One Complicated Christmas by Ciara Knight

Author:Ciara Knight [Knight, Ciara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Defy the Dark Publishing LLC

Chapter 11

White frost covered my cabin window. Part of me longed to escape to the white sand beaches far from here. Another part of me lived for the cold. I touched the frosted glass, recalling the night that Seth and I chipped away at the ice that had covered his car windshield while we were out hiking. To our surprise, there was no scraper in the rental car, so we resorted to his platinum credit card that broke halfway through. We’d laughed while we each used half the credit card to finish the job enough to see to drive. Although we fogged up the windows before we had a chance to start the car.

Memories. That’s all they were. He was handsome, and he swept me off my feet, but it was a vacation romance. That was all. Why I’d ever thought otherwise never made since to me.

I abandoned the crystalized winter wonderland and slid on my coat to go find a tree for the lodge. It was one of my favorite chores. I’d volunteered the first year, and I’d done it since.

My phone buzzed, and I realized I hadn’t turned the ringer on since I woke up. A tingle of excitement danced over my skin, but when I saw the number, I knew it wasn’t Seth. I hated myself for wanting it to be him. But I couldn’t help it. There was something about that man that made me feel more alive yet content.

I hit my voice mail button and listened.

“Ms. Winters, I apologize for the inconvenience, but I can’t meet with you this morning to pick out a tree. My father fell and broke his hip. I’ll be closed for the next few days. I understand if you need to make other arrangements, but if you would still like me to help, please let me know.”

My mood plummeted. How would I manage to get everything done if I didn’t get the tree today? I’d have to travel outside of town and try to find a tree lot at the base of Blacktail, or I’d have to drive to Christmas Mountain. I didn’t even want to think about how to get a ten-foot tree back to the lodge, though. Not since it was Hector’s day off.

I wondered over to the lodge into the main room to find Seth with an axe in his hand, wearing snow pants, hat, scarf, and boots with a lumberjack-style coat on. Souffle sat obediently at his feet with a green Christmas sweater on. “I’m ready.”

I blinked, trying to see past the obvious hallucination. I’d never seen anything more comical. There was no way Seth would ever wear anything that wasn’t Armani or some other uppity perfectly tailored suit. Then again, I’d never guess he’d have a dog, either. “For what? An axe throwing competition?” I couldn’t help but giggle.

He looked down as if realizing what he wore. “What? Too much? I thought we were going to chop down a tree.”

Souffle’s ears wiggled and her nose lifted in the air as if agreeing with Seth.

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