by Erica Penrod
Hilary heard the door, and she exhaled as she smiled, grateful to get back to work. “Hello, Suzie.”
“Hi, Hilary.” Suzie was a year younger than Hilary and in town for their class’s five-year reunion. She walked to the front desk and set her suitcase on the floor. “It’s so nice to see you.”
“Your room is ready.” Hilary tapped the keyboard and pulled up her information. “How was your flight?”
“Not bad.” She brushed the Barbie doll blond hair from her face. “But the drive to Hollyville took a lot longer than I remembered—at least, it felt that way. Has Sam Wentworth checked in yet?” She opened her wallet as her cheeks flushed. “I heard he’s as hot as ever, single, and already on his way to being a billionaire.” She fanned her face with her credit card. “It’s a good thing I bought a new dress for the occasion.”
Hilary smiled. “No, you’re the first one to arrive.” Since Newton Hotel was the only hotel in Hollyville, anyone coming in for the class reunion who didn’t have family to stay with would lodge here for the weekend. “Would you like me to mention you’re looking for him when he checks in?”
Suzie batted her lashes and rolled her eyes. “Don’t be silly.” She handed Hilary her card and then fluffed her hair with her fingertips. “I’m not sure Sam even remembers me.” Her brow arched. “But after this weekend, I’ll make sure he never forgets.”
“Sounds like fun.” More like a nightmare.
Hilary shifted her gaze to the screen. Her own class reunion, which she hadn’t attended, was last year. More than half of her class had checked into the hotel on her shift, and those were some of the longest hours of her life. Hilary hated answering everyone’s questions. “So, what has our Most Likely to Succeed done since graduation?” “Weren’t you going to travel the world?” And if those weren’t bad enough, the “Oh, so you’re still working at your parents’ hotel” comment accompanied by a pitiful expression was always the highlight to any conversation.
Hilary swiped the card and gave it back to Suzie. “I hope you have a great weekend. Good luck.”
Suzie tossed her hair back over her shoulder. “Oh, honey, when you look like this, luck has nothing to do with it.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” She offered Suzie the programmed key card. “You’re in room 119. Down the hall and to your right. Let us know if you need anything else while you’re here.”
“Thank you.” Suzie picked up her luggage.
Hilary chuckled to herself as she watched the pretty girl meander down the hall. Sam Wentworth had better watch out if he didn’t want more than light refreshments and a stroll down memory lane.
Hilary pulled up the maids’ schedule and double-checked that there was enough help to cover a fully booked weekend. Motion caught her eye, and she looked up to see the door spinning. Her stomach did its thing again, and she waited. There must’ve been some kind of magic in the air, or she’d snagged the lucky side of the wishbone early, because for the second time in less than an hour, a hunk of a man stood in her lobby.
Hilary’s heart settled into its usual rhythm once she recognized the identity of the good-looking guy. “Hi, Sam.” She smiled at him as he approached the front desk. She had to suppress the giggle in the back of her throat, thinking about the blond bombshell down the hall waiting to blow up Sam’s world. “How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you.” Sam stopped in front of the desk and set his luggage down. “How are you Hilary?” His hazel eyes brightened her mood. The man was infectious, but to Hilary, he was like a piece of modern art; she appreciated the effort, but he wasn’t her taste. Sam’s stocky build, square jawline, and crop of jet-black hair were attractive, but his overabundance of self-confidence was like too much cologne in an elevator.
“I’m good, thanks.” She pulled up his reservation. “We’ve got your room ready for you.”
Sam reached into his suit jacket and took out his wallet. “Great, thanks.” He opened the brown leather trifold and handed Hilary one of the cards. “I guess you’re not coming to the reunion?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not my class.” Hilary swiped the card.
“I know.” Sam tilted his head, and a coy smile tugged on the corners of his lips. “But I thought someone would have snagged you as a date a long time ago.”
“No.” Hilary handed him back the card. “Why would anyone ask me out to the class reunion?” The question was absurd, but she was doing her hostess duty and so she played nice.
