Page 39 of The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay (Blitzen Bay)

Chapter Nineteen

NASH

December 22

Blitzen Bay, California

“Elle?”

In the few minutes it took me to walk to the Holly House, I swear she’s fallen asleep. Her head’s on my shoulder. I can feel her breath against my neck. It feels nice. I really don’t want her to move.

“Yeah,” she says quietly as she lifts her head.

As I put her down, her bag drops to the ground. She’s just standing there, staring at me. I’m not sure she has the energy to move.

“Let’s get you inside where it’s warm,” I say, guiding her through the door.

“You must be Noelle!” Claire strides across the room—arms outstretched.

Elle backs up into me a little bit. Just the feeling of her leaning against me for protection sends a wave of electricity through my body. I put my arms around her tightly.

“Hey Claire,” I say as she takes Elle’s hesitant hands. “You said you had a room for her, right?”

“We absolutely do!” I reluctantly let go of her as Claire pulls her forward.

“And do you have some socks she can wear? Her feet got wet—”

“I have socks, slippers, a robe, a bubble bath, hot cider, and a big fluffy bed.”

Elle’s letting Claire pull her toward the stairs. She looks like she’s sleep-walking.

I hear a phone beeping in Elle’s bag. “Did Steve bring you your phone?”

She looks back at me. “Yeah, he said he did.”

“Give me your number. I’ll text you in the morning and we can get a coat and boots for you.”

I type her number into my phone. When I look up, Claire’s got her around the shoulders, leading her up the stairs to her room. Elle looks back at me.

“Get some rest,” I say, smiling at her. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

She smiles and starts climbing again. Claire’s chattering on about something. They turn left at the top of the stairs and disappear. My heart drops down to my feet.

“Claire will take care of her. You know that.” Hank pats me on the shoulder.

“Yeah, I know she will.”

Hank hands me a beer. “You said her fiancé was a buddy of yours?”

“Uh, I played football with him in high school.”

“Got it.” Hank motions me to the sitting room off the lobby. “Seems like an intense guy.”

“Yeah. Did you see all that over at the bar?” I plop down in the chair by the fire. Elle’s bag falls off my shoulder. “Oh, I still have her bag. I should take it up to her—”

Hank pushes me back down as I start to stand up again.

“Claire will take it to her,” he says, looking at me over the top of his glasses.

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