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

  I’ve always operated that way myself. Sometimes I think it makes me appear cold, but I don’t see it that way. Why burden others with my every little grievance when I can let it simmer a bit and weigh it’s validity? Chloe gets that about me. She, and maybe Eric, might be the only ones who do.

  Chloe’s hand flinches in mine, drawing me back to the present. I squeeze back reassuringly, knowing how uneasy flying makes her. The helicopter is easing lower and lower as the pilot announces into our headsets that we’re approaching the lodge.

  “We’re here!” Ryan shouts from the back of the chopper. “We’re here, we’re here, we’re here!”

  Chloe and I share a look, grinning at one another over Ryan’s youthful gusto, and for a moment the tension completely dissolves. I squeeze her hand again before lifting it to my lips, kissing it gently. Her grin softens into a tender smile, making everything feel perfect between us again.

  Maybe I’m misreading this.

  Could her tense mood have been solely about flying?

  Beneath us, the helicopter glides to the ground, barely jostling us as it touches down onto a patch of white snow like the pilot has done this every day of his life. “Welcome to Pine Island,” he says.

  Chloe’s eyes widen as she gazes past me out the window, the shimmering snow flurries finally tapering enough for us to see outside.

  “Oh wow!” she gasps.

  The look of pure wonder on my fiancée’s face is so adorable I can’t tear my eyes away. She blinks once, then twice, as though she can’t believe her eyes. I fumble for my phone, wanting to take a picture of her stunned expression, but she turns to look at the others in the helicopter before I can immortalize the image. “Look at this place!” she exclaims. “It’s even more beautiful than in the pictures!”

  As the blades of the helicopter still, the pilot and copilot hop out to open the doors. A blast of chilly air drifts in, making a shiver roll up my spine. A suit might not have been the most weather-appropriate choice of clothing, but I need to make a good impression on the people who run this place if we’re going to get down to brass tacks—and by that, I mean if they’re going to let my firm improve their advertising.

  I join my friends in surveying the pristine landscape we can see from the large picture windows of the helicopter. This place has almost untold potential. Already my wheels are turning, spinning slogans that will bring people here in droves.

  “It’s a real winter wonderland,” Morgan says, dreamily. “It almost feels like I’m back in Kansas.”

  Eric and I are the first ones out of the chopper. Jake is still inside helping Stacy and Ryan unbuckle themselves. Eric helps Morgan ease carefully down toward the soft snow while Chloe doesn’t seem to notice my outstretched hand. I grin to myself and shake my head as my independent fiancée hops easily down herself.

  Morgan is still taking her time, acting like she’s easing into cold, deep waters rather than just stepping down onto some snow. Then again, she is wearing boots with sky-high heels. Her outfit is as impractical as my suit!

  Jake slides out of the helicopter with Ryan dangling from his back. He reaches back inside to scoop Stacy up against his chest. She giggles, clinging to him.

  We’ve officially arrived. Look out Pine Island!

  Eric and I have already started collecting the luggage that the pilots have kindly unearthed from the cargo hold. Admittedly, there’s more than we need. But this group tends to be on the upper side of excess.

  “Whoa,” Stacy says, pointing eagerly through a small field of sapling pine trees that will one day probably tower over all of us. “Does Kansas look like that, Morgan?”

  I smirk as Morgan’s bright eyes nearly bug out of her head. “Not the Kansas I grew up in.”

  Eric laughs at the Wizard of Oz-like reference. “Well Dorothy, you know what they say . . . there’s no place like home.”

  We all turn our gazes to the huge lodge resting peacefully among the sleepy Pine Island landscape. The lodge is nestled in the remote countryside surrounded by pine trees of every size and shape. There’s no sign of the small town I viewed on their website.

  I wonder just how far we are from civilization. The only thing I see for miles is trees and a wide-open winter wonderland.

  I turn my attention back to the stunning lodge. It’s tall and sprawling, with the perfect mix of stone and wood. It blends into the rustic landscape, while at the same time, shines like a hidden diamond in the untouched place. The whole scene is magnificent, and quite impressive for a family-owned business. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.

