Welcome To Winterville by Carrie Elks

12

From a young age, Josh had learned that the things you wanted most were almost always a disappointment when they came. Gifts, holidays, going to a rare ball game with his grandfather – that turned out to be an opportunity for him to schmooze clients while pretending to be grandparent of the year.

He’d come to terms with that fact. Absorbed it into his being.

But kissing Holly Winter again was no disappointment at all.

Her lips were soft yet demanding, her arms tight as they wrapped around his neck, pulling her body against his. He slid his hands beneath her coat, exploring the hollow of her back, their mouths parting until his tongue tangled with hers.

She was everything he could remember. He ached for her. Without breaking their kiss, he slid his hand between them to unzip her coat, exposing her soft cashmere-covered chest to the air, before running his hands over her curves.

He loved the way her breath hitched at his touch. The way she arched her back toward him, until her soft breasts brushed against his rough palm.

He walked her backward, toward the bed, turning them around so he was the one who fell on the dust-covered mattress, a cloud of gray puffed around them as she crawled her way onto his body.

His coat would be ruined by the dust, but he didn’t give a damn. He was too busy kissing her to think about that. And she was kissing him back, and it was driving him crazy in the best of ways.

She tangled her hands in his hair as he slid his palms beneath her sweater, memorizing every curve and dip of her body.

His lips moved against hers, tasting every gasp and breath, feeling her fingers scrape against his scalp, marking him. She tasted of sweet desire, as her tongue tangled with his.

Pushing her sweater up to expose her snowy white skin, Josh propped himself up with his elbows until his lips touched her stomach, kissing his way up to her ribs. Her nipples were hard and prominent against the white lace of her bra. He sucked one through the fabric, making her moan out loud.

She’d been twenty-years-old the last time they’d been in this cabin together. And he’d been twenty-four. Still young enough to believe in life, in attraction, in a future that was bright. Not jaded by the world and all that lived in it.

Now he was older. More experienced. And desperate to give her everything she needed. He wanted to make her call out his name, to beg him to touch her, to slide inside her.

He wanted her to remember him, the way he remembered her.

He kissed her again, a slow, luxurious kiss that made her throat rumble with need. Her breath was slow and ragged, her body shaking against him. He wanted to make her feel so good she’d never forget him again.

He broke the kiss for a moment, and she frowned. Her eyes met his, and he could see himself reflected in them.

“Tell me you remember.” His voice was gritty as hell.

Her chest hitched as he curved his hand around her bare waist, steadying her. There was a strange look in her melted chocolate eyes. As though she was almost afraid of him.

“I remember,” she whispered.

“Thank fuck.”

Then he was kissing her again, pushing the sweater over her head. She was scrambling at his coat, pushing it open before sliding her hands under his own sweater, letting out a strangled moan as she traced her fingers up his hard abdomen. The air surrounding them was ice cold, but the heat of her touch made him feel like she was burning from the inside out. He wrapped his arms around her body to block out the icy air, eyes hooded as he slid his hands over her bare back.

“You’re so beautiful,” he rasped. She was glorious beneath the harsh light of the cabin. Her breasts were full and high, her nipples dark and pointed through her bra, her waist slender before it flared out to her denim covered hips. He wanted to kiss every inch of her body until she was begging him for more. Wanted to tease her with his tongue until she never forgot him again.

Or never pretended to.

She tugged at the hem of his sweater, and he lifted himself up, holding his hands above his head to help her. She let out a tiny sigh, her eyes raking his chest, before everything went black as the sweater covered his eyes.

And then there was a knock on the door.

Not a gentle one, either. A loud, insistent rapping that made her body freeze against his.

“Hol, you in there?”

Her cousin. North. Holly yanked Josh’s sweater back down, and he blinked, her horrified face coming into focus.

“You need to go,” she whispered frantically, reaching for her own sweater. It was covered in dust.

“Where?” he frowned. From where he was laying, there was only one exit and Holly’s big, burly cousin was standing right outside it. Subconsciously, Josh touched his jaw, remembering the way North had slammed his fist against it all those years ago.

Another knock.

Shit.

“Just a minute,” Holly called out, her voice tight. “I’m in the bathroom.”

Josh grimaced, because he was almost certain that bathroom hadn’t been usable for at least five years.

“Let us in,” a female called out. “It’s freezing out here.”

