He stepped into the elevator and took a place beside her. “Good morning, Olivia.” Their conversation wasn’t quite getting off the way he’d hoped—even though he wasn’t sure what exactly he was hoping for. He was steeling himself to start talking about what he knew they both needed to discuss, having no clue how to do so, when Olivia stepped forward and pushed the button that stopped the elevator.

  It jerked to a standstill, and she faced him. “Alex, I—” Her cheeks filled with color as she looked away. “I need to talk to you about something.” She inched forward, and her gaze rose once more.

  He couldn’t breathe. She’d closed the gap between them so that they were almost pressed up against each other. Her hands remained at her sides, and she fidgeted with them while her voice lowered.

  “I couldn’t sleep much last night, and I would never forgive myself if I didn’t at least do something.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Alex whispered, matching her hushed tone.

  She stared at him as if contemplating the meaning of life itself then rose on her toes and closed her eyes.

  He saw it coming in slow motion, and perhaps that was one reason for what happened next.

  Chapter Eleven

  Olivia anticipated their lips would connect a lot sooner, so when she nearly stumbled forward, her eyes flew open only to find Alex had moved. She sucked in sharply and caught herself on the railing before colliding with the elevator wall.

  Turning on him, with wide, hurt eyes she found him practically cowering in the corner of the elevator. Humiliation dragged her to a place where she couldn’t breathe; she wasn’t able to get even a second of oxygen pulled into her lungs.

  He’d stepped away from her. He’d refused her kiss. She’d put herself out there, and he’d made her look like an idiot.

  “I-I’m… sorry,” she stammered, swiftly turning around to hit the button to release the elevator. Her eyes remained trained on the numbers overhead. Why were they moving so dang slow?

  Olivia tapped her feet, feeling the rush of heat getting hotter by the second.

  “Olivia—”

  She shook her head and let out a laugh that sounded more like a cackle. “Don’t. It’s fine. I thought…” She swallowed hard. “Never mind what I thought. I’m so sorry.”

  She’d thought they’d shared a moment the other night. She’d thought he’d been about to kiss her several times. Why was she so set on sabotaging everything in her life?

  What was wrong with her?

  “Olivia,” he tried again, but the doors opened at that very moment.

  It wasn’t the floor where she was planning on getting off, but she had to escape the absolute purgatory that she’d put herself in. Olivia couldn’t move fast enough. As much as she wanted to run down the hall and dart into a maintenance closet, she knew that would only draw more attention, and that was the last thing she needed right now.

  Dang it all. Why couldn’t she have just left well enough alone? All she’d had to do was remain cordial while he was here. And now she’d just nearly stolen a kiss from a man who, for all she knew, was with someone else.

  Her stomach dropped so suddenly she had to lean against the wall for support. That had to be it. He was with someone, and she had nearly caused him to be unfaithful. Now she really felt like she was going to be sick.

  Olivia pressed her back against the wall and closed her eyes, willing her heart to stop beating so erratically. She’d have to apologize to him again, and simply knowing that did nothing for her current mental state.

  “Olivia! There you are. Zoe is looking for you. Did you forget that you had a meeting?”

  Her eyes flew open, and she stared down the hall, where Eve was coming right at her. There was no escaping her boss without some severe consequences.

  No, she wouldn’t be fired, but Eve had a way of dragging information from her staff without lifting a finger. The closer she got, the more Eve’s expression shifted into concern. She slowed her pace to glance up and down the hallway. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

  Yeah, something had happened. She’d just experienced the most embarrassing moment in her entire life—that was what.

  Olivia forced a smile and shook her head. “I think I just didn’t get enough sleep last night. I’m not feeling too great.”

  Eve studied her for what felt like an eternity. “You’re taking the day off. I don’t care if you decide to do the meeting with Zoe about the food for the wedding, but you’re staying out of the kitchen today.”

  “I can’t—the gingerbread-house competition⁠—”

  “Mark can handle overseeing that. I can’t have my best chef wearing herself out before the holidays. You’ll need your strength.”

  “Eve, I’m fine⁠—”

  “No you’re not. You’re pale and sweating. Are you sure you’re not coming down with something?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. I’m just…” She was just reeling from the most embarrassing moment of her life and realizing there were far too many complicating things taking up permanent space in her brain. “I’m just tired.”

  “Exactly, so you’re taking the day off. I don’t care what you do with it, but you’re officially banned from the kitchen.”

  Her mouth hung open, and Eve shook her head.

  “I mean it, Olivia. Find something else to do.” Eve pulled out a walkie-talkie and gave Olivia one of the hardest stares she had ever seen before continuing down the hall and radioing the kitchen.

  Well, this was just great.

  Now what was she supposed to do?

  She couldn’t go to the kitchen or get kicked out. She had a feeling she couldn’t go to the barn and hang out with the horses because Alex might be there. She didn’t want to just wander the resort, nor did she want to be cooped up in her room all day.

  “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” played faintly, drifting down the hallway toward her. There was a smaller ballroom on this floor than on the main one, and it seemed the music was coming from that direction.