  “I did good, right?” Eric asks, proudly puffing his chest.

  “You did amazing!” Morgan answers, covering his face in kisses while he just beams brighter.

  “Hey, his head’s big enough,” I tease.

  “Yeah,” Jake chimes in. “Good thing this place is huge, or his ego wouldn’t fit through the door.”

  Eric bends to scoop up a snowball but before he can lob it at Jake, a voice interrupts us.

  “Hello!” someone shouts across the snowy lawn. “Welcome to Pine Island.”

  A petite woman with chocolate brown hair hurries across the snow-covered ground toward us. At her feet, a tiny dog dashes along while barking happily, even though it’s sinking in the snow up to its belly. The little dog is dressed in a rather dashing emerald sweater. Apparently, it knows the importance of first impressions, too.

  Ryan’s eyes light up. “A puppy!” He rushes forward a few steps before remembering his manners. He skids to a stop, his hands still inching toward the dog. “Can I pet it?” the little boy begs.

  “Sure thing, hun! This is Darcy. She loves attention,” the woman says.

  Ryan falls to his knees, not caring one bit about the snow as Darcy leaps into his lap, wiggling as she licks his chin.

  The woman turns toward us and flashes a smile so big and bright it could light up every Christmas tree out here. “I'm Chloe Price,” she says, greeting each of us with a handshake. “We’re so thrilled to have you at Everett’s Christmas Lodge and Tree Farm! Now let’s get you inside and nice and warm, yeah?”

  “Yeah!” Stacy and Morgan both agree.

  Eric, Jake, and I grab the suitcases. Judging by how much Morgan packed, we’re going to be making a few trips.

  “Oh, please let me have the staff take your bags,” Miss Price insists when she sees us loading our arms.

  “Nope,” Eric objects, gesturing toward Morgan with his thumb. “I’m trying to teach this one you can only pack what you can carry.”

  Stacy snorts a laugh. “How’s that working out, E?”

  “It’s a work in progress,” Eric replies, good-naturedly.

  “Oh please,” Miss Price interjects. “I wouldn’t feel right having such special guests carry their own bags. I arranged to have extra staff here to help but you arrived earlier than I expected.”

  Jake waves off her worries. “We don’t mind at all.”

  “Seriously,” Eric adds when she begins to chew her lip. “We don’t need any special treatment. Just treat us like anyone else.”

  “If you insist . . .” she says, hesitantly.

  “Lead the way,” I suggest, ready to get this show on the road.

  I can’t wait to see what the inside of the lodge looks like in person.

  Miss Price obliges and we follow her through the snow like a group of penguins slipping and sliding in our ill-prepared footwear. Luckily, we don’t have that far to go. As we get closer to the lodge, a dark-haired man steps out and greets us.

  “This is my fiancé, Ethan Hall,” Miss Price explains. “We’re both running the place at the moment.”

  “It’s nice to meet you all,” Ethan says. “Do you need help with your luggage?”

  “We got it,” Jake answers with a grin.

  The football star is already carrying Ryan and four bags. I smirk, knowing he enjoys being the packhorse of the group. It’s quite a handy talent when we travel.

>   My friends take their time strolling into the lodge, taking in the splendor of our new surroundings. Stacy’s mouth drops open and Ryan’s eyes are so big I think his little head might explode.

  There’s a fireplace in the center of the large open foyer. The stone hearth is two-sided and so large even Jake could easily walk beneath it. Through the crackling flames I can see a lobby bar, the front desk and the twinkling lights of a few expertly decorated Christmas trees.

  Even I’m a bit in awe. This place really is something special.

  “It’s gorgeous,” Chloe murmurs next to me.

  Ethan chuckles as he falls into step beside me. “Like what you see?”

  Though we told him we could handle the bags, he’s grabbed one anyway as he casually guides us toward the front desk. Ahead of us, I can hear Miss Price chatting eagerly, her words rambling together as if she can’t spout them out fast enough.

  I shoot him a sage grin and nod. “Actually, I'm going to be quite honest with you, Ethan. I more than like what I see. How about you and I sit down and talk shop a bit?”

