Page 56 of Carry Me Through Christmas

Blaire blinked at me.

“So, Holly Ridge isn’t being dissolved?”

“Not at all. The state still wants someone to work with Holly Ridge to get the numbers back on track and be sure that no one is left behind who was in on the council’s scheme, but they’re not going to punish the town for the vendetta of a few individuals. I actually think heads are rolling in the state’s audit office for not catching this sooner. They offered me a promotion already.”

Blaire’s eyes, which had been shining with excitement, dimmed at the reminder that I would be leaving the area and went back to looking at the newspaper in her hand, avoiding my gaze.

“Oh, that’s so great for you, Cole. I’m glad they’re rewarding your skills so early on.”

“Blaire,” I said, waiting for her to look back up at me. “I didn’t take the promotion. I’m actually not taking the first job they offered me either. I’m staying here.”

“To oversee Holly Ridge’s finances through the transition?”

“No. They did ask, but it came with a no fraternization clause I wasn’t willing to continue upholding.”

Blaire blinked at me. Gosh, she was beautiful.

“So, you’re staying? And not working for any government bodies? And Holly Ridge will remain a town and continue to have a festival?”

“That’s right. And I also want to apologize for trying to fix a new job for you. It wasn’t because I didn’t think you could get it on your own or that you needed my help. It was because I wanted the chance to be with you, for real, without any sneaking or hiding, and I saw an opening and didn’t think.”

At this, Blaire threw herself at me, her mouth finding mine and warming the part of me that had gone cold since I walked out of that studio apartment last week. My arms found her waist, pulling her tight to my body, my cock going rock hard the instant I had her back in my arms.

Blaire slowly drew back for air, keeping her arms around my neck. I didn’t loosen my hold on her, not wanting to have her farther from me than absolutely necessary but wanting to let her say what she needed to.

“The financial fortitude was hot enough, but the self-reflection and actualization was irresistible. And I’m sorry too. I should have let you explain where you were coming from, I shouldn’t have written us off because of where you came from, or the fact that you were leaving. I have my own things to work through when it comes to feeling the need to earn things on my own.”

“Maybe we can get a two-for-one therapy deal somewhere in town,” I joked.

She groaned, the vibration carrying through her body to mine and making me grip her tighter.

“Who knew therapy talk would work so well for me?”

We both laughed, but then I grew serious, brushing a strand of hair out of Blaire’s face and looking into her eyes.

“I’m serious, Blaire. I want to make this work. You carried me through this Christmas season I thought would be my last in my hometown and made me realize I don’t want to run anymore. I can’t wait to see what else we can face together, and maybe sometime I can carry you through something you’re going through.”

Blaire’s eyes started to well with tears when we heard a loud, and united, countdown coming from the direction of the community building.

“10, 9, 8—”

“To new beginnings?” Blaire asked.

“And to new traditions,” I answered, bringing my mouth back to hers just as the crowd inside the center yelled, “Happy New Year!”

Chapter 32

March, the following year

Blaire

I walked up the stairs to city hall, still wearing a blazer, but that was one of the only things that was the same as the time I took this walk last year. When I entered the main hall, I didn’t have to avert my eyes from one side of the entryway. Agatha, Arthur, and Rudolph’s photos had been removed right about the time they were arrested at the airport trying to flee to the Cayman Islands.

Somehow, Tanya had received an anonymous tip they would be on a flight that same day and the authorities caught up to them at the airport in exchange for allowing her the exclusive on the story. That was Tanya’s transition for her blog from small-town fluff pieces to more investigative and in-depth stories about local governments and financial scandals, with Cole coming on board to do the financial interpretation and combing through public records, seeing what other trails he could find. Her streaming show had been put on hold, and I heard they were taking a more true crime spin with it. Cole was in absolute heaven over his new gig.

Cole was one of the biggest reasons I had a spring in my step this morning. I talked about getting an apartment and finally moving out of my parent’s house after we knew my position as Holly Ridge festival planner would be a more long-term appointment, but I ended up moving in with him last month instead. I mean, with those Jacuzzi jets in his tub and the way he knew how to use them, who could blame me?

A look at my dad’s picture back on the wall as Holly Ridge Mayor pro tempore made memories of this morning’s tub time fly straight out of my head. The state asked him to come out of retirement and step back into the mayorship until a special election could be arranged for the town to decide whether they wanted to go back to a mayorship permanently or keep the city council structure and then hold elections to fill those positions. Dad was willing to do so, but was adamant he wasn’t putting his name on any ballots. I knew he missed his woodworking and might even miss having Holland and Hollis around on a regular basis.

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