Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge: New Holiday Romances to Benefit St. Jude Hospital
Page 28
Renee swiped at her eyes. “I just wish I could have come. But with my husband’s heart attack and—”
“You don’t need to explain anything to me.” Flynn blinked away her tears. “All my mom could talk about was how she needed to be here with you during that time. She even tried to talk the doctor into letting her take a break from the chemo.”
“We both wanted to be there for each other.” Renee fanned her face. “Look at me. I’m ruining my makeup.”
Flynn took the opportunity to unzip her coat, stuffing her hat and mittens inside the pockets.
“I’ll take that,” Colton said, stretching out his arm. His fingers brushed against hers, sending an electric bolt across her skin. She held his gaze for an awkward moment. His thumb danced across the front of her hand. A few deep-set wrinkles lined his eyes, but they didn’t age him. If anything, they made him sexier. “You might want to take those boots off too. I’ll get you a pair of slippers.”
“Thanks.” She gripped his hand and slipped out of her heeled boots, handing them to him, and in return, he gave her a pair of white fuzzy slippers that were not only warm, but comfortable, even though they were as flat as a pancake. “This place is beautiful.” Flynn took a moment to soak in her surroundings. An oak staircase curved toward the second floor. A chandelier with what appeared to be antlers hung from the two-story entryway. Two large wooden doors opened into the living room. A bear skin rug lay in front of the crackling fire. “This is so quaint. It reminds me of cabins you see in Vermont.”
Colton laughed. “That you saw on a postcard?”
“I’ve been to Vermont once or twice. And even in the winter,” she said with a little pride in her voice.
“Shocking. You hate the country. If it doesn’t have a skyscraper, you want nothing to do with the locale.” He arched a brow, almost daring her to continue the argument.
“Colton,” his mother said. “I can’t believe that I’m about to scold you like a small child.”
Flynn waved her hand and put on her best smile. “It’s a running joke. When he was visiting in the city, I took him to Central Park, which is my idea of the great outdoors. The entire visit, he never let me live it down.”
His mother glanced between the two of them with questioning eyes. “Colton. Why don’t you go get your father? He’s in the study. We’ll get settled in front of the fireplace with some wine.”
“Sure thing.” Colton turned on his heels and disappeared down the hallway.
“My mom said the pictures didn’t do this place justice, and she was right.” Flynn admired fine craftmanship of the crown molding on the vaulted ceiling. She ran her fingers across the supple leather sofa before making herself comfortable in front of the picturesque fire. No sooner did she think a yellow lab should be sprawled across the rug did one trot in front of her, nudging Flynn’s hand with her snout. “Oh, my. And who are you?” She bent down and scratched the dog’s ears.
“That’s Hannah. Colton rescued her a few months ago. She usually stays with him, but I recall you had some allergies to pet hair,” Renee said.
“I’m allergic to cats. Not dogs. So, this little sweetheart is just fine hanging out in my cabin.” Flynn continued to pet Hannah, rubbing and patting where the dog seemed to enjoy it most. “She’s so docile.” The pooch licked Flynn’s hand before plopping herself at Flynn’s feet.
“Colton had her running around with the dog sled team right before you got here, so she’s plum tuckered out. Otherwise, she’d be jumping all over you.” Renee set a glass of red wine on the end table. “I hope you will be comfortable in the Northern Lights cabin. Not only did your parents stay there for their honeymoon, but your mom and I did so as well during Christmas break. My folks didn’t know what a bad influence she was on me.”
“She told me you kept her out of trouble. More than once.” Flynn tucked her feet under her butt and smiled. “My mom fell in love with winter here, and ever since I can remember, every time it snowed in the city, she would drag me to Central Park to build a snowman or make snow angels. She even made me learn how to ski.”
Renee burst out laughing. “She had to be the worst on skis.”
“You should have seen her try snowboarding. It had to be more painful for me to watch than for her butt and knees.”
“I can only imagine. Your mother wasn’t the most coordinated human being.”
“And neither am I. I don’t think I ever managed to get off the chairlift without falling, so thankfully, the second season my mom had me skiing, she let me quit.”
“Only to sign you up for figure skating lessons where you broke your wrist the second time on the ice.” Renee held up her wine glass. “Did your mother ever tell you about the time she broke her ankle on the dance floor?”
“My father loves to tell that story. Makes him look like a hero.”
“Your father is a real hero and not because he’s a firefighter, but because he’s always trying to make everyone else around him feel good.”
Flynn wasn’t about to disagree. Her dad had a way of making a perfect stranger feel safe. He was the kind of man who would walk back up the ski slope to give someone their glove that they dropped from the chairlift.
And she’d watched him do it more than once.
But her dad was also a humble man and didn’t like to draw attention to himself, always saying his actions were just those of an average person doing the right thing.
“I heard your dad is nearly done with his book, and the publisher is really happy with it.” Renee twirled her hair, staring at the fire.
“My mom got to read the first draft. She couldn’t have been prouder.”
“Have you read it?” Renee asked.