  “Talk shop?”

  “Donovan Dunn,” I say, extending my free hand. “My fiancée and I run Dunn Advertising, and I think we could really help your business reach its full potential if we tweak a few minor details about your advertising campaign.”

  Ethan laughs and lifts a hand, gently cutting me off. “I'm flattered, but I don’t talk business with guests. I'm sure you can understand that.”

  “Sure, sure. Of course, I know you have to say that. But believe me, Dunn Advertising can help you get that retreat vibe you’re selling to more customers. We’re the best in the biz.”

  Ethan’s dark brow crinkles as he surveys me with amused green eyes. I like his easy demeanor. He doesn’t seem nervous or intimidated by me—something I’m not used to. Yet, I find it . . . refreshing.

  He leans close, whispering so that only I can hear him. “Listen, I’ll make you a deal, Donovan. You experience this place first. If you feel like it’s somewhere you’d honestly recommend to friends and family, then we’ll talk biz. Okay?”

  I nod, but my head is still churning. I'm a businessman. I know what Ethan’s getting at. He’s saying that I should relax and experience the magic. Fine. I’ll do that.

  At least until after Christmas.

  I’ll play along for now because I can already see dollar signs in our future. Under my guidance, this place could be a goldmine.

  Patience is a virtue and I'm keen to see how it pays off.

  Maybe Chloe and I can even secure this deal together, just like old times. It might be just the thing we need to rekindle that spark that brought us together.

  Jacob Eckart

  I’ve gone back to the helicopter with Eric to thank the pilots and collect the last of our belongings. Sucking in a deep breath of crisp Pine Island air, I admire the stunning views. It certainly is easier to breathe out here.

  Already I feel at ease. This place is so remote I’ve already let my guard down. There won’t be any paparazzi lurking about in a place like this.

  Nostalgia washes over me so swiftly I find my eyes suddenly teary. Pine Island reminds me so much of the place upstate Jenny used to take me to when I was a kid.

  I’m so glad Stacy was on board for making this happen. Ryan is going to have the time of his life here.

  As Eric and I head back with the last of the luggage, I can’t help but smile. Ahead of us, Everett’s Christmas Lodge & Tree Farm looms majestically. Strung lights glimmer through the delicately falling snow and wreaths are hung in each of the large windows. Even from outside, I can see the flicker of warmth emanating from the fireplaces. A few staff members mill about, each of them in ugly red Christmas sweaters that they still manage to pull off marvelously.

  I remotely wonder if I can get one in my size. As corny as it sounds I really love the idea of doing a group photo in matching sweaters.

  Stacy, Ryan and Morgan are out front again exploring the grounds. I watch Stacy slowly halt just to admire the snowy splendor for a moment. I’m so glad she suggested this place. At first I was worried my practical fiancée had lost her mind, but she was right. It’s nice to get out of the city for a change. I know we’ve only just arrived but the simplicity of small-town life is already appealing to me.

  I wonder if Stacy’s feeling the pull, too.

  My beautiful fiancée catches my eye as I approach and grins. I slip an arm around her waist, one hand protectively stroking her belly as I press a kiss against her cheek. “What do you think?”

  Her eyes are misty when she looks up at me. “It’s like being at the North Pole or something! All I can think about is how much fun Ryan is going to have.”

  As if on cue, a snowball suddenly collides with the side of my cheek. Stacy jumps, one hand flying to her face before she starts to laugh as chunks of snow drip down my face. Grinning, I whirl around, quickly spotting Ryan hiding behind a tree. He’s doing his best to stay concealed, but his brown hair peeks from behind the trunk of the young fir and I can make out the edges of his red jacket. Beside him, I can just barely see a tiny tail wagging, too. It seems like Darcy enjoys a little Christmas mischief just like my nephew.

  “I’ll avenge you, Jake!” Eric hollers.

  He drops to his knees, forgetting the suitcases he was lugging to scoop up a ball of snow. Eric launches it at Ryan, but his aim is purposely off. The snowball crashes against the tree above Ryan’s head, sending an avalanche of snow down on the giggling little boy .

