by Erica Penrod
Griff laughed. “Max will love it.” The girl didn’t know what she’d done, but the second she suggested bringing the dog, the last letter of her name was tattooed across his heart.
“Told you so.” Lucinda’s voice came from out of nowhere.
Griff sighed and pulled Hilary close. There was nothing to say. The ghost was right.
* * *
One thing was made perfectly clear to Hilary Friday night: neither she nor Griff would ever be professional burglars. She tripped once and dropped her end of the tree. One look at Griff and they both burst out laughing, which had to be remedied with a quick glove over the mouth. Max had to be locked in the cab of Griff’s truck as they dropped the tree off to the Abara home. Griff worried Max might bark and announce their arrival, but Hilary believed Max might have been more subtle dragging the tree to the porch himself than they were.
Griff pointed to the side of the door, and they stood the tree upright. They hustled down the steps to retrieve the box of ornaments and the present back at the truck. Griff’s gold star was tucked safely inside, and Hilary wondered if she was doing the right thing by not mentioning the charms to Griff.
They set the boxes in front of the door. Hilary gave a quick knock, and they took off running. They heard the door open just as they reached the truck, parked out of view. Little voices called to their mom, followed by a couple squeals of delight. Warmth filled Hilary’s body, the kind only a good deed can ignite. She glanced at Griff, and his smile was as wide as a sunset. Someone called out, “Thank you!”
When the door closed, Griff wrapped his arms around her. “That was so cool.” He kissed her before she could respond. His chilled nose bumped hers, and she laughed. He opened the door and Max greeted them, his tail wagging fiercely.
“I think we’d better get Max to the park.” Hilary scratched the dog’s head as he lay down on her lap.
“You sure you don’t want to go get another tree and take it to another family?” Griff started the engine.
“You’re just trying to get out of going to the park to see the lights.” Hilary glanced over at him.
“No.” Griff stared out the window. “Well, maybe a little.” He turned his head and gave her a lopsided grin.
“You know, I’ve been thinking about what gifts to buy for the family. Do you think there’s any way you could find out a little more about them?” Her body warmed fast with the dog beside her. “I’d love to give the kids something they’d really enjoy.”
Griff turned onto the main road leading into Hollyville. “I know their last name is Abara, and I’m sure I can find out something more.”
“That would be great.” Hilary looked out the window at the snowflakes falling from the sky. “I also thought I might put out a donation jar at the hotel. We could collect some cash to give to them as well.”
The truck slowed as they entered town. “I like that idea.”
Hilary stared at the man behind the wheel. She wanted to spend all her time with him, to get to know everything about him. She didn’t understand how she could feel the way she did about Griff in such a short amount of time. It just wasn’t possible.
Something tickled her ear. “Anything can happen with Christmas magic.”
* * *
Griff didn’t hate the park. He held Hilary’s hand while Max trotted beside them, and when a teenage boy bumped into them, Griff even managed a smile.
“Those cinnamon almonds smell amazing.” Hilary turned in the direction of the stand. “Let’s get some.”
They waited in line behind a gray-haired couple. “You and I should get those.” He motioned to their matching scarves. The words left his lips before he’d contemplated their meaning. Heat filled his face. He shouldn’t have said that. Matching anything was much further into a relationship than two nights after a first kiss.
“We should.” Hilary looked up at him and grinned. “Maybe I’ll learn to crochet.”
Griff tightened the hold on Max’s leash. Hilary wasn’t fazed by the remark, and Griff’s heart beat faster. He wanted to believe her feelings for him were like a snowball rolling down the hill, because that’s how he felt about her. Every second he spent with her was one more rotation, and the momentum propelled his mind into the future. A future with her.
“Griff?” Hilary tugged on his arm. “It’s our turn. Would you like to share a bag?”
He nodded as he let go her hand and reached for his wallet in his back pocket.
“Two bags, please,” Hilary told the man in the green stocking cap. She handed the man a ten-dollar bill.