“That’s Everley.” Holly practically yanked Josh up from the bed, and frogmarched him to the bathroom, pushing the door open and him inside. He blinked as his boot sank into something that definitely didn’t feel like tile.

Snow. It was snow. He looked up to see a hole the size of a dinner plate in the roof, snowflakes lazily dropping down into the dark room.

“Stay here,” Holly whispered. “Don’t move.”

“It’s freezing. The roof is gone.”

“I’ll get rid of them.”

She slammed the bathroom door closed. The only light in the room came from the moon shining through the hole in the roof, reflecting in the snowflakes. Josh moved to the left, knocking the snow from his foot and sighed heavily as he heard the cabin door creak.

“Are you okay?” North asked. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere. Dolores said she saw you hurrying away from the theater crying. Did something happen?”

“What’s that on your hair?” Everley asked. “Ugh, that’s dust. What the hell are you doing in here? This place is a deathtrap.”

“I just need somewhere quiet to think,” Holly told them. “Go back to the Inn. I’ll be up in a minute.”

“We’re not leaving you here,” North told her. “The storm’s getting worse and you don’t have the right kind of coat. Come up with us now. Alaska is making hot chocolate.”

Holly let out a long breath. “Okay. I just need to get something from the bathroom.”

“You used the bathroom?” Everley let out a retching sound. “You must have been desperate.”

“Something like that,” Holly said grimly.

A moment later, Josh heard footsteps on the floorboards, then the bathroom door flew open and Holly slid back inside.

“We must stop meeting like this.” He gave her a crooked smile.

“This isn’t funny. If North catches you in here he’ll go apeshit.”

He ran his finger along his bottom lip, remembering exactly what North going apeshit meant.

“You stay here while I leave with them,” Holly continued. “Count to a hundred or something and by then we should be close to the Inn. Then you can make your escape.”

“You’re okay with me going out into the storm in these clothes?” he asked, only half joking.

“I’m more okay with that than with North seeing you here.”

She had a good point. “Okay. Go with them. But we need to talk.”

Holly blinked. “What about?”

“About what happened in here tonight. With us.”

“But there is no us.” Her brows pulled together. “I was all kinds of upset and you tried to cheer me up.” A shaft of moonlight through the roof caught her profile, making her skin glow. He wanted to touch her all over again.

“I didn’t kiss you to cheer you up,” he told her, his voice low. “I kissed you because—”

“Holly, hurry up!” Everley shouted. “What the hell are you doing in there? Has the curse of the Inn’s beef pie hit again?”

“Oh for god’s sake.” Holly shook her head, reaching for the door handle. “I need to go.”

Biting down a grin, Josh reached for her wrist, circling it with soft fingers. “Come to mine for dinner tomorrow night.”

“Now that really is a terrible idea.” Holly’s eyes met his. Damn, she was pretty. Why did her cousins have to chase her everywhere she went?

He nodded. “I know.”

Holly’s gaze flickered to his, as she exhaled softly. “I’ll be there at seven.”

* * *

1252 Wonderland Avenue. 7pm. I won’t be cooking beef pie. – Josh

How did you get my number? – Holly

I have my sources. And a lot of friends in the CIA. – Josh

Seriously. How did you get it? – Holly

It’s on the flier you posted all over town. All of Winterville must have your number by now. Remind me to talk to you about privacy and security when you’re here. – Josh

Who said I’m still coming? – Holly

Aren’t you? – Josh

I guess so. But I hate lying to my family. – Holly

Then tell them. Simple. – Josh

Do you have a death wish? Us finding your broken cadaver could solve a lot of problems, but you’re too pretty to die young. – Holly

Holly Winter thinks I’m pretty. I can die happy now. – Josh.

Don’t die. Dead men can’t cook and you promised me dinner. – Holly.

It’s okay. You can use me for my culinary prowess for as long as you want. - Josh

How was it he could sound dirty even when he used normal words? Holly closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath. She wasn’t kidding when she told him this was a bad idea. And yet she couldn’t help herself. She wanted to see him. Needed to, even.

Not just because that kiss last night made every single nerve ending in her body start to sing his name. Or because he promised to cook for her – and let’s face it, she’d do just about anything for a good home cooked meal – but because she had questions. So many questions.

And he was the only one who could answer them.

