Page 43 of Scrooged for the Holidays
“I’ve always wanted to go to London.”
“Not a world traveler?”
She shakes her head as she chews and swallows another bite. “Work keeps me busy here.”
That surprises me and also doesn’t. I may not know Greer from experience, but I know her in a way that a regular person who just met her wouldn’t—not only from what Kai saw of her past but also from what I’ve seen of her present.
I’ve already been sifting through what I’ll show her tonight. It’s easy to see that the main thing Greer cares about is work.
“Shame, you’ll have to visit sometime,” I say.
“Do you go back often?”
“No, I don’t. Work keeps me here as well.”
Her cheek twitches to an almost smile. “I guess we have that in common, then.”
“I suppose we do.” My stomach flips as her eyes flutter closed, long lashes kissing her cheeks. When her gaze returns to mine, I can’t deny the chemistry between us. I felt it yesterday when we first met, and I feel it now.
Her aura pulses a flash of passion, and I have to inhale a breath to keep from asking her back to the inn. I may be open to exploring a more intimate side with Greer, but that can come later. Not to mention that Kai would punch me if he wasn’t included.
I take another drink of my tea before cutting into my toast. I’ll let the food distract me from all my less-than-professional thoughts.
“You said you wanted to speak with me about the inn?” I ask after I swallow.
She dabs her mouth with the napkin she’d placed on her lap. “Yes, I did.”
“Is the room not to your liking?”
She laughs sardonically, stabbing at her omelet. I can’t help but think she looks cute as she attempts to murder the breakfast dish. It reminds me of Sam in a way. When he gets frustrated, he tends to take it out on whatever is in front of him as well.
“I take that as a no?”
She swallows her bite and sets down her fork. “It’s…fine.”
“Fine?”
“Very Christmas-forward.”
I chuckle. “That’s to be expected for the time of year, is it not?”
“I suppose, but has anyone ever told you the decor is dated?”
After another sip of my tea, I lift one eyebrow. It’s interesting she brings up the decor again, especially since the inn and the town is decorated this way for her. Some Nephilim do enjoy decorating for themselves this time of year, but depending on who we’re called to help, it will appear in different ways.
We don’t just help people during the holiday season, and we also don’t only receive people who celebrate or have celebrated Christmas. And after seeing her past through Kai, I’m not surprised she dislikes it, but I can also see why the town chose it. A part inside her, buried deep by pain, feels safe surrounded by the ghosts of Christmas Past. Even if she fights it.
“You prefer something more modern?” I ask.
She swallows another bite of egg and bacon before she nods. “It’s less what I like and more about what sells.”
“‘What sells’?”
She nods. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but your inn should be fully booked. I won’t complain that you had room for me last night, but I’m surprised you did. Given you’re near Garland and in the mountains, a town like this should be brimming with people during the holidays.”
“And you attribute the lack of bookings to my dated and abundant Christmas decor?”
She smirks. “Of course it’s not only that. I’d have to look at your marketing and your website to get more of a picture.”
