Page 43 of Maybe This Christmas
Glen smiled.“Haven’t seen that spark in your eyes for a while, son.What were you thinking?”
Since so much of their business revolved around renovating older homes, he was always looking for ways to make the builds more environmentally friendly.He’d come up with a half-hearted business proposal to add environmental services to the business—consulting, sales, that sort of thing.
It wasn’t fully fleshed out yet, but he thought there was real promise in the business.
Feedback screeched through the room as Babs approached the microphone.Caleb brought his hands to his ears.
“Sorry, sorry.It’s time to get started now, everybody.Please take your seats.”
“Can we talk about it after the holidays?I want to get all my thoughts together.”
Glen chuckled.“Sure.I’m looking forward to it.”
* * * *
“Okay, hustler.”Caleb bumped his elbow against Emma’s.
She fanned herself with a stack of twenty-dollar bills.She’d not only won bingo twice but had also won third prize in the nightly raffle—a dinner date for two to Luci’s, the finest restaurant in town.
“Should I have mentioned that I used to play bingo with the Hendersons once a week in the church basement?And it was how Ma Henderson funded her twice-yearly Caribbean cruises?Maybe I should’ve mentioned that.”
He pointed to the corner where the biddies were eyeing her with a mix of awe and frustration.
“Well, I’m not saying you had to, but I’m not so sure they’ll be inviting you back for next month’s bingo.”
As soon as the words passed his lips, he regretted them.Emma wouldn’t be here next month.She’d be back to her big city life.
Wouldn’t she?
Emma waved to the biddies with her free hand as they left the lounge.“I’ll have to remember that,” was all she said.
Not exactly a confirmation or a denial of her future plans.He took a breath.Maybe it was time to pump the brakes on this.It’d only been a handful of days, yet he felt like Emma had been in his life forever.
The lounge was still bustling with activity, but the rest of the lodge was settled down for the night.Only a few guests were huddled around the large fireplace, talking.
Funny how he’d balked when Brandon and Sabrina had shown them this place.But after they’d shared their vision, he’d been on board.Now, they were living the dream.
“You okay?”Emma asked.
He exhaled.“Yeah.Just a little tired.”
She yawned into the crook of her arm.“It’s been a long day.A good one, though.”
“Yeah, a good one.”He held open the back door leading to the cabins.A burst of cold wind hit them.
“You don’t have to walk me.I’ll be okay.”
“What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t?”
He took her arm, and before she could protest, he pulled her down the steps and across the bridge to her cabin.
Their breath spiraled in front of them as they laughed.Stopping at her cabin door, they exhaled.
“It really is cold out here.”
She turned and took his hands.She looked so beautiful under the twinkling lights.A breeze brought her hair across her face before returning it to her shoulder.
“Which is why you should come in, don’t you think?”She cocked an eyebrow.
