Welcome To Winterville by Carrie Elks

21

Josh re-read the email, his lips curling down as he typed out his reply. It was only three days until Christmas Eve. He thought he’d be done with crap like this until the new year. Shaking his head, he deleted it and picked up his phone because some things were better done in person.

“I know why you’re calling,” Willa said, as soon as they connected. “And it’s not my fault. Oren’s insisting on this meeting. And I really don’t think you can do it by video call.”

Oren Stiles was one of their biggest investors. When he said jump, you leapt like your life depended on it. It didn’t stop Josh from feeling pissed, though.

“Did he say what it’s about?”

“The Shalvis takeover. There’s some resistance from the board and they’re riling up the shareholders.”

Josh rubbed his temple. This wasn’t exactly urgent. “I thought that was all sorted. What does Crystal say?” Surely his head of investments could handle it.

“She thinks it’s a storm in a teacup. But you know Oren, he wants to know that everything is going right. And sometimes only the CEO can console him. When I said it might be better meeting after Christmas, he started muttering about your grandfather. Said he’d be seeing him at some party and maybe he could intervene.”

The last thing Josh needed was his grandfather intervening in anything. “Okay, book him in for me. I’ll drive home tomorrow. Is there anything else I need to know?”

“Not at the moment.” Willa paused. “Although if you’re coming home, do I need to contact your housekeeper? And there’s the Christmas party on the twenty fourth – will you be coming to that?”

“No I won’t. I’ll meet with Oren then drive back to Winterville on Christmas Eve.”

“Are there problems still?” Willa sounded sympathetic. “I swear that purchase is more trouble than it’s worth.”

“Nothing I can’t handle. I’m hoping everything will be finished by Christmas Day.” Or at least the purchase side would. “Actually, while I’m back in Cincinnati, can you arrange for me to meet with Kevin and Elizabeth? And get one of our lawyers there. I want to talk them through something.”

“Sure. I’ll do that. I’ll schedule them all in on the twenty-third. That way you can leave Cincinnati on Christmas Eve morning, save you from driving in the dark.”

Josh bit down a grin, because once upon a time he’d driven through the mountains in the dark and almost totaled his car.

That’s how he ended up here the first time.

This time he’d be coming back deliberately. Because he wanted to spend Christmas with the woman he couldn’t get out of his mind. The one who made this place feel more like home than anywhere he’d lived before.

“Hey,” Holly said, walking into the kitchen as he ended his call. She was fastening an earring. “I need to head out, I promised Everley I’d help her in the theater. Do you want to meet in the café later?”

“That sounds good.” He flashed her a smile. “I need to head back to Cincinnati tomorrow.”

Her face fell with disappointment.

“It’s just for two nights. Don’t worry, I’ll be back on Christmas Eve. I promised to take you to the show.”

“I remember.” Her voice was soft. “Is everything okay? With work, I mean.”

“It’s all good. Nothing I can’t handle.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

“I’m not sure I can handle you gone. The last time we spent a night apart I couldn’t sleep.”

He smiled at her consternation. “You did sleep,” he reminded her. “I talked until you snored.”

“I didn’t snore.”

“You definitely did. It was kind of cute. If foghorns can be cute.”

She shook her head. “I’ve changed my mind, I can definitely handle you gone. I’m going to starfish in bed and watch Chris Hemsworth movies.”

“That’s my girl.” He kissed her again, this time wrapping his hands around her waist. “I’d ask you to come with me, but I’m going to be constantly working. You’d spend twelve hours in a car for the round trip, and then the rest of the time waiting around for me.”

“I’d be your beck and call girl.”

“Pretty Woman,” he murmured. “Nice.” He pressed his lips to her neck, feeling the heat of her pulse. “Anyway, when I take you home I’d like to show you around in style. Introduce you properly to my grandma.”

Holly looked up at him, her eyes shining. “You want me to meet her?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Isn’t that generally what happens? You fall for somebody then take them home to meet your family.”

A smile crept across her lips. “You’ve fallen for me?”

“Isn’t that what I just said?”

“You did. But I wanted to double check. You could have said you’re appalled by me and I misheard.”

“I’m definitely appalled by you,” he whispered in her ear. “Especially after that thing you did to me last night.”

She laughed and pulled away. “That wasn’t appalling. That was amazing.”

