Page 50 of Rebel Without a Claus
It’s supposed to make you more.
And I’m not sure she sees that yet.
Which means it’s time I stop pretending this is some cozy holiday romance and start asking real questions.
Because if Eve Winters gave up her dream for me...
She damn well better be sure I’m worth it.
The truth is,I’mnot even sure I’m worth it.
And I need to know it’s what she truly wants.
Not what she thinks she should want. Not what she feels obligated to do.
The coffee’s still hot in my hands.
But I’m ice inside.
Time to find out the truth.
CHAPTER 17
Eve
I’m outside on the front porch, Cringle at my heels following as I pace back and forth, triple-checking the list Mom and I made for tomorrow morning’s final event—the Christmas Eve Decorating Spectacular—the final event in the Holly Ridge Christmas Festival. If we win this, the inn can survive another year. I set the clipboard down and lift the string of tangled Christmas lights.
Luke’s late. The plan was to set up everything the reindeer will need for tomorrow so that all we had to do in the morning was hook up the eight reindeer to the sleigh.
My eyes cut to the horizon where the sun is starting to descend past the treeline. It’s not even four p.m. yet. He may be late, but he isn’tabsurdlyso, I reason with myself.
I tug on the tangled strand of Christmas lights, trying to unknot the middle of them.
Even though Mom told me I was crazy to add more, I had to do something. We need to wow the judges. And what is Santa’s sleigh without Christmas lights on it? I’m halfway through detangling the first strand when the familiar sound of gravelcrunching under tires pulls me to the window of the inn. Luke’s truck.
Finally.
I set the lights down and smooth my North Star Lodge sweatshirt over my hips, pretending like I haven’t been pacing the front porch waiting for him. He’s late, but that doesn’t matter. And I’m definitely not anxious to see him.
Ha,liar.
The door to his truck swings open and out steps Luke, the man who kissed me breathless in front of the whole town just the other day and then spent another night tangled around me like I was the only thing keeping him warm.
But the version of Luke on my front stoop right now? Not the same one who made pancakes with me this morning. His jaw’s tight, his shoulders are tense, and his eyes don’t meet mine right away.
Oh no.
“Hey,” I say, cautiously cheerful. “I figured you’d be in a good mood. Last day of deliveries, and all we have left to do is bring the reindeer tomorrow and win this thing.”
He gives a noncommittal grunt as he kicks snow off his boots.
Okay. So…notcheerful.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, trying not to let the spike of worry in my chest show. “Did Princess Sparkles eat another one of the wreaths Aunt May made?”
He huffs a laugh through his nose, but it’s not exactly amusement. “No reindeer incidents today. At least not yet.”
I watch as he sets down a couple of large metal pens in the front lawn area and plastic containers stacked with rope, signage, and little feed buckets. Everything we asked for. Everything we need for tomorrow.
