Taboo & Tinsel: A Forbidden Romance Holiday Novella by E. M. Moore

Author:E. M. Moore [Moore, E. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-25T08:00:00+00:00

twelve

While I serve dinner to the Williams’ who seem in a much better mood than this morning, Cam brings down the Christmas decorations. I refuse to set foot in that third-story dungeon again. I chat with them for a little while, asking about their day around town. They hold hands over the table, and the whole scene makes everything seem so special. They’re sitting closest to the fireplace, candles that I found burning between them, and I’m not trying to toot my own horn, but maybe I’m exceptionally good at this hospitality thing.

I pick at leftovers in the kitchen as Cam comes in, dusting his hands off. Pointing toward a full plate, I tell him to grab a seat. He does so, immediately eating. It’s no wonder that he’s starved, we certainly worked ourselves up an appetite earlier.

“I made a grocery list,” I tell him. “You have enough food here for a few days for the number of guests expected, but we’ll need some more soon. Plus, we still need everything for Christmas dinner.”

He peers up at me, brows furrowed.

I shrug. “I looked through your reservation log. You know, you should probably go digital. Maybe even set up an online reservation system through your website. I know I hate talking to people on the phone. I bet your reservations would increase.”

“What makes you think we have a website?” he asks, stuffing his face with a forkful of macaroni and cheese.

“Well, I’d start there then.”

His fingers flex around the fork. I can feel the tension in the air thicken, but I’m really not in the mood to fight with him, so I try to head it off. “Of course, you can do whatever you want. It’s your inn.”

I put my dish in the sink, and then head out to tackle the Christmas decorations. First, I assess what’s in each box and then put them into two stacks. One for outside decorations, and one for inside. Since this place could use some Christmas cheer, I start with the interior first.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams are still in the dining room, so I quickly run up to their room with a few things. The door isn’t locked, which I’m not surprised about, so I put the small tree up on their mantle, and then a string of garland to frame out the fireplace. It’s not much, but it’s enough. When I turn, however, I notice their bed hasn’t been made, so I quickly fluff up the pillows and make their bed, throwing the patchwork pillows on last. Then I go around, straightening the room, just like housekeeping staff does at the hotels I’ve stayed at in the past. With one last check, I call the room good before going back to my duty.

I start in the sitting room where the largest fireplace is. I frame it out with green garland, attaching little red bows every so often. Finding Santa statues and reindeer, I set those out first. Then, there’s a sleeping Santa that when you turn it on, it snores to the tempo of Jingle Bells.

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