“Really?” Robin asked Joan, apparently not having heard that part.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Wow,” Robin breathed out the word. “That is so selfless of him. Or them ... ugh, anyway, this is about you, Nick. After Holly found out her second mother—basically—had been taking advantage of her for years, she put that aside in order to save our tradition. Then when she went over to tell you about it, you made her feel like a fool who couldn’t do anything on her own.”
Joan shook her head. “That must have been really hard on her, considering she was already beating herself up for pretty much the same thing.”
Nick had heard enough. He got it. He’d messed up, big time. Holly was a kind-hearted, Christmas-miracle creating, gorgeous woman who didn’t deserve the way he’d treated her. Not to mention the fact that before the fire, they’d been happy. Hopeful, even. And then starting with that conversation with Julia it all just ... went up in flames.
He didn’t have an excuse for it, it was just something about the way he was wired or the way he’d been hurt by a girl like this before that wouldn’t let him believe there was an upside to this whole situation. Now, the only question was, could he fix it before she left next week?
“Alright, you got me,” he said, holding out his hands. “I am fully accepting that I’m a jerk. Can you meddling women help me fix it or do you just want to keep scolding me?”
Joan and Robin looked at each other with satisfied smiles, and Robin steepled her fingers together like a villain planning a heist. “What do you have in mind?”
21
Holly
A knock sounded on Holly’s door, and she seriously contemplated pretending she wasn’t there. Unfortunately, the unmistakable sounds of Christmas music playing on her phone were a dead giveaway. She called out a word of permission for whoever it was to come on in, then continued folding the pair of jeans in her hands.
Robin and Joan entered the room holding a large black garment bag. Holly’s heart instantly leaped out of her chest, thinking it might be a gown for the Gingerbread Ball, but then she stomped down her own excitement. Sure, that was probably what it was. They were probably there to convince her to stay. But she just ... couldn’t. And she didn’t want to let herself get excited thinking she could.
“Don’t bother,” Holly said. “I can’t stay.”
Joan made a disapproving noise. “Sure, you can.”
“No, I can’t.” Holly set the jeans in her suitcase and picked up a pair of leggings to fold. “As much as I want to, it’s just silly. I’ve made a mess of things with Nick, and I have no idea what I’d do if I stayed. We’re finished with the movie. Now it’s time for me to figure out what I want to do next.”
Robin hung the large garment bag over the bathroom door. “Well, that’s what we’re here to talk to you about.”
“What I want to do?” Holly asked.
“Yes, dear,” Joan answered. “What’s your current plan?”
Holly shook her head. “I don’t have one, really. I mean, I know I’m going back to L.A. to sell all of my stuff and get out of my contracts.”
“And then what?” Robin asked.
“And then,” Holly slumped on the bed, clutching a red sweater to her body mid-fold. “I have no idea.”
“Well, I have a proposition for you,” Joan said, her eyes twinkling. “Snow Hill is going to take a little break from allowing movies to film here.”
Holly looked between Joan and Robin. “Why?”
“The mayor has to give them permission, and while we do get paid to let them use our town, we may have found an even better way to get that money in the town’s budget without constantly renting out our town square for these seasonal movies,” Robin explained. “As you can probably tell, it gets inconvenient for the townspeople sometimes.”
Holly bit her lip. “Yeah, I can imagine.”
Joan bit her lip. “So ... we may have already propositioned Pam for a new project, starring you. And not only has she agreed, but she also got the ball rolling on this project because she just knew you’d say yes.”
Holly’s brows snapped together, not sure if she’d like the sound of this. “Seriously?”
“Holly, it’s going to be so great,” Robin exclaimed, clapping her hands. “It’s a cooking show!”
If they’d have said anything else, Holly knew she likely wouldn’t be on board. If filming this movie had taught her anything, it was that she loved Christmas, and she loved this town, so she was grateful to have gotten the opportunity to star in a Christmas movie there, but she did not love being in the movie industry. A cooking show, on the other hand, depending on the premise, was not the same thing.
She tossed the sweater she’d been clutching to her chest. “Tell me more.”
The excitement on the other two women’s faces could not have been more obvious. Joan pulled up a chair in front of Holly’s bed and Robin flung herself on the duvet next to her.
“First, thing’s first,” Joan said, “the studio set of the show will be modeled after my kitchen here at the inn. Pam said they’d title it something like Tastes of the Snow Hill Inn or something similar. You and I can work together on the recipes we feature, and we’ll both be producers, but the on-screen star will be you. You made quite the name for yourself last time you had a show about food, and you were happy then. So, I hope you’re just as happy with this. And for me, I’m hoping the show will bring year-round guests to the inn. If we don’t have the inn fully booked with movie stars every Christmas season, I’ll be able to welcome holiday travelers!”
Holly’s mind was spinning with all the new information. “This is amazing, but I want you to come on and cook with me. Can’t it star both of us instead of just me?”
Joan waved a hand. “Ah, honey, I’m not too excited about the idea of being on camera. Maybe every once in a while. I’d rather be behind the scenes. Plus, that’ll give me more time to cater to the new business we get at the inn.”
