Page 37 of Maybe This Christmas
“Well, if you’ve got one stoplight, it makes sense that there would be a crosswalk to go with it,” Emma said.
She allowed him to lead her across the street.The Peculiar Pumpkin was catty-cornered to them.The grand old Victorian house stood apart from the others in town, with its black paint and violet shutters.
Caleb pointed to the house.“The Peculiar Pumpkin is an institution in this town.It was one of the first tourist attractions, back when this was just a place you stopped to get gas on the way to Roanoke.”
“Was it like that when you were a kid?Or was it already charming?”
They stopped before the B&B, sidestepping a group of elderly tourists.
“Eh, it was rustically charming, I guess.Many of the houses were in disrepair.That’ll happen when a lot of them are more than a hundred years old.The town didn’t get this charming until about ten years ago, when Mayor Ford was elected.He’s really helped turn the place around.”
They stepped onto the covered porch.Emma took in the black Christmas tree, which was adorned with red, black and green ornaments.
“They stay on theme at the Pumpkin,” Caleb said.
No sooner had he finished speaking than one of the double doors to the inn swung open.A stunning redhead stepped out, a toddler on her hip.
“Caleb Ellis, I heard a rumor that you may be making your way over here.”Her accent was as thick as honey.
“Given that gossip spreads like butter in this town, I’m not surprised,” Caleb deadpanned.He turned to Emma.“This is Merit Westmore.She and her husband run several hotels around the world, but the Pumpkin is their home base.”
The little girl reached across her mother for Caleb.“Ca-Ca,” she said.
Emma snorted as Caleb laughed.“It’s an unfortunate nickname.But little Lakyn seems to like me.”
Merit passed her daughter over to Caleb, who, of course, was a natural.“I think Lakyn knows he’s a girl dad, huh, baby girl?”
Emma watched as Caleb bobbed the little girl in his arms.
Caleb already had children.Since she’d never wanted any kids of her own, it’d always been a somewhat tricky subject to navigate.Because to share her reasoning meant having to delve into her own childhood trauma.Not that she was getting ahead of herself or anything.They’d simply kissed.
Merit’s voice cut into her thoughts.“You have any kids of your own, Emma?”
She shook her head.She’d learned to avoid the subject until she got to know someone well.Which meant she should tell Caleb at some point.If he wanted this thing between them to be more than a kiss.
Caleb handed the little girl back to her mother, his eyes carefully on Emma.“How about we go inside and get something to warm up?The Frosted Squash has a fantastic lunch special today.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
Merit walked ahead of them through the door.Caleb held it open for them with one hand, and with his other, he reached for Emma’s.
She looked up at him, finding comfort in his touch and his soft expression.Of all the extraordinary things that had occurred in the last seventy-two hours, she wondered if this feeling would lose its shine the longer she was around him.
But as he pulled her closer as they stepped into the lobby, Emma decided that, for now, she was done worrying about what might be.
Fate had brought her to this place and literally into the path of this man.
“You okay, Emma?You looked a little far away back there.”
Emma gazed up at the chandelier in the lobby.The little crystal droplets threw light around the cozy space.
“Oh, don’t you worry about me.I was just…thinking.About things.”She grinned at him.It wasn’t exactly a lie.Her brain had replayed a slow-mo of their kiss between her worries.
“Yes, things.”He slipped a hand onto her hip.
Butterflies took flight once more.
Chapter Thirteen