“It was both appalling and amazing. And I’ll be thinking about it while I’m away. Then when I’m back, we’ll talk about us. How we’re going to manage this thing with you in Chicago and me in Cincinnati.”

Holly pulled her lip between her teeth. A flicker of something passed over her eyes. “Yeah,” she said softly. “Let’s do that.” He could hear the thump of her heart against her ribcage.

“Uh oh,” she said, stepping back. “I recognize that look, Gerber.”

“What look?” He frowned.

“That sexy as hell, I’m going to get to tear Holly’s clothes off and make her forget her name look.”

“That’s a look? Do other people have that look?”

She laughed. “Just you.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

Holly’s phone started to ring. She pulled it out of her purse and grimaced. “Oh shit, that’s Everley. I was supposed to be at the theater five minutes ago.” Holly rolled onto her tiptoes and pressed her soft lips to his. “Let’s do something nice tonight. Something to get us through the days apart.”

“Sounds good.” He kissed her back, his hands caressing her hips. “Good luck at the theater. I’ll see you at the café at one?”

“One’s perfect. See you later.”

* * *

“How’s Josh’s tree settling in?” North asked, as he walked into the theater. Holly and Everley were backstage, working through the admin tasks she’d asked Holly to take over.

“It’s perfect,” Holly said, smiling up at him. “You grow the prettiest trees.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” He kissed both his cousins on the cheek, then put down the papers he’d been carrying. “So I’ve been talking with your friend, Ryan. I’ve approached the three businesses in town that we think would be most likely to stop redevelopment from working. They’ve all agreed to put an offer in on their buildings.

“Of course they have.” Everley grinned. “They want this as much as we do.”

“They’ve also agreed that they’ll enter into a new loan repayment agreement with us. At favorable terms. We’re going to set up a foundation.” North glanced at Holly. “Any money that’s left over will go into the foundation to pay for the running of this place. I really think we can make it work.”

“That’s good.” Holly nodded.

“It’s great,” Everley said, clapping her hands together. “We can definitely make it work. We’re like the dream team.”

“Something like that.” North rolled his eyes. “Anyway, I’m going to get these all scanned and sent to Ryan so we’re ready to send them over on Christmas.”

“And I need to head to the coffee shop,” Holly said.

“You meeting Josh?” Everley gave her a wide smile.

“Yep.”

North grunted but said nothing. He was getting good at that. And she was glad, because despite all this wrangling, Josh had told her he wanted to talk about their future.

And it warmed her inside.

As she walked out of the theater, Holly looked up at the sky. It was the palest of blues with fluffy clouds that reminded her of the ones she used to draw as a child. It hadn’t snowed for more than two days – some kind of record for Winterville, though she’d heard some of the townsfolk muttering that they were due for a storm. As long as it didn’t come before Christmas, and ruin Everley’s show, she’d be happy.

The café was bustling when she walked inside. Frank waved at her from his usual table, and opposite him Charlie was grumbling about a delivery he was waiting on. She could see Josh sitting by the fire at what had become their table, two mugs in front of him, an unfolded Wall Street Journal in his hands.

“He insisted on paying for them again,” Dolores said, looking up at Holly. “It’s not my fault.”

“Of course it isn’t.” They were over the tit-for-tat by now. “Everything okay?”

Dolores was one of the three businesses who would be buying their buildings. But she didn’t let on.

“Everything’s dandy. My son and his family arrive tomorrow for the holidays. He even managed to get tickets for the show.”

“That’s fabulous news.” Though Everley would have found him some if he hadn’t, the same way she had for all the townsfolk who wanted to attend.

“It’s nice to see you having a little fun for a change, too,” Dolores said, her gaze sliding over to Josh, who still hadn’t noticed her arrive. That Wall Street Journal article he was reading must be riveting.

“Thanks.” Holly smiled. “It is fun.”

“And maybe something a little more than fun, too?” Dolores persisted. “That man has goo goo eyes for you.”

Strange how many people said that. Every time Holly looked at him it was like she fell a little more for him. Her biggest worry was that it was too hard too fast. And that it was impossible for him to feel the same way that she did about him.

And yeah, that scared her a little.

Okay, a lot.

But she didn’t want to think about that now. She was too busy ogling the handsome CEO by the fireplace.

It was only when she sat down in front of him that he actually pulled the paper from his face. A big smile pulled at his lips, and he leaned forward to take her hand. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She squeezed his hand and grabbed her bag. “I have something for you.”

