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

  It’s only then that I realize I’d been so caught up in my conversation with Ethan that I hadn't taken a moment to really find my bearings. I slowly look around, finding myself just as captivated as the rest of my friends. We all stand in a huddle, still taking in this hidden gem we’ve stumbled upon.

  The lobby itself is gigantic. Jolly fireplaces crackle around us, decorated Christmas trees loom toward three stories of open ceiling, festive harmonies play softly in the background, and every breath is flavored with cinnamon and sugar cookies, and is that . . . spiced cider I see on tap?

  “We definitely made the right call,” Morgan raves, proudly. “Team Morgan for the win!”

  Eric gives her a high-five while Ryan pauses his scampering long enough to rejoin us. “Did you see the horses outside?” he asks with barely contained excitement.

  “That’s because we do horse-drawn sleigh rides in the evening!” Chloe Price answers, earning a cry of delight from the little boy.

  “You guys are in for a real treat,” she continues. She’s wringing her hands together, eyes round and voice fast-paced. “We’ve got so many things to do around here. I'm sure you’ll have the perfect stay. We’re here to help you enjoy yourselves every step of the way.”

  “I believe it,” I murmur, ruffling Ryan’s hair when he leans against my strong legs.

  The kid’s cheeks are pink and he’s still smiling from ear-to-ear. He looks thrilled, and it makes my heart swell. All I’d wanted was to give him the Christmas of his dreams, a Christmas that he’ll cherish forever. After all, the holidays have been rough on him since his mom passed.

  It’s been hard for both of us without Jenny. But thank heavens a real-life angel walked into our lives.

  As if sensing my love for her, Stacy leans her head against my shoulder and smiles warmly. I loop an arm around her, keeping her close and rubbing her arms just in case she got a little too chilly out there in the snow.

  “Alright, let me make sure I have everyone straight!” Chloe Price continues. “Eric and Morgan in one suite. Jake, Stacy, and Ryan in another. Then Donovan and Chloe in the third, right?”

  Our own Chloe laughs and nods. “That’s right! It’s so funny that there are two Chloes. Don’t go getting confused now,” she adds playfully to Donovan.

  Donovan’s head cocks as though he doesn’t understand the joke.

  Chloe Price laughs and shakes her head. “You can just call me Co-Co to make things easier. Now, let’s warm you up with some festive Christmas cocktails!”

  Eric King

  When everyone starts talking about Christmas drinks, I excuse myself—not because I'm tempted at all by the booze, but because I want to check out more of this incredible lodge.

  I wander around the lobby, listening to Co-Co ramble. The poor girl is a bit nervous. She’s talking a mile a minute, just the way I did before playing sold out shows was a daily occurrence.

  I get it, we’ve got some big names in our crew of friends, but I'm sure Co-Co will calm down once she realizes we’re not that different from every other guest who comes here looking to unwind.

  Near the hostess, Ethan patiently passes out drinks to my friends who’ve gathered in the cozy-looking lobby bar. Most of them get spiked hot cocoas or spiced ciders, while Stacy settles for a cup of hot gingerbread tea.

  Meanwhile, I continue to make my way between the Christmas displays, gently running a finger over a railroad track upon which a train is cheerfully chugging along. I look closely at a few vintage-looking ornaments, wondering how old they are. A lot of the décor looks like it’s been passed down from generation to generation. I wonder how it feels to have such a strong sense of family all the time.

  There are photos of Co-Co and Ethan and a bunch of other people on the walls; in each one, they’re beaming bright and happy. The sense of family love is almost tangible here. For a little while, we’ll get to share that feeling with them, which makes me see why this place is so special.

  Family means the world to me, especially after my mother took off and my dad passed a few years back. I'm so glad I got to bring my own family here. My friends and Morgan, they mean the world to me. They’re my family in every sense of the word. I cherish the time we get to spend together. Even more now that it’s so few and far between.

  I look back at my friends who are all laughing and chatting easily in the bar. I think this trip will do us all some good.

  “Uncle Eric?” a little voice says abruptly.

