Page 19 of Stuck With My Christmas Crush

“No… But I could. If I wanted to.” We’re quiet for a few minutes both watching the firelight. “And what about you?”

“Oh, I never had wings. Or glitter.” Jason stretches out his legs.

“I think you would look good with a little sparkle here and there.”

Jason looks at me and laughs. “Oh, man. Maddie would love that. She’s always trying to get me to dress up.”

“And you don’t? Dress up, I mean.” I smile at Jason who shakes his head.

Jason sighs as if he’s trying to picture himself in wings and glitter. “I suppose we should allocate sleeping quarters.”

“Jason.”

“Yes.”

“Were you in the military?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“Allocate sleeping quarters.”

Jason smiles. “I forget, sometimes, that I’m not in uniform anymore.” Jason stares at an unfocused point on the far wall.

“So, you quit?” I blurt out. I’m intrigued. I want to know all about my enigmatic, handsome host.

“Did I quit?” Jason says slowly. Then he follows with an upbeat, “No. I served out my contract and now I’m a respectable, upstanding, tax-paying civilian.”

“With a hotel.”

“Ah yes.” Jason sighs. “It’s temporary. I’m getting it ready for sale.”

“You want to sell it?” I’m incredulous.

“Look. It was an inheritance from a distant relative who I never even met.” He glances at the ceiling. “I know what you’re thinking. How nice to get gifted a hotel. But it’s actually costing me and…” He reaches his hands above his head and clasps his fingers together. “I just want rid ofit. But nothing is happening before Christmas. All sales agents and lawyers are closed up for the holidays. So, here I am. With a hotel I don’t want, for six weeks, at least.”

“Oh. That seems…”

“What?”

“Oh no. It’s not my business to say.”

“I know what you’re going to say. Because I had the same conversation with Meredith. Why don’t I find out about the people who owned it? Why don’t I take an interest in the history of the place? I could do something amazing. Bring it back to life.” Jason snorts a laugh. “I’ve heard it all.” He drums his fingers on the arm of the chair. “I’m just not… I’m not that person.”

“So, you’re going to sell it and… What happens after that?”

“Man, you’re nosy.”

“Sorry. Yes, I am.” My hand reaches down to Rocko’s head. “But, you know, we have all night. There’s no TV. So, we can talk about all sorts of things. Dreams. Wishes. Ideas. Whatever you want.” I shrug. “We can even make up stories. Doesn’t have to be real or serious…”

Jason smirks across at me. I get the sense that there’s something stopping him from just relaxing. He’s so uptight. If we weren’t snowed in together, would I be sointrigued? If he wasn’t so attractive, would I be bothered trying to get through his obvious barriers?

“So, who were they, these people who built the hotel and lived here?” I ask gently.

“A great aunt on my father’s side. Great Aunt Alice. That’s her in the photo there.” Jason points to a framed black and white picture of a young woman in an elegant evening gown, possibly taken in the fifties. She is styled like a Hollywood actress: Ava Gardner or Ingrid Bergman. High cheekbones. Harsh dark makeup.

“She’s gorgeous. Was she famous?”

“I don’t know.”

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