“And how does this help replace the town’s income from the movies?” Holly asked Robin.
“The studio is going to rent warehouse space from the town for the set, which when you consider they need it year-round, means it’s like monthly income for Snow Hill,” Robin replied. “Plus, there will be scenes where the camera will follow you to our local grocer while you shop for ingredients, or film you in town square having a picnic with whatever dish you created, and the town gets paid a small amount for each location used during filming.”
“Wow,” Holly said, her voice shaking. “This is so cool. I can’t believe how excited I am. And Pam agreed, and there’s already a studio backing us?”
Joan nodded. “She pulled all kinds of strings to fast track this idea. Apparently, she’s just as in love with Snow Hill as you are.”
“Which makes her the perfect director for this project,” Holly squealed. As excited as she was, thoughts of Jack flashed in her mind and brought her back to reality. “Wait, does Jack know about any of this?”
Robin turned to the door. “Come in, Jack!”
The door opened, revealing Jack’s large frame. “Are you excited?”
“Why were you lurking outside the door like a creeper?” Holly asked with a laugh.
“Ah, I don’t know, I just wanted to give these ladies their moment telling you. Are you going to do it?”
Holly threw a throw pillow at her brother. “Are you kidding? A chance to cook for a living, stay in Snow Hill, and use my fame to bring more business to this amazing inn and town? Of course I’m in!”
“Well, hopefully you’ll still need a bodyguard as the star of a small-town cooking show. I was pretty necessary living in L.A., but you don’t seem to get much harassment out here.” Jack shrugged as if that were a bad thing.
“Let’s just play that part by ear,” Holly said. “But you have to stay here until we know for sure.”
Jack cut a glance at Robin and then nodded at Holly. “You’re the boss.”
“Now, the only t
hing we haven’t settled is the ball,” Joan said.
“And Nick,” Robin added.
Holly looked over her shoulder at the garment bag. “I just don’t know if everything is too weird between us right now. But at least I’m staying for the show, so maybe one day in the future we can try again.”
The three guests in Holly’s room all looked at each other and her with expressions of disbelief.
Finally, Joan spoke, her eyes alight. “No time like the present, dear. Get ready, put on that dress, and go to the ball. Maybe all you need is a little Christmas magic.”
22
Nick
Nick walked into Colonial Hall, and it was all he could do to keep his breathing even and control his emotions. Sure, he was a mature, tough, not-overly-emotional guy. But seeing the people in his town all dressed up and enjoying the ball as if the whole thing hadn’t burned down only days prior was enough to tug at anyone’s heartstrings.
He’d seen the finished product earlier that day before he’d gone home to get ready, but seeing it now that night had fallen and the guests had arrived had a whole new vibe. Large silver and gold cloth was draped across the ceiling, mixed with twinkle lights that gave off just the right amount of amber glow. Floor lights in various holiday colors were arranged along the walls to further provide the right lighting and ambiance. Nick chuckled to himself, knowing there would be quite a few differences between a ball set up by him and his crew and a ball set up by a professional production crew.
The large, ornate structure the studio had loaned to the town stood in the corner of the ballroom. It was twice as good as the one they’d made, and he was grateful for it. He started to wonder who would be disassembling it and returning it to the studio, but he decided that kind of thing was a question for another day.
Looking over at the stage, he was surprised and touched to see that the set for The Nutcracker looked exactly the same as the one the town’s dancers had made. The same went for the photo prop he and Holly had painted together. He wondered how the film crew had pulled it off, then remembered Holly taking about a million photos that day. He smiled, realizing yet again how much of this was because of her.
Speaking of Holly, his eyes searched the crowd. When his mom and Robin had offered to help him fix things with her, he’d gotten way out of his comfort zone by having them help him order a gown for Holly for the ball. He knew he couldn’t attend this night without her. Not after the way she’d saved their Christmas. And not after the meddling women he loved had told him how adorable it would be if they reunited in such a romantic way. The midnight blue gown he’d picked out for Holly had just screamed her name, and he couldn’t wait to see it on her. He looked down at the midnight blue pocket square Joan had tucked into the pocket of his tux when he’d been on his way out the door that evening. She was nothing if not thorough.
He caught sight of the hem of a full gown in the same midnight blue. His hands immediately clenched in anticipation as his eyes followed the outline of the glittery dress up her back, almost as if he were following a trail of stars in the sky. The dress ended midway up her back, and his eyes continued up to her bare shoulders, and finally to her profile as she stood chatting with Robin. Her blonde hair was tied up into an artful up-do, highlighting her cheekbones and exposing the curve of her neck. He started toward her, wanting nothing more than to kiss the spot where her neck met her shoulder.
When he reached her side and her eyes met his, something clicked inside of him. It was a feeling he could only describe as coming home. He had no idea what had triggered such a strong emotion. Of course, she looked beautiful. Her makeup was subtle and flawless, and the gown couldn’t have been more perfect on her. It was a night and day difference between the Holly he was used to seeing around the inn with her ugly Christmas sweaters or festive pajamas. But in the best way. Night and day where you appreciate the glow of the moon just as much as the brightness of the sun.