Flynn shook her head. The falling of the twin towers had been something her father didn’t discuss for years. The pain of losing his cousin, brother, and a couple of his best friends that day had taken its toll, and her father could no longer keep his feelings stuffed deep in his gut. He never intended to write a book. His story was no different from any other New York firemen that served on that fateful day, but the publishers didn’t want his story about 911, but rather how the tragedy turned his focus to becoming one of New York City’s fire marshals and how he spends his time finding the causes of fires and not just fighting them. “He’s saving me for the final draft.”
“I can’t wait to read it. He’s an amazing man.”
“That he is.”
Silence filled the dark room. At least it wasn’t a heavy stillness, filled with sadness and depression. No. There was a sense of calmness that filled her heart, as if she belonged in this room, with these people.
She nearly gagged on that thought. She should be back in New York, dealing with the Gilford account and making sure she not only didn’t lose her job, but actually got a promotion and not that weasel, Ashlea, who had been a thorn in her side for months. He was like a vulture circling in the sky, waiting for her to be roadkill.
“I want to thank you for having me.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so glad you came. I wish it could have been with your mother, but to finally have you here. I’m sure she’s looking down on us and smiling.” Renee leaned in and rested her free hand on Flynn’s thigh. “I spoke with her the week before she passed, and I promised her I would set up as much of what she and I did that Christmas break for you and Colton to experience along with some things she and your dad did on their honeymoon.”
Flynn coughed. “Colton? Me and Colton sightseeing together?”
“More like going on adventures.” Renee nodded like an excited little girl in line for an ice cream cone. “You can’t do it on your own, and I need to be here, so I’ve arranged for Colton to be your own personal tour guide.”
“I don’t want to put him out. I’m sure he’s got enough to do without having to worry about me.”
“Well, part of it is his job, and the other part is honoring your mother’s and my friendship, so please, don’t think twice about it. And one of the
evenings, we’ll all go into town and have dinner at the Denali Brewery. When your parents were here, Justin and I hired a babysitter for Colton, and we went to the brew house with your folks. They play trivia games, and it’s so much fun. You’re going to love it.”
Flynn swallowed. Even if she’d known about Colton, she wouldn’t have been able to postpone this trip. It would have insulted her father and her mother’s best friend, and that’s something that Flynn couldn’t live with, which meant she’d do everything on this itinerary, even though it put her job at risk.
If you fuck up this account, you’re done here. Mark my words. I will fire you faster than the sound of light. Her boss’ words hung in her mind, swirling around like a bad cloud waiting to douse her with buckets of freezing rain.
“What’s wrong, dear?” Renee inched closer. “Did I say something upsetting? I’m so sorry. I know this has to be hard.”
Flynn snapped her gaze from the sparks of the fire to Renee’s glistening blue eyes. “It’s just been a long day of travel, and I’m tired.”
“We don’t have to have dinner together tonight. I can box it up, and you can eat it whenever you like.”
Before she could respond, Colton strolled into the family room, followed by a devilishly handsome older version of himself with silver hair, ice-blue eyes, and broad shoulders.
“Mr. Granger. It’s so good to finally meet you.” She stood and stretched out her arms.
“Please. Call me Justin, and the pleasure’s all mine.” He curled his fingers around her biceps. He stood approximately six feet tall and was well-muscled. “You look just like your mother. It’s like I was just transported back to college.” The right side of his face drooped slightly. She assumed that was from the mild stroke a few years ago. But it didn’t take away from his handsome appearance.
“I get that a lot.” Flynn always enjoyed it when people said she was the spitting image of her mother. She thought her mother had all the poise and grace of a movie star and backed it up with the kind of intelligence that only a few possessed. Her mother had been her inspiration and her rock her entire life. Her mother worked hard as a high school psychologist, and balancing career and a family proved to be a challenge. However, her mother mastered it like a true professional. There was nothing her mother couldn’t handle.
Except cancer.
“Please. Sit back down and get comfortable. Dinner won’t be ready for another half hour,” Justin said as he poured two more glasses of wine.
Colton took his before settling on the floor next to Hannah, who lifted her head and rested it on his lap with a long sigh. Colton vigorously scratched the dog’s belly. She rolled and raised her legs in the air, moving them rapidly as if she were running.
Flynn kept her focus on the dog, and not the sexy man sitting at her feet.
“I was just telling Flynn that she and Colton could take their dinner back to the cabin if she’s too tired. Besides, they have an early excursion in the morning.”
Justin shook his head. “Renee, darling, they don’t need to follow that schedule to the letter.”
“True. But Colton has a tour in the morning, and there are only three listed, so there is room for one more,” Renee said.
“With my luck, I’ll probably fall off the sled like my mother did.”
“In the boots you had on earlier, you sure as heck will,” Colton said with a slight chuckle. “Those boots were not made for walking, much less sledding.”
Colton’s father laughed. “When your folks were here for their honeymoon, I took them back up to the park, and your mom not only fell off, she took your father with her. I’ve never seen a woman so athletically challenged in my life.”
