Page 6 of Stuck in Christmas

It was cute how he thought he could stop me from leaving town. But, I’d been dealing with well-meaning older gentlemen my entire career. I knew how to handle these guys. “I have four-wheel drive on my car. The roads weren’t that bad coming into town. I’ll be fine.”

“I think you’ll find things change pretty quickly around here,” Joe warned.

“Thanks for the heads up. But, if you’ll tell me how much I owe you for the hot chocolate and pie, I’ll be on my way.” I folded the wet towels, stacked them on the table, and reached for my purse.

“You owe us nothing, dear,” Bonnie replied warmly. “I wish you would stay. If you change your mind, we have an extra room upstairs at the Inn.”

Suddenly, the thought of spending the holidays at a spa, surrounded by people I didn’t know, didn’t sound as great as it did when I booked the trip. I glanced at Bonnie’s kind eyes and warm smile, and a pang of regret rocked me.

This wacky family was so welcoming to a stranger, but I had to get going.

I had someplace I needed to be.

Two

Joe walked me to my car, and I noticed the air had more of a bite than when I arrived. I shivered and cursed myself for not bringing something warmer than a fleece jacket. Not for the first time, I considered staying the night at the Inn. I had no doubt their guest room would be warm and cozy, and I could only imagine what goodies Bonnie and Eli would whip up for breakfast.

“Here are the directions.” Joe handed me turn-by-turn navigation, handwritten on a diner order pad. Then, he offered me a steaming go-cup. “And hot chocolate for the road. Are you sure you won’t change your mind about sticking around?”

Guilt stabbed me again. “Can’t. I have to hurry up and get to the spa to relax. Thanks again for everything.”

I settled into the driver’s seat and pushed start on the car. The engine roared to life, and I waved to Joe a final time before backing out of the parking spot and heading toward the edge of town. I paused, catching a glimpse of the twinkling Christmas lights illuminating the square behindme. With a deep breath, I pressed on the gas pedal, ready to put Christmas, Mississippi, in my rear view.

But instead of moving forward onto the county road, I found myself right back where I started—right in front of Bonnie’s Inn. Confusion knitted my brows together. “What the?—?”

I must have blanked out for a few minutes, the scent of hot chocolate sending my brain ahead of itself. I shook my head and laughed at myself. I backed out of the parking spot, gripped the steering wheel firmly, and drove toward the edge of the town square. Just as I reached the edge where the town road meets the county highway, I drove into the invisible line on the other side of the square and slammed on my brakes.

“Not possible,” I said. I parked the car and got outside to examine my spot on the square. Yep. I was opposite to where I had tried to drive away. Somehow, I was driving in a loop.

I got in the car, slapped my cheeks a few times, and clicked the seatbelt into place. Maybe I needed to break through whatever was keeping me stuck here. Not that I wanted to examine what that thing was exactly. I gunned the engine and picked up speed to hurl me off the square and back on track, but the second the car’s bumper hit the other side of the square, I skidded back through the other side.

“For the love of cheeses!” I shouted and slammed back into the parking spot in front of Bonnie’s Inn.

I avoided the edge of the sidewalk as I steppedthrough the diner’s front door, the bell jingling cheerily above my head. Mocking me.

“Miss Renee,” Bonnie exclaimed, her voice as bright as the decorations around her. “Changed your mind about staying?”

“I keep getting turned around and can’t seem to leave,” I replied.How the heck was I going to explain what was happening?

“Ah, Joe’s directions,” Bonnie said knowingly, crossing her arms with a smirk. “Should have warned you about that.”

I shook my head. “Not sure it’s the directions.”

“You again.” Eli’s smoldering voice sent shivers down my spine. The devil stepped into the dining room and stared down at me.

“Me again. Hi.” I waved at him as if he were across the room and not standing right beside me. Something was wrong with me, and it wasn’t only the car.

“I thought you were leaving.”

“Me too,” I snorted. “Seems like I’m supposed to stay the night.”

Bonnie interrupted with a nudge of her cane on his backside. “Eli. Stop talking her ear off and get the lady’s bags. She’s going to be our guest tonight. Put her in the Mistletoe Suite.”

I raised my hands in protest, “You don’t need to go to that much trouble. A regular room will be just fine.”

Eli shrugged. “It’s the only one left.”

Despite drying off with the towels earlier, the wet spots on my clothes started sticking to my skin, making it seem colder in the diner than it was. A shiver went down my spine, and I gazed longinglyat the Inn entrance. That warm bed and cozy surroundings were sounding better and better. “I appreciate the hospitality.”

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