Page 13 of Christmas Surrender

She leans up from my chest, her hair a matted mess, her eyes half open. “Sorry I fell asleep there. I don’t know what that was about. That chamomile really did me in.”

“Don’t be sorry. That’s what I wanted. You need the sleep. Do you want me to help you to your bed, or—”

“No.” She rubs her eyes and stands from the couch with a wobble. “You’ve done enough already. Thank you again for coming over and helping with everything tonight. I owe you.”

“I’ll take it out of you at work tomorrow.” I grin and stand from the couch, hoping the darkness shrouds my hard cock, though given the look on her face, I highly doubt it has.

Chapter Seven

Allie

“You came back!” Amalee, the inn’s resident housekeeper stands, dusting the hallway sconces as she talks.

“I did! Should I have made a run for it?”

“No.” She grins and twists the glass votive to the side to reach the dust that’s gathered in the back. “Something tells me Hank would’ve chased you down.”

I bite back a smile as I scan over the incoming reservations on the all-paper reservation system that I’m most definitely going to update on the sly. “What makes you say that?”

“Girl, you can’t see that boy has a thing for you? It’s obvious, but I overheard him talking to Ranger about it in the driveway yesterday.” She tosses her long silky hair over her shoulder as she glances at me. “I shouldn’t have been listening, but snooping is part of the job. You wouldn’t believe the things I overhear through these walls! Affairs, murders, thieves. Plus, I get all the tea from the local PTA and the Garden Association. I should start a podcast.”

I have so many questions, but I start by asking who the heck Ranger is.

“Oh,” she grins, “sorry. Ranger is buddies with Hank. I figured you knew him. He’s playing the town’s Santa this year. I’m thinking about being Mrs. Claus for some extra money, but there’s a bunch of events in town Santa and Mrs. Claus have to attend and Ranger is my dad’s best friend, so I don’t know. He’s great, and super-hot, but… it might be weird.”

I know the feeling considering I’ve been fantasizing about my brother’s best friend for the better part of a decade, but I don’t say that out loud. I also don’t mention the part where Hank was in my house holding me last night and I’m pretty sure he left with a hard-on.

“Or maybe it doesn’t have to mean anything,” I say, flipping through the pages of old reservations while I look for the current date. “I mean, you’re doing something good for the community. I’m sure your dad will understand, unless your confused about it because you’re into him.”

“Into him would be an understatement,” Amalee laughs. “I’ve dated men my age. They’re all stupid. Stupid, broke, and immature. Ranger is—” She sighs under her breath as she steps down from the steps, her duster in hand. “Ranger is everything. We kind of had this thing going in secret for a while. Nothing super serious, but he kissed me once and told me how he felt.”

“Oh!” I stop flipping and stare toward the five-foot two woman wearing a red dress and a green bow in her hair. “What happened?”

“Nothing. We kissed, we told each other how we felt, and for a while we tried to figure out a way to make it work, but my father would literally have Ranger killed, so I’m not sure screwing around is an option. I’m afraid people will see through the Mrs. Claus thing just like I’m seeing through the way you and Hank are around each other.”

“Hank and I have known each other forever and a day.” I glance back at the book as I talk, finally landing on the date before I rummage through the drawer for a paperclip to mark my spot. “He’s my brother’s best friend.”

“Okay then!” Amalee grins. “So you get it.”

“Except my brother passed away five years ago from a rare heart defect, so even if Hank and I were into each other, I don’t think either of us would pursue it out of respect for him.”

She wrinkles her nose as she readjusts the bows hanging from the stairway. “Do you really think your brother would hate you for falling in love?”

Wind jingles the bells on the wreath outside. “You think your dad would?”

“Yeah, but that’s different. My dad is awful. Trust me, if you knew him, you’d understand. I’d bet your brother was a nice guy who would’ve understood with time that you and Hank are the right fit for each other.”

“I don’t know.” I shrug and pretend to write something down, though I just make scribbles on a notepad.

“I’m just saying that when the inn transfers ownership, you’re going to have to try a lot harder to—”

“The inn is transferring owners?”

“Fudge!” She stomps her foot on the ground and squeezes her eyes closed. “I overheard that yesterday too. Probably shouldn’t have told you.”

I shake my head and slip out from behind the front desk. “What do you mean the inn is transferring owners? When?”

“After Christmas. A couple from Vermont bought the place.” She shrugs. “I don’t know all the details, but if Hank’s not here every day, you won’t be able to get closer to him, so make your move, girl!”