“Hi,” she said, bringing him out of his thoughts.
Robin excused herself without a word, making Holly giggle. He loved the sound.
“Hi,” he finally replied.
“You look nice.”
He looked her over from head to foot, feeling as nervous as a teenager at a homecoming dance. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Unable to help himself, he ran his knuckles along her cheekbone and smiled when her cheeks turned warm and red beneath them. “I’ve missed you.”
Holly gave him a small smile. “Me, too.”
“Thank you for everything you did. For me, for the town. I know you did it because you wanted to, and not because you were trying to throw your money around. It was wrong of me to act that way. I know you’re different, and I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”
“And, I have to say, this might be the best Gingerbread Ball Snow Hill has ever seen,” Nick said, looking around and shaking his head.
“The only thing I wish we’d have been able to replicate was the ornaments your mom made.”
Nick chuckled. “Oh, you mean those?”
Holly’s eyes widened as Nick turned her slightly and pointed to a table in the corner with a huge basket full of cellophane bags. “Are those -”
“Filled with homemade ornaments and cookies, compliments of my mother? Yes. Yes, they are.”
“But how?”
“Apparently, she trusted that the ball would happen one way or another, so she started making more the night of the fire. She credited the power of –”
“Christmas magic,” Holly finished for him.
“Exactly. And speaking of ... I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”
Holly tilted her head curiously. “About what?”
“About my future in Snow Hill. And about how I thought I’d never leave,” Nick said, watching as her shoulders straightened. He’d clearly gotten her attention. “I know I have kind of an ... awkward history when it comes to dating movie stars. But I realized there was a way to make sure this time didn’t wind up going the same way.”
“Okay...”
“Hear me out, because this is taking a lot for me to say and I just need to get through it.”
Holly pretended to zip her lips and throw away the key.
“Now, I’m not saying I’m never coming back here, because I do believe Snow Hill is my home. I’ve always known I’d take over the inn when my parents retired, and I don’t want to change that. But maybe I could get out there and see the world a bit before I do. Maybe I could come out to L.A. and get a short-term lease. I’m sure I could get a job doing something with my hands, whether it was building houses or construction. And then, you know, we could give this a shot. I’m not going to make the mistake of asking you to give up your career for me. And hopefully, after some time together, we could figure out a plan that involves us coming back here to settle down eventually.”
Holly blinked at him, not speaking.
“Well?” Nick rubbed his hands together, nervous to hear her reaction. “What do you think?”
Holly stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her full lips to his in a hard and fast peck of a kiss. “I think ... not.”
Her words were like a swift punch in the gut. “Not?”
She shook her head. “No deal.”
“Oh, okay.”
Holly placed a hand on his cheek and forced him to look at her. “It’s no deal, because I’m not going back to L.A. I’m staying here in Snow Hill.”
His eyes lit up with surprise. “You are?”
“I am,” Holly replied, looking up at him with a bashful expression. “Your mom and Robin and even my director from the film all had their heads together working on a new project. It’s a cooking show based on mine and your mom’s recipes. We’ll be highlighting the inn and hopefully bringing in lots of new business. There are a lot of details that we can go over later, but the point is, I’m staying, and I get to cook and be happy in this perfect little Christmas town.”
Nick’
s mouth popped open, his mind furiously trying to make sense of this information. His mom and Robin had to have been working on all of this before they’d sat him down the other night, and they hadn’t said a word. In fact, he’d run his plan about leaving Snow Hill by them and they’d even encouraged him. Meddling women were the worst, he’d officially decided.
Holly continued talking when he didn’t say anything. “Nick ... this opportunity, being able to stay in such a wonderful town, getting to cook and work with your mom, it all feels right. It feels like everything happened for a reason and I was brought here by my acting career only to find a home and a family and a place where I belong.”
“So...” Nick paused for good measure, though his heart was absolutely bursting. “You’re not just staying for me?”
“No,” Holly said, seriously. “But if you want to be another bonus perk, I’d really like that.”
Nick couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. “Oh, you would?”
“Yes.”
“Come on, maybe a little for me?” he teased.
Holly held up her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. “Maybe just a little.”
He took her hands and brought them up and around his neck, then settled his own hands around her waist. Finally, he brought his mouth down to hers, sealing their flirtation with the best kiss he’d ever had in his life—second only to the others he’d shared with her. Sure, maybe he was willing to leave Snow Hill for her and she was staying in Snow Hill because it was a great opportunity ... but right then and there, he knew he’d spend the rest of his life making sure she never regretted her decision.
Epilogue
Holly
“That’s a wrap,” Pam called out, taking off her headphones. “Good work, Holls. Maybe a little distracted, today ... try to get some sleep tonight and see if that helps. See you tomorrow.”
Holly smiled and thanked her director, happy to be finished for the day. She had some big news to tell her handsome husband and she was sure she wasn’t going to be able to wait another second. Clearly, it was affecting her work on Tastes of Snow Hill Inn.
A Movie Star for Christmas Page 13
