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“Your mom really knows how to do Christmas, doesn’t she?” Penelope puts the key with the huge butterfly on it into the door.
“Oh just you wait.”
She opens the door and sucks in a breath at what she sees inside. There isn’t an inch of this room that isn’t decorated, just as in every room at the inn. From the red-and-green quilt and lights around the ceiling to the literal Christmas tree in the corner, and garland on every surface, Mom puts her heart and soul into the holiday at the inn. It doesn’t go unnoticed.
“This is incredible, I can’t believe I get to stay here,” Penelope says. “I’m used to five-star hotels and let me tell you, nothing has come close to the way this place feels.”
She turns around in front of the four-poster bed and her face looks like Nora’s on Christmas morning—when she first sees the pile of gifts under the tree.
It’s the face of pure joy.
I stride to the window and throw open the curtains. Then, I make sure the bathroom is stocked with toilet paper and towels for her. When I re-enter the room, Penelope has taken the sunglasses off her head. Pieces of her brown hair fall haphazardly into her face. Before I can stop myself, I cross the length of the room and stop in front of her. I reach up and move a strand of hair out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear as we lock eyes.
Her chest rises and falls rapidly while my hand remains frozen at her ear. The tension in the room is palpable, and the way her breath hitches in her throat tells me she feels it too.
Unable to break eye contact, we stand there as the seconds tick by. She shifts her weight and that small movement brings me back to reality. She could have someone waiting for her in the city for all I know.
I yank my hand away like it’s on fire and take a step back.
“Penelope, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” I say too quickly.
“Why are you apologizing? It’s not like I stopped you.”
She stares at me with those gorgeous eyes as confusion crosses her face, and it feels like all of the air has been sucked out of the room.
Clearing my throat, I try to speak again.
“Anyway, there’s a phone downstairs in the kitchen if you want to call anyone to let them know you’re safe and sound. I’ll be in my house if you need anything, and my parents are just downstairs. Their bedroom is just off the formal living room. I’ll grab your bags really quick before I go home.”
Now it’s her turn to take an abrupt step back.
“Okay great thanks Brent. I really appreciate it.” She folds her arms in front of her. “What time do you guys usually have dinner?”
“Usually around 5:00 p.m. Mom and Dad go to bed early most nights.”
“Great. Maybe I’ll see you down there,” she says too quickly before turning toward the bed and going through her purse. Looks like this conversation is over.
I leave the room without saying or doing anything else I’ll regret. Closing the door behind me, I stop in the hallway. Balling my fists at my sides, I rest the back of my head against the wall.
It’s been a long day and I’m starting to feel the weight of the Christmas season upon us. That coupled with the day spent with Penelope and the snow that won’t stop falling has me all out of sorts.
Taking a deep breath, I push off the wall and make my way downstairs, my mind spinning. I just need to make it through the next couple days, and then Penelope will head back to her life and I can forget all about her.
Forget about the way her eyes look at me… the way her floral perfume smells…
At least, that’s what I am telling myself.
Chapter Eight
Penelope
Whatjusthappened?
Standing with my ear to the door, I listen to Brent’s footsteps as he pads down the hall and out of earshot. I exhale heavily.
My pulse pounds in my temples. I lick my lips, trying to moisten them. Less than five minutes ago, Brent looked like he wanted to bend down and kiss me. And if I’m being honest with myself, I would’ve let him.
Of course, I was attracted to Drew, or I wouldn’t have said yes to marrying him, but, did he ever make my pulse quicken or my lips go dry just by moving hair out of my eyes? Nope.
