"Thank you for the room," he said."But I'm fine."
I pressed my lips together, feeling the sting of his abrupt dismissal.I knew he was trying to shut me up, and I probably should.I knew I could be overly passionate, especially about Christmas.
"Right," I said finally."Well, I'll be downstairs if you need anything.Including hot chocolate."
"Great," he replied.
"Okay," I echoed, feeling the weight of the awkwardness settle between us.
"Okay," he repeated.
I lingered for a moment longer, searching his face for any sign that he might soften, but found none.The tension in the air was palpable, and it felt like we were standing on opposite sides of an invisible chasm.
"See you around," I said, turning to leave.
His silence followed me out of the room, and as I closed the door behind me, I couldn't help but wonder what had turned him into such a Christmas grinch.
I headed back into my office, the warmth of the fireplace a welcome contrast to the chilly loft.I settled into my chair, its familiar creak echoing through the room.The festive lights cast a soft glow, making the space feel cozy despite the stacks of paperwork.
I grabbed Christian's form and started inputting his information into my computer.My fingers flew over the keyboard, but I couldn’t shake the curiosity that gnawed at me.His demeanor, so guarded and stoic, hinted at a story worth knowing.
As I ran his credit check, his name popped up alongside an unfamiliar term:British SAS.I frowned, unsure what that meant.My curiosity got the better of me, and I opened a new tab to Google it.
"British SAS," I murmured to myself, hitting enter.
The search results filled the screen, and my eyes widened as I skimmed through them.Special Air Service.Elite special forces unit of the British Army.These guys were no joke—trained in counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, covert reconnaissance.The kind of stuff you only saw in movies.
I leaned back in my chair, processing this new information.Christian wasn’t just some random guy looking for a place to stay; he had a past that was far more complex than I'd imagined.
I glanced at his form again, noting the slight hesitation he’d shown when filling out certain sections.The pieces started to fit together—his guarded demeanor, his reluctance to talk about himself.
What brought someone like him to my little inn?The question lingered in my mind as I continued entering his details into the system.There was something about him that didn’t quite add up, but I knew better than to pry too deeply.People came to my inn for all sorts of reasons—sometimes to escape their pasts.
As I finished inputting his information, I felt a mix of intrigue and unease.Christian was clearly not an open book, and whatever had led him here was likely something he wasn’t ready to share.
I closed out of the browser and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the sense of mystery surrounding him.There were still guests to attend to and plenty of work to be done before the day was over.
For now, I'd respect his privacy and let him settle in.But something told me that Christian’s stay at my inn would be anything but ordinary.
At that moment, my grandma shuffled into the office, holding a steaming cup of hot chocolate.The mug brimmed with marshmallows and had a candy cane hooked over the rim.
My smile tightened as she set it down in front of me.She knew I preferred whipped cream over marshmallows and candy canes, but reminding her felt like another small heartbreak.I just wanted to pretend she hadn’t forgotten this time, to hold on to the memory of when she never forgot.
“There’s a string of lights that needs fixing on the second floor,” she said, her voice gentle yet firm.
“All right,” I replied, picking up the mug and taking a careful sip.The sweetness hit me immediately, and I had to hide my grimace.“I’ll check on it in the morning.Thanks, Grandma.”
“Of course, Claire,” she said, her eyes softening as she looked at me.“You’ve been so busy this year.I’m happy to help in any way I can.”
Her words warmed me more than the hot chocolate ever could.Despite everything, her love and care remained unwavering.Even if she forgot the little details now and then, her heart was always in the right place.
I took another sip, trying to get used to the overly sweet taste.“I appreciate it,” I said.“Really.”
She gave me a nod and patted my shoulder before leaving the office, humming a familiar Christmas tune under her breath.
As the door closed behind her, I set the mug down and let out a slow breath.The office felt emptier without her presence, despite its cluttered state.
I glanced at the paperwork on my desk but couldn’t bring myself to focus on it.My thoughts kept drifting back to Christian and his mysterious background.It was strange how quickly someone could shift from being a stranger to occupying your mind so thoroughly.
