1
Jaylynn
Snowberry Falls, Vermont
Two weeks before Christmas:
* * *
Ho. Ho. Holy crap.
I blink once. Twice. Nope, not a figment of my hot toddy fueled imagination. That’s definitely Penn Radford—NHL heartbreaker and tabloid scandal magnet—standing at the front desk of the Snowberry Inn, arguing over a room that doesn’t exist.
Should I be surprised to see him? Maybe not. We both grew up here, even if he hasn’t been back for the holidays in years. Maybe after getting suspended for decking the mall Santa—yes, he actually punched St. Nick—he's home licking his wounds.
But the real question is, why isn’t he staying with his Aunt Elaine? Sure, she’s a little out there (read: owns three ferrets and claims they’re clairvoyant), but she’s also the kind soul who raised him when his teenage mom left him on her doorstep.
How do I know all this you ask? Oh, because this is Snowberry Falls, Vermont, where everyone knows everyone’s business, and if they don’t, they make it up.
Penn shifts, the snow melting on his heavy leather jacket. It lets out a low squeak as he leans toward Belinda, softening his features as he dials up the charm. Classic. I watch him tune his smile, and aim it straight at Belinda. Her face flushes as her lashes lower. She’s either eaten too many candy canes and is about to go into a sugar-induced coma, or is…falling for his charm.
Honestly, men like Penn think the world owes them extra whipped cream just for showing up. Cocky, smoking hot, treat me like I’m a joke…ugh, let’s just say been there. Done that. Got the emotional baggage to prove it.
A huff crawls out of my throat before I can reel it in, and wouldn’t you know it, his gaze snaps to mine. And damn. Those clear blue eyes lock on, and just like that, two thoughts hit me faster than a snowball to the face.
I could help fix his image.
He could help fix my career.
Okay, three thoughts. Because there’s also my ex to consider. He’s coming home for the holiday with his new fiancée—a well-known influencer who doesn’t even need makeup to be beautiful. No, I’m not jealous. Much. Wouldn’t it be awesome to show my ex that I’m not the same girl he humiliated in high school? That I grew up to be more than the bubbly head of the Winter Spirit committee? That I was going places, making something of myself?
At least for a little while I was…
Nevertheless, as a wild, glittery, slightly unhinged idea takes hold, I set my drink down, the mug landing with a quiet thunk on the table in front of the crackling fire. I rise, my heart pounding like a drumline at the Santa parade, as I smooth my flannel "Sleigh, All Day" pajama top, and square my shoulders.
Do you really think this can work, Jaylynn?
Yes, because A, he’s desperate, and B, I have a plan.
A half-baked, peppermint-scented plan.
But a plan, nonetheless.
I walk toward Penn—who, and I hate to admit it, looks like a walking GQ holiday edition—as he turns his focus back in on Belinda.
“I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do for you,” she tells him. “We’re completely full for the holidays. We had a cancellation earlier, but it was just rebooked ten minutes ago. If only you’d been here sooner.”
“You don’t have, like… a floor I could sleep on? A closet? Hell, I’d take a sleigh in the parking lot as long as it doesn’t meow.”
“Meow?” Belinda asks as I too try to puzzle that out.
He shakes his head and sneezes into his sleeve. “It’s a long story.”
I hear the strain in his voice, the tiredness, and for a moment I feel sorry for him. Until I remember that horrible day I was humiliated back in high school, and he, like the rest of my graduating class, stood by and watched. Oh, and yeah, he punched a mall Santa back in Boston. Who the heck punches Santa? A Christmas Grinch, that’s who.
“You just allergic or are you afraid of cats?”
Penn turns to me, and up close, holy holly, those blue eyes could melt a snowbank. No wonder the guy has a bunny harem. “Allergic yes, and I wouldn’t say afraid…more like traumatized.”