Charming Christmas (MyHeartChannel Book 4)

by Erica Penrod

  Charming Christmas

  A MyHeartChannel Christmas Romance

  Erica Penrod

  Contents

  Charming Christmas

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue

  Also by Erica Penrod

  About the Author

  Invitation

  To join Erica’s newsletter and receive information about her new releases, click here.

  Charming Christmas

  Hilary Newton wants to see the world, to experience all the sights and sounds first-hand of the traditions and cultures she describes on her MyHeartChannel “Holiday’s with Hilary,” but her dream is out of reach from behind the front desk of her family’s hotel. Her father is ill, her mother is his caretaker, and her younger sister just moved to Ghana, leaving Hilary to keep the business running. Nothing seems to be going her way until one day, a handsome man enters through the lobby’s revolving door.

  Griff Bailey prefers the isolation of his home on Mt. Bedford. When a package arrives on his doorstep by mistake, he begrudgingly makes a trip into town. Newton Hotel was clearly marked on the label and Griff cusses the postal service as he enters the ancient revolving door to Hollyville’s only hotel. He marches to the front desk, ready to drop the package and run, when he sees her face; the girl he saved from the ice so long ago.

  Hilary and Griff share a past, a brief moment in time which forever changed her life. However, the irritated man before her is completely forgettable, or would be if her heart wasn’t racing. But mysterious packages continue to arrive, each bringing Griff and Hilary together in unexpected ways. The gifts inside are clues to what the future may hold, but will Hilary and Griff give into the growing attraction between them; or, are her dreams of traveling the globe and his painful past too much to conquer?

  Not if a Christmas angel has anything to say about it.

  Chapter One

  Hilary hid her heartache behind a plastic smile and the front desk.

  “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I can put Ghana off for another year or so.” Her sister Maryn, whose hair she’d braided beneath the glow of a Hannah Montana night light years ago, lifted her head from their mom’s shoulder.

  “I already told you. You can’t pass this up.” Hilary met Maryn’s eyes, then quickly averted her gaze to the computer screen.

  Mom and Dad met them in the lobby of their family-owned hotel to say goodbye to Maryn, who’d been offered a job in Ghana to manage a school for girls. Tags hung from the new gray leather suitcase Hilary had purchased for her own dreams of adventure and then loaned to her sister who was actually going to fly around the world. At this rate, Hilary would never get out from behind the desk; no Europe or Africa for her. Heck, she couldn’t even meet Hannah in Montana if she wanted to. No, she scolded herself, don’t think like that. She had to believe she’d get out there one day—it gave her a reason to get up in the morning.

  Mom held Maryn out at arm’s length and stared at her as though she had only seconds to memorize her face instead of the last twenty-two years. “You go on ahead, dear. Hilary will get her turn when you come back.”

  “She certainly will.” Dad, once a permanent fixture of the Newton Hotel lobby, rested in one of the outdated armchairs for guests. Hilary looked at the man who’d held her hand at every crossroad in her life, and her heart warmed. His voice soothed the hurt inside her, even now, when it wasn’t much louder than a whisper. Her father’s paper-thin skin hung loosely from his broad bones, and his back hunched over as if he were chained by gravity. His body, a few decades past family basketball games and day trips to the lake, had been overrun by colon cancer. “Our Hilary will travel the globe with that channel thing of hers.”

  Maryn eased out of her mother’s hold, picked up the suitcase, and turned to Hilary. “You will get to travel, and Holidays with Hilary will explode on MyHeartChannel.”

  “Of course it will.” Hilary grinned. Maryn’s jewel-green eyes mesmerized Hilary as they always had. She was a girl born as beautiful as a doll and as sweet as chocolate frosting. “I’m going to miss you. Make sure you let us know the second you arrive.”

  “I will.” Maryn stood on her toes, leaned over the counter, and kissed her sister on the cheek. “Thank you.” The words passed from her lips and into Hilary’s heart like all the precious secrets they’d shared as girls. Maryn wanted Hilary to chase her dreams more than anyone else in the world, which was the reason Hilary couldn’t keep Maryn from going after hers. Maryn settled on her heels and brushed a curl behind her ear. “Promise me you’ll leave this hotel every now and then, and not just for supplies for your episodes.”

  “I’ll try.” Hilary exhaled. Between managing the hotel and starring in her own channel, her days were full, so why did she feel so empty? “You’d better get going. You don’t want to miss your flight.”

  “Yes.” Mom adjusted the collar on Maryn’s coat. “I just can’t believe you won’t be here for Thanksgiving or Christmas.” Tears welled in her tired eyes.

  “I know the timing’s bad—” Maryn sniffed. “—but they needed the position filled immediately.”

  “Carol, let the girl go before she’s late.” Dad held out his cane.

  “I know.” Her mother stepped back from Maryn. “Don’t talk to strangers, and keep your purse close.”

  Maryn laughed as she gave their father a wink. “Mom, everyone will be a stranger in Ghana. I have to talk to someone.”