“I need you to come up to the attic with me.” Everley walked into the lobby where Holly was sipping a coffee. Piped Christmas music was softly filling the air, occasionally interrupted by the crack of a log from the blazing fireplace. Alaska was at the desk, leaning over the computer with her bottom lip between her teeth, and Everley had been in the office, making phone call after phone call.

“Why do we need to go up there? It’s scary.” Holly shivered, remembering the time Kris had lured them up there with the promise of moonshine and beer, before locking the door and leaving them in there for hours. Their grandma had discovered them when their shouts and banging had finally gotten her attention.

“Because I have an idea and I need to go through Grandma’s old costumes.” Everley sighed. “Do you know how many people would love to help but can’t get away at such short notice?”

“I can imagine.” They hadn’t given themselves much time either. They planned to hold the concert on Christmas Eve, less than two weeks away.

“So I’m going to go on social media and beg for help. It’s time to start taking this to the next level.”

“Can’t we wait for North? He’s not scared of the attic.”

“North’s overrun with customers right now.” Everley looked around the empty lobby. “At least somebody is. When did this place stop getting over booked?”

“When Grandma stopped putting on the show,” Alaska said, looking up from her computer. “Things slowly dwindled. And I think quietly we were all grateful for that, because we wanted to spend time with her.”

“Maybe you could go up to the attic with Everley?” Holly suggested to her cousin.

Alaska grimaced. “No way. I still have nightmares about the time Gabe dressed up as a bear and I was sent up to check out the noises. And anyway, I’m busy.” She smiled smugly. “I can’t leave the desk.”

“Looks like it’s just you and me, kid.” Everley grabbed Holly’s hand.

The Winterville Inn attic was as dark and foreboding as Holly remembered. The air felt deadened by the layers of snow on the roof, and the thick wooden floor Candy had installed when the Inn had been constructed. They walked to the corner of the room, lit only by a single bulb and looked around. It was full of old boxes and furniture that the Inn no longer needed. In the corner was a stuffed moose that stared balefully at them. And a layer of dust covered everything.

“I guess we go through the boxes,” Holly said, bringing her attention back to the clutter around them. “Do you think anything in here is useable?”

“Candy always took good care of her costumes. I think she used to use those crates to hang them in.” Everley pointed at a group of five upright crates, taller than them both. “Let’s go with the first one.”

Everley tugged at the lid, which was at the front of the crate, but it didn’t move an inch. Her hands were covered with dark gray dust. “Ugh, I should have brought a crowbar.”

Holly leaned down, running her hands over the wooden crate. “There’s a latch here,” she said, hooking her finger over the metal on the side. The lid opened with a groan, but instead of costumes, it was stuffed with boxes full of old photographs and papers.

“Oh my god, she never got rid of anything, did she?” Holly pulled out a box, smiling as she looked at the old pictures laying inside. Candy with her Hollywood friends, laughing on set. Candy standing in front of what looked like a half-constructed Winterville Inn, a baby in her arms, along with two small boys staring up at her like she was a goddess.

“She really was beautiful,” Everley murmured.

“You look just like her.” Holly wasn’t lying. Everybody agreed that Everley bore an uncanny resemblance to their grandma at the same age. With her blonde waves and high cheekbones she was a true beauty.

“Oh my god, is this us?” Everley asked, pulling out a color photograph. The six cousins were dressed up in little elf outfits. Holly laughed, because North had the stormiest expression on his face. He had to be eleven or twelve in that photograph, and was clearly unhappy to be dressed the same as his kid cousins and younger brothers.

“What’s this?” Holly touched a wooden frame. She pulled it out and frowned, because it was Candy in full color, wearing a white dress and holding a beautiful bouquet of roses, smiling up at a man.

It was only when Holly looked at the date that she realized her mistake. It wasn’t their grandma, it was Everley. Holly hastily tried to put it back into the box, but Everley grabbed it, a little sigh escaping from her lips.

“I didn’t know she kept this,” she said, her voice a little more than a whisper. “I thought I’d burned them all.”

“Maybe she thought you might like to look back at this one day.” Holly gave her cousin a sympathetic smile. Everley’s marriage to Dylan Shaw was over almost as soon as it began. Everybody said they were too young. So they’d run away to Vegas as soon as she was twenty-one, telling nobody until she came back to town with a thin gold band on her finger.

