and in Breckenridge, close for the month for repairs or renovations or just a vacation.”
She involuntarily shivered from the cold, and Brady wrapped his arm around her. “We should start back before you turn into an icicle.” He got the horses going again and they began the gentle ride back toward the inn. “What about you? When’s your next project?”
“I don’t have anything scheduled until the second week of January. A resort in Scottsdale.” The dates suddenly felt significant in a way they hadn’t before. “I usually book pretty far out, but I could probably keep my calendar lighter for a while if I wanted to.”
“Would you want to?” The question was asked carefully, but she could hear the hope underneath it.
Lila looked at his profile in the moonlight—the strong jaw, the way his wavy brown hair escaped from his wool hat, the gentle way he handled the reins. “I think I might,” she said with a smile.
When they reached the inn, the warm glow from the windows seemed even more welcoming than before. After Brady helped her down from the sleigh, he held on tight to her hand and turned her to face him.
“Whatever happens tomorrow with Carol,” he said, “I want you to know that this is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
“For me too,” she admitted. “I came here looking for my birth mother, but I found something I didn’t expect to find.”
“What’s that?”
“People who make me want to slow down.” The admission surprised her with its honesty.
Brady leaned down and kissed her again in the soft glow of the inn’s lights. It was tender and warmed her from within as he pulled her against him. Winter weather was definitely more tolerable if you had someone like this to help heat things up. At the risk of getting frostbite, she wanted to stay right there in that moment forever. No work deadlines, no grief, no birth mother to find.
When he finally pulled away and they walked together to put away the horses for the night, Lila felt a mixture of anticipation and hope. Tomorrow, she would finally ask Carol the question that had brought her to Pine Ridge. But tonight, for the first time since arriving, she wasn’t focused solely on the past. She was beginning to imagine a different kind of future.
Thirteen
When Lila and Brady returned from the barn, the inn was quieter than she’d expected. The lobby glowed softly from the dying embers in the fireplace, but there was no sign of the other guests.
“Where is everyone?” Lila asked, unwinding her scarf.
“I guess everyone turned in already,” Brady said, hanging up his coat. “After all, Santa can’t come until we’re all in bed.” He winked at her.
Carol appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She’d changed from her dinner dress into comfortable jeans and a forest green sweater, her hair pulled back.
“How was the sleigh ride?” she asked, but Lila noticed how her eyes didn’t quite meet hers directly.
“Magical,” Lila said. “The whole town looked like a Christmas card.”
“I’m glad.” Carol’s smile was warm but brief. “I was just setting up the breakfast casseroles to go in the oven first thing in the morning. Christmas breakfast is always a production.”
Brady glanced between Lila and Carol, seeming to sense the undercurrent of tension. “I should go check on the horses, make sure they’re settled for the night.” He caught Lila’s eye. “Take your time.”
The pointed comment wasn’t lost on either woman. Brady was giving them space to speak alone. Lila’s stomach fluttered with nerves. She hadn’t planned to have this conversation tonight. She’d planned to lie awake most of the night rehearsing what she wanted to say tomorrow, but this seemed like as good a time as any.
“Can I help with anything?” Lila offered as Brady disappeared out the back door.
“That’s sweet of you, but I’m nearly finished.” Carol moved toward the kitchen, and Lila followed. “Just need to get these covered and refrigerated now that they’ve had time to cool.”
The kitchen was warm and cozy, fragrant with the scent of bacon and cheese from the casseroles. Carol moved efficiently between the counter and refrigerator, covering glass baking dishes with foil and making space on the shelves. Lila watched her hands—the same long fingers she’d noticed before that looked like her own.
“Carol,” Lila began, then stopped. Her heart was hammering against her ribs.