  I tear my eyes away from the Price family photos to grin down at the seven-year-old boy gazing up at me. In Ryan’s hands is one of the ornaments I’d been looking at a moment ago. Quickly, I bend down to cup my hand around his own tiny ones to make sure he doesn’t drop the irreplaceable glass orb.

  “Woah, buddy! I don’t think we should be picking these off the trees. I bet it took Co-Co and Ethan a really long time to decorate. Don’t you think?”

  The boy frowns, gazing down at the delicate ornament. However, after a moment, he lets me take it.

  “Uncle Eric?” he repeats.

  “What’s up, buddy?”

  Ryan reaches out to pat the ornament. I can tell he’s trying to be as gentle as possible with it. “Do you think Co-Co might have another tree I can help decorate?”

  I glance around, but all of the trees in the lobby are maxed out with thoughtful decorations. I'm sure a whole lot of Christmas wishes are going to come true in Pine Island this weekend, but I'm not so sure about this one. But like hell I'm going to crush this kid’s dream right before Christmas.

  “I don’t know if we’d even have time for that! We’re going to be so busy between the sleigh rides and the hot chocolate drinking contests and making snowmen . . .”

  “Snowmen?” Ryan echoes, perking up again.

  Mission, complete: child distracted!

  I nod enthusiastically. “That’s right, pal! Your Aunt Morgan really wants to make one. Do you want to help us?”

  “I want to have another snowball fight!” Ryan giggles, loudly. “I defeated you in the first one!”

  “What?” I scoff, slapping my hand over my heart as though he’d driven a dagger right into it. “You think you won?”

  “I know I won!” he replies, sticking his tongue out.

  I set the ornament down and lunge at Ryan, tickling his sides until he’s squealing. When he finally manages to wriggle away, he dashes back toward Jake and Stacy. I watch him go, grinning to myself, my heart warmed by the interaction.

  Ryan is such a great kid. I don’t get to be around him enough.

  “You’re good at that, you know?” Morgan whispers as she sidles behind me, arms looping around my waist, her cheek resting against my back.

  I lay my hands over hers, rubbing some warmth into them. “Good at what? Picking on little rugrats?” I shoot a playful look over my shoulder at her, but my fiancée’s beautiful eyes are filled with warmth.

  She shakes her head. The corners of her mouth twitch upward faintly. “No, at being fatherly. It’s a good look on you.”

  I'm not a dude who gets embarrassed easily, but something about the way Morgan made that comment makes my cheeks start to flush. Thankfully, before anyone can notice, the front door of the lodge swings open yet again.

  “Co-Co!” a tall brunette cries as she enters the lobby.

  Co-Co’s head whips around and she shrieks. “Go-Go!”

  We all turn to watch three people enter the lodge. I recognize them instantly from the family photographs.

  A thin, well-dressed woman who looks like Co-Co’s taller clone shakes snow from her chocolate brown hair while the green-eyed man at her side helps a little girl remove her thick, puffy jacket. The little girl shyly turns away when she sees all of us watching, burying her head in her father’s side.

  Co-Co hurries past us to throw her arms around the woman who can only be her sister. The two girls hug tight before Co-Co turns to scoop the little girl into her arms.

  “I’m so glad you guys
made it!” Co-Co says, eagerly. “I didn’t think you were coming so early.”

  “I wanted to give us plenty of time in case the roads were bad,” says the man who looks strikingly similar to Ethan.

  “Well thank goodness you did,” Co-Co exclaims. “I don’t think I’ve stopped to take a breath yet.”

  The new guests look around the crowded lobby as if just noticing us for the first time. The man frowns. “I thought you said you weren’t busy?”

  Ethan, who’s just joined the group shrugs. “Babe, why don’t you introduce our family to our guests who will be joining us for Christmas?”

  “Oh! Right!” Co-Co says, hustling her family across the lobby to the bar. Morgan and I walk over to join them to be polite. “Everyone, this is my sister, Margot, but you can call her Go-Go. That’s her husband, Owen, also known as Ethan’s big brother. And of course, this is the most amazing little girl in the world,” Co-Co says, bouncing the cutie she’s still holding, “Ava!”

