every day. Didn’t she ever get tired of it?
A wet sensation brushed my fingers. I yelped and jumped. When I glanced down, Rudolph looked up at me with his big brown eyes. His coat was dusted with snow, and behind him, Ethan was walking through the open door. His boots clomped on the floor as he shook out his hair. Wood was stacked in his arms, so he kicked the front door closed behind him.
“Make sure all of the rooms are stocked,” Carol shouted as he slipped off his boots and headed up the stairs.
“That’s your son?” Em asked.
I wanted to shush her. There was no need to fuel the fire that I knew was raging inside of her. The last thing I needed was for her to come up with another reason why everything was part of a bigger, overarching plot to give us the perfect Hallmark experience.
“Yes. I have three. He’s the only one that has come home for the holiday.” Carol was adjusting the plates of hors d'oeuvres on the buffet. “He’s a lawyer in Chicago, but he needed a change of pace.” Carol leaned in toward us. “That’s what happens when you date your boss.”
“You don’t say,” Em said as she flicked her gaze over to me and her smile widened.
I just shook my head. She was crazy.
“What are the festivities for the night?” I asked, needing to change the subject.
Carol’s eyes glistened as she clapped her hands. “Dinner is in about an hour. We’ve got ham and cheesy potatoes on the menu. Then we have a cookie bake-off. Then there is a snowball fight in town.” She waggled her finger in my direction. “Lots of things to do.”
“Sounds amazing,” Em breathed. She looked like she’d died and gone to heaven.
“You have to explore the town,” Carol said. “In fact, Ethan should take you out; I know your car is still in the shop. I’m sure once he’s done, he’d love to take you to explore.”
I wanted to say that I doubted her assumption of his enthusiasm, but she didn’t give me a chance. Instead, she patted our arms as she passed by us to head upstairs after Ethan. I watched her leave and then turned to face Em.
“We can’t possibly ask him to take us into town.” I attempted to hide my desperation, but I was failing miserably. When Em didn’t answer, I turned to see her looking intently into the living room. I followed her gaze and discovered that a very well-dressed man was sitting on the couch with a newspaper in his hands.
“Em,” I said as I shook her shoulder.
She startled and whipped her gaze over to me. “What?”
“You’re staring.”
Her cheeks flushed as she dropped her gaze down to her clasped hands. “I am, aren’t I.” She peered over at the man for a moment before she focused back on me. “I was just wondering if maybe he—”
“Em, no. Don’t.”
Her expression turned innocent. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
I needed to put to rest her assumption that every person, every experience was all part of a plan to give her the perfect Christmas. “He’s probably here to vacation as well.”
She gave me a no-nonsense look. “By himself?”
I glanced over at him. “You don’t know he’s alone.”
“Then I’ll ask.”
Carol was descending the stairs. She looked flustered, but as soon as she saw us, her smile returned. “Good news,” she exclaimed. “Ethan said he’d love to take you out.”
I highly doubted he’d used the word love.
“Carol, can I ask you a question?” Em pulled Carol further into the dining room.
“Sure, darling.”
Em leaned close. “Who is that man?”
Carol followed her nod with her gaze, and when it landed on the man in the living room, she smiled. “That’s Porter. He’s visiting from New York just like you two. Apparently, he’s from some mogul family there. Maybe you’ve heard of them.” She tapped her chin. “McSally?”
I shook my head. There were literally thousands of rich families in New York. And there were none that lived in my part of town. Em elbowed me, and I turned to give her a dirty look. I was beginning to realize that it was her way of saying, See? I told you so.
“Is he alone?” Em asked. I could see her intrigue growing with every word.
Carol nodded. “He’s here by himself.” Then her expression morphed to one of excitement. “Do you want me to introduce you two?”
Em nodded. “Definitely.”
“Wait.” I reached out and grabbed Em’s arm. “What about going