  “You know what I mean.” Her mother dabbed at her eyes. “Now get out of here.” Her hands shook at her sides. Mom was on the verge of losing control of her emotions.

  “She’ll be okay, Mom.” Hilary watched as Maryn gripped the suitcase handle tightly, with a combination of nerves and excitement reflected in her eyes. “Bye, sis.”

  Her sister pushed through the revolving door and stepped out into the world. Hilary grinned, happy for Maryn and the adventures awaiting her. As the door swung shut, she sighed and glanced down at the reservation list. The Newton was booked for the weekend with the high school reunion in town. “Mom, do you need any help with Dad?”

  “No, we’ll be fine. As long as you’re here to take care of our guests.” Mom walked over and helped Dad up from the chair. He anchored his arm to hers and balanced with the cane. Her mom picked up the glass of water from the side table. Her parents’ home was located on the first floor of the hotel, a two-bedroom suite with a small kitchen and living area. The hotel had been built by her grandfather in the late ’50s, which he’d managed until her father took over, over twenty-five years ago.

  Hilary stepped around the front desk and met her parents. She kissed her father on the cheek. “Get some rest, Dad.”

  His gray eyes, which used to remind her of resilient steel, now appeared rusted and worn. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

  His frailty settled on her. “You don’t ever have to find out.” Hilary straightened her shoulders and carried the weight of the hotel for them all. “And when Maryn comes back, she’ll run the place and I’ll see the world.” She smiled when she saw his body relax and the concern in his eyes fade.

  “That’s my girl.” He winked as he began to shuffle along the tile floor. As Hilary returned to the front desk, they turne
d the corner and disappeared down the hall.

  Hilary tapped her fingers on the counter. The rooms were ready and the reservation list with confirmations was on display. There wasn’t anything else she could do but wait for the guests to arrive. She pulled her laptop from the lower shelf. Hilary planned to video the next episode of Holidays with Hilary sometime this weekend, if she was able to break away from the hotel. Several clicks later, she’d added the last few items needed to her shopping list.

  The revolving door was set in motion, and Hilary glanced up. The slow rotation was an antiquated movement that signified to the visitor they didn’t have to rush their time here. In the Newton Hotel, they were honored guests.

  She closed her laptop as a curious sensation came over her. Hilary tilted her head as something tickled her ear, like a whisper or the touch of a feather. Goose bumps freckled her skin, and she rubbed her arms as the words “He’s coming” floated through her mind. Hilary spun around and expected to find someone, but she was alone. Shaking her head, she turned and looked towards the door, unsure of what the feeling was as a tall figure emerged.

  If the premonition was a warning, she doubted she’d feel a sense of anticipation like she did now. Hilary took one look at the man, with his broad shoulders, square jawline, and penetrating stare, and her heart hit the gas and took a corner on two wheels. She gripped the counter in an effort to hold on to reality and not drift away with her imagination as words like “destiny,” “love at first sight,” and “forever” flashed before her eyes. “He” definitely was here, and as Hilary continued to stare, recognition fell upon her. Maybe this was destiny after all, but it wasn’t at first sight. She’d seen this man before, years ago, and she’d wondered about him. Hilary had always wanted to thank the boy who had saved her life.

  Chapter Two

  “Stupid door,” Griff mumbled beneath his breath as he broke free from the revolving trap and stepped into the lobby. “You ought to have that thing replaced,” he huffed as he tromped his way to the front desk, where a woman with a gold name tag stared. He plopped a large, but light square package on the counter. “Here, this got delivered to my house by mistake.”

  Griff surveyed the area. Forest-green upholstered chairs, yellowed oak end tables, and mauve curtains suffocated the room. Pastel watercolor paintings in gold frames hung on the warped wallpaper. He looked back over his shoulder at the door, concerned he’d just walked through a time machine. This place was as dated as Gertrude Sweeny’s home, a house he’d redesigned after her passing. The same spew of silk flowers on every surface and the overdosing of digestion-medication-colored rugs left him with a sense of déjà vu.

  “Oh … okay.” She stepped back and gaped up at him as she wrapped her arms around her middle. Lines appeared along her forehead.

  Griff scowled at the pretty woman, whose owl eyes reflected awe and fear. What did she think he was going to do? Climb over the counter and snatch her? This was Hollyville, for heaven’s sake, and the whole town was a neighborhood watch.

  He eyed her as a memory surfaced. Griff remembered a young girl, skating on a frozen pond and him reaching for her as the ice cracked. He hadn’t thought of that day in over a decade, but she couldn’t be the same girl, could she?

  Yet there was something familiar about her eyes: black as a moonless night, but bright as the noonday sun. If he looked close enough, he’d see his reflection glaring back at him. “Make sure you let the post office know they made a mistake.”

  She nodded as she tilted her head. Her body leaned to him. “Are you Griff Bailey?” Her scent, some flowery something, wafted towards him.

  “Yes.” He shoved his hands in his coat pockets. “What of it?”

  “I’m Hilary.” Her lips raised to a smile until he narrowed his eyes, and she pulled them into a tight line. “H-H-Hilary Newton.”