  Ava squeals with laughter, drawing Ryan’s attention across the lobby. He comes jogging over with Darcy hot on his heels. The little dog hops up onto her hind legs and begs for some attention, which she readily receives from Margot and Owen while Ethan continues introductions.

  “Go-Go, Owen, meet, Eric, Morgan, Donovan, Chloe, Stacy, Jake and Ryan.”

  Margot’s mouth drops open. “Holy crap! You’re Eric King and Morgan May! And babe,” she turns to Owen, “isn’t that the football player you have a man crush on?”

  Owen’s face flushes scarlet and I can’t help but laugh. “It’s okay,” I say. “I had a man crush on him when we first met, too. That is until he killed my fantasy football dreams!” I tease.

  Jake shrugs. “That’s what you get for not drafting me.”

  “I cannot believe you guys are here staying with us!” Margot gushes. “Why did no one tell me this?”

  “Because we’re discreet about our guests’ privacy,” Ethan warns.

  “I can be discreet,” Margot pouts. The sassy brunette turns back to me and Morgan. “I mean, you’re totally my favorite celebrity couple, but I’m thrilled to share the lodge with you this Christmas.”

  “Good,” I chuckle. “We’re just looking for a nice holiday getaway.”

  “Then you’ve come to the perfect place!” Margot says, bouncing up on her toes. “No one here will bother you a bit. Our family has been celebrating quiet Christmases here forever. Though I have to warn you, we do get a bit cheesy and break out old home movies if we have too much eggnog.”

  “My family used to do that, too!” Stacy exclaims.

  I can already see those two are going to be fast friends.

  “Don’t encourage her,” Owen playfully teases his wife.

  Margot waves him away, eyes gleaming. “I bet we still have some old ones lying around.”

  “You dust off the VCR and I’ll bring the wine!” Morgan adds.

  My eyes drift from the women, who are now in deep conversation about embarrassing holiday traditions. I’m watching Ryan, who’s watching Ava. He’s hesitantly making his way closer, his eyes locked on the little girl. It’s clear he’s enthused about having another little kid his age around to play with.

  “Hi!” Ryan says, shyly. He scuffs one of his boots against the ground and then sticks out his hand toward Ava just like he’s seen Jake do when meeting someone new. “I'm Ryan. Want to play?”

  Ava appraises his outstretched hand for a moment before giggling and shaking it. “I'm Ava. I'm six!” she announces proudly before holding up six tiny fingers.

  Darcy yaps as if adding her own input, her tail wagging feverishly back and forth. She’s loving having these kids around to play with.

  Soon enough, the two kids are rubbing the dog’s belly and giggling excitedly about Santa visiting soon and what presents he might bring.

  The rest of us make ourselves comfortable in the bar where I get some apple cider to warm my belly. I sink into a deep leather chair that wraps around me like a hug as I savor the festive beverage. It’s a flawless blend of apples and spices. It’s pretty damn near perfect if you ask me, even without the bourbon everyone else has spiked theirs with.

  “It’s so great that Ryan’s here,” Co-Co says to Stacy and Jake. “I always feel like poor Ava is bored listening to us adults reminisce during the holidays.”

  “Yes,” Margot chimes in. “I’m so happy she has someone to play with. It reminds me of when we were little, Co-Co. Remember how much we loved making cookies together?”

  “Omigod! Yes! We should totally do that. Maybe this afternoon?” She looks at the group. “Would anyone like to join?”

  “I think that sounds amazing!” Stacy says. “There’s literally nothing better than freshly baked Christmas cookies.”

  “Mmm . . . and some more of this spiked hot cocoa to go along with it!” Chloe adds. “It definitely beats the two-dollar wine we used to splurge on back in the day. Right, girls?”

  Stacy and Morgan laugh, nodding in agreement.

  Co-Co claps her hands together. “It’s a plan! Leave everything to me. We’ll have some old-fashioned Christmas cookie fun!”

  Ethan walks back over, gently wrapping one arm around Co-Co and winking at her. “First things first, how about we let our guests get settled in their rooms?”

