Page 64 of Rebel Without a Claus
His brow furrows, cautious. “What’s it?”
“We’ll bring Hollywood to Holly Ridge,” I say, eyes wide, heart racing.
Luke blinks at me like I’ve officially lost my mind. Which, fair. Maybe I have.
“You want me to… what? Build a movie theater in the barn?” His voice is a mix of confusion and amusement, but there’s no judgment in it. Just curiosity.
I laugh, a little too giddy, shaking my head. “No. Bigger. So much bigger.” My pulse is thundering now, ideas sparking like Christmas lights strung across my brain. “This town has charm. Atmosphere. Character. Everything directors spend millions trying to fake on a soundstage. I’ll travel when I need to for my new show, but the homebase can be here. If we can pitch Holly Ridge as our headquarters and filming location, if I can pull my contacts?—”
“Wait.” He holds up a hand, still staring at me like I just proposed training reindeer to fly. “You’re telling me… you want to turn my farm—ourtown—into a Hollywood set?”
“Not… exactly. I want to have my production headquarters here. Think of all the holiday films I’ve produced where we had to rent reindeer. Your business could grow, too. Working with the animals you love.” I grin, the kind of grin that makes my cheeks ache. “This would make Holly Ridge a destination. It would put us on the map for more than just one month a year at Christmas. Think of how much the commerce in our town would benefit!”
Luke doesn’t answer right away. He just studies me, long and slow, like he’s trying to decide whether this is brilliance or madness.
Finally, he huffs out a laugh. “You’re insane.”
“Probably,” I admit, still breathless, still buzzing. “But I think it might work. I just have to convince my boss.”
The snow swirls harder, the lights of the square glowing golden around us. Luke shakes his head, but there’s something in his eyes—something warm, something hopeful—that tells me he’s starting to see it too.
And for the first time, the future doesn’t look like a choice between his world and mine.
It looks like both.
CHAPTER 22
Eve
The town square looks like something straight out of a snow globe—twinkling lights still strung up from the festival, wreaths hanging from every lamppost, the scent of cinnamon and hot cocoa lingering in the air. The only thing out of place is the massive cluster of Holly Ridge citizens crammed shoulder-to-shoulder beneath the gazebo. And of course Luke’s eight reindeer are still attached to my father’s Santa sleigh.
“Alright,” I say, my voice carrying thanks to the microphone someone shoved in my hands earlier. “Is everybody ready? We all know the plan, right?”
A cheer erupts, loud enough to rattle the icicles dangling from the roofline.
Dad lifts his crutch in the air like it’s a sword. He’s pale, sure, but standing, alive, stubbornly grinning through his bruises like nothing short of a blizzard could keep him away. Mom stands next to him, practically glowing with pride, holding Cringle’s leash.
“We’re ready, sweetheart,” she calls, her voice warm and certain.
My chest tightens. This is it. The moment.
I reach into my coat pocket and pull out my phone, my hands shaking a little as I tap the screen. A ripple of anticipation goes through the crowd, like we’re about to livestream the Super Bowl.
Kelly’s face pops up on screen, her sleek bob and designer blouse a jarring contrast to the snow-dusted small-town chaos behind me. She squints at the camera, frowning.
“Eve. What on earth—why are there so many people behind you? Is this a parade? I thought we were supposed to be having a meeting?”
“No parade,” I say quickly. “Just Holly Ridge. My hometown that inspired this new show. They all wanted to be here.”
The entire crowd surges closer, faces stacking and overlapping as everyone tries to wedge themselves into the frame. “Hi, Kelly!” a dozen voices call at once. “Merry Christmas!” Someone blows a kiss. Someone else holds up a thermos of cider like it’s a flute of champagne.
Kelly blinks, taken aback. “Um, okay. Hello...” She waves awkwardly at everyone then whispers to me. “Eve, we really need an answer today. Are you taking the job or not?” Her voice sharpens into the no-nonsense edge I know so well from conference calls.
“Yes,” I say, my stomach flipping. “I’m accepting the job. But…”
I take a breath, the weight of the whole town behind me. “With one caveat. A rather big one, actually…”
Eve’s brows snap together. “What kind of caveat? Do you want the job or not?”
