Holiday with You - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,41

and I don’t want to keep falling down on the job.

“Honey, you don’t have to—”

“I want to,” I insist, setting aside a half-empty box of frosted sugar cookies.

I pause. One’s in the shape of a unicorn and no doubt painted by a four-year-old little girl I adore.

Colin joins me, opening the lid to a cardboard container. “Then let’s see what we can scrounge up.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Colin

It’s strange to stay at home alone when the party's at my parents’. It made sense when Mom said, “Sorry, Colin, we need the room for Audrey’s mother. Elisse and Clarissa will be here on Wednesday. Unless you want to stay in one of their twin beds, you should go home.”

I didn’t love the idea because I had plans to sneak into Audrey’s bedroom.

I tried a different alternative, but the B&B is almost at full capacity. I checked, and this time, it’s not some stupid prank my siblings pulled like they did yesterday. The only available room is booked for tomorrow, and as Mom said, there’s no point in moving Audrey's mother from one place to another. Our goal is to make her feel at home.

Perry insisted on staying with her grandparents again because she wants to spend more time with Audrey. I know everyone insists I shouldn’t be worrying about her feelings, but what if she gets the wrong idea?

As much as I would love for Audrey to stay, she’s leaving after the new year. The whole buying the B&B isn’t going to happen. I tried to explain that to her during dinner, but she wouldn’t listen. Instead, she told me she’s been looking at everything from the wrong perspective. I have no idea what she means, but since tomorrow is my day off, I offered my help.

Not that I can do much for her.

Does she know Winter Valley Bed & Breakfast is designated as a historical building and can only be restored, not changed, according to the guidelines?

That could be a way to convince her boss not to buy it and to leave her alone. The second option is to stall her for a few years and keep her around. After all, she has remote access and can do her job from anywhere. I have an extra room that can become her office, and . . . why am I thinking about moving her into my house?

Not only into Winter Valley but into my house. It doesn’t take a genius to understand what’s happening to me. I can deny it, but it’s pointless. I’m rapidly falling for Audrey Reed. She’s filling the void I’ve felt for so long. She’s combing through my soul and untangling the knots left by a past too hard to understand—erasing the anger.

I don’t know when I stopped loving Remi. For sure, it happened when she ignored the most important person in my life, our daughter. Maybe we fell out of love before Perry came to us. I don’t hate her anymore, but I’ve lived with the resentment too long, and I almost missed Audrey.

I’m hopeful, but dare I try to figure out what’s happening between us?

I like her because she feels like a safe place in a storm. Like an adventure I could live for a long time. Maybe even forever.

The twist in my heart confuses me. Maybe I can convince her Winter Valley is more than some town she was accidentally sent to. It’s not a destination. It’s a place where we can write our future.

I’ve been listening to her. She doesn’t need someone to take care of her constantly. She needs a partner who will offer her roots, love, and a place she can call home.

She wants a family.

I can give her everything, can’t I?

Perry crosses my mind. What could happen if this doesn’t work?

Audrey isn’t a challenge to be disregarded. She’s the woman I’m falling in love with, and I will work hard to make her fall in love with me too.

The next morning, I arrive at my parents’ around six. It’s my first day off. Christmas Eve is tomorrow, and I have to get a lot of things in place. We’re running out of time, and I can’t give up without a fight.

Mom’s the only one awake. She’s by the stove preparing her morning coffee.

“Hey, Mom.” I kiss the top of her head. “Where is everyone?”

She yawns. “Good morning. Your dad left early to help Morgan. We like Audrey, but we believe she should be here because she’s in love with Winter Valley, not because