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He nodded. “Yes of course. I didn’t mention it last night because Aunt Kim came and then when she left—” he took hold of her chin— “I was more than happy to accommodate the beautiful woman who just wanted to be held.”
She smiled and leaned into him. “Well, I was rather comfy. And I never did thank you for that.” She stood on her toes and brushed her lips across his.
He groaned and pulled her against him. His arousal was evident against her stomach and made her feel things she never knew she could.
The sound of someone coughing downstairs carried to them and they had sprung apart.
“We either need to let people know what’s going on or start meeting in secret,” he laughed.
She moved over to the box that was sitting in the corner. Pulling a knife from her pocket, she slit the tape. “I think for now, we will find a meeting spot.”
“Whatever you say. So, where are we setting this up?” he asked, pulling the tree out of the box while she held it.
“In front of the elevator. That way, when people board it downstairs, they’ll be able to see it.”
As Christmas music played lightly through the Inn’s sound system, they had the tree up and decorated in just under three hours and were standing back admiring their handiwork.
The colorful lights from the tree reflected softly in their eyes, casting a warm glow on their faces. Brit had chosen a classic look, with strands of white lights interwoven with garlands of red and gold.
“Looks stunning, doesn’t it?” she said, a note of pride in her voice as she stepped back to take it all in.
He nodded, his eyes on her. “You certainly are.”
She smacked him lightly on the chest and laughed. “I meant the tree. It looks perfect against the old wrought iron of the elevator cage.”
Indeed, the placement in front of the elevator was strategic; not only would guests see it the moment they stepped in from the cold at the top of the staircase, but its lights also shimmered off its polished brass door, welcoming them with a festive cheer.
They were interrupted by Kim, who came bustling up the staircase with a box in her hands. “You two did a marvelous job, I could see it perfectly from the foyer” she said, beaming at them both. “I’ve got something to add—thought it might be a nice touch.”
From the box, she pulled a delicate angel figurine, its porcelain features painted with the utmost care. It was old-fashioned and lovely, with a gown of creamy white and wings dusted with a shimmer that caught the light.
“This was your grandmother’s Luke. Brit would you put it on top?” she asked, offering the angel to her.
She accepted it gently, her hands cradling it as if it were as fragile as a real angel might be. Too afraid to handle it for fear of dropping it, she asked, “Why me? Luke can do it.”
“Because it's your tree,” he said. Before she knew it, his hands were at her waist, and he was hoisting her up and she placed the angel carefully at the top.
“It’s perfect,” Kim announced. “Absolutely perfect.”
Outside, the snow began to fall more heavily, the world turning into a snow globe of whirling white. Inside, the warmth of the season was tangible, wrapping around everyone like a soft, comfortable blanket.
“You know,” Kim waved a hand at the scene before them. “Those windows need some lights too. Once that is done, I think the whole scene would make the perfect picture for our Christmas card.” Turning away, she made her way downstairs yelling for Dean.
“Wanna bet she has him putting lights up on the window before the night is over?” Luke asked.
She laughed as she started cleaning up their mess, putting the ornament boxes into the Christmas tree box. “That would be a bet I’d lose!”
“Here, let me,” he said, taking it from her. “Where is she putting all of this?”
“Through here.” She went over to the bookcase and flipped a hidden lever. The door slid open to reveal a hidden room.
Flipping the light switch on she found it was never enough light and was always creeped out whenever she was in there. Brit stood in the open doorway, while he went and set the box with the rest of the decorations stored neatly on the shelves along the wall. It was an efficient use of space, one of the many secrets the old inn held within its walls, secrets that only the staff and a few inquisitive guests ever discovered.
“Hey, what’s this?” Luke called over his shoulder.
“What?” she asked. As she walked to him the door started sliding shut and with the last bit of light coming from it, she caught something out of the corner of her eye, she screamed before launching herself at him.
“What the hell?” Luke ducked as he pictured old man Anderson coming after him for being near her, but the next thing he knew she was perched on his shoulders. “How did you climb up there so fast?”