“I thought we were going to share.” Griff frowned. “And I was going to pay.”
Hilary smiled. “We’re sharing a bag, and I got one for my dad. He loves these.”
“Okay, but next time, let me pay.” He slipped his wallet back into his pocket. “I’m a little traditional when it comes to some things.”
The man handed Hilary the bags of nuts.
“Thank you.” She tucked one into her coat pocket and opened the other for Griff. “You can buy the pizza tonight. These are great, but I’m starving.”
“Deal.” They walked toward the pond, where a handful of skaters glided across the ice. “So, I guess this is where we first met.” Griff led her to the bench overlooking the ice. The tree-lined border on the other side of the pond was lit up in golden lights, and the winter moon cast a spotlight over the scene.
“Yes, it was.” Hilary sat beside him and leaned her head onto his shoulder. Every touch and gesture seemed as natural as if they’d been together for months instead of days. “And look at us now. I bet you would’ve never guessed you’d end up right here someday.”
Griff shook his head. “No, I didn’t.” His whole life, he’d kept his feelings bottled inside without any effort, and now they overwhelmed him. “I never thought I’d be this lucky.”
Hilary’s round eyes stared up at him, and all at once the rush inside subsided. Words weren’t necessary right now. Everything he needed to know was looking right back at him. She was in this too.
Chapter Fifteen
A week later, Hilary handed the front desk duties off to Sarah and checked in on her parents. “Hey, Dad.” He was at the kitchen table with a tablet in his hands. His face no longer matched her mom’s white linen tablecloths.
“Hi, sweetheart.” He pushed his glasses down and peered over the frames at her. “How are you?’
“Good.” Hilary walked over and gave him a hug. “What are you up to?”
“Have you seen this MyHeartChannel where the pro soccer player is going around dressed as Santa in Texas?” He held up the tablet and pointed to the Santa kicking a soccer ball down the field.
Hilary leaned in for a closer look. “You watch MyHeartChannel?”
“Of course I do. I watch every episode you post, and then I like to browse. That’s how I found this guy. Viewers send in their favorite Texas Christmas traditions, and this guy participates. It’s pretty entertaining.”
“Sounds like it.” Hilary stole a piece of hard tack candy from her grandma’s dish, which had sat on the kitchen table every Christmas she could remember. Her phone rang, and she took it from her pocket. “Sorry, Dad. I need to take this.”
She stepped into the living room. “Hi, Sam.” Hilary wanted to keep her voice down in case her mom was somewhere in the vicinity. Her dad couldn’t hear across the table, so she wasn’t worried about him overhearing her conversation.
“Hilary, I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to get back to see you.” Like every phone call with Sam, there was always some loud commotion in the background. “Every time I think I’ll make it, something comes up.”
“No worries.” Hilary stared at the tree she and Griff had brought home for her parents. “I’m not in any rush.” Mostly because I’ve been busy falling in love and I haven’t made up my mind about what I should do.
“I’m for sure coming for Christmas to see my parents. Would you be able to meet on the 2
6th?”
A rock rolled through the pit of her stomach. “Yes, that should be fine.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
“Okay.”
“And Hilary?” Sam caught her before she hung up. “I could have you traveling as soon as the new year begins.”
“Thank you, Sam. I’ll see you next week.”
Hilary hung up as the rock in her stomach now turned into a rockslide. Her whole life, she’d waited to see the world and experience the places she’d talked about in her channel, and she’d been too consumed with her dreams to ever think about love. Now she had both, but it didn’t feel as good as she’d thought it would. Travel would mean less time with Griff, but giving up her dream made her mouth sour.
She put the phone back in her pocket. “Sorry about that, Dad.”
“Someone important?” Her father glanced up at her.
“Sam Wentworth.” She sighed and sat down at the table. “He’s interested in sponsoring my channel.”
Her dad set the tablet down and removed his glasses. “That’s good news, isn’t it?”
