Christmas in Pine Island: A small town holiday romance Read online

  Eric stops his unpacking to wrap his arms around me. “Can you blame me?” he asks, before kissing me so thoroughly my toes curl.

  No need to change into dry clothes. The inferno Eric just lit inside me has me all toasty and warm. We stand chest-to-chest, all thoughts of unpacking forgotten.

  How I love this man.

  I gaze up at him admiring the view while he tucks my hair behind my ears, lovingly staring into my eyes.

  I can’t believe how much Eric has been through, or how far he’s come. When we met, he was a shadow of the man before me now, but I didn’t love him any less. I just knew he was the one for me.

  It was love at first sight, something I hadn’t believed in until I met him.

  And Eric . . . he’s certainly someone worth believing in.

  Watching him battle and beat his demons has made me love him even more. I know he’s always saying that I'm the reason he’s clean and sober now, but he put in that hard work himself. I just held his hand along the way—just like I’ll continue to forever.

  From somewhere down the hall, the sound of a seven-year-old boy excitedly squealing echoes closer. It breaks the spell we’re under, but in a good way.

  Eric and I both burst into laughter at the same time.

  “Weren’t those kids adorable together downstairs?” I ask. “They’re going to have the best time here.”

  Eric nods. “I know. I’m so glad Ryan will have a buddy to hang out with.”

  “And it’ll give him a chance to practice being a big brother, too,” I add. “I loved spending Christmas with my mom, but I always imagined it would be fun to have siblings to share it with. You know, creeping downstairs together to see the presents under the tree . . . digging through the chocolate in your stocking together . . . those kinds of things are always sweeter when you can share them.”

  “And now you get to share those things with me,” Eric answers, playfully.

  I roll my eyes and gently pinch his side. He reacts with typical Easy E dramatics. My comedic fiancé falls back onto the bed as though I’d inflicted some kind of massive injury. The blankets poof up around him, swallowing him up.

  He holds his hands to his heart and moans so loudly that half the lodge can probably hear him. “First the snowball fight and now this? The only thing that will save me is a kiss!”

  Even though the love of my life is acting like a total goofball, I still find it hilarious.

  “A kiss you say?”

  He gives a pitiful nod, extending his arms toward me. “A really good one.”

  I lift my eyebrows. “You know Santa doesn’t give naughty people presents.”

  He props himself up on his elbows, his silver-flecked irises pouring so sincerely into mine that I freeze at the foot of the bed. There’s not a hint of mischief in his typically sly expression now. Instead, he looks almost somber. I would’ve thought something was wrong if he hadn't been faintly smiling. “What kind of present could I ever want, Morgan? I’ve got you. Being with you is the only thing I’ve ever wanted.”

  Heat surges up my cheeks as I grab at one of the pillows he’d tossed aside and hide my face behind it. I peek over the top to find him still looking at me, though his typical impish gleam has returned to his eyes.

  “I mean look at you, woman!” he adds with a wily grin. “Only a crazy man would want anything more!”

  Laughing, I smack him with the pillow. He catches my arm, pulling me against him until we’re rolling over the sheets. He pins my arms over my head, descending once for a chaste kiss.

  “You’re worse than the kids,” I tease. “You’ve always got some sort of prank taking shape in that handsome head of yours.”

  Again, Eric steals a kiss. He continues to speak, punctuating every other word with a light peck. “Speaking of kids . . . when are you and I going to make some of those?”

  My breath lodges sharply in my lungs, but he’s still got a big grin plastered on his face. This is clearly just another joke.

  Shifting my hips, I manage to catch his wrists in my hands and push him over so that I’m on top now. I pin him to the bed and lean over him, stealing a victorious kiss of my own. “I guess when you’re done being a rockstar and I'm done being a supermodel,” I say easily.

  “Well . . .” he sighs, “at least we know our future kids will be gorgeous.”

  I shoot him a feisty smirk. “As long as they get their looks from me.”

  His head falls back as he howls with laughter, pulling me against him so that we’re rolling across the sheets again.

