Page 38 of Wild Nights

We dug into our food while a holiday movie played in the background. "It's nice to be back in Colorado. The holiday decor in the lobby is a nice touch. I've never been here for Christmas before."

"Eli hired someone to decorate the lobby and the grounds. He thinks it adds to the ambiance."

"It feels festive." I almost didn't mind missing the week of holiday events in my hometown, especially since my family had other plans.

"Do you enjoy Christmas as much as Thanksgiving?"

I nodded. "I do. Although I used to feel like it was my responsibility to plan the perfect holiday for my family."

"But that's not what they want."

"And now I'm feeling a little bereft. I'm not sure what to do with myself. I'm glad I booked this trip so I could get a little time away, get some perspective."

When we were finished eating and I made a move to clean up, Oliver touched my hand to stop me. "What do you think about skiing while you're here?"

I mentally ran through my schedule for the week. "The vendors aren't due to arrive and set up until tomorrow afternoon."

Oliver smiled. "So your morning is free?"

I smiled. "Are we going skiing?"

"I reserved a ski lift. But we don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I have to warn you that I've never been skiing. I don't usually spend any time sightseeing when I'm traveling or even enjoying the amenities of the resorts. I'm usually too busy."

"This time, I'm going to show you what makes Wilde Resort special."

I smiled, knowing he was what made it special. "I've always wanted to learn to ski."

"We'll go tomorrow then."

Maybe my life wasn't in Maine with my family. Maybe I was meant for something else. It was too soon to think my future had anything to do with Oliver's. But maybe this was the catalyst I needed to make some changes.

Chapter Twelve

OLIVER

Iwanted to share my family's resort with Carolina. It didn't make any logical sense because we were only supposed to spend the night together. It was just physical. But I wanted to show her what we worked so hard to build. It was something that was important to me.

She was doing a good job hiding how much her family's indifference to her efforts to keep them together at the holidays affected her. I wanted to cheer her up, and I wanted to show her everything the resort had to offer. After we ate dinner and I suggested we go skiing the next morning, Carolina had climbed into my lap and rode me right there on the chair.

It was hot, and I had a feeling it was a thank-you of some sort. I wondered if she was the one in her family that always organized every event and holiday. She was a professional planner in her work life. If I wanted to treat her in some way, maybe planning a date was a good option. It took the pressure off her, and she could just enjoy it.

Her obvious pain over her family's decision was calling to me. I wanted to make it better, but I couldn't. This was the only thing I could do for her. Because we only had these nextfew days. Then she'd go back to Maine for Christmas. She didn't have another event scheduled at the resort until April. The anniversary of the first time we'd met.

It was too far away. I wouldn't survive four months without seeing her. Or at least I didn't think I would. But that wasn't our deal. I was already breaking our original agreement by spending the day together. But Joey was in school for a couple more days, and I wanted to take advantage of my free time.

Eli had taken a much-needed vacation with Scarlett, so I was in charge while he was gone. It was a little reckless, but I wanted the next few hours with Carolina.

I couldn't stay overnight in her hotel room because I wanted to get home to Joey. It was a school night after all.

After I'd gotten Joey off to school, I arrived at the resort with plenty of time to arrange breakfast in Carolina's room.

After walking down the empty hall, I softly knocked on Carolina's door, and she let me in. I could have used my key card, but this felt like a date if I knocked.

"Morning," Carolina said softly as she kissed my cheek, her sweet scent surrounding me. She'd answered the door in a silky robe.

When she stepped back, I stopped her with a hand curled around her wrist, then leaned in for a kiss, tasting the fruit on her lips. I should tell her about Joey. She should know.

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