  Now we’re talking! I can’t wait to get my fiancée alone for some much needed downtime. As if reading my mind, Morgan catches my eye and gives me a seductive wink that sends electricity zinging through my blood.

  Damn! Just one look from her and I feel like a schoolboy again. Scratch that. This feeling is way beyond anything I experienced in my schoolboy days. When Morgan looks at me, it’s like the head cheerleader is asking me to prom!

  Feeling invigorated, I reappraise just how much down time I actually need. Suddenly, I can think of a much better use for our alone time.

  Margot Price

  “You’re all in for a treat!” I add, beaming at the cluster of bright-eyed guests before me. “Take your time getting settled into your rooms, then we’ll get the Christmas cookie extravaganza under way.”

  Owen chuckles beside me, his arms folding over his strong chest. “Careful, Margot,” he teases, “you might scare them away with that enthusiasm of yours.”

  I just laugh and swat at his shoulder. “This is what the holidays are all about! If you’re not hyped up, you’re not doing it right!”

  Shaking his head, Owen says, “No one can be quite as hyped as you though.”

  I slip an arm around his waist, resting my head on his shoulder and closing my mouth for a moment. Believe it or not, I'm trying to be chill. I just can’t believe we have a rockstar, a supermodel, and the Hartbreak Kid standing in our lobby. And I thought I was the one who’d be spicing up the holidays!

  I do have exciting news, but our new guests make my decision to keep it under wraps pretty easy.

  I shake my head. I still can’t believe it. Celebrities! Here!

  Our parents aren’t going to believe it when they get off that cruise and find out that Co-Co managed to get high-profile guests like these.

  For a family business, this is kind of a big deal.

  “Let me make you all some hot cocoa to take to your rooms,” Co-Co continues, eagerly. “It’s where my nickname comes from—Co-Co’s Cocoa!”

  I laugh. “She’s being modest. Co-Co’s hot cocoa is amazing!”

  My little sister blushes scarlet. “And it’s how we met. Ethan and I, I mean. It all started with a secret cocoa rendezvous. . .” Co-Co pauses and winks at her fiancé, their eyes locking as if no one else is in the lobby.

  Then she gives herself a little rousing shake and scurries behind the bar to whip up some of the delicious drinks. Ethan joins her. They work together like a well-oiled machine. I swear, they’re so in sync it’s like watching two people conduct a symphony.

  “Ugh, when are they just going to get married already?” I murmur under my breath to Owen. “Everyone can see they’re
head-over-heels in love, right? What’s the hold up?”

  “Sometimes it takes a little while to get to that place in a relationship, don’t you think?” whispers one of the women standing nearby. She smiles at me faintly, her sleek black hair coiling past her shoulders.

  I flush scarlet, embarrassed to have been overheard by one of our guests. When she notices the mortification etched on my face she laughs faintly and shakes her head. “Oh, it’s fine,” she says, quickly. “I shouldn’t have eavesdropped. I'm Chloe Martin, by the way. Your family’s lodge is absolutely breathtaking.”

  “Thanks. It’s so nice to meet you. And yes, I totally agree sometimes it takes a while, but my sister and Ethan have been together, like, forever!” I sigh and roll my eyes. “I know it’s none of my business. I'm sure it’ll happen when they’re ready, but it’s just frustrating that they haven’t just taken the plunge already.”

  Chloe nods. “Um . . . yes . . . I know the feeling,” she says, though her faint smile wanes even more, and I'm suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to give the girl a hug.

  She must have something heavy on her mind. Like my own Co-Co, this Chloe seems to like to deal with things inside instead of sharing them. What a shame that she’s struggling with something tough on Christmas Eve.

  Then again, that means I just have to try a little harder to help my sister show these people a good time here! “You know what?” I announce. “I’m really glad you’re all here. It’s Christmas, the more the merrier.”

  “Here, here!” the group cheers.

  “I say we plan some fun group activities if you’re all up for it,” I offer.

  Co-Co nods. “You’re so right, Go-Go!” She turns toward the group. “We’re supposed to get some more snow this afternoon. I can plan some fun wintery activities, if you’d like?”

  “Oh, you don’t have to go out of your way to do something like that,” Stacy says.