Page 125 of All I Want For Christmas

He climbed the steps to the wide front porch of the massive house and strode to the front door. He looked around. “What do we do at a place like this? Do we knock?”

Savannah laughed. “Just go on in.” She wiggled. “You can put me down now.”

“What if I like you in my arms?” He gave her a squeeze.

“I promise you that you can have me back in your arms later,” she said, meaning it whole heartedly.

He leaned in and pressed a quick, sweet kiss to her lips. “You were a rockstar on the snowy road, City Girl. I owe all those tense muscles of yours a good rub down.”

She shivered again, but this time, it wasnotfrom the cold. “I accept.”

Theo swung her feet to the ground, and she reached for the door, pushing it open.

Golden light, warm air, and the smell of cinnamon and apples surrounded them at once.

Savannah took a huge, deep breath as Theo shut the door behind them.

Almost immediately they were approached by a woman with short, curly gray hair and a huge smile. “Hello! Welcome! Goodness, come in.”

Savannah stepped forward, her hand extended. “Hi, I’m Savannah. This is Theo. We just flew in and got surprised by the storm.”

“Yes, you’re not the only ones,” the woman took Savannah’s hand in her much warmer one, rubbing the back of it with her other hand rather than shaking it. “I’m Lucy Gibbons. I own the Merry Falls Lodge.” She smiled up at Theo, too.

“I’m afraid our car is stuck part-way up your drive,” Theo apologized. “Is there any chance we can stay here tonight until the storm stops and we can dig it out?”

“But don’t be silly,” Lucy said. “I’ll have Henry or Scott tow it up closer to the house and then you can grab your bags. They’ll get the trucks out and plow the lane in a bit and then of course after the storm passes. But the major roads are going to be shut down for a while. You probably just barely made it here.” She pulled a phone out of her pocket and typed in a message.

Savannah and Theo just stared at her.

“Um.” Savannah looked up at Theo.

He looked back at her and shrugged. “You have a room for us?” he asked Lucy.

“I do,” Lucy said, turning on her heel and leading them toward the front desk.

Savannah took in all the details as they followed her. The lodge was utterly charming and she immediately felt warm and welcomed. The lodge definitely had an old-fashioned feel, but it was obviously well cared for from the clean and highly polished wood to the tasteful Christmas decorations. Nothing was overdone and yet she felt surrounded by Christmas nostalgia.

Lucy opened a large leather-bound book and ran her finger over the page, then she turned to her computer, moving the mouse and clicking a few times. “I’ll put you in room eleven,” she told them. She clicked a few more times. “You can stay as long as you need to.”

“Thank you.” Savannah went to reach for her purse and realized it was still out in the car. “When we can get out to the car, I’ll bring my credit card to you and?—”

“Whenever,” Lucy said, waving that away. “I’m not worried.” She handed Savannah the key to their room. An actual key. It was ornate brass with a pretty maroon ribbon tied to the end. “Up the stairs, take a left.”

“You don’t need our full names, addresses, anything?” Savannah asked.

Lucy laughed. “I suspect we’re going to be spending the next couple of days together, at least. There will be time for all of that.”

“Oh, okay.” Savannah had never been in a situation like this. “Well, if you want?—”

Just then the front door opened again, and a gust of cold air and snow swirled into the lobby.

“Oh goodness!” Lucy exclaimed, coming around the desk and starting for the new couple who had just stepped into the lodge. “Welcome! Come on in.”

“Looks like we’re not the only ones to just blow in here. Let’s get out of the way,” Theo said, putting an arm around Savannah.

“Yeah, okay. I guess if Lucy isn’t worried about working things out, then I shouldn’t be either.”

“Exactly.”

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