“I’m a chip off the old block, but I’ve been looking forward to proving to my dad that a sled pulled by dogs ain’t got nothing on me.”
“That’s the spirit,” Justin said with a fist pump in the air.
“We need to leave the cabin around six in the morning,” Colton said. “If you have flat winter boots, I’d seriously wear them. For your safety. But we can provide you with some other winter gear, so you don’t freeze your cute little tushy off.”
She held up her glass. “My rear-end thanks you.” She resented the sarcasm that floated with ease from her lips. She had no reason to be upset with Colton, and frankly, he certainly shouldn’t be pissed at her. “And I’m really looking forward to it. I’m grateful for all that you all have done for me.”
“It’s our pleasure, dear,” Colton’s mother said. “Why don’t we take our wine and head toward the dining room. I’ve got some nice appetizers set up on the table while we wait for the main meal. Shall I put it in a container for you to take back to the cabin?”
Flynn didn’t want to be rude, but she did have some work things she had to deal with. “Would you mind? My boss needs me to file some reports.” Flynn raised her finger to her mouth but quickly lowered it to her lap. “I hate to bother you with this, but is there any way to punch up the internet at the cabin? Or is there somewhere else I might have a stronger connection?”
“You should have a strong connection. I’m sure Colton can look into that for you. He’s really good with stuff like that,” Justin said. “You do have the extender hooked up, right?”
Colton shook his head. “I had moved it to the Moose Lodge when we had the wedding here a few weeks ago, but I can go get it and set it up tonight, no problem.”
“That should really help. Now let’s get you two some of Alice’s famous eggplant lasagna, though my attempt with her dish isn’t anywhere near as good as hers, but I try,” Renee said.
“I’m sure I’ll love it.” Flynn looped her arm through Renee’s. “She always said you were a better cook with most things.”
Renee laughed. “But I can’t bake to save my ass.”
“That’s a true statement,” Colton said, jumping to his feet. “In second grade, she tried to make a couple of cakes for the school cake walk. At the end of the carnival, the school had to toss them because no one wanted them. That had to be more embarrassing than when none of my friends wouldn’t eat the cake my mom made for my tenth birthday.”
“Well, I learned to always order one after that incident. And for the record, I stocked the pantry in the cabin with a few deserts from Lou’s Bakery. I also packed some snacks for tomorrow’s trip. The lunch the tour company provides is spectacular,” Renee said. “But you’ll need something to much on before you make it to the brewery.”
Flynn kept the tears stinging her eyes from trickling down her cheeks. Her mother always told her that Renee thought of everything.
And Flynn’s mother had always been right.
3
Colton wanted to tell the raven beauty sitting in front of his fireplace with her feet resting on the ottoman, her computer on her lap, and a glass of wine in her hand, to take it to her room where she had a desk, so he could have his living room to himself. It was honestly rare that anyone stayed in his cabin since he’d moved back home, with a few exceptions when they were nearly sold out or they had a request for the cabin. Otherwise, it had become his domain with his parents’ blessings.
So, when they insisted their special guest stay with him and kept avoiding him when he pressed on the identity of said guest, he assumed it was just some wealthy eccentric person who demanded the cabin. He hadn’t anticipated his parents would play matchmaker. It wouldn’t have been the first time.
He just hadn’t anticipated Flynn being the woman he’d have to let down gently.
“Do you have a better connection now?” he asked. Of course, he could retire to his bedroom where he had another fireplace, a massive skylight, and a big screen television. He knew without a doubt he could find something to binge-watch, but nothing would be as easy on the eyes as Flynn. She was what his best friend, Willie, would call runway model gorgeous. Colton would have to agree, and she had the damn walk down with the way her hips swung with confidence. When she entered a room, she owned it.
Three years ago, she’d opened the door to her apartment wearing a red halter dress that showed off all her curves. Her long hair bounced over her shoulders with curly locks that he enjoyed twirling through his fingertips for hours. He knew he was in over his head when she asked him to step inside while she made a quick phone call and touched up her makeup.
He wanted to laugh at the memory. She didn’t need to do a thing to her face. Waking up to her natural beauty in his arms had been an adrenaline rush he hadn’t expected and could never replicate, no matter how hard he tried.
“But at least it’s progressing this time.” She let out a long breath. “This is a big client, and the expectations are high.”
“I’m sure you’re crushing it.” He knew she’d been driven when it came to her work, a trait he respected. A couple years ago, his career with Delta Force had been the only thing that mattered. If he wasn’t working, he was finding thrilling ways to fill the void. Whether it be from working for some of his buddies as a bodyguard or jumping from a perfectly good airplane or paddling down category five rapids, he couldn’t have cared less as long as it made him feel alive.
Then, at the urging of his mother, he spent a week in New York City. When he’d landed, he thought for sure he would die from boredom.
Until he’d met Flynn.
“Even if this goes through, I’ve got more deadlines I’ve got to meet. Is there something else we can do to boost your internet?”