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CHAPTER1
Jack
Jack Rhodes tookthe porch steps two at a time in his urgency to enter Snow Hill Inn. He hadn’t felt especially connected to any home he’d lived in since his parents were alive, but his home away from home in Snow Hill was the closest thing he had to that mythical sense of belonging that he remembered feeling as a kid.
Part of it could be the home-cooked meals provided by the owner and innkeeper, Joan Patterson. It could also be the fact that his only living relative—his sister, Holly—had married the innkeeper’s son and had been living there for the last few years with him and their daughter.
Or maybe it was the magical pillows that he swore Mrs. P sprinkled sleepy dust on, because every night he’d spent at this inn had resulted in some of the best sleep of his life.
Whatever it was that made this place feel like home could remain a mystery to Jack for all he cared. He wasn’t one to question a good thing. As a police officer, he spent plenty of time asking questions about the darkest things in life. When it came to simple pleasures, he was perfectly content with leaving well enough alone.
That said, there was one thing about this place that didn’t have an ounce of appeal for him: its Christmas spirit. It poured out from every nook and cranny of the Victorian-style B&B, and his favorite times to visit were any season other than this one.
“Knock, knock,” Jack said, wincing when loud jingle bells announced his arrival just as he’d spoken the words. “Anybody home? Noelle’s favorite uncle is here!”
No sooner had he made this proclamation than he heard the telltale sound of toddler feet bounding across the polished hardwood floor. He hung up his coat on the large rack by the door and put his back to the hallway, pretending he had no idea what was coming for him.
“Unky Jack!” Noelle cried, throwing herself against his legs with admittedly a little more force than he’d anticipated.
Jack jumped, letting out an exaggerated scream that would be better suited to a horror movie parody than the real thing. But he wasn’t the actor in the family. Holly was.
“Noelle! You snuck up on me!”
The almost-two-year-old giggled profusely as Jack scooped her up, spinning her around before settling her on his hip. “How are you?”
Noelle ignored the question and pointed at the ceiling with a grin before tapping her cheek.
Jack looked up to find a bundle of mistletoe hanging over their heads, in the exact same spot it was every year. As he complied with his niece’s request for a kiss on her little cheek, he snickered to himself. Leave it to the spawn of his Christmas-obsessed sister to already know what mistletoe was for. Holly loved Noelle almost as much as she loved Christmas, so Jack could imagine that she showered Noelle with kisses every time they passed through this section of the inn.
“Ah, you’ve only been here for a minute, and you’ve already been caught under the mistletoe with our Christmas princess, huh?”
Jack turned at the sound of the warm voice and gave the inn’s owner a wide grin. “Wouldn’t have it any other way. How are you, Mrs. P?”
“Oh, Jack, for heaven’s sake. We’re family. Why do you insist on calling me that?”
Jack shrugged. “Because you like it better thanma’am.”
He’d been out of the Marine Corps for seven years now, but old habits die hard. Respecting his elders and using titles were two of the lessons he’d learned in the Marines that he knew would stick with him forever.
“You could always call me by my first name, you know.”
“I could.”
She clucked her tongue and gestured toward the black suitcase he’d set by the door. “Unlike you, I’m not going to stand on ceremony. You can take that up to your room yourself, right, dear? My back is killing me today.”
Jack looked at Noelle with an exasperated expression, but she simply blinked back at him. He chuckled and turned back to his hostess with a nod. “Of course. What room am I in?”
“Do you even have to ask? Room six.”
Touched that she remembered his preference for the room that had the least amount of frills, Jack set Noelle on her feet and picked up his bag. “Thank you. I’m going to go bring this up and then—”
“Cookies,” Noelle said, sniffing the air before following her nose to the kitchen without a backward glance.
Jack pointed after her. “And then, I’m gonna join her for cookies.”
“Holly just took them out of the oven, so they’ll be nice and warm. She made your favorites. We’ve really been looking forward to your visit, Jack.”
“Me too. It’s good to be back.”