“Because.” Sam’s fingers brushed hers as he took the card. “You’re the most beautiful girl in Hollyville.”
Hilary laughed and took back her hand. “Yeah, right.” Sam hadn’t changed much. His tactics weren’t any different from when they were kids on the playground.
“You are.” Sam put the card back in his wallet. “Would you consider going with me?”
Her brow furrowed. “What?”
“Would you go to the class reunion tomorrow night with me?” Sam held her gaze, and she was suddenly aware of his coal-black lashes and the hint of shadow along his face. “And before you say no, I thought the reunion might give us a chance to talk about your MyHeartChannel.”
“What about my channel?” She didn’t want to admit it, but part of her was thrilled to know someone like Sam Wentworth was aware of her show.
“I’d like to talk to you about my company becoming a sponsor.”
A sponsor? Hilary had heard rumors about Sam’s success and the amount of wealth his software company brought him, and a huge sponsor was something she’d always dreamed about. “You’ve seen my show?”
“Not personally, but I’ve heard it’s really good.” He tucked the wallet back into the coat and squared his shoulders. “I’m always looking for something new to invest in.”
Hmmm. Sam might have had himself a date had he not admitted he hadn’t ever seen an episode of Holidays with Hilary. Something inside told her he was more interested in a woman on his arm for the reunion than he was in her channel. While the money would be nice, she wanted sponsors based on the show’s merit and not on her going out with someone. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m busy with the hotel this weekend.”
A notch appeared between his brows, and his chin jutted back. “I’m sure you can arrange something.”
Hilary got the feeling Sam was used to things going his way. “My sister took a job in Africa, and we’re short-staffed.”
He studied her face as though she was a problem he was trying to solve. “Don’t you want to talk about your channel?”
“Of course I’d like to discuss the show with you, but I’m afraid it won’t be possible tomorrow.” She smiled politely. “And I bet there’s several women praying you show up to the reunion alone.” There’s one right down the hall as we speak.
He stuffed his hands in his front pockets. “If you change your mind, you’ve got my number.” His voice was even, but the spark was gone from his eyes.
Hilary handed him the key card to his room. “Here you go. You’re on the second floor.” If Sam’s sponsorship came with strings attached, she’d look elsewhere. “I hope you have a pleasant stay and enjoy the reunion.” She could’ve played matchmaker and rearranged the reservations so Sam had the room next to Suzie, but Hilary didn’t think the woman needed any help.
“I will.” Sam took the handle on his suitcase and strode off to the elevator. Hilary watched him, thinking she’d avoided a mistake masqueraded as a handsome Saturday night date. The elevator door opened, and Sam stepped inside. He turned around and faced Hilary. “But Hilary—” He held back the closing doors. “—you should know I don’t give up easily.” He grinned as he cocked a brow. “When I see something I want, I go after it.” Sam chuckled. “And I always get what I want.”
The doors closed and Hilary stood there, her mouth open and her eyes gaping. She didn’t know whether to laugh or run in the opposite direction. One thing was for sure: when Maryn called tonight, she’d have a story to tell. Two,
when she added in Griff Bailey.
Chapter Four
Griff turned the volume up on the stereo and mumbled under his breath. His Toyota Tacoma crawled up Mt. Bedford, and he needed a distraction to keep Hilary out of his head. Better yet, he should turn around and go back to the post office. If someone had done their job correctly, he wouldn’t be in this mess. There would’ve been no need to go to the hotel, no need to see Hilary Newton, and no need to notice she was no longer the little girl he’d pulled from the ice. Griff wouldn’t have the image of a mature, beautiful woman etched into his brain.
He glanced up and frowned at his reflection in the rearview mirror. He hadn’t just noticed Hilary, but something stirred inside his heart, which was unacceptable. The sooner he got home, the sooner he could put this all behind him. If he was lucky, he could avoid town for another couple of weeks.
