body freezing to the spot. “He what?”
Carol studied me. “He cares about you. A lot. I’ve never seen him step out of his comfort zone for a woman like he did with you. Ethan wasn’t lying when he told you he doesn’t like Christmas. He really doesn’t.” She patted my hand. “But he started caring when you came around. I think that speaks volumes.”
Warmth spread throughout my body like hot chocolate on a cold day. I stared at Carol as I processed her words. “He wanted to trick me?”
Carol wrinkled her nose. “I wouldn’t stay tricked. He wanted to give you the kind of Christmas you should have had as a kid.” She smiled up at me. “That’s what we all wanted.”
I felt like a jerk. A giant pile of coal. Here I was, complaining because the people around me wanted to give me the best Christmas ever. How could I have been so selfish? And Ethan…
I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat. I was so rude to him. He was shocked, I could see it in his gaze. He wanted to tell me the truth, but I just jumped to conclusions.
“I like him too,” I whispered. I liked him a lot.
“Really?” Carol’s lips parted into an o as she stared at me. Then she shook her head. “Can you tell him that? ’Cause I think he is under the impression that you hate him. He stormed from the house, and I’m not sure where he went.”
“He left?” I glanced toward the hallway window to see that it was pitch-black outside. The truth was, I wanted to see him again. I wanted to tell him how I felt.
Carol nodded. “Yes.”
I glanced back at Em, who shrugged. “We’re still waiting for the car to be dropped off. You have some time to go find him.”
I chewed my lip. I wasn’t sure if it was wise to go after him when he obviously wanted to brood alone in the cold. But what if something happened to him? I’d never forgive myself.
I set my bags down and turned to Carol. “Where do you think he went?”
Carol’s eyes widened. “I’m not sure.”
I held up my phone to show Em. “Call me if he comes back here. I’ll go looking for him.”
Before either of them could stop me, I was rushing down the stairs. I ran over to the coat rack, where I pulled my jacket down and shoved my arms into it. Then I pulled the door open and dashed out into the cold. The wind whipped around me, causing me to squint against the dancing snow.
I rounded the house and started toward the back. I found a path that looked as if it had been recently used and followed it into the woods. Thoughts of being murdered in the dark woods flooded my mind, but I kept those fears at bay as I hummed Christmas carols under my breath.
I was going to be fine. I was.
Ten minutes passed, and I was now firmly convinced that I was never going to find Ethan and that I was going to die out here. Just as hopelessness filled my chest, the path opened up to a clearing centered on a gazebo. Small twinkle lights shone against the darkness, and I raised my hand up to shield my eyes.
Was this heaven? Had I died?
A dark shadow moved inside the gazebo, and my heart began to pound. Nope. I hadn’t died yet. But I was about to. The shadow was moving straight toward me.
“Beatrice?”
My murderer sounded a lot like Ethan.
Just then, I stepped forward and must have found a dip in the grass because my foot crinked and I fell into the snow in slow motion. I put my hands out to brace myself, and thankfully, snow was a soft substance to fall on. Feeling embarrassed, I attempted to stand, only to have a sharp pain radiate through my foot. I fell back into the snow.
“Are you okay?” Ethan’s panicked voice drew my attention up to find him hovering over me.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Why did things always have to happen this way? Why was he constantly coming to my rescue?
Before I could stop him, he had both arms wrapped around me and was lifting me up. He held me to his chest as he brought me to the gazebo and set me down on one of the benches inside. Kneeling in front of me, he gingerly picked up my foot.
“Why did you come out here?” he