Page 61 of Healing Hearts at the Christmas Inn
"We did," Holly assured her. "It's beautiful this time of year."
Julie's gaze shifted to Charlie. "Oh, Charlie, Isabella was looking for you earlier. She has a tin of cookies for you. Something about you needing proper fuel for all that work you’ve been doing." Her eyes twinkled with knowing amusement.
Charlie felt heat creep up her neck.How much did Julie know?"I'll go find her. Thank you."
Holly, Trinity, and Maddy headed toward the stairs.
“Gran, we’re going to change and go to the ballroom,” Trinity informed Holly.
“Okay, have fun, be careful,” Holly called after them as they rushed up the stairs.
"I have to change too and get to work," Holly said to Charlie. “Are you going to be okay?”
Charlie nodded, "Of course. I have to meet up with Logan about the you know what." The mention of his name made her cheeks feel warmer as images of their previous encounter swirled into her mind again.
Holly gave Charlie a LOOK. One eyebrow raised, a knowing smile playing at her lips, the universal expression of an older sister who knew exactly what was going on.
Charlie countered the look with a warning expression of her own.Don't say it. Don't even think it.
Holly's smile widened, but she didn't say anything. Just continued up the stairs in the girls’ wake, leaving Charlie standing in the lobby with her cheeks burning.
Charlie turned and walked toward the kitchen, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in her stomach. Her mind was already wandering to Logan.Where was he? Would it be awkward after what happened in the hallway?
She pulled out her phone as it buzzed with a message.
Text from Jack: "Set up meeting with bank manager for tomorrow morning, 10 am. Can you attend?"
Charlie was answering the message, already typing a response, when she walked straight into something solid.
No, not something. Someone.
A wall of muscle. Strong arms immediately wrapped around her, steadying her before she could fall. Charlie looked up, already knowing who it was.
Logan.
His hands gripped her arms. Her palms pressed flat against his chest. She could feel his heart beating beneath her fingers, racing as fast as her own.
Their eyes met.
That same electric jolt from before shot through her, stealing her breath.
They froze, standing there in the hallway, neither moving, neither breathing.
Logan's hands tightened on her arms slightly, like he was anchoring himself. Charlie's fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt.
Then reality crashed back, and they awkwardly untangled themselves, stepping apart quickly.
"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going," Charlie stammered, her voice coming out higher than normal.
"No, my fault, I should have been paying attention," Logan said at the same time, his own voice rough.
They stepped back, giving each other a wide berth, both flustered and not quite meeting each other's eyes.
"I was just..." Charlie gestured vaguely toward the kitchen. "Isabella has cookies."
"Right. Cookies. Good." Logan nodded too enthusiastically. “I’m going… I’m going this way.” He pointed the way Charlie had just come from.
They started to move past each other, careful not to touch, both heading in opposite directions.