  “Missed me, missed me!” Ryan calls. At his side, the Yorkie yaps like she’s taunting us right along with him.

  “Maybe we should get him a puppy,” Stacy muses, sharing a grin with me.

  Before I can answer, yet another snowball hits me right in the face. I wipe frost from my eyebrows, finding that Morgan and Eric have now joined Ryan behind the tree.

  “Traitors!” I tease.

  Eric howls with laughter, already bending down to collect more snow in his gloves.

  It isn’t long before our suitcases have been discarded and snowballs are flying freely. But I’m no match for them. Severely outnumbered, but laughing harder than I can remember, I surrender and herd my shivering friends back into the lodge.

  I know I’m cutting the fun a little short, but even though I’m smiling from ear-to-ear, my concerns for Stacy and our new little miracle are never far from my mind. I don’t want her to wear herself out or catch cold.

  “I’m so glad we came here,” Ryan muses as he grabs hold of my hand, reaching up for Stacy’s, too. He’s grinning up at both of us, his huge smile so vibrant that it makes my heart melt.

  “Me too,” Stacy and I say at the same time.

  The three of us laugh and I feel like my heart might burst from joy. For the first time since I was a kid, I feel purely at ease. I swear it even feels like Jenny’s not so far away out here.

  This. This is exactly what I wanted for Christmas.

  This is the kind of happiness my little family deserves. Here, in this quiet place, it feels like I can somehow manage all the rapid changes coming our way. I pull both Stacy and Ryan under my arms and snuggle them close as we trudge into the lodge.

  Ethan rushes to the door and holds it open for us while the rest of the snowball crew files inside, but I hang back a moment, gesturing that I need to steal a moment of his time. Stacy and Ryan continue in without me, eager to soak up some warmth inside the lodge.

  “What’s up?” Ethan asks when we’re alone. “Need a hand with those bags?”

  I shake my head. “After shoving around three-hundred-pound linebackers all day?” I scoff. “This is nothing.”

  Ethan laughs. “I bet.”

  I step a little closer, making sure both Ryan and Stacy are out of earshot. “Actually, I wanted to ask you if you might be able to help with a delicate matter.”

  “We’re here to help any way we can,” Ethan answers, instantly putting me at ease.

  I like this
guy. He seems laid back and genuine. I glance around again to make sure I won’t be overheard, while Ethan waits patiently. I hate this part of my notoriety. It makes me feel awkward, but Ethan’s vibe is making me a bit less tense considering what I’m about to ask.

  “As you might imagine,” I start, “when my friends and I go somewhere, the paparazzi aren’t far behind. I just want to make sure that this place is . . .”

  “Discrete?” he asks.

  I nod. “Exactly. We just want to have a quiet holiday away from it all, ya know?”

  Ethan sticks out his hand and I shake it. Then he claps me on the shoulder. His piercing green eyes are kind and sincere. “We’ve already addressed this concern with the staff. You have my word that you’ll be able to relax freely here. You won’t see any cameras on our end, no one pestering you for autographs, and no one is going to release your location to the press. Believe me, we’re all about the comfort of our guests.”

  A slow smile settles on my face as my chin dips into a nod. Relief, warm and soothing seems to wrap around me like a cozy blanket. I don’t know Ethan Hall or Chloe Price, but I can tell they’re good people who mean what they say. It just might be a Christmas miracle that we found this lodge. Nowhere else would’ve offered us this kind of privacy or care.

  The last bit of tension I’ve been hanging onto eases out of me. “Thanks, man. That means a lot.”

  “Now how about you see what we’ve got in store for you all?” Ethan continues, grabbing one of the many bags I’ve set down.

  I step into the lobby just in time to see Ryan and the tiny dog bolt by as they chase each other around the massive fireplace. When I start to scold him, Chloe Price winks at me. “This lobby was made for children to have a little fun,” she says, warmly.

  I grin back at her, shaking my head. These people really are amazing.

  “Oh my gosh!” Stacy gasps in awe. She reaches out for my hand and I cross the distance between us in two short strides so that my fingers can lace with hers. “I can’t believe this! Look at all the Christmas trees! There are so many!”