  Olivia pushed away from the wall and followed the music. The louder it became, the easier it was to let go of the embarrassing thoughts that remained in her head. She stopped in the doorway of the ballroom to find couples, young and old, learning the two-step. Laughter, lights, and holiday decor made the whole scene feel like it came directly out of a Christmas movie.

  One couple in particular caught her eye. It might have been because the young man resembled Alex so much or because they appeared to be in their early twenties. She remembered those days—being young and in love. It wasn’t hard to be transported back to a time when life was simpler.

  Back then, she’d thought they were going to be together forever.

  That was before he’d been offered the opportunity of a lifetime and she knew she’d only hold him back. The publishing company that wanted to work with him wasn’t willing to work with remote authors—especially with someone so wet behind the ears.

  She’d done the right thing.

  Olivia knew it deep inside her soul.

  But after being denied a kiss she’d wanted so much, she wasn’t willing to accept that narrative anymore.

  What would her life have been like if she’d tried to stick it out? Would they still have found their passions? She’d done her share of traveling and apprenticing under some decent chefs. Alex had gone on tour and made something of himself.

  Their lives were great, as far as she was concerned.

  So why couldn’t she shake the feeling that somewhere along the road, she’d messed everything up?

  No. She refused to think that.

  She hadn’t messed everything up. She’d taken her shot, and Alex wasn’t interested. That was fine. She didn’t need a guy in her life in order to be fulfilled. She had a great job and a bright future, and not even Alex was going to ruin that.

  Chapter Twelve

  Alex was completely shook. His hands were clammy, and he wasn’t quite sure what had happened even after Olivia escaped from the elevator.

  He wandered into the lobby aimlessly, going over what had happened from the moment Olivia shut down the elevator to the moment he’d stepped back from her.

  Why on earth had he done that?

  He wanted to beat his head into the wall to knock some sense back into his brain. What had held him back? Hadn’t he been debating kissing her all last night? He could have, several times. There was even one time when he’d almost done that very thing, but she’d taken off toward the barn.

  Alex clenched his hands into fists then released them. He shook out his arms, but none of these movements did anything to relieve the tension that had built up in every muscle of his body.

  The lobby was busy with those checking out at the front desk. Not even the smell of coffee, peppermint tea, and gingerbread muffins from the breakfast nook could soothe his feelings in this moment.

  He’d made a mistake. Yes, he’d been caught off guard. Olivia’s words hadn’t computed in his brain fast enough for him to prepare for what she was going to do. And there was still that part of him that didn’t want to risk giving her his heart like he had before.

  But there was one thing he knew.

  He wanted to see if there was still something between them. He wanted to know if they still had a spark that was worth exploring.

  Alex glanced in the direction he’d come from. She’d gotten off on a floor above this one, but by now, she could be anywhere.

  No, not anywhere. She had work, right? She’d have gone to the kitchen. So that was where he’d go.

  He marched, determination fueling each step he took. Olivia couldn’t just try a sneak attack then run away. He was going to show her how it was done. If she wanted to clear the air and tell him that she thought they should give it another try, then she needed to just say so.

  As expected, the kitchen was a flurry of servers and cooks. He wasn’t sure why. The breakfast they served in the dining nook didn’t seem to be all that complicated.

  But then he got a good look at what they were working on. When Olivia had said they were doing a gingerbread competition, he’d assumed she meant the kinds of gingerbread houses made with graham crackers, like the ones he’d put together as a kid.

  He couldn’t have been more wrong. They were making real gingerbread. There were large sheets of the stuff. Some looked too soft to work with, but then, he didn’t know what it was supposed to look like. Maybe this was exactly what a real gingerbread house was made of.

  Alex stood in the doorway, watching with wonder, until someone stopped what they were doing and stared hard at him.

  “I’m sorry, did you need something?” the man asked.

  Alex shot a look of incredulity at the man, recognizing the guy who had worked late with Olivia on the day Alex had hunkered down in the kitchen. Alex nodded, straightening his shoulders. “Yes. I’m looking for Olivia.”

  “She’s not coming in today.” The man turned to someone else and barked out another order before glancing toward Alex. “She’s sick.”

  She was? “I just saw her…” His voice trailed off as the man gave him a sharp look.

  “Well, if you just saw her, then you’d know she wasn’t coming in. If you need to find her, I suggest going to her room.”

  “Where’s that?” Alex asked the question before he realized that he’d probably just made himself out to be some kind of stalker.

  The young man scowled at him. “If she wanted you to know, then she probably would have told you. Call her and get that info for yourself. I have a kitchen to run, and I’m not going to let you bully me into taking it hostage.” He flicked his hands forward, indicating that Alex needed to make himself scarce.

  If Olivia wasn’t in the kitchen and she said she wasn’t feeling well, then where was she? Alex ducked out of the kitchen, noting that this person was probably more protective of Olivia than Alex had realized.