“What is it?”

She curled her fingers around the pebble and passed it back to him. “I want you to take this with you to Cincinnati. So there’s a little bit of me in your bag. It worked for me.”

He picked up the pebble, looking at it as he turned it in his hand. “Thank you.”

“Am I interrupting something?”

Holly blinked at the familiar voice. Her mom was standing by the table, her blonde hair elegantly coiled at the base of her neck. As usual, her face was impeccably made up, her clothes expensively styled.

“Mom.” Holly tried to bring herself to smile. They hadn’t spoken since the night at the theater. And it still hurt.

“Holly.” She nodded, then smiled at Josh. “And Mr. Gerber. So the rumors I’ve been hearing are true.”

“What rumors are those?” Holly asked. Josh nudged her foot with his beneath the table. When she looked at him, his eyes were full of warmth.

They grounded her.

“That you have a new boyfriend.” Her mom’s eyes flashed with interest. “I guess it’s true.”

Holly tried to think of something to say, but she felt frozen. As though keeping her mouth shut was the best way not to end up in an argument.

Josh was gazing at her, a question in his eyes.

“Um, yeah, it’s true.”

“That’s wonderful. In that case, you should both come over to my place on Christmas Eve. I’m having a little cocktail party. The last one we’ll be having in Winterville, I guess.” Her laugh was a tinkle. “Garrick will be shaking from four p.m.”

“I’ll be at the theater. I promised Everley I’d help with the show,” Holly said.

“I’m sure you can drop in first. It’s our last holiday here, Holly. I’d like to see my daughter for some of it.”

She could feel the argument brewing. It made her chest hurt.

“We’ll be there at four,” Josh said.

Holly blinked at him. He shrugged, then gave her a soft smile.

Her mom clapped her hands together. “Wonderful. I’ll see you both then.” Her mom kissed Holly’s cheek, then smiled at Josh. “So handsome,” she whispered, then turned around and walked out of the café.

“What was that about?” Holly asked, frowning. “I don’t want to see her on Christmas Eve.” She couldn’t bear to argue on that day. It was too special.

“Why don’t you want to go?” he asked her.

“Because it’ll end in tears. It always does.”

His expression softened. “I’m sorry. If you don’t want to go, then we won’t. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”

Holly sighed. “It’s not your fault. It’s me. I’m being a big kid by avoiding her.”

“It’s understandable.” His voice was low. “But you said yourself that you wanted things to improve between you. How can that happen if you keep avoiding her?”

“I don’t know.” Holly shook her head. “I guess it can’t.”

“So do you want to go?”

She exhaled heavily. “Okay, we’ll go for an hour. But you can drive because I’m going to need all the cocktails.”

“Of course I’ll drive. I’m a better driver.” He grinned. She loved that he knew how to lighten her mood just by joking with her. It was a beautiful thing.

“Says the guy who crashed into town all those years ago.”

“One crash in fifteen years of driving, Holly.” He folded his arms over his chest, as though that was the end of the discussion.

“I’ve had no crashes since I was sixteen.”

“That’s because you drive like a snail.”

“I do not. I’m just careful.”

“A careful snail.” He lifted his cup to his lips, smirking.

She knew what he was doing. Taking her mind off her mom, and every other thing that seemed to be pulling at her brain. And it was working, because she was grinning madly at this man with the sexy eyes and dark hair that tumbled over his forehead.

Her CEO in shining armor.

“When are you leaving again?” she asked him archly.

He lifted an eyebrow. “First thing in the morning.”

“Remind me to do that appalling thing to you again tonight. I want you aching while you’re driving all that way.”

His lip curled. “You see, that’s the difference between us. You think that’s a threat, I think that’s a promise.”

“Maybe it’s a bit of both.”

“Maybe.” He stood, and kissed her on the brow. Funny how she was used to these public displays of affection now. She’d expected the whole town to be gossiping about them. For there to be pages of comments on the Winterville Facebook Page.

Or at least for people to look at them when Josh Gerber kissed her thoroughly.

Instead, everybody was minding their own business, dammit.

“I’ll see you at the house later,” he said.

“You will. I’ll bring dinner.” She’d already spoken to the chef at the Inn. He’d agreed to make her dinner to go.

“Make sure you drive carefully.”

She nodded, her expression serious. “Like a snail.”

He laughed and headed for the exit.