Christmas in Pine Island: A small town holiday romance

that sounds amazing!” Stacy says. “There’s literally nothing better than freshly baked Christmas cookies.”
“Mmm . . . and some more of this spiked hot cocoa to go along with it!” Chloe adds. “It definitely beats the two-dollar wine we used to splurge on back in the day. Right, girls?”
Stacy and Morgan laugh, nodding in agreement.
Co-Co claps her hands together. “It’s a plan! Leave everything to me. We’ll have some old-fashioned Christmas cookie fun!”
Ethan walks back over, gently wrapping one arm around Co-Co and winking at her. “First things first, how about we let our guests get settled in their rooms?”
Now we’re talking! I can’t wait to get my fiancée alone for some much needed downtime. As if reading my mind, Morgan catches my eye and gives me a seductive wink that sends electricity zinging through my blood.
Damn! Just one look from her and I feel like a schoolboy again. Scratch that. This feeling is way beyond anything I experienced in my schoolboy days. When Morgan looks at me, it’s like the head cheerleader is asking me to prom!
Feeling invigorated, I reappraise just how much down time I actually need. Suddenly, I can think of a much better use for our alone time.

Margot Price
“You’re all in for a treat!” I add, beaming at the cluster of bright-eyed guests before me. “Take your time getting settled into your rooms, then we’ll get the Christmas cookie extravaganza under way.”
Owen chuckles beside me, his arms folding over his strong chest. “Careful, Margot,” he teases, “you might scare them away with that enthusiasm of yours.”
I just laugh and swat at his shoulder. “This is what the holidays are all about! If you’re not hyped up, you’re not doing it right!”
Shaking his head, Owen says, “No one can be quite as hyped as you though.”
I slip an arm around his waist, resting my head on his shoulder and closing my mouth for a moment. Believe it or not, I'm trying to be chill. I just can’t believe we have a rockstar, a supermodel, and the Hartbreak Kid standing in our lobby. And I thought I was the one who’d be spicing up the holidays!
I do have exciting news, but our new guests make my decision to keep it under wraps pretty easy.
I shake my head. I still can’t believe it. Celebrities! Here!
Our parents aren’t going to believe it when they get off that cruise and find out that Co-Co managed to get high-profile guests like these.
For a family business, this is kind of a big deal.
“Let me make you all some hot cocoa to take to your rooms,” Co-Co continues, eagerly. “It’s where my nickname comes from—Co-Co’s Cocoa!”
I laugh. “She’s being modest. Co-Co’s hot cocoa is amazing!”
My little sister blushes scarlet. “And it’s how we met. Ethan and I, I mean. It all started with a secret cocoa rendezvous. . .” Co-Co pauses and winks at her fiancé, their eyes locking as if no one else is in the lobby.
Then she gives herself a little rousing shake and scurries behind the bar to whip up some of the delicious drinks. Ethan joins her. They work together like a well-oiled machine. I swear, they’re so in sync it’s like watching two people conduct a symphony.
“Ugh, when are they just going to get married already?” I murmur under my breath to Owen. “Everyone can see they’re head-over-heels in love, right? What’s the hold up?”
“Sometimes it takes a little while to get to that place in a relationship, don’t you think?” whispers one of the women standing nearby. She smiles at me faintly, her sleek black hair coiling past her shoulders.
I flush scarlet, embarrassed to have been overheard by one of our guests. When she notices the mortification etched on my face she laughs faintly and shakes her head. “Oh, it’s fine,” she says, quickly. “I shouldn’t have eavesdropped. I'm Chloe Martin, by the way. Your family’s lodge is absolutely breathtaking.”
“Thanks. It’s so nice to meet you. And yes, I totally agree sometimes it takes a while, but my sister and Ethan have been together, like, forever!” I sigh and roll my eyes. “I know it’s none of my business. I'm sure it’ll happen when they’re ready, but it’s just frustrating that they haven’t just taken the plunge already.”
Chloe nods. “Um . . . yes . . . I know the feeling,” she says, though her faint smile wanes even more, and I'm suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to give the girl a hug.
She must have something heavy on her mind. Like my own Co-Co, this Chloe seems to like to deal with things inside instead of sharing them. What a shame that she’s struggling with something tough on Christmas Eve.
Then again, that means I just have to try a little harder to help my sister show these people a good time here! “You know what?” I announce. “I’m really glad you’re all here. It’s Christmas, the more the merrier.”
“Here, here!” the group cheers.
“I say we plan some fun group activities if you’re all up for it,” I offer.
Co-Co nods. “You’re so right, Go-Go!” She turns toward the group. “We’re supposed to get some more snow this afternoon. I can plan some fun wintery activities, if you’d like?”
“Oh, you don’t have to go out of your way to do something like that,” Stacy says.
“Yeah,” Jake adds. “Don’t do anything special for us. Being here is special enough.”
Ethan shakes his head. “We do this for all of our guests here at the lodge. That’s the draw of a family-run business. We’re small enough to really get to know our guests and cater the stay to them so they have a magical experience.”
“It’s our pleasure. Truly,” my husband adds with a wink.
The crew of guests exchange quick looks before shrugging and smiling hesitantly back at us. “If you insist,” Jake says.
“I certainly won’t say no!” Donovan adds.
Co-Co beams. “Great! Then come with me, I'm going to show you up to the top floor where your rooms are. I’ve already