“You’ll see them soon enough.” Crossing her fingers that she could dodge the Christmas basket discussion for one more day, as Mom was sure to eventually unload her full, unfiltered opinion, Ava switched her attention to Pamela, whose head was bowed low into her phone. “How was your flight, Mrs. Young?”
“Too much turbulence for a red-eye.” Pamela slowly tore her gaze away from her screen and lifted her wine glass, showcasing her perfectly manicured red nails.
“Did you see the northern lights?” Mom chimed in.
“No.”
“They’re supposed to be out tonight,” Brayden added. “Mom, you should really see them while you’re here. They’re one of my favorite things about living in Alaska.”
“I doubt I’ll be up for those.”
Brayden put his arm around Ava’s chair, his fingers brushing her shoulder. Tingles erupted on contact, but Ava pretended not to notice them. “Mrs. Young, you can’t come all the way to Alaska in the winter and purposely ignore the northern lights. It’s practically against the law here.”
“I have a conference call in the morning, much earlier than I presume either of you will be awake. I need my sleep.”
“Well, perhaps tomorrow night,” Ava said. “They’re supposed to be strong through Christmas Eve. Most of the nights include clear skies.”
Pamela stared hard at Brayden, and Ava wondered what she missed while hiding out in the bathroom. “Afraid I won’t be around for that. I’m flying back tomorrow evening,” Pamela finally said, her eyes lifting from her wine glass to her son. “Brayden’ll be coming with me.”
Ava and Mom both stared at Brayden as if he’d grown a second head.Is this what I missed earlier?“Is that true?” she asked in hardly a whisper. His fingers tightened on her shoulder, but she didn’t know what it meant. Only that she didn’t want him to leavetomorrow. He wasn’t allowed to abandon her withnonotice. They had a deal.
“But you’ll miss out on so much here, Pamela!” Mom pleaded. “Can’t you stay a little while longer? Sunset Ridge is so lovely at Christmastime. Positively magical.”
“Our annual company Christmas party is this coming week, and we have lots of preparations to make,” Pamela explained, her tone as nonchalant as if they were discussing the weather or the appetizer menu. “It’s a huge event, you see. Brayden couldn’t possibly miss it. Not with the big news we have to share.”
“I’m not going.” Brayden’s tone was cool, confident, and equally as nonchalant. So much calmer than Ava with her erratically beating heart.What big news?
“Of course you are.”
“No, I’m not.” He waited as the server placed plates of crab cakes and lobster rolls on the table. Ava studied his expression for hints of what he had up his sleeve, because she could sense it was something. She wished for once the man wasn’t so darn secretive. The suspense was killing her.
“Everything is already settled, Brayden,” Pamela said between gritted teeth after orders were placed. “You’re needed at home.”
“Thisis my home.” His tone was quiet, but firm. Commanding. It gave Ava chills of admiration. “If you want me to even consider taking over the company, you’ll stick around through Christmas. See why I love it here so much.”
“I can’t—”
“I won’t entertain leaving until you understand what it is I’d be giving up.” Brayden lifted a crab cake onto his appetizer plate, still calm as could be. But panic seized Ava as she realized the gravity of those words. Brayden might leave. For good. Her stomach tied in knots at the thought of losing her duplex neighbor . . .forever. It was Elsie. She was saddened by the thought of never seeing the golden again. Nothing more.Right?
“I have meetings. Conference calls.”
“Reschedule them,” Brayden shot back. “It’s nearly Christmas. You need to get out of your inbox and see what this town is all about. You’re not allowed to hide out in your lodge room the whole time you’re here.”
“Oh, you couldn’t possibly do that!” Mom cooed. “I’d be happy to show you around. You can’t leave until you’ve had Willamina’s fresh halibut chowder or snow-shoed up to the best lookout point in town. The view is stunning enough to make a person cry. And those northern lights, I promise you’ve never seen anything like them. And that’s not to mention all the Christmas—”
“We can discuss this tomorrow,” Pamela interjected, her gaze fixed on Brayden.
“There’s nothing more to discuss. I have obligations here. A wedding to attend and a festive Christmas sweater event Ava’s family puts on every year.” He looked at Ava, his eyes sparkling with victory. “I’m certain I have the winning sweater.”
Any attempts to convince herself that this was all an act were futile. Ava was falling for her fake boyfriend, and she wasn’t quite certain how to stop it from happening.
“Pamela, youmustjoin in! I brought extra sweaters if you need one. It’s a family tradition, not to mention such a hoot!”
“I’m sorry to be a spoilsport, but I can’t possibly stay. The company Christmas party—”
“Let Sarra manage it this year.”
Ava’s eyes widened before she could recover her shock. Pamela didn’t miss it either. Darn Brayden and his inability to confide the important things. Of course, he was the one who told her not to mention his sister, and then he did it himself. What wasn’t he saying?
