Christmas in Pine Island: A small town holiday romance

they’d better stop skipping a very important marketing opportunity.”
Slowly, her head lifts. She stays silent for a moment, her eyes searching mine, though I can’t tell what she’s looking for. “Don’t you think this might be a fun chance to focus on us and our friends for a bit, instead of work?”
“Since when do you not want to talk shop?”
She shrugs. “I just think we should use this trip to make our relationship stronger.” Her mouth opens again as if she has something further to say, but she changes her mind and purses her lips instead, still gazing intensely at me.
Stronger? Wasn’t I just sitting here thinking how perfect we are for each other?
“Okay . . .” I say, carefully, “but why not fit a little work in, too? This place could be a great potential client. Besides, how much stronger can our relationship get? I mean, not many couples can run a successful business together. What we have . . . it’s one in a million. Don’t you think?”
“Of course,” Chloe murmurs. “I just . . .”
“Just what?” I press, still stroking her beautiful hair.
She gives a faint smile and shakes her head, gently pushing away from me so she can climb to her feet. She turns, walking toward the bedroom to finish packing.
“Chloe?” I call after her, sitting up straighter. “What do you mean? You just, what?”
She pauses in the doorway of our bedroom, leaning against the frame. The soft light from within shines around her, silhouetting her slender figure and shrouding her expression.
“Nothing, Donovan,” she states, quietly. “I just want us to enjoy ourselves this holiday.”
I gaze at her, bewilderment flickering inside of me. I don’t know what she’s referring to. Chloe and I bonded over work. It’s what brought us together in the first place. We love what we do. Wouldn’t bringing it along on this holiday trip make everything that much more enjoyable?
“I want that, too,” I answer, sincerely.
She simply nods again before disappearing back into the bedroom.
I sink back against the couch, trying to figure out what suddenly feels so out of place between us.

Chloe Price
I take another indulgent sip of the perfectly flavored spiked hot cocoa, savoring the cinnamon dusted across the whipped cream. Everything feels perfect as Ethan, my longtime fiancé and I snuggle up in front of a crackling fireplace, spirited Christmas tunes playing in the background. Garlands are strung about the whole lodge, scattering the flickering light of the festive bonfire in a sparkling prism of colors.
“Now this is what Christmas is all about,” Ethan murmurs, happily.
“You can say that again,” I giggle.
Instead of dinner, we’d feasted on sugar cookies and other treats, and of course, my famous hot chocolate. The buttered rum I added has left my mind pleasantly buzzing and my body warm. Near the fire my Yorkie, Darcy, is bundled up in one of her festive Christmas sweaters, snoozing away in her dog bed.
Sighing, I add, “I just wish we’d been able to fill some of our vacancies.”
Our last guests checked out this morning.
With my parents gone for the holiday, I really wanted to show them that we could handle running things. But it’s Christmas Eve-Eve and the whole lodge is empty! That’s never happened before and I can’t help but feel disappointed.
I frown. “At this rate, we’ll be watching Miracle on 34th Street all by our lonesome instead of with guests like we normally do.”
“Would that be so bad?” Ethan asks, his piercing green eyes making my heart race as he draws me closer.
I shake my head, not sure if it’s his charming smile or the spiked cocoa that’s making me dizzy.
He kisses me thoroughly and when we come up for air, I can’t remember what we were even talking about until Ethan says, “The lodge did fine this season. Your parents will be more than proud of you.”
“I know,” I say, trying hard to make myself believe it.
But it is a big deal that my parents left us in charge. I really want to wow them by having our best year yet. Ethan’s right, though. We did more than okay. But still, it’s strange that we’re vacant now. And even worse, we have no new reservations until after the new year.
I felt so bad seeing the staff standing around twiddling their thumbs this morning that I sent them home. I’d rather they get to spend the holidays with their own family and friends than helping us manage the mundane maintenance of the lodge.
I’ve been working here since I could walk, so it isn’t a big deal. I guess that’s one perk of Christmas being the family biz. I’ve gotten used to every day feeling like a holiday so it’s not a big deal to have to do a little work on Christmas.
But I won’t have any work to do this holiday if we don’t book some rooms!
Unable to keep my optimism at bay for long I smile up at Ethan. “You, know . . . There’s still time to take a few last-minute reservations.”
Ethan shakes his head, laughing softly at my hopefulness. “It’ll take a Christmas miracle to book our rooms now . . .”
“It could happen,” I argue.
Ethan nods faintly, his focus now on the popping, sizzling logs cheerfully blazing. I watch him, captivated by the streaks of gray in his beautiful green eyes. They always remind me of lightning in storm clouds.
“Thank you for being here with me,” I add, softly. My ridiculously educated husband-to-be could do anything, yet here he is, helping me run my family’s tree farm. I’m sure he didn’t picture this when he was getting his Columbia degree.
My statement earns his attention and he twists his head to meet my eyes. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Chloe. You know that, right?” When I don’t respond he snuggles me closer. “By your side is where I'm meant to be.”
A blush rises on my cheeks and I can feel them turning a shade of crimson that would