Faking Christmas Love at the Doggy Spa: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Finding Love at the Doggy Spa) by Elsie Woods

Author:Elsie Woods [Woods, Elsie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9782492606083
Published: 2021-11-26T05:00:00+00:00

CLAIRE

“Welcome, esteemed guests, fine residents and visiting friends. Welcome to the Huxton Christmas Ball!”

Cheers erupt throughout the room, the three hundred guests appreciating what has become a mainstay of Christmas at Hampton Falls. Most of these guests have been coming for years, some even since the start three decades ago.

The last stragglers get to their assigned seats. I wonder if Tom happened upon Mrs. Offenstein by accident, or if he saw that I’d seated them together. I know many of the guests find Mrs. Offenstein insufferable with her passion for small dogs, but that’s exactly what makes Tom a perfect table mate for her.

Mr. Denudo continues. “As we do every year, there will be music!” Cheers from the audience. “There will be dancing!” More cheers. “And there will be a glorious steak dinner crafted by Jean-Philippe Rousseau, direct from France!” More cheers and this time I catch sight of Miss Chardonnay.

“From France?” she declares. “But zees is so unexpected!” Miss Chardonnay, ironically, comes from the Bordeaux region of France. Everything at the Chateau Rose Hotel is as French as America can get. It’s the most luxurious getaway on this side of the Rockies.

Mr. Denudo raises his hands to quiet the crowd. “Before we begin, we must first give warm thanks to our host, and one of this town’s oldest families, Mr. James Huxton and his four sons, Douglas, Henry, Louie, and Charles!”

The table of men stand and wave from their place at the front of the room. Four of Hampton Fall’s most eligible bachelors, and yet they evade all signs of settling down. It makes me think of what Tom said about the line men give about not being ready for commitment.

Tom. I hope he’s okay down there. With the lights in my eyes, it’s hard to read the crowd, much less make out the details of their faces. I’m looking forward to getting off this stage. I’m doing my duty, like I’ve done every year for the past four years. Standing behind Mr. D. to offer whatever support he may need. Once he broke out in hives while in the middle of his goodnight speech, but I was standing by with a first aid kit, complete with antihistamine. He’s had me on stage with him ever since.

“This year,” Mr. Denudo goes on, “I want to bring someone into the light who is normally hiding behind it. You all know her well, and this year she is the one who took the reins to lead on this entire Christmas ball!”

Oh no. He’s setting me up so that if people hate it, then they know exactly who to blame.

“Many of you know her well, she has designed your weddings, your birthdays, your retirement parties. She has grown up in front of our eyes. I give you… Claire Ingram!”

A spotlight lands on me. I’ve got do something classy, they’re all clapping, I can’t just wave.

I curtsy.

Heaven help me, I just curtsied in heels and a velvet cocktail dress. Somebody chuckled, I heard it.

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