Page 27 of Take Me Home for Christmas

The silence stretched while Elle’s mom took a long moment to scrutinize him.

“Mmm,” she eventually responded. She patted him on the arm. “That’s good to know. I’m sorry you wasted a trip out here, though.”

“It’s not a waste.” West emerged from the study. “I could use a ride into town.”

“I’m happy to give you a ride to the party,” Elle’s mother offered. “I’ve just got a few things to get set up for tomorrow’s breakfast, then I’ll be ready to go. Twenty minutes, tops.”

“Thank you,” West replied. “But I need to pick up my date. And, as she is living at the deputy’s parents’ home, it will be easier riding along with him than calling an Uber.” The man winked at Elle’s mom. “I can’t get lost since the deputy presumably knows the way.”

Few things ruffled Patricia McAlister-Hollister, but West’s announcement caught her off guard. “Oh my. You—you have a date?” she stammered. “With Kitty?”

She wasn’t the only one confused.

“You’re taking my aunt to the party?”

The pompous ass had the nerve to grin. “At her request, yes.”

Elle’s mom recovered quickly, accepting the news with a knowing smile. “That’s wonderful.” She cocked her head slightly to the side. “And it makes a lot of sense. You two have many things in common.” She nodded as if granting her approval to the match.

Hayden wasn’t feeling that generous. He opened his mouth to tell the man to stay away from his aunt, but the innkeeper beat him to it.

“You’re not getting out of going to the party, Hayden. I know Kitty would appreciate it if you gave Mr. West a ride to pick her up.” She patted his arm. “He’s right. You do know the way.”

He bit back a groan. The woman had learned a thing or two about manipulation while raising five strong-willed children.

“Sure,” he agreed reluctantly. “Let’s go.”

“Not without my shadow.” West texted something into his phone.

A moment later, Elle descended the stairs, dressed in a gaudy sweater with tinsel garland zigzagging all over it. Her hair curled in soft waves around her shoulders. It looked like she’d taken time with her makeup, too. Hayden was happy to see her walking easily in the boot. She startled briefly when she spied him standing in the foyer.

“Hey,” she murmured.

He nodded. “It seems I’m your rideshare driver tonight.”

Her eyes went wide. “Where’s Livi?”

“Stuck over on the island,” her mom said.

Elle backed up a step. “She’s not coming?”

West grabbed Elle’s raincoat off the coatrack and handed it to her. “They’ve sent out a search party. I’m sure she’ll arrive shortly. She’ll be disappointed if you aren’t there waiting when she arrives.”

“I doubt I’m the one she wants to see waiting for her,” Elle mumbled as she shoved her arms into her coat.

Hayden did a double take. Elle almost sounded jealous. Except that wasn’t possible. He had to be hearing things. West was saying something about the cocktail contest to Elle’s mom. Hayden was pretty sure neither one heard Elle’s remark.

“What do you mean by that?” he whispered.

She donned a look of innocence. “I was stating a fact, Hayden. Livi was simply being kind to me when she insisted that I show up tonight. But we both know I’m not the one she wants to hang out with.” She patted him on the arm much like her mother had done moments earlier. “In case you weren’t listening to me the other day, she’s into you.”

He ought to be relieved knowing the woman he was thinking about dating was “into” him. Why then was he suddenly pissed off that Elle was acting so cavalier about it? He shouldn’t be surprised. She’d been shoving him at Livi since she got home. If he needed any more evidence that their encounter last year hadn’t meant anything to her, this was it.

What was good enough for Elle, was good enough for him, then.

‘’Excellent,” he told her. “Because I feel the same way about her.”

He charged out into the elements, not bothering to wait for West or Elle.

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