  Though I'm laughing along with him, the comment has settled somewhere in the back of my mind where it continues to simmer.

  Will Eric and I ever be able to sit still long enough to have children? Or will it be the sacrifice fame demands?

  A part of me has always felt like I’ve been searching for something since I lost my mother. Recently I’ve been wondering if having children of my own might fill that void. But if I continue with this lifestyle, I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to find out.

  Chloe Price

  After showing each of our new guests to their suites, I practically fly back down the stairs. I’m so grateful the entire top floor of the lodge was available. I think it’ll give our special guests the privacy they deserve, but man am I winded!

  Still catching my breath, I go in search of my sister. As expected, Margot is waiting impatiently for me. The moment she sees me she hops off the barstool she’s occupying and hurries over. Ava is busy playing with Darcy, and Owen and Ethan are both still chatting softly about something. Right now, I’ll let them have their boy talk—I need some solid girl time with my sister so we can gush over our superstar guests.

  I grab her hand, dragging her through the lobby toward the sprawling staff kitchen. Once we’re safely tucked far from sight, Margot let go of my hands. And it’s only to clap her own hands to her cheeks in excitement. “We’ve got celebrities!” Margot shrieks. “Real celebrities! Talk about a Christmas miracle!”

  She leaps around the kitchen until she’s out of breath and her pale cheeks are bright red from her exuberance. She takes a moment to recoup and snatch a gingersnap cookie off a plate nearby. “Okay, I’m better now. Sorry. I just had to get that out.”

  I laugh and stretch out my hand as she passes me one of the cookies. I made them for the guests, but I’m starving. I haven’t had a moment to stop and eat all day. Even if I had, I’m much too nervous to sit down for a meal. But I always have room for cookies. Especially Christmas cookies.

  “Right?” I mumble around a mouthful. “When Eric’s agent called, I thought for sure I was dreaming!”

  Margot’s bright hazel eyes narrow on me. “Eric!” she wheezes, cookie crumbs falling from her lips. “Eric? Co-Co, listen to yourself! You’re on a first-name basis with a rockstar!”

  All at once, we’re both squealing again. I know that we have to be professional and polite with our guests, but how could Margot and I not fangirl for a little bit? We both love his band so much! We practically grew up listening to them! It’s so surreal having him here.

  Strangely though, if I hadn't known who Eric and his friends were, I never would’ve guessed they were famous. They all seem so down-to-earth and friendly. They’re the kind of people who you would want to have a wine and board games night with. Spending the holidays with them is going to be a blast.

  I still have to make sure that I give them the very best Christmas ever though. These are the kind of people who could jet away to Europe for the holidays. Is my family-owned lodge really enough to keep them entertained?

  Suddenly overwhelmed with nerves, I stop jumping around and lean back against the counter. Margot offers me another cookie, but I shake my head. “What if they get bored with whatever activities I plan?” I ask, looking up at my older sister. “What if they’re expecting something really, really amazing?”

  “Like what?” Margot asks, doubtfully. She’s already on her third cookie. I have no idea ho
w she stays as slim as she does when she can eat like that.

  “I don’t know . . . like bungee jumping from our tallest tree or something!”

  Margot heaves a deep sigh. “Co-Co, I love you. But you need to chill.” Margot eyes me and folds her arms over her chest. “They just want to relax and be normal people for a bit.”

  I sigh and nod, slowly smiling at my sister. It’s so wonderful to have her around when my parents aren’t here to guide me. “You’re right,” I murmur, earning a satisfied smirk from Margot. “Besides . . . I think I have a really fun idea for them.”

  “Good. Whatever you’re planning is going to be perfect.” Margot pushes away from the counter and grabs my hands in hers again. “We’re finally doing it.”

  “Finally doing what?”

  “Taking charge.” She nods to the space around us. “Without Mom and Dad here, it feels like we’re really grownups. And you’re running the lodge this year! We’re doing this all on our own!”

