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“Okay, Mom,” they both say in unison.
We all get out and head for the door, but a man walking out in a grey suit, and charcoal jacket stops when he sees me.
“Ms. Evans, I was hoping to see you while I was in town,” he says.
I stop and realize it’s the same man from the Pine Tree Resort that’s been sniffing around my inn, wanting to buy it. He was at the inn last week dropping off the official offer and trying to pitch to me why it’s in the best interest of my family and the town to sell them the land. But the Snow Falls Family Inn has been in my family for generations. The last thing I want is to be the person that doesn’t pass on our inherited legacy to my children or Cam’s children.
“I wanted to follow up with you on the offer,” he continues.
“Mr. Cartwright,” I blurt out, trying to cut him off from saying anything else in front of my kids.
Aspen tugs on my hand, trying to pull me towards the door. “Come on, Mom.”
“These must be your children,” he says, looking down and flashing his impossibly white grin that probably cost more than my minivan.
Brayden straightens and moves to stand in front of me, but I rest my hand on his shoulder to let him know that I’m okay.
“Sweetheart,” I pull out a twenty-dollar bill and hand it to him. “Why don’t you take your sister inside and get yourself each a hot chocolate? I’ll be right in.”
Brayden looks reluctantly between Mr. Cartwright and me before taking the money and grabbing Aspen’s hand.
“Come on, Aspen,” he says, taking her inside the shop.
I’m so grateful that he didn’t fight me on this. I don’t want either of them to know how I know this man. I don’t want them worrying about me selling the only home they’ve ever known unless it’s a done deal.
“Mr. Cartwright, I can appreciate your enthusiasm about the offer, but I don’t want my children to know about it until I’ve made a decision.”
His bright smile falters, and he glances over his shoulder into the shop window at Brayden and Aspen as they put in their order to Drew.
“My apologies,” he says. “I wasn’t thinking.”
There’s no reason not to trust this man, but I’m still on high alert anyway. His job is to play nice with me, so I sign my name on the dotted line of the contract, but who knows how he would be acting if he knew I was still desperately trying to find a way to save my family’s inn.
“The board is very excited to be moving forward—”
“I’m still considering the offer,” I say, my tone getting sharper because his salesman persistence is really starting to get on my nerves. “I’d appreciate it if you give me the time to weigh all my options.”
The friendly demeanor in his expression falters like he already knows I don’t have a lot of options. I’m holding onto the inn with all I have, and still, it doesn’t feel like it’s enough.
“Of course,” he smiles confidently. “Well, you have my number if you have any questions.”
“Yes, I do. Thank you,” I say, reaching for the door and slipping inside.
I glance back over my shoulder and watch as his smile disappears, and he pulls out his phone to make a call. It didn’t take my son to tell me that I couldn’t trust this man, but it’s good to know that I’m going to have to keep my eyes on him so he doesn’t pull anything over on me.
I just need to get through the holidays, and I can decide in the new year. It isn’t going to be easy, but I have two very special reasons to make the right decision.
CHAPTER2
Silas
We’ve been working in the shop all day, but it’s only now that my best friend and business partner decides to drop this life-changing news on me like it won’t impact my life tremendously.
“What do you mean she might have to close the inn?” I ask, rolling out from under the minivan I’ve been working on all afternoon.
“I don’t know the specifics.” Cam sighs and runs his hand over the back of his neck.
Granted, he has no idea how much this news could impact me because he doesn’t know that I’m in love with his sister, Eloise, also known as Elle. No one does—including Elle. I’ve managed to keep my long-time love for her a secret, but it was only after the divorce two years ago that I felt a flicker of hope that I might be able to win her heart. But that won’t happen if she sells the inn and moves away.