  “So?”

  “You rescued me from the cracked ice when I was a girl.” She swallowed. “Do you remember me?”

  “You don’t look anything like the runt of a girl I pulled from the water.” It was true: the woman standing before him, with her curves and soft angles, hardly resembled the waif he’d pulled from the cracked ice.

  “Well, it was me.” Hilary made her way around the counter. “I never did get to thank you all those years ago. You were gone before I got the chance.” She faced him now, and the intensity in her eyes spooked him. “And I’ve never seen you since.” She tucked a lock of chestnut hair behind her ear. “Which is odd, since Hollyville is such a small town.”

  Hilary moved closer. Griff’s heart strained against the vice he’d long ago clamped around his emotions. Something about her chipped at the walls he’d worked so hard to put up. Get away from me, woman. This was exactly why he avoided town and its annoying citizens. He didn’t want anyone anywhere near his personal space.

  She turned the corner and offered her hand as her foot slipped out from beneath her. Her leg extended in the air as her body fell back. In one swift motion, Griff caught her arm and yanked her up. Hilary landed against his chest.

  Heat radiated between them and Griff tried to release her, but his arms refused the command. The room swirled and he feared his legs would buckle. His breath caught in his throat as he looked down at her face. All at once, his past, present, and future spilled into one, as if everything that had happened or would happen was because of this moment right now. This woman in his arms, with hair like a waterfall pouring over her shoulders and eyes like a looking glass, consumed him. His gaze lowered to her lips. His mouth watered at the very thought of a taste, and his fingers trembled. If he kissed her now—

  Griff froze, afraid to move, for fear of giving in to his desire.

  “I’m sorry.” Hilary withdrew from his hold. She gained her footing and held his stare. Griff wanted nothing more than to look away, to free himself from this bewitching woman, but he hadn’t found the strength. “Mom must’ve spilled some water when she and my dad left.”

  “You’re just fortunate you were the one who slipped.” He managed to get out as his good sense yanked hold of the reins. “You could’ve had a lawsuit on your hands.” Griff took a step back, forcing his gaze to the clock on the wall. “I don’t have time for this. I’ve got to go.” He spun on his heel and marched towards the death contraption of a door. His heart thumped against his chest and he dared not look back. If he held her any longer, Griff might believe lonely was a bad word after all.

  * * *

  What just happened? Hilary watched Griff disappear behind the glass. One second, she was caught up by the good-looking man in her lobby; the next, she nearly choked on his ugly demeanor. Her heart bounced from one emotion to the other. Griff was rude, yet she found herself reliving the moment in his arms. She stood on her toes and reached over the desk for a handful of tissues. Kneeling, Hilary mopped up the water as best she could until she got to the paper towels in the supply room. Her mind whirled with confusion. A lawsuit? If Griff had slipped, was he the kind of man who would go after a small hotel like theirs because of a few drops of water?

  She stood up and put the damp tissues in the trash. Hilary darted around the corner and into the supply room for paper towels and the wet floor sign. A minute later, she wiped at the floor as her mind was drawn in by the memory of her knight in shining armor—or more like teenage boy in a puffy coat, but time cast a romantic glow over the childhood event. Hilary used to dream about the boy who’d saved her life and what she’d say if she ever saw him again. Her adolescent mind had never imagined anything like this.

  Griff Bailey was just one more reminder that life was nothing like the stories created in her head. Behind the desk again, Hilary looked at the package. It was addressed to the hotel, but she couldn’t recall her mom or Maryn telling her about a delivery arriving today. She searched in vain for a return address as she peeled back the corners of the tape.

  Inside the box, beneath three layers of tissue, was a smaller container. Hilary raised her brow, and she to
ok the blue velvet box and lifted the lid. Inside were two small charms: an ice skate and a house. Baffled, she lifted the tiny objects and studied them closely. Gold and intricately detailed, they appeared expensive. There must’ve been some mistake. Who would send these to the hotel? She placed them back in the box and noticed a slip of paper tucked beneath the material, perhaps a receipt. Hilary carefully pulled the paper out. Words handwritten in elegant cursive caught her eye.

  For Hilary

  Nothing else was written on the note. What in the world is going on? An ice skate charm and the boy who’d saved her mysteriously show up on the same day. Hilary saw the connection there, but what about the house? She rubbed her temples as she dismissed the notion. Her mind was twisting a coincidence into a mystery and she didn’t have time for such foolishness, yet her brain wouldn’t quit. Even if Griff had nothing to do with the charms, someone had sent the gift, but who?

  Chapter Three

  Hilary surveyed the room as if someone were playing a practical joke on her. Any moment now, Daniel from Jester’s Court Channel was going to jump out and reveal that the whole thing was a prank. The empty lobby didn’t come to life, nor did it reveal a secret camera crew. Maybe it was a gift from Maryn, since she wouldn’t be home for the holidays, but Christmas was a month away and her sister was a known procrastinator when it came to her holiday shopping. Hilary placed the charms back in their velvet box and closed the lid. She’d ask Maryn about the package when her sister called in between flights.