  I can’t help but roll my eyes. “You’re a mom, Go-Go! I think you’ve been a grownup for a while.”

  This time, it’s my sister who rolls her eyes as she drops my hands. Then she abruptly pauses, edging closer and nudging me in the ribs. “Yeah and when are you going to join me in motherhood?” she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

  I just laugh and gently push her away from me. “Are you joking? I'm way too busy for a wedding—let alone babies!”

  “If you say so,” Margot sighs. “I just know Ava is dying for a cousin to play with . . . Plus, don’t think I’ve forgotten we said we’d raise our kids together.”

  “Go-Go, I’m nowhere near ready for kids. I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water as it is.”

  “Then maybe something needs to change.” Margot shrugs. “I’m just saying. The clock is ticking, sis.”

  She slinks away, shaking her head as she sets some of the cookies on a tray for the guests. I watch her, chewing my bottom lip. I’d laughed off her question, but my stomach is suddenly twisting and turning. Is she right?

  How will Ethan and I ever start a family if we can’t even find time to set a wedding date?

  If I could, I’d marry him tomorrow . . . I’d marry him right now! But my perfect man deserves the perfect wedding. I just don’t know how to find the time to give that to him.

  Owen Hall

  Though the girls think they’re being coy, I can hear my wife and Chloe giggling wildly together in the depths of the lodge’s kitchen.

  Ethan and I look at one another, shake our heads and grin.

  “At least they’re trying to show some restraint,” Ethan says with a shrug.

  I adore how happy Margot gets when we come back to Pine Island to help out around the tree farm during the winter season. Most of the time we’re based in Manhattan, and we miss Ethan and Chloe like crazy when we’re apart.

  Before meeting Margot and having Ava, Ethan was all I had. He’s always been the Sherlock to my Watson. We were lucky that way. Not all brothers are as close as we are. We’ve had a lot of great times over the years, and I was afraid that would be hard to let go of if I ever found a woman to give my heart to. But that was before I met Margot.

  Meeting her was like waking up. She unlocked my heart. And I couldn’t believe my luck when Ethan fell for her sister.

  We’ve both been blessed to find amazing women and I couldn’t be happier.

  “I’m just glad to be together for the holidays,” I say, raising my mug of spiked cocoa.

  “Cheers to that,” Ethan says, clinking his mug against mine.

  We both drink deeply and listen to the girls continue their squealing conversation. Ava looks up from where she’s playing beneath one of the massive Christmas trees. Giggling, she happily echoes, “Cheers!”

  I wink at her and she turns back to watch the train chugging lazy circles around the tree. Quietly, she murmurs to herself about how Ryan is going to love playing with the trains, too.

  My heart squeezes with worry.

  I always feel bad that we pull Ava away from her school friends to come out here for the holiday. Having Ryan here was a great surprise, but it still doesn’t completely quell my guilt.

  I hate that Ava’s an only child. Ethan and I are close in age. Growing up with a brother as my best friend was one of the best blessings of my life. Ava’s already six. She was a bit of a surprise, and Margot and I have been going nonstop since Ava blessed us with her presence. Between my job and Margot finishing her degree we haven’t had time to discuss if it’s a good time for more kids. But I really do want more. And from the way Ava keeps looking hopefully at the stairs, I’m willing to bet she’d love a little brother or sister, too.

  I just wish I knew how my wife felt.

  Once we’ve downed our drinks, my little brother and I begin to make our way around the lobby. He adds some extra logs to the fire while I inspect the trees and the inventory at the bar. Tonight is definitely going to call for a lot of Co-Co’s specialty drinks.

  By the time our guests leave, they’re never going to be able to drink one of those awful powdered hot chocolates again. Chloe just has a way with hot chocolate. It’s like magic.

  I smile to myself, remembering how well her concoctions worked on Ethan. Their love affair all started with their little midnight cocoa meetups.

