Page 29 of Holly and Ivar
She entered the lobby on sore, stiff legs, and poured a coffee, unable to wait until she found a table in the dining room.
“How’s the coffee?”Liv called from behind the counter.Her hair was in a festive braid, a candy-cane striped apron tied snug over a red sweater that readYule Be Sorry.
“Wonderful and exactly what I need.”Holly took another sip.“So, do you always dress like a walking Christmas pun?”
“Only from November 1st to December 26th.I have plenty more where this came from if you’d like to borrow something.”
Holly laughed.“I’m good.Thanks.But I bet my assistant would pay good money to see me in one of those.”
Liv poured herself a coffee, then gestured to the clipboard on the counter.“Before you sit, quick question.Do you happen to know how to run a raffle booth?”
Holly blinked.“Oddly enough, that’s not on my resume.”
“Oh well then, the search continues.Speaking of searches, how is yours going?”
“Fine.Good, I suppose.”
“And Ivar?”
“He’s a good tour guide.”
“He does love that forest.I love him dearly, but he can get a bit obsessed with it.Always has done.That’s why I was so surprised he moved to California.But...”A shrug.“Then he came back.”
“He told me.That’s why he took me dog sledding.Apparently, I reminded him of himself.A workaholic who needed to have fun.”Was there something in the coffee here that made her open up, or was it Liv’s charm?A Nilsen family trait, apparently.
“Don’t let him fool you.He still works all the time, but being here close to his forest and surrounded by friends, there’s a bit more of a balance.Now let’s get you some breakfast before you head back out.It’s a cold one today.”
Holly was finishing her breakfast when her phone buzzed.
Ivar: On time for 0900.
“What’s got you all smiling this morning?”Liv asked, refreshing Holly’s coffee cup.
“Sorry, what?”Holly asked.
“Oh, just commenting on how happy you look.”
“I do?”
“You do.And I’m guessing that text wasn’t about work.”
“Of course it was work-related.”It came out a bit too fast, and she caught Liv’s knowing smile.
“If you say so.”
15
broom for two
Holly
AsIvarpackedthelunch Liv had made into his pack, Holly slid her broomstick—deliberately this time—into the side loops of her backpack.Ivar’s eyes snagged on it.He tilted his head as if he wanted to ask but thought better of it.
“Family tradition, right?”he said instead.
“Something like that.”Casual.She hoped she sounded casual.
He nodded once, as if filing it away.Then he handed her a thermos and gestured toward her map.“So the location you sent me is in a secluded valley.It’s pretty remote and not exactly ideal for toy distribution and manufacturing.Why would that spot even interest you?”
