While Elizabeth is one of the three heirs to the empire, she walked away, leaving her brothers to expand the brand—with the help of their brilliant wives—while she forged her own path.
Mike Hunt does a full-body shiver, and against my better judgment, I gather his dense, wrinkled little body against my chest.
He rewards me by stabbing one paw directly into my jugular.
Felix laughs as I cough.
The music from the speakers fades as the mayor takesthe stage, Amanda beside him. She’s glowing with that movie star wattage, waving at the crowd like she was born here, like she didn’t just arrive yesterday in a rented SUV.
“Amanda looks good.” Elizabeth gazes fondly at the stage as the mayor launches into a rambling speech about holiday fundraisers and a cat sanctuary.
She and Felix were the other two people in Amanda’s corner during her coming-out drama.
Mike Hunt—perhaps finally bored of attempting murder—retracts his claws, allowing me to tuck him deeper into my coat. “Yeah.” I nod. “She’s been pretty upbeat since deciding to produce her own films.”
The mayor finally hands Amanda the mic.
She beams, pure star power wrapped in plaid. “This place is magic.” Her breath curls into the cold air. “Thank you for such a warm welcome to your lovely town.”
“Thank you for the purchases!” someone yells.
The crowd laughs.
“You’re very welcome.” Amanda winks. “Hideaway is such a special place. And while I came here because I heard about the amazing lineup of Christmas-themed events, all starting with this one right here”—she points to the tree—“after only twenty-four hours, I can tell it isn’t the decorations that make this place special”—she finds me in the crowd and smirks—“no matter how aggressively festive?—”
I snort.
“—but rather it’s the people”—she gestures to the crowd, which seems to warm at her words despite the frigid temperatures—“all of you, who make this town truly one of a kind.”
A collectiveawwrolls through the square, followed by mitten-muffled clapping.
She lifts her hand as if sharing a secret, but her voice carries clearly through the microphone. “The kind of special I very much hope to immortalize in film soon.”
People gasp, clap, and nudge each other in excitement.
“But for now”—Amanda lifts her arms theatrically—“let’s light this thing!”
A beat. Then—bam.
The star at the top of the tree flares to life, followed by a cascade of twinkling lights that ripple down the branches like a North Pole glitter bomb.
Felix lets out a low whistle. “It’s like small-town Rockefeller Center.”
“Seriously.” Elizabeth, not meeting my eyes, murmurs, “Though some might not appreciate its charm.”
I roll my eyes as Felix and Elizabeth share a laugh at my expense.
I’d double down on my earlier opinion of the town’s décor, but even with a mostly naked cat lodged against my sternum, I can’t find fault with Hideaway’s coniferous spectacle. It’s—well, kind of magical.
Elizabeth’s eyes drift to the square. “I want one of those whoopie pies Amanda wouldn’t shut up about.”
“She said they were so good she briefly believed in soul mates again,” Felix adds. “I feel like that’s worth investigating.”
I shift Mike’s weight. “You two go. I’ll stay here.” I shove the cat forward. “Take this.”
Elizabeth raises a brow, mittens to her chest. “Jack,sweetheart. How am I supposed to eat whoopie pies with a cat in my hands?”
Glaring, I pivot to Felix. “You have a carrier. I saw it.”
