Page 14 of Matchmaking Under the Mistletoe

“Sure thing. I don’t have anywhere to be,” I say, ignoring the fact that I had to reschedule three meetings this morning. But I couldn’t risk the vultures descending on Millie and running her off while I was meeting with Mrs. Norma about the annual rodeo event we hold each spring.

Millie gives me another smile and sits her coffee in the cupholder between us. Her hand hovers next to it as we ride in silence, and suddenly I have to resist the urge to reach across and touch her hand.

God, there’s seriously something wrong with me. Is my brain not getting the message that since she’s my employee she’s also incredibly off-limits?

“Oh my gosh, turn it up! I love this song!” she exclaims, pulling me from my thoughts. I look at the radio of my truck where I see “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey playing on the radio and bump the button on the steering wheel to turn it up.

I can’t help but smile as Millie sings to the radio and dances in her seat. Fuck, she’s so damn beautiful. If I’ve learned anything about her over the short amount of time we’ve spenttogether, it’s that she seems determined to make the most out of every moment, which is even more impressive after the shit she’s been through over the last few months. Her excitement for life is contagious. And if I’m really honest with myself, the more time I spend with her, the more I want to be another reason she can’t stop smiling.

I let myself think for a moment about what it would feel like to lean over and kiss her pouty lips, but before I can get too lost in the fantasy, Millie hits a particularly off-key note, and I can’t hold in my laughter anymore.

“Are you sure you want to go through with singing karaoke next week with Bridget? Between the two of you, everyone in the room is gonna be wishing they could turn the volume off on their hearing aids like Mr. Bruce does when Mrs. Ellen tells him he needs to quit smoking,” I tease, and Millie lets out a loud laugh.

Yesterday, I was attracted to her. Today, seeing her like this makes me feel a desperation to have her that I’ve never felt before. And as I remind myself of all the reasons I can’t have her, a part of me questions if it’s enough to keep me from her.

CHAPTER 8

MILLIE

Iknow it’s only three in the afternoon, but I am ready for a nap. I’m pretty sure Brian and I have visited every store in the city of Saddle Ridge gathering up supplies we’ll need to decorate for the upcoming events. I also spent an hour in the cutest local boutique looking for a few more outfits. My emergency funds might have taken a hit, but the pretty dresses and neutral sweaters made me smile when I tried them on.

I’ve just finished piling the last of my bags in the backseat of Brian’s truck and am getting settled in for the ride back to Springside when Brian’s phone rings.

“Hey, Bridget, what’s up?” he asks, pulling out of the parking lot before slamming on the breaks. “What? What do you mean?”

I begin to feel uneasy as I watch Brian talk to his cousin. It’s clear something isn’t right.

“Bridget, we’re still completely full. This can’t be happening. How bad’s the damage?” he asks as he listens to her response on the other end of the line.

“Okay. Do you know who’s in the rooms that are affected?” he asks with a groan.

“Bridget, you’re shitting me. You have to be making this up. Okay, fine, I’ll figure it out. Thanks,” he says before furiously tapping the end call button.

We’re still sitting in the parking lot, and I wait a moment to determine if I should ask him what’s going on.Is that too nosey? I don’t want him to think—

“Well, this is just great,” Brian says, interrupting my internal debate. “Bridget said that one of the pipes burst this morning from all the cold weather we’ve been having. They caught it in time, so it didn’t flood the whole floor. She said they’re working on getting it fixed, but apparently your room is uninhabitable for the next few weeks.”

“Uhh, oh my. Well, that’s less than ideal, I guess,” I say, feeling the anxiety knotting in my chest.

God, I should have known this whole setup was too good to be true. He’s gonna tell me this isn’t gonna work out and I’ll be on my own again.

“Yeah, you’re right about that. She did say she was able to grab most of your stuff out, but they’ve gotta close the room off until after the insurance adjuster can come by. Normally, this wouldn’t be too big of a deal, but thanks to the snow and the holidays coming up, we’re completely booked, and he may not be here for a few days, on top of the time it’ll take to get the damages fixed,” he explains, and I feel my anxiety continue to rise.

“I don’t suppose there are any other hotels in town, huh? Or an Airbnb? A bed and breakfast? A really nice lady with an air mattress? I swear, I’m not picky,” I ask, feeling like I already know the answer despite the desperation creeping into my voice.

“You’d be correct on the hotel and Airbnb front. The closest chain hotel is back in Saddle Ridge. Let me think…” he says, turning onto the main road and heading for Springside. “I’ll call Huey and see if he has any ideas.”

He punches his phone again before holding it up to his ear. Several minutes pass before he hangs up. “He didn’t answer either. Let me try Miss Sally. She’s not my favorite person, but she hears everything in town. Maybe she’ll know of someone I’m forgetting with a guest house or something.”

He waits with the phone up to his ear for another minute before groaning. “Unbelievable. I swear, as many times as she’s blown my phone up with a complaint about the grass needing to be cut at City Hall or her trash not being picked up on a holiday, but now that she could be helpful, she can’t bother to answer,” he says, rubbing his hand over his face.

We ride quietly for another moment before he says, “I’m sorry, Millie, this is unbelievable.”

I rub my hands up and down my arms, trying not to look as uncomfortable as I feel. “Oh, it’s okay. It’s not your fault. I can figure something out. Maybe I can find something in Saddle Ridge until my car gets fixed. I mean, obviously I wouldn’t be able to work at the inn, but—”

“Stay with me,” Brian interrupts, and I feel my eyes widen. Did he just say what I think he said?

I look over at him, and for a moment he looks shocked that the words came out of his mouth before he nods reassuringly and says, “Yeah, that could work. I have a guest room and plenty of space. I mean, I know it’s not ideal, and I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. But, Millie, you can’t leave. Not unless you want to, and hopefully your room will be available again soon.”

---