Christmas at Fireside Cabins - Jenny Hale Page 0,6
little annoyed that he’d suggest she wasn’t the “right” kind of girl when they were his customers, buying coffees, and trying to enjoy themselves on vacation. “I hope he wasn’t being a jerk. If he was, we need to spread a little Christmas cheer to this guy.” She got up and headed over to the bar once more.
“Hello again,” Lila said, forcing a smile.
The man’s hands stilled, the glass and towel in his fingers unmoving as he looked at her expressionless, clearly waiting for whatever it was she had to say.
“I’m Lila Evans,” she said, as he continued to stare at her. “What’s your name?”
He gazed at her a tick before answering, “Theo.” He resumed wiping the glass, set it upside down onto the shelf behind him, and grabbed another from the line of dripping glassware.
This guy’s attitude had to be bad for business. No wonder the coffee shop had barely a soul in it. Perhaps she should give him a wake-up call and suggest she was going to complain about the service.
“Well, Theo, I’d like to speak to the owner.”
He put his items down and leaned on the bar with both of his strong, masculine hands, his face overly close to Lila’s, his unique scent of soap and spice making her heart patter with nervousness despite herself. “I am the owner.”
She heard Piper gasp over her shoulder.
Still nearly nose-to-nose, she replied, “You haven’t exactly given us a warm welcome. And where’s the holiday cheer? You don’t have a Christmas tree. Or candles, or a garland, or Christmas music…”
“No,” he stated, righting himself.
“I think you need some festive sparkle in here. Candy canes. A few red bows,” she offered, knowing she was winding him up. “I’m aware that you’re a guy, so you could make it… more casual if you didn’t want bows.”
“You think guys like any of that stuff?”
She squared her shoulders and looked him directly in the eye. “Depends on the guy.”
Charlotte stifled a snort of laughter and Edie quietly shushed her.
Lila expected Theo to be ready to throw them out, but instead, his sapphire eyes remained locked with hers in challenge and the corners of his lips rose ever so slightly, offering the hint of a grin. She’d gotten him, and he seemed to like it, giving her an unexpected flutter. But just as soon as the look came over him, it left. He cleared his throat and turned his back to her, moving to rearrange the mugs on the shelf behind him. And when he did, she realized that she hadn’t been breathing until then.
Two
“Well, that was weird, wasn’t it?” Edie said from the backseat, as Lila drove them further into the Tennessee hills to their vacation home for the next week. A flurry of snowflakes escaped from the blanket of clouds in the sky, the car tires shushing through the wet roads that would most certainly be a sheet of ice come sundown.
“Definitely,” Lila replied, the memory of Theo’s sort-of-smile lingering. “But we’ve got our own coffee machine at the cabin, I’m sure, so it’ll be nothing but Christmas vibes all around from here on out.”
They were moments away from Fireside Cabins now, described online as a home away from home, a place of serenity that will have you wishing you could stay forever. Lila couldn’t wait until they were all nestled inside their own little hideaway, making mugs of hot peppermint cocoa in their red-and-white striped socks, hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree to the tune of festive classics. As was tradition, she’d packed the wrapping paper, bows, and all her favorite decorations. Charlotte had been in charge of the wine and snacks, Edie was bringing cookies and chocolates, and Piper, of course, had stockings chock-full of bath bombs, bubble bath, soaps and lotions, and the most delicious smelling Christmas mulberry candles.
“I’m so excited,” Charlotte said, clapping her hands.
“We’re almost there.” Lila rounded the last turn.
This week was Lila’s favorite of the year, and she was determined to make it the best trip yet. Christmas had been especially difficult for Lila—and every December the holiday reminded her of just how alone she was. This vacation had been Lila’s saving grace through her breakup with her boyfriend, Razz Malone. Razz was the nickname he’d gotten when he was a boy because of the loud dirt bikes he used to ride. He’d razz the engine just to hear it growl. She’d known him since they were kids, and his entire life he’d had his heart set