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She glanced at the time. It was a little after one. She didn’t realize it was so late. Baking cookies had taken longer than she’d expected.

She moved to the counter and grabbed her keys. She held them out to him. “Here. Take my car.”

He hesitated. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. When she placed the keys in his outstretched hand, his fingers wrapped around hers. The warmth of his touch sent an electric pulse racing up her arm. The sensation settled in her chest, and her heart skipped a beat.

Her gaze rose to meet his. In his gray eyes, she saw a flicker of desire. Was he going to kiss her again?

The last time she willed him to pull her into his embrace, he’d done it. And so, she willed it with all of her might. In that moment, there was nothing she wanted more.

And then just as she’d wished, he lowered his head toward her. Her heart thudded as her eyes drifted closed. And then his lips were touching hers. As quick as he’d initiated the kiss, it ended.

She opened her eyes. Disappointment blanketed the butterflies in her stomach.

Shaun smiled at her. “I’ll be back real soon.”

“Okay.” Just then Mochi got up from her spot in front of the oven and made her way to Leah’s side. “We’ll be here waiting.” She leaned down and petted Mochi. “Won’t we?”

Mochi didn’t bark. She just kept staring at where Shaun had once been.

But Leah didn’t have time for that. She had a tray of cookies to decorate. She washed up and got back to work. She wanted to get these done so that when Shaun returned, they could spend a little time together before the guests showed up.

She had four rooms booked for the evening, not counting Shaun’s room. And each of those rooms had reservations for two nights. She had a feeling if she put some effort into advertising that this place would be booked solid most of the year. At least she hoped so.

She finished the cookies quickly. She didn’t put much effort into them. They’d just be for her and Shaun to munch on.

She had just placed the mixing bowl in the sink when she heard the tinkling of the sleigh bells on the front door. With Mochi next to her, Leah pivoted and headed in that direction. It was too early for guests to check in, but in front of the registration desk stood a woman holding a suitcase.

The woman was tall and thin. Her hair was bleached blond and cut short in a pixie style. She had numerous earrings plus a nose piercing. She wore makeup but not a lot. When she saw Leah, she didn’t smile. Pretty? Yes. Friendly? Doubtful.

Still, that didn’t stop Leah from approaching her with a friendly smile of her own. “Hi. May I help you?”

“I need to check in.” She spotted Mochi. “Cute dog.”

When the woman attempted to pet Mochi, the dog let out a low growl.

The woman’s brows rose. “Not very friendly.”

Leah chose to ignore the woman’s comment. “Check in isn’t until four.”

The woman frowned. “Well, I’m here now, and I need to check in.”

Usually, Leah kept the afternoon open so she had time to flip the rooms and run errands, but with the shortage of guests, she didn’t have to do that today.

She supposed she could let this woman check in early. She’d feel better about it if the woman was at least friendly. Still, this was a business—one that was in desperate need of guests.

With a niggling bit of reservation, she looked down at the registration book. “Name, please.”

“Mandi Higgins.”

Leah skimmed the short list of the day’s check-ins. “I don’t have your name. Did you make a reservation?”

“I certainly did. You don’t think I’d drive all of that way without having a reservation, do you?”

Drive all of what way? Leah knew nothing about this woman, except that she was pushy and rude. She just wished the inn was fully booked so she could turn her away.

There had to be an explanation. “Are you sure you’re booked here at the Kringle B&B? There are a number of small inns in this area.”