Page 53 of All I Want For Christmas Is You

Walker: Nothing. Anything you want me to do?

Beau wanted to hunt down the assholes who’d hurt her. He wanted to tear up the mountain, uproot trees, and roar from the summit. But there wasn’t a single thing he could do for his daughter, other than let her know he was there for her.

Beau: Just leave the door unlocked in case she comes home.

Walker: I got you, Dad.

Setting the phone on the arm of the chair, he thought about his next step. He wanted to find Margot, but the lodge was in crisis mode, so now was not the time. When he’d asked Ms. Gibbins what he could do to help, she’d promised they were all set.

He glanced at the coffee bar, but he was too wound up to eat.

Forget it. He’d head back to his room and get some work done.

As hard as he tried, Beau couldn’t concentrate when Margot’s expression in the lobby kept flashing in his mind like a billboard in Times Square.

He kept analyzing it, trying to pinpoint the emotions, but the only thing he’d picked up on was embarrassment. Why, though? She had no reason to be ashamed. She’d been fucking glorious in her sensual abandon. Had he demeaned her somehow?

Dammit. He needed to know.

His laptop pinged with an email from the lodge.

Dear Friends,

We’re sorry for the interruption to your holiday plans, but we want to reassure you that we will do everything in our power to make sure you’re comfortable, fed, and warm.

Rest assured, the restaurant, the bar, and the coffee bar will remain open for extended hours to accommodate everyone.

Below is a list of activities to keep us all entertained while snowed in:

Gingerbread House making contest: 2 PM today in the restaurant

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the lobby from 4-6 PM with cocoa, cookies, and snuggles.

Christmas Carols in the lobby at 6 PM in front of the hearth

Karaoke: 8 PM in the bar

Please check in with the concierge if you need toiletries or help with travel plans.

Warmly,

Lucy Gibbins

Proprietor

He reread the list of activities. Any other time, he’d ignore them. But today, he knew without a doubt Margot would be helping. So, he powered down his laptop and headed to the restaurant.

With nothing else to do, diners lingered over lunch, so they’d sectioned off an area for the gingerbread house-making contest. He scanned the faces but didn’t see her. Normally, they went for cozy ambiance in this historic building, but now, for the event, it was bright and festive. Mistletoe dangled from the low wood beams and wreaths hung on the walls. A set of three Christmas trees clustered in a corner, ranging in size from massive to petite. The limbs were heavy with ornaments and garlands.

Where is she?

One long banquet table held ingredients, and people were already gathering their supplies. Some had already claimed a table.

The kitchen door swung open, and Margot strode out with a round silver tray loaded with bowls of icing. His heart thundered, and a voice in his head said, Mine.

What?

What the ever-loving fuck was that?

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