She smiled, hoping she camouflaged her turmoil. “Yeah, it is.” At least she thought so, but she’d have to sit down with Sam and go over the details. She worried about his intentions for the channel. “He’s coming in for Christmas and wants to meet the day after.”
His eyes lit up. “I’m so happy for you.”
She didn’t say anything; she couldn’t without spilling everything. “Thanks. I hope it works out.”
“Are you going out with Griff tonight?”
“Yes.” Her heart lightened at the mention of his name. “We’ve almost finished up the shopping for the family.”
“Griff must really be smitten with you if he’s willing to go shopping with you more than once this time of year.” Her dad’s knowing eyes settled on hers. “And I think you’re pretty smitten with him.”
“I am.” She picked at the hem of her sleeve. “Do you think it’s too fast, this thing with Griff?”
He leaned back in his chair. “I suppose as your father I ought to tell you to slow down, but I’m not going to.”
“You’re not?” She tilted her head and studied his face.
“No.” He crossed his arms across his chest. “Sometimes, when two people are right for each other, they know it immediately.”
Hilary remembered the connection she’d felt towards Griff the day he’d walked into the hotel lobby. “Griff and I haven’t even talked about what’s happening between us. We make plans like it wouldn’t occur to either one of us not to include the other.” Except for when she thought about traveling. The idea of leaving him behind hurt bone deep.
“See?” He reached out and took her hand. “Sometimes it’s just meant to be.”
“Are you getting romantic in your old age?” Hilary grinned at the man who’d given her so much.
“I’ve always been a romantic. Just ask your mother,” he laughed.
“Ask your mom what?” Her mom walked into the kitchen.
“If I’ve always been a romantic.” Her dad gazed up at her mom.
She patted his shoulder. “Sometimes more than others.”
Her parents’ happy marriage was a source of contentment for Hilary. “I’d better get going. Griff will be waiting for me.”
Her mom beamed at her. “Things are still going good with Griff?”
A look passed between Hilary and her father. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
“Oh, I’m so glad.” Her mom clasped her hands together. “He is such a nice guy. Maybe it was destiny when he was the one to save you from the ice all those years ago.”
“Maybe so.” Hilary stood up. “I’ve got to run. See you tomorrow.”
Outside her parents’ apartment, she waved at Sarah as she crossed the hotel lobby. Her mind whirled with possibility, and she grinned to herself. She had a date with destiny.
* * *
Griff shook his head and sighed as he strategically stepped around presents to get to the front door. He turned the handle and grinned at the girl who was responsible for the Christmas present frenzy in his living room. “Hey there, beautiful.”
Hilary came into the house and fell into his arms. He kissed her softly until she pulled him to her and took the kiss to another level.
Fire burned in his belly, and when she let go, he gasped for air. “What was that for?”
“I was just thinking about you on my way up here and wanted to let you know.” Her dark eyes sparkled beneath a fringe of thick lashes.
“Please think about me more often.” Griff took her hand as Max wiggled his way between them.
Hilary scratched his head. “Hey, Max.” The dog’s tail waved back and forth as he barked. “Are you happy to see me?”
“I think he’s more smitten with you than I am.” Griff glared at Max. “I don’t always have to share her with you.”
Hilary laughed. “I’ve got plenty of time for the both of you.”
“He can wait his turn.” Griff helped Hilary with her coat. “He is a dog.”
“I know, but how can you resist this face?”
“Trust me, I can.”
“Wow. Your place looks like Santa’s workshop.” She surveyed the room, and her smile grew. “This is so great.”
Griff scratched his head. “I thought we were only getting one, maybe two gifts per kid.”
“I know, but after you found out they came here without anything, how could we not?”
She was right, but he wasn’t going to let her know just yet. Griff didn’t want her to think he’d gone completely soft. What if subconsciously there was a part of his Scrooge attitude that drew her to him? “I can’t believe how the town really got behind us on this.” Every merchant in the downtown area donated one thing or another to help the refugee family, and it was all piled in his house.