  As much as Alex wanted to hunt down the owner of the resort and ask for help in locating Olivia, he knew that wasn’t an option. And if he tried doing it on his own, he’d likely run out of time before Jocelyn tracked him down. In a moment of spontaneity, Alex hopped off the elevator on the second floor. But looking both ways, he knew he had to come back to reality. If Olivia didn’t want to be found, she wouldn’t be.

  He’d come to the decision to just head back to his room when he overheard music playing faintly. More out of curiosity than anything else, he followed the music.

  That was when fate finally decided to smile on him.

  In the doorway of what looked like an oversized conference room without tables or chairs stood the woman he needed to see.

  Her shoulder leaned against the doorjamb as she watched couples dance from one side of the room to the other. Alex observed from over her shoulder for a few moments before he finally alerted her to his presence. “I was never a very good dancer. I’m pretty sure that was one of the things you hated about me.”

  She jumped, a gasp tearing from her throat as she whirled around to face him. Her eyes rounded, and her face lost all its coloring. Then the shock wore off, and anger rumbled like a thundercloud behind her eyes. “Alex,” she demanded, “what are you doing here?”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets, if only to keep her from seeing them shake. “You can’t just try to kiss me and walk away.” There. He’d said it. He’d dived right in and told her how he felt. She should be proud of him.

  Olivia crossed her arms and stared up at him, venom in her voice. “And you can’t come track me down to rub it in that you refused.” Her cheeks flushed bright red, the color spreading like spilled wine.

  “You didn’t give me a chance to explain.”

  “Explain what?” She huffed. “That even though you’ve practically been toying with me, you’re not interested?”

  His head reared back. “I haven’t been toying with you.”

  “You’ve been flirting,” she said.

  “Yeah, because I like you.” The confession tumbled from his lips before he could control it. This was like one of those psychological games where the first thing that came to his mind had to be spilled in order for him to figure out where he stood. “I like you,” he murmured, quieter this time.

  She gaped at him, putting him on edge.

  “I wasn’t… ready… when you tried to kiss me.” He glanced away, rubbing the back of his neck as he attempted to find the words that had come so easily in his mind but refused to be voiced. “I couldn’t imagine that you felt the same way. You broke up with me, remember?”

  Olivia huffed, but it didn’t have as much strength behind it. “Yeah, well…”

  A smile touched his lips. “Yeah… well…” His eyes flitted upward, noting for the first time the mistletoe that hung overhead. He dropped his gaze back to her face and hooked a finger beneath her chin. “I’m ready now.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Fireworks.

  No, not that. This kiss was so much more. Olivia couldn’t put her finger on it, but the way she felt when Alex held her in his arms and kissed her like no one was watching—it made her believe in fairy tales again.

  Suddenly, she was transported back to her college days of wandering through campus with Alex by her side. They could talk about their futures, their dreams, and how many kids they wanted without a single worry.

  Olivia let her guard down in that moment, allowing herself to feel free from the consequences that might arise from making this specific decision. She pushed her hands into Alex’s hair and gave herself fully to him.

  Their tumultuous kiss slowed then lingered until Alex withdrew. His eyes remained locked on her, pinning her in place. She exhaled, though it did nothing to relieve her of her lightheadedness.

  “That was…” he murmured.

  “Yeah.” She brought her fingers to her hair and pushed wayward strands behind her ear. That kiss was so much more charged than anything they’d shared before. It was as if the time they’d spent apart had only added to the chemistry they shared. No wonder she hadn’t been able to find someone to replace him—not that she wanted to. She’d never stopped loving him.

  She simply couldn’t explain that to him.

  Olivia cleared her throat, tearing her eyes from his. Shoving aside every past regret, she permitted herself to just give in. Alex was here. He was interested. They could hash out the details later. Perhaps what she really needed was to have a little bit of fun.

  “You called in sick, huh?” There was humor in his voice, and she snapped her head up so she could judge whether he was teasing her or merely making a comment.

  “Actually, I didn’t. They wouldn’t let me work today.”

  “Oh.” He cocked his head. “Does that mean that you have some spare time today?”

  “Shouldn’t you be writing?”

  Still, he watched her, causing her to fidget more than she had in ages. “When a story takes hold, you can’t stop me from writing. Today, I would rather spend some time with you.”

  Her heart raced at that statement. This was the same old Alex—only now he was seasoned, marinated, or aged like a fine wine. She could see it in his eyes. No wonder she’d been finding it hard to resist him. She hadn’t fully gotten over him.

  Was it possible this was fate’s way of telling her she had a second chance?

  Olivia didn’t dare hope.

  Alex grazed her jawline with his knuckle, dragging her back to the present.

  Yet she hesitated. “I don’t know, Alex. I have a lot going on right now. So do you. And when you’re done writing your book⁠—”

  “One day at a time, Olivia. Come out with me. I hear there’s an ice rink in town. We could go skating. Or we could go for a horse ride.”

  At some point, they’d gotten an audience. Olivia caught sight of those who were here for a dance lesson, watching the two of them as they stood in the doorway.

  Alex glanced toward them briefly then grinned at her. “How can you say no now?”

 

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