“Ms. Winters,” Ivy greeted cooly, crossing her arms over her chest. “I heard you need a place to stay.”
Celeste’s expression was unreadable as she stepped into the warmth of the house. Her gaze swept over Ivy, taking in her less-than-polished appearance.
“For now,” Celeste replied, her voice even. “It seems I’m stranded.”
Ivy’s jaw tightened, but she waved Celeste toward the door. “The guest house is out back. It’s small but comfortable.”
“Small is fine,” Celeste said, not bothering to glance outside. “I won’t be here long.”
The tension between them was palpable, the kind that made the air feel thick and heavy. Ivy didn’t miss the way Celeste’s cool demeanor clashed with the cozy warmth of her home or how out of place the business tycoon looked standing in her hallway.
“Follow me, then,” Ivy muttered, grabbing her coat and leading the way out back to the guest house.
Once Celeste was settled, Ivy lingered by the window, watching the snow continue to fall. The storm had trapped them both in the same town, forcing Ivy to confront the reality of Celeste’s presence.
She wasn’t sure what bothered her more—that Celeste was here, in her space, or that some part of her deep down was intrigued by the woman behind the ice queen façade.
She shook her head, as if she could dislodge the thought, reminding herself that Celeste Winters was nothing more than a threat to her livelihood. A distraction she didn’t need. And yet…
The memory of their earlier confrontation replayed in her mind, and Ivy couldn’t ignore the way her heart had raced—whether from anger or something else, she wasn’t sure.
Outside, the wind howled ever louder, rattling the windows. It was going to be a long night.
3
CELESTE
The storm had passed by morning, leaving Hollyridge covered in a thick, glittering layer of snow. Celeste Winters stood at the window of the guest house, her arms crossed as she stared out at the pristine landscape.
Her plan had been simple: stay the night, collect herself, and leave before anyone had a chance to reel her into this insufferably quaint town’s holiday madness. But nature had other ideas.
The roads were still a mess, and despite her protests, Ivy had insisted it wouldn’t be safe to leave just yet. Celeste had no choice but to accept the delay with as much grace as she could muster, though it did little to settle her frustration.
She wrapped her arms tighter around herself, watching as small groups of townsfolk bundled up in scarves and mittens made their way toward the town square. A few children ran by, their laughter cutting through the still morning air. A festival of all things. Christmas cheer at its most nauseating.
A light knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
Celeste opened it to find Ivy standing there, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold, holding a steaming mug of coffee.The scent of freshly brewed beans mixed with the faint aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg.
“I thought you might need this,” Ivy said, her voice gentle, as if sensing the storm still brewing inside Celeste.
“Thank you,” Celeste said, taking the mug, though the warmth did little to thaw the icy wall she kept between them. She blew on the hot liquid before taking a tentative sip.
Ivy broke the silence. “I know you’re anxious to leave, but the roads are still pretty dangerous.” She shifted slightly, glancing over her shoulder toward the main house. “There’s a festival today in the town square. Ellie’s been talking about it for weeks. It’s kind of the town’s big event before Christmas. You’re welcome to come along if you want.”
Celeste raised an eyebrow. “I’m not exactly in the mood for holiday festivities.”
“I figured as much,” Ivy said and smiled. “But…it’s better than sitting here alone, staring out at the snow. Besides, it’ll be good for Ellie to have someone else around.”
Celeste hesitated. The last thing she needed was to get further involved with this town or its people. But the quiet vulnerability in Ivy’s voice tugged at something deep inside her—something she wasn’t prepared to confront.
“I’ll think about it,” she said. “Thanks again for the coffee.”
Celeste closed the door before Ivy could say anything more.
–
The town square was buzzing with life, an explosion of color and warmth against a stark-white backdrop of snow-covered streets, and Celeste regretted her decision to tag along within minutes of arriving. Ivy had convinced her, in that quiet, persistent way of hers, to join her and Ellie to the festival. Thechild had been ecstatic, skipping along the icy pavement, tugging at her mother’s hand with barely contained eager excitement.