Around the last bend, the entrance to his home greeted him, and he grinned at the rock-faced house hidden between the mountain and untamed foliage. Griff exhaled, and the tension left his body … until he heard a pop rendition of “Jingle Bells” playing through the car speakers. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet. He rolled his eyes and called out to the universe, “What is it with the holiday rush?”
Forever irritated by the commercial hubbub of the holidays, Griff hated this time of year. Too many people spending too much money, and the noise … Don’t get him started thinking about the noise. No matter. He was here now. Behind the house, he pulled into the garage and turned off the engine, and the annoyance disappeared. He inhaled and then slowly released the air from his lungs. The proverbial feel of home, the solitude of a mountainside, and no one around for miles reinforced the restraints around his heart, which was just how he liked it. Griff got out and took the bags of groceries from the back seat into the house. With a little planning, he could stock up and avoid town for a month, maybe more.
Max, his adopted stray dog, barked and danced as Griff made his way to the kitchen. “Max, my friend, I think it’s time we looked into a greenhouse.” Hilary’s expressive eyes flashed in his mind. “I’ve got to cut back on my social life. More than once a month to town is too much.”
The dog cocked his head and sat politely by Griff’s feet.
“Of course, we won’t be able to grow any doggie treats, but who knows? Maybe you’ll become a vegetarian.” Griff raised a brow as Max whined. “Just kidding.” He scratched the dog’s head. “We’ll stock up on your treats, since we can’t depend on the postal system around here if we order them online.”
In the kitchen, Griff unpacked the groceries while visions of Hilary and her chestnut hair surprised him at every turn. He put the milk in the pantry and the bananas in the fridge. Rrrrrrr. What was wrong with him? It wasn’t like she was the first pretty woman he’d ever seen. Griff swapped the milk and bananas. Whatever had passed between them was something he’d never experienced before and never wanted to experience again. There was a reason Griff never got to close to anyone; he couldn’t risk the pain.
“What’s on the menu tonight, Max?” A change of subject was just what his brain needed, and preparing a meal would occupy his hands. “To the laptop.”
Max trotted beside him as they wandered into the office. He subscribed to a “cooking for one” MyHeartChannel where a new recipe appeared daily. A few taps to the screen, and today’s menu and ingredients popped up. “Let’s hope I didn’t forget anything.” A monthly shopping list arrived in his inbox every thirty days, and he’d already purchased the nonperishable items weeks ago. Baked goods were delivered weekly, but when an impromptu trip to town intruded upon him, he took the opportunity to pick up fresh produce.
Griff printed out the recipe for the chicken Kiev. He preferred a hard copy when it came to cooking. His fingers were always a mess and he hated to touch the screen. If the meal turned out, he kept the copy in a binder of his favorites. Griff picked up the paper as something flashed on the screen. “A suggestion for you: MyHeartChannel Holidays with Hilary.” He leaned toward the thumbprint photograph, and his heart threw in an extra beat. Hilary. His Hilary.
Griff pinched the bridge of his nose as a dull pounding started in his head. “Max, something strange seems to be going on around here.” The dog raised his ears, then wandered over to the rug and lay down. “Which apparently doesn’t seem to bother you.”
Griff ignored the screen and walked into the kitchen. He hadn’t seen Hilary in ages, even though he’d been back in Hollyville for several years, and in one day, she seemed to be everywhere. Curiosity yanked on his good sense as he went to the sink to wash his hands. Do not go back in there and watch the stupid channel. Warm water spilled over his skin, and he pumped a dash of soap into his palms. You don’t need to cook up anything besides your dinner. Griff heard the warning, but he dried his hands on the towel and walked back into the office. He was playing with fire, and there was so much more to burn than just the chicken. As Hilary’s face covered the screen, Griff might as well have tossed his heart into a hot skillet.
Chapter Five
“I’m not kidding.” Hilary stared at the fresh mushrooms piled on her cutting board as Maryn FaceTimed her on her layover. “He actually said those words.”
“You could do worse than Sam Wentworth.” Maryn’s eyes sparkled, even after several hours on a plane. “And if he wants to sponsor your channel, that would be amazing.”
