He left his room and got on the elevator. The entire building was empty since everyone was outdoors attending the tree lighting. He had a special code that had been sent to his phone, allowing him entry to Chance Steele’s room. Getting off the elevator, he noted that this area was significantly larger and more spacious, likely because the accommodations were cottages rather than regular lodge rooms. He noted the cottages had access to their own pavilion, clubhouse, and swimming pool.
He smiled when he saw that he was within a few feet of Chance Steele’s cottage when a voice suddenly stopped him. “Hey, man, you’re headed in the wrong direction, aren’t you?”
Gary swallowed hard as he slowly turned around. It was Tiffany’s uncle Sebastian. Where had he come from? Hadn’t Tiffany said all her family was in the courtyard? “Yes, I think I am lost. Must have caught the wrong elevator.”
“Yes, you must have,” Sebastian Steele said. “That’s understandable. This is the first time I’ve heard of elevators going sideways. I’ve gotten mixed up a few times myself. I came back to my cottage to get this,” he said, pulling gloves from his pocket. “Susan forgot them.”
“Susan?”
“Yes. My daughter.”
“Oh.”
‘Come on. We’ll find our way to the courtyard together,” Sebastian said, moving in the opposite direction from Chance Steele’s room. Gary had no alternative but to follow him.
“So, how do you like being an engaged man?” Sebastian asked.
“Love it. Can’t wait until the wedding. Tiffany is a great girl.”
“I agree wholeheartedly, but then as her uncle, I’m a little biased.”
For some reason, this particular uncle made him nervous. Unlike his brother Morgan, he hadn’t asked a lot of questions atdinner yesterday, but he had a way of looking at a guy that was unnerving. Clearing his throat, Gary asked, “Do you recall how things were when you were engaged?”
Sebastian chuckled. “Depends on which time.”
“You were engaged more than once?” he asked as they stepped on the elevator.
“Yes. The first time, I did it because I felt that getting married was the thing to do, but the second time was for love. There’s no sense in being engaged if it’s not for love.”
“Well, I guess I’m doing it right, then. Because I definitely love Tiffany.”
It seemed they reached the courtyard in no time. The Christmas tree had been lit, and the laser show was in full effect. Tiffany smiled when she saw him and her uncle. “The two of you missed the tree lighting.”
“I regret that,” Gary said, regretting even more that he’d missed the opportunity to get into Chance Steele’s computer. He glanced around, trying to remember the last time he had truly enjoyed the holidays. It had been years. He forced the reasons for that to the back of his mind.
“Hey, guys, we’re playing several board games with the older kids after dinner. Would you two like to help out?” Natalie, who was married to Donovan, asked.
“We would love to,” Tiffany said, excitedly.
“Great! We’re meeting in that huge game room. The sooner we can tire the kiddies out, the better. Then maybe they will sleep through the night and not stare out the windows looking for Santa.”
Once they were alone, walking back toward the building where their rooms were located, Gary said, “I don’t appreciate you volunteering me for anything without asking me first, Tiffany.
She stopped walking. “Excuse me, Mr. Palmer, but didn’t you say, just this morning, while walking me to breakfast, that you wanted to spend more time around my family?”
“Yes, but-”
“But nothing. You either want to spend more time with them or you don’t. Make up your mind. When you decide which way you want to go, let me know.”
Then Tiffany walked away from him, moving to where her brother, Marcus, was talking to their father. Both men looked up when she approached. Marcus raised a brow when he saw the angry look on her face. “Are you, okay, sis?”
Tiffany forced a smile. She loved it when he called her that. They became best friends in high school, and together they plotted to get his father with her mother. It worked better than either of them had ever dreamed. Now, eleven years later, they were family. “I’m fine. I thought I would just hang out with my two favorite men for a little while.”
“Hmm, Dad. Sounds like there is trouble in paradise,” Marcus said, grinning.
Tiffany frowned. “What makes you think that?”
“Well, if Dad and I are your two favorite men, where does your fiancé fit in the mix?”
