1
HOLLY
Holly had her hand on Gabe’s arm, steadying him as they navigated the inn’s main staircase. Trinity was on his other side, the three of them moving carefully because of Gabe’s crutches and the cast that extended from his foot to just below his knee. Holly had a date with Jack. Gabe and Trinity were spending a daddy-daughter night of dinner, popcorn, and Christmas movies. Her granddaughter had been talking about finding the perfect dress for the Winter Ball all day, and Holly had promised they’d make an evening of it tomorrow night.
“I’ve got it, Mom,” Gabe said, as Holly’s hand tightened on his arm when he wobbled. His voice carried that slight edge of frustration he got whenever his injury slowed him down. “I’m not an invalid.”
“I know you’re not,” Holly replied, keeping her tone light. “But these stairs are steep and I’d rather not have you add a concussion to that leg.”
Trinity giggled on Gabe’s other side. “Grandma’s right, Dad. You’re kind of clumsy with those crutches.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, sweetheart,” Gabe said, but Holly could hear the smile in his voice.
They were almost down the stairs when a voice from the lobby stopped Holly’s heart.
“Holly?”
She froze mid-step. That voice. She knew that voice better than almost any sound in the world. Twenty years of marriage had etched it into her memory. But she hadn’t heard it in person for six months, not since the day she’d come home early and found him with Terry.
Holly turned slowly, Gabe and Trinity frozen beside her. Simon stood in the lobby near the reception desk where Jane was working. He looked the same as always. He was expensively dressed in slacks and a cashmere sweater, his salt-and-pepper hair perfectly styled, that confident posture that had once made her feel safe and now just made her feel cold.
And beside him stood Terry.
Holly’s breath caught, but she didn’t let herself flinch. Wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. Terry looked elegant as always, her hair styled in a perfect bob, wearing a designer coat that probably cost more than Holly’s monthly expenses. The woman who’d been her best friend. The woman she’d trusted with her secrets, her fears, her marriage troubles.
The woman who’d been secretly having an affair with her husband.
“Simon?” Holly’s voice came out steady, controlled. She was proud of that. She’d spent six months rebuilding herself, learning to be strong again, remembering who she was before Simon’s betrayal had made her question everything.
Holly felt Gabe tense beside her, his whole body going rigid. When he spoke, his voice was ice-cold, carrying an edge that Holly recognized from his military training.
“What are you doing here, Father?”
The word “father” came out like an insult.
Jane at the reception desk was looking between them all, clearly confused but sensing the sudden tension that had filled the lobby, like a physical presence. Holly saw Jack emerge from somewhere behind the desk, his expression concerned as he took in the scene.
Terry stepped forward slightly, and Holly’s stomach churned seeing them standing together like a couple. Like they had a right to be here. Like they hadn’t destroyed Holly’s entire life six months ago.
Then Terry spoke, and Holly realized this wasn’t just a terrible coincidence. “We’re here on behalf of our client who is looking to acquire this place.”
The words hung in the air like a bomb that hadjust detonated.
Silence crashed through the lobby. Holly’s mind was suddenly racing, pieces clicking together with horrible clarity. The pamphlet. The one she had found in Simon’s home office desk drawer a few weeks ago. Holly had been on the phone with Gabe, deployed somewhere he couldn’t tell her about, breaking the news that he wouldn’t be home for Christmas again. Both she and Trinity had been heartbroken. While they were FaceTiming with Gabe, Holly had been going through the desk drawers to see what she still needed to pack up and had found the pamphlet.
The Christmas Inn. Beautiful photos of a historic inn lit up with Christmas lights, descriptions of a magical holiday experience on Anastasia Island.
Holly hadn’t even thought about why Simon had it in his desk drawer, and at that moment, she didn’t even care. She’d booked it immediately. She and Trinity needed somewhere to go for Christmas, needed an escape from the memories and the pain. The inn had looked perfect. Magical and safe and far away from everything that had gone wrong.
Now standing in the lobby with Simon and Terry before her, with Terry’s words echoing in her ears, Holly understood.
Simon hadn’t been planning a vacation at the Christmas Inn. He’d been researching his next target.
The inn. Jack’s family inn. The place that had become her refuge, her safe haven. The place where she’d started to heal, started to remember who she was before Simon’s betrayal.
And Simon was here to take it for his client.
Holly’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. Jack had moved to stand near his daughter at the reception desk, his face carved from stone. Christopher emerged from the office doorway and stood on the other side of Jane.
