Silent Night, Star-Lit Night (Second Chance at Star Inn)(11)

“Any time after six works for Lorrie and me. Did I mention fresh bread served with Eversons’ butter or seasoned oils?”

Mia grasped Angel’s arm and pretended to faint. “Don’t toy with me, Angel. Fresh bread? Is that the amazing smell drifting up those stairs?”

“That and our signature star cookies! There’s nothing I appreciate more during a wild, winter storm than a cozy fire, fresh bread, and hot chocolate, regulars on our winter tea menu.”

Jed held up his key. “Twenty minutes, Mia?”

“Perfect.”

Angel hurried back down the stairs. Her bracelets jangled, and as she turned the corner the faux-light necklace began twinkling.

Jed watched her leave, then leaned close to Mia. “Did you see that? Her necklace turns on.”

“I did and it does.”

“Do you think she’s part elf?”

“Not with a name like Angel,” Mia whispered, then giggled, and it pleased him to hear the sound. “I know we’re supposed to be heading north and you’re supposed to be hard at work, but Jed?”

“Mm-hmm?” She raised shining, joyful eyes to his, and seeing that made his pulse trip harder.

She laid a soft, tapered hand on his arm. “I’m so glad to be here.”

Quite a difference from the morning before. “Me, too.”

“Your family won’t kill you for getting home late during Christmas week?”

Uncle Pete was most likely plotting Jed’s demise at this moment. That was his problem, not Jed’s. “They’ll be fine. I’ll call them before dinner and explain.”

“I’ll do that, too. I don’t want Grandpa worrying.”

She slipped into the room. Jed did the same thing, and when the younger woman from downstairs tapped on his door with a small basket he found necessary toiletries and a fresh buttered roll.

He laughed.

He’d stayed at five-star hotels in years past, on company buying trips. He couldn’t remember the last time one of those big, posh, overpriced units ever made him feel this good about spending the night.





Chapter Five

She was surrounded by Christmas.

As Mia walked down the curved, decorated oak stairway, the sight of the festive dining room made her pause. A part of her longed to move forward, learning to embrace the holiday for the baby’s sake. Another part thought of the empty promises and times of Christmases past.

Mia refused to tether herself to that past, but she couldn’t unforget it, either. The lack and disregard piled up after a while.

“Man, that’s a whole lot of Christmas going on.”

She looked up to see Jed striding across the hall. He smiled as he joined her on the stairs.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

His gaze surveyed the room, then it shifted to her, and his smile deepened. “Not by comparison.”

She blushed.

He laughed and moved down the stairs, then reached back to take her hand. “Come on, woman. I’m starving.”

She was, too.

A white tablecloth draped the massive banquet table. A bright red runner marked the middle of the table from end to end. Thick lighted candles alternated with festive Christmas arrangements of fresh greens and white and gold twigs in Mason jars, lined up along the runner’s center. Each jar was tied with a plaid bow, old-world cheerful.

“I love this.” She ran a finger along the ribbon on the closest jar. “This is old-fashioned Christmas like you see on TV.”

“My mom was a Stewart, so I kind of grew up with this plaid stuff.”

She frowned, confused at his sudden change in topic.

Jed pulled out her chair, waited until she was seated, then took the seat at the head of the table, next to her. Not across from her . . .

Right next to her.

“That ribbon.” He pointed to the Pinterest-friendly canning jar in front of them. “My mom’s got it around the house. It’s from the Stewart family. When Kate’s little boy was born, she had an outfit made out of this for Christmas last year. I thought it was weird, but nobody was asking my opinion. I’d have ordered desert camo. But that’s me.”

“And pink camo for a girl?”

He frowned instantly and leaned forward, close enough for her to count the sparks of gold in his cinnamon-brown eyes. “I don’t get the idea of pink camouflage.”

She raised her shoulders, confused.

“Pink camo isn’t camo. Blue camo isn’t camo. The purpose of camo is to blend. To be unseen. So it makes no sense to have pinks and blues and all that stuff.”

“To look cute?”

“Well, there’s that. Have you gotten pink camo for the baby?”

“No camo, but two pink cheetah sleepers. One with an attached tutu. A gift from a co-worker.”

“I can’t even imagine.” He rimmed his water glass with one finger. “Have you thought about coming home, Mia? I mean, to stay? The hospital in Ellensburg is only a thirty-minute drive, and the emergency care facilities in Roslyn and Cle Elum are always looking for skilled help.”

She was saved from answering when Angel pushed through the swinging door separating the grand dining room from the kitchen. She settled a basket of bread in front of them, then indicated the buffet. “Everything’s ready, so help yourselves. Lorrie’s coming right along. If you’d like me to turn off that TV so we can ignore reality for the time being, I’m happy to oblige.”