“We might need help delivering all of this.” Hilary sorted through the gifts. “I think we should do one final inventory to make sure we’ve got everything we need.”
Griff gaped at her. “How could we possibly not have all we need?” The woman had lost her mind somewhere in the mound of gifts.
“Trust me.” Hilary gazed up at him. “Would you mind grabbing a piece of paper and something to write with so we can make a list?” She smiled, and his defenses gave way.
“Alright.” He went to the office and grabbed a notebook and a pen.
“Here you go.” Griff offered the paper to Hilary.
“How about you scribe while I count?” She sat on the floor. “Sound like a plan?”
Griff smiled. “You’re the head elf.” He opened the notebook and scribbled on the paper until the ink appeared. In the corner, he wrote GB loves HN and encased the letters in a heart. He looked down at the pretty girl. She could boss him around anytime, and he’d enjoy every minute of it.
* * *
In the end, Hilary bought a doll. After an hour at Griff’s, she determined that the only thing missing was a doll for the little girl. Hilary might’ve imposed some of her own childhood memories onto the decision, but she hoped the purchase was the right one. She and Griff stopped for takeout before heading back up the mountain, and her mouth watered as the cab filled with the aroma of Chinese food.
Hilary’s conversation with her dad kept coming back to her, and she believed he was right. Her feelings for Griff were too intense to be anything other than meant to be. She needed to tell Griff about Sam’s offer, but she wasn’t sure what to say. She’d mentioned Sam sponsoring the show once, but she’d never gone into details. Maybe Griff wouldn’t mind a long-distance relationship and she was making a big deal out of nothing.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.” Hilary unbuckled her seat belt as Griff parked in the garage to his house. She gathered the bags to her.
“About what?” Griff turned off the ignition.
“About my channel.” Hilary gathered her courage. “And Sam Wentworth wanting to
sponsor my show.”
“Oh.” His tone dropped.
“I haven’t agreed to anything yet, but the money would be nice.”
“Is that all Sam’s offering?” Griff leaned back and crossed his arms. His tone implied he believed there was something more going on.
Anger hit her like a bolt of lightning, striking from out of nowhere. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Griff leaned back against the seat. “You know what it means.”
“You don’t think my channel is good enough for the sponsor. You think he’s only interested in sponsoring me to go out with me.”
“I didn’t say that.” His calm and steady voice shook her. “I’m just saying I saw the way he looked at you the night I saw you together.”
There wasn’t anything Griff said Hilary hadn’t already considered, so she didn’t understand why she felt so betrayed. “I can handle Sam.”
“I know you can.” Again, the calm voice.
Her eyes flooded with tears. She was overreacting in Oscar-style fashion, and yet she couldn’t stop herself. She’d convinced herself she’d moved past her doubts and fears of Sam’s offer, but hearing Griff’s suspicion hurt. Until that moment, Hilary hadn’t realized how much Griff’s opinion of her mattered, and she wanted to show him she was a strong and independent woman. “He wants me to travel as soon as possible.”
Griff looked over at her. “That’s what you’ve always wanted, right?” She nodded and wiped at the tears rolling down her face. “Then don’t let me stop you.” His voice quieted.
“I won’t.” She opened the door and set the food on the seat. “I think we’d better call it a night.”
“I think you’re right.” Griff gripped the steering wheel as he stared vacantly through the windshield. “Maybe we need to take a break.” He didn’t look at her. “You’d better get going.”
Hilary hustled out of the garage and climbed into her car. She drove as tears fell down her face. She didn’t know what Griff meant by taking a break, but that was the last thing she wanted. Outside her apartment, she scolded herself over what she’d just done. Hilary was humiliated that she’d let her emotions run away with her. Part of her wanted to turn the car around and go straight back to Griff’s, begging him for forgiveness. A glance in the rearview mirror sent her for the apartment. She wasn’t going anywhere looking like an extra cast member in a horror film.
