Page 23 of Take Me Home for Christmas

The reporter was invited to join the family for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, but he declined. Of course, her mother delivered a tray to his suite later that evening. As far as Elle knew he was still up there. She said a little prayer that he was working on his manuscript.

“He left about an hour ago. Paige was giddy that he’d agreed to do a reading for the kids today. Of course, whatever he reads will pale compared to my husband’s rendition ofThe Polar Express.”

“Most certainly,” Elle said, her tongue firmly in her cheek.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think West is sleeping well, either.”

It took Elle a moment to process her sister’s left-field comment. “Why do you say that?”

Kate reached down and gently traced a finger beneath one of Elle’s eyes. “You both have the same telltale battle scars.” She moved her hand back to the tray she was balancing awkwardly. “But you’ll be delighted to hear that Mom said West was hammering away at his keyboard in the study all morning.”

Elle let out a long sigh of relief.Finally.

“You want to come to town to listen to my husband’s melodic voice as he reads to the kids?” Kate asked.

“Nah. My doctor told me to rest my ankle today.”

“Suit yourself. Enjoy your alone time with the nutcrackers.”

When Kate left, she dug through the plastic bins to find her favorite. A bagpiper. She fingered the pompom on his Glengarry hat.

“Oh, Daddy,” she sighed. “Why is life so complicated?”

After no epiphany was forthcoming from her father, she pulled out her phone, swiped it to her music, tapped onThe Nutcrackerballet and reacquainted herself with her old friends.

The bellabove the door jingled when Everett stepped inside Knotical. He wasn’t sure what possessed him to visit the knit shop again. It certainly wasn’t because he’d spied Kitty through the window when he’d left the bookstore. At least, that was what he told himself.

“Mr. West.”

Kitty’s warm smile had him smiling like a loony in return.

“Welcome back. Is there something special you’re looking for today?” she asked.

You.

The thought hit him squarely in the solar plexus. The woman had occupied his mind for the past two days. When she’d waved at him as he ran by the store during yesterday’s race, his steps had grown much lighter. His vision clearer.

Until the guilt set in.

Along with it came a painful stitch in his side that had him pulling up and returning to the inn to hide out and lick his wounds. He’d wrestled with his emotions until he thought he had them under control enough to return to the bookstore today.

But then he’d laid eyes on her again.

And, frankly, he was damn tired of waiting for a ghost.

“In fact, there is something special you can help me out with today.” He clasped his hands behind his back and rocked back on his heels. “I was wondering if you could show me where I can find a slice of pizza in this town. I’ve been out of New York City for three days, and I’m starting to have withdrawal.”

She curled in her lips as she seemed to ponder his question. Just when he thought he’d totally misread her friendliness, she rewarded him with another one of those breath-stealing smiles.

“You know, I was thinking that pizza sounded good for dinner myself. Claire,” she called into the back room. “I’m taking my dinner break. I’ll be back in time for the Christmas Bazaar meeting in an hour.”

Kitty didn’t wait for her sister’s response before swiping her jacket off a hook by the counter and hurrying to the door where Everett stood waiting.

“It’s not exactly New York pizza, but the Slice and Sip is as close as you get here in North Carolina.”

Everett didn’t care if the pizza tasted like cardboard. As long as he spent time with this beautiful creature who had captivated his imagination for the past forty-eight hours, his hunger would be satiated.

They strolled across the town square, the white Christmas lights of the gazebo beginning to sparkle as dusk fell. The storefronts all boasted fresh wreaths on their doors and poinsettias in the windows. The scent of a wood fire burning nearby filled the air.

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