Holiday with You - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,54

town is beautiful, but I don’t belong here. I can’t trust you.”

Chapter Thirty

Audrey

What was he thinking?

I’d been asking myself that since I shoved my belongings into my bag, stomped over to Morgan’s garage—where I found my rental car with the key under the visor in perfect condition—and drove the entire way across Utah.

I couldn’t be bothered with a flight. No way could I sit in an airport with nothing but time to stew over everything that had happened.

Instead, I chose the car, which may have been worse.

I thought I needed to keep moving. I thought . . . well, I didn’t know what I thought.

Except they’re all liars.

Okay, Perry isn’t. But the rest? There wasn’t one single thing they’d told the truth about.

Not. One.

Including my rental car. How long had it been ready? Morgan hadn’t said a word. In fact, I’d kinda forgotten about the whole reason I was stuck in Winter Valley in the first place. But a fresh dusting of snow had been layered on top. I feel pretty certain he didn’t do any work on Christmas Day.

Was there anything that family hadn’t manipulated me about?

They’d made me look like a fool.

Everyone in town knew who the owner of the B&B was. They’d all been in on the giant lie to the outsider. What hurt the worst was being deceived by the Bradfords.

They made me feel like I belonged to something important. Mr. Bradford had given me an amazing father-daughter hug, holding my cheeks in his warm palms just as I’d seen him do with Clarissa and Elisse. Morgan and Colt had teased me relentlessly as they did their sisters. The girls had included me in their crazy antics with their mom, where I laughed so hard my sides had ached.

For the first time in my life, I had felt as though I had a father who loved me, sisters who wanted to laugh with me, brothers who wanted to tease and annoy the crap out of me. And Perry’s cuddles? I’d never known they were even a possibility in life.

I thought they treated me like family. They made me want more.

Crazy Colin had offered me everything I’d figured out I wanted.

But it was all wrong.

Why did he have a ring?

A marriage can’t be built on lies.

I’d been real. Honest.

He hadn’t.

The sun appears on the horizon as I cross the Nevada state line. I’ve run on adrenaline since I left Winter Valley in the middle of the night. Now, I blink rapidly as exhaustion takes over.

Lights of a town twinkle in the distance. My stomach rumbles, yet I can’t even think about eating. Besides reminding me of all the meals I shared with Colin and Perry, I’m certain I wouldn’t be able to keep anything down.

I slow and take the first exit ramp. Only a few cars are on the road. I spot a decent-looking motel and pull into the parking lot.

It takes all my strength to check in and make it to the room. I don’t even bother with my bag.

As soon as I’m secured inside, I collapse on the bed. But sleep doesn’t immediately take me.

Memories of the best Christmas Day I’ve ever had assault me. This time yesterday, I’d been up for a couple of hours watching everyone open presents. I’d felt welcomed and loved.

I pull out my phone and scroll through the barrage of photos Clarissa sent me. Obviously, I’m into self-inflicted pain.

They’re like a million daggers, each stab more painful than the last.

The final one I see is of Colin giving me a forehead kiss while Perry snuggles against me. We look like a family. He looks like a man who meant every single word he spewed to me last night. Like he wants that ring on my finger.

It’s so easy to see.

My phone slips from my hand onto the bed. I bury my face in the pillow to cover up the sobs no one is around to hear. I didn’t cry when I left, too consumed with anger and shame.

I didn’t cry in the five hundred miles I’d driven through the darkness.

I love you, Audrey.

Those words I’ve wanted someone to mean so badly for so long take me under. I shake as tears stream down my cheeks.

I’ve grown used to my hollow life. I’ve even accepted that work fulfills me. And then Winter Valley came along. No, not Winter Valley.

Colin Bradford.

And his easy smile, red cheeks, and forehead kisses.

His stop-and-smell-the-roses attitude. The way he treats his daughter . . . as though