  After adding a few more logs to the fireplaces, Ethan dusts off his hands and joins me back at the bar. Upstairs, the guests are still getting settled into their rooms. I'm sure they’ll come bounding down any minute, eager to explore more of the lodge. This might be my only chance to talk to him alone about his big surprise.

  “What do you think?” I ask, nodding my chin toward the stairs. “Does this change your plans for Chloe’s big surprise?”

  Ethan frowns but shakes his head. “No. I’m not going to let anything get in our way. We’ve waited long enough.”

  “Good for you,” I say. “Maybe it won’t be a big deal having extra guests around. They seemed pretty chill for celebrities. You think it’ll stay that way?”

  Ethan chuckles. “I think it’ll be fine—or at least, that’s what I'm saying to Chloe,” he says. “You know how she gets.”

  “A ball of stress,” I muse in agreement.

  My wife and her sister share quite a lot in the looks department. Bright hazel eyes, chocolate brown hair, pale creamy skin; but they share some stark differences in their personalities. Margot is bubbly and energetic while Chloe can get a bit caught up in her worried thoughts.

  Chloe just wants to make sure everything here at the lodge is perfect, and I get that. She wants to make her parents proud and she wants to make the guests happy. Most of all, she just wants everyone to have the best time that they can.

  It can’t be easy to juggle that kind of responsibility all the time. I'm sure once Chloe settles into her new position of running this place, she’ll find her center. But I know waiting for things to settle hasn’t been easy on Ethan.

  Patience doesn’t come easily to my brother. Losing our mother like we did . . . well it makes us not want to take things for granted. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to not be able to call the woman he loves his wife already.

  “I’m glad you’re going through with it. I’m here to help however I can.”

  Ethan clears his throat and glances at the kitchen to make sure the girls are still occupied. “There is one guest who might be a problem.”

  “Who?”

  “Donovan Dunn.”

  “I’ve heard of him before.”

  Ethan nods. “That’s not surprising. I looked him up. He runs a huge advertising firm in Manhattan.”

  “So what’s the problem?” I ask.

  “The first thing he wanted to do when he showed up was talk business,” Ethan whispers.

  “Ah, I’ve known lots of guys like him. Work first, play never.”

  “Exactly, but I'm sure we’ll get him to loosen up. I'm just glad Chloe didn't overhear that little chat.
She’s so nervous already. I mean, she gets all worked up over every review. I couldn’t imagine if she heard Donovan saying he’s interested in revamping our business model.”

  I nod and then gently cuff my brother on the shoulder. “I hear you, but you and I both know how special this place is. There’s a certain magic to it—especially at Christmas. Chloe is going to be just fine, and I have a feeling Donovan will be just fine, too. Let’s focus on having the Christmas of a lifetime and then getting you hitched.”

  Donovan Dunn

  As Chloe and I change into some dry, warm clothes, outside our room I can hear the clomp of little feet racing toward the stairs.

  “Slow down, buddy!” Jake calls, his voice muffled from the thick wood of the closed door.

  Chloe laughs. “I guess that’s our cue to head back downstairs, huh?”

  I just grin at her and nod. It felt so nice to have a spare moment to lounge in bed with her. Back home, neither of us get time for such things. We’re always rushing somewhere or finishing something or heading to an appointment with someone. But here, for just a few minutes, I’d tried to focus on nothing but the woman in my arms and what this trip could hold for us.

  Managing to secure some kind of business deal with Ethan and Co-Co would be great for Dunn Advertising, not to mention make this entire trip a write-off.

  This place is gorgeous and deserves way more attention than it gets. Hell, maybe they could even franchise and build a series of Everett’s Christmas Lodges all across the country.

  Once I'm able to convince the owners to sign with me, we can explore all those options and more.

  I know Chloe will be just as thrilled as I am to have them as clients. I’m aware that she wants this trip to be an escape from work, but I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to find out a little working vacation can yield new revenue for us.

  Plus, I don’t mind putting in some hard work behind the scenes to make it happen. It’s the best of both worlds. Not only will we have a nice getaway for Christmas, but we’ll have a boost in business, too.