Everley’s eyes shone as she ran her fingers over the photograph. “I loved him so much then.”

Holly’s throat felt tight. “I know you did. And he loved you. Look at the way he’s smiling at you.”

Dylan was wearing a dark gray suit and pale blue tie, his dark hair falling over his eyes. And the way he was staring at Everley made Holly’s stomach turn to goo.

“I guess marriage and me didn’t mix, huh?” Everley tried to smile, putting the photograph back in the box.

“Join the club.” Holly’s soft gaze met Everley’s. “At least you went through with the ceremony.”

“At least you didn’t have to get an annulment,” Everley countered, taking a deep breath. “Or face your ex’s father whenever you’re in town.” She wrinkled her nose, but they both knew she loved Charlie like her own dad.

“When was the last time you saw Dylan?”

“I don’t know.” Everley frowned. “A few years ago. He doesn’t come back often, thank goodness.”

“Charlie said he’s still working for Doctors Overseas.”

A smile ghosted Everley’s lips. “He always was trying to save the world.”

Everley tried to put the box back into the crate, but it wouldn’t go in. Sighing, she took some papers from the next box to make room. “Anyway, Dylan is old history. I’m more interested in the present day. And why you hid Josh Gerber in your cabin bathroom last night.”

Holly lifted her head. “You knew he was there?”

Everley smiled smugly. “I do now.” She lifted the papers to the side, idly flicking through them. “I even have a name for the two of you, if you’re interested.”

“I’m not.”

“It’s Jolly. See what I did there?” Everley told her. “Josh and Holly. It’s perfect.”

“To have a couple name, we’d need to be a couple,” Holly pointed out.

“Yes you would. So what were you two doing in the cabin?”

“He heard my confrontation with my mom.” Holly quickly filled Everley in, telling her about their conversation in the theater lobby. “I was upset and he followed me. And then we ended up on my old bed.”

Everley gaped at her. “No way.”

“Way,” Holly said, grimacing.

“Did you…?”

“Nope.”

“But you wanted to.” It wasn’t a question. Everley was grinning now. “Oh this is perfect. One of us might get our happily ever after. Jolly forever.”

“You do realize you’re twenty-nine years old, right?”

“I know. But when I’m here in Winterville I tend to regress to teenagedom. Sorry.” Everley wrinkled her nose. “But seriously, do you like him?”

Holly swallowed hard. “I think so.” At least, her body did. “But we can’t seem to be in the same room without either wanting to hit each other, or ripping each other’s clothes off.”

Everley sighed. “Oh, that’s perfect.”

“Is it?” Holly wasn’t so sure. “We’re on two different sides. And I know we thought it would be a good idea for me to get close to him, but…” She shook her head. “Maybe tonight isn’t a good idea.”

“Tonight?” Everley’s brows rose. “What’s happening tonight?”

“He’s asked me to dinner. He says we need to talk.”

“Oh, when a guy says that he means he needs to rock your world. Talking is just an excuse. Although…”

“What?”

“We need to keep him on our side. I need his cooperation to use the theater for the show on Christmas Eve. If you two are special friends, he won’t interfere.”

“Special friends?”

Everley wiggled her eyebrows.

“I’m not sleeping with Josh Gerber just to get him to agree to your show.”

“Of course you’re not,” Everley smiled. “You’ll sleep with him because he’s a gorgeously sexy man who sets your lady parts on fire. The theater is just an added bonus.” She looked down at the papers in her hand. “Hey, are these the original deeds to the town?”

Holly leaned over her. The papers were old and yellowed. They were handwritten in ink, text covering at least ten pages. “These should have gone with the other documents as part of the sale.”

“Maybe our parents didn’t know they were here.” Everley looked at the papers again. “Do you understand a word of this?”

“Some. They’re the rules for who can live in the town and the usage of the land. But I’m not a lawyer, I don’t really understand them. I guess I could send them to my lawyer friend and get her to look them over.”

“Do that.” Everley handed Holly the pile of papers and replaced the box they’d removed, somehow managing to shove the crate shut. “But first we need to find me a costume and fast, because you can’t go to dinner with hair like that.”

“Hair like what?” Holly touched the back of her head, and grimaced at the frizz she could feel there. “Oh.”

“You need to go wash it,” Everley told her. “You’ll thank me for it later.”