Gingerbread Inn: Christmas at the Inn, Book 13 by Douglas Maxine

Author:Douglas, Maxine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Seth stood in Nikki’s office watching as she slipped her coat on and walked away from him. The way she’d lingered in his arms and then abruptly stepped away should have made him wonder what he’d done wrong. But it didn’t.

What it did do was make him want to go after her even though he felt she needed to clear her head and regroup without distraction. The last thing she needed was for him to play hero. That privilege had been dissolved years ago.

Returning to the kitchen he was pleased to find the staff had begun to put the prepped food away. He smiled hearing Gabby give direction in a calm manner.

That girl is going to make an excellent chef one day, he thought clearing his throat.

Gabby turned looking like she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “Sorry Chef, I thought it best to get everything in the refrigerator before things spoiled.”

“You did the right thing, Gabby. I can see why Chef Winston thinks highly of you,” he said surveying the work of the staff. “It appears you have the matter well in hand. Just one question.”

“Yes, Chef,” Gabby said beaming with pride.

“Where would Ms. Reed go to mull things over?” Seth asked grabbing a couple of thermoses and filling them with hot cocoa that had been prepared for the now delayed guests.

“Well it depends on what the problem is.” Gabby glanced at him placing the wrapped brisket in the freezer. “If it’s personal she usually will take refuge in the gazebo.”

“And if it’s not personal?”

“If it has anything to do with the inn, she will sometimes head over to the lift chairs. She’ll either ride them up and down until she has a solution for the problem,” Gabby answered. “Or sit for a while. It all depends on whether or not the slopes are busy.”

“Even with the snow falling as it is?” Seth was concerned that if Nikki followed her usual routine she’d get lost in the snow on her way to the lifts.

“I would check the gazebo first,” Gabby answered wiping down the counter.

His mind was made up. He was going after Nikki and he didn’t care if she wanted him to or not. He needed to make sure she was okay.

“Thank you,” Seth said surveying the kitchen once more. “Everyone, please be sure you make yourself something to eat. And thank you all for being, well, at the sake of sounding corny, for being the wonderful staff that you are.”

Seth jogged out of the kitchen and through the inn until he reached his room. He opened the door in haste, gabbed his coat, and slipped it on as he jogged back through the lobby and out the door.

“Nikki,” he yelled through the falling snow as he made his way toward the gazebo.

His heart sank when he reached the empty structure. Where are you, Nikki, he wondered retracing his steps back to the inn.

Standing under the shelter of the front door overhang, Seth peered through the snow.

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