Hilary took a knife from her drawer. “I’m not interested in someone like Sam, even if he is rich. He’s never even seen my show, so I’m not convinced he was serious about the sponsorship. He was just trying to bribe me to go out with him.” She picked up a mushroom and scrunched her nose.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m practicing for my next episode. I’m talking about Italy’s truffle festival and how they celebrate with music, dancing, and dishes made from truffles.”
Maryn’s brow furrowed. “Mushroom truffles, not chocolate, right?”
“Yes, but not just any mushroom. Some of them can cost up to $500 a pound.”
“Sounds like we’d better quit our day jobs and become Italian farmers,” Maryn laughed.
“No kidding.” She sliced the mushrooms and remembered the water boiling on the stove. Hilary reached for the box of gnocchi. “Hey, you didn’t happen to order a package for me, did you?”
The connection weakened as Maryn’s face blurred for a second and then cleared. “No, what kind of package?”
“It was addressed to the hotel, but when I opened it, there were two little charms, an ice skate and a house, and a note saying, ‘To Hilary.’” She emptied the box into the pan.
“It wasn’t from me.”
“Hmm.” Hilary stirred the pasta around wondering who it could have been. She had a PO box for her channel, so it couldn’t have been a subscriber. Therefore, it had to be someone who knew her personally. She brushed the mystery aside and focused on her sister. While they’d hugged less than twelve hours ago, the knowledge that she wouldn’t be able to pop into her room for some late-night sister bonding over ice cream hung as heavy as the pine trees after a snowstorm. “You’ll never believe who brought the package to the hotel.”
Maryn leaned forward so Hilary had an up-close look at the splash of freckles across her sister’s nose. “Who?”
“Griff Bailey,” Hilary answered.
“Who’s that?”
“Remember the kid who pulled me out of the ice when we were kids?”
“Oh, yeah. I’d forgotten about him. I don’t think I ever saw him much after that.”
“Me too, but apparently he lives somewhere around here.” She set the fork down on the counter. “The package was accidentally delivered to his place instead of the hotel. Saving me from the ice must’ve been his one good deed for a lifetime, because he was an ornery cuss.”
“Wait, didn’t you say one of the charms was an ice skate?”
“Yeah.” Hilary came back to the mushrooms.
“Isn’t it a little
strange you receive a mysterious ice skate charm from the same guy who rescued you when you were ice skating?”
Hilary shrugged her shoulders, even though she’d once thought the same thing. “The charms weren’t from Griff.” Gift giving certainly didn’t seem to fit in the wheelhouse of the man she’d encountered.
“And why was the package delivered to the hotel and not to your apartment? If Griff tried to take them to your apartment, more than likely he wouldn’t have given it to you personally, since you’re practically living at the hotel.”
“You and your imagination. You’re reading way too much into this.” There was no way Hilary was going to mention anything about the slip and falling into Griff’s arms. Her heart still thudded at the memory.
“Let me guess: he’s single and he’s good-looking.”
“I don’t know if he’s single.” She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, thinking about Griff’s strong hold and soft brown eyes. “I guess he’s alright to look at.” Hilary glanced down at the mushrooms, just in case her eyes gave her away. “But I told you, he’s not very nice.”
Maryn looked over her shoulder. “Got to run. They just announced my flight.”
“Okay, love you. Call again as soon as you can.” Hilary ignored the pang of jealousy rising in her chest. She wished she could have gone with Maryn—the two of them had always taken on the world together. They were once two little girls, chasing down adventures and climbing the highest mountains in their imaginations.
“I will. Bye.” Maryn hung up.
Before she could even get into a proper funk over missing her sister, the doorbell rang. Hilary turned down the stove and wiped her hands on a hand towel. It was 11:00 at night. Who would be at the door at this hour? Hilary picked the knife up off the counter just in case a crazy person was on the loose. It was always the single woman living alone that got taken out in the first five minutes of a television cop show.
