Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
DANIELLE
T he snow crunches under my boots as I trudge up the path to my aunt's Christmas cottage with my art portfolio case awkwardly balanced alongside my rolling suitcase.The last rays of sunset paint the snow in shades of colors I should be capturing on canvas in Utah right now,not wasting time in Serenity County because Aunt Suzie guilt-tripped me about "losing touch with my roots" and "living only for my art."
A sleek black Mercedes sits in the driveway, definitely not my aunt's practical SUV or uncle's ancient pickup.
"What now?" I mutter, fishing my key from my coat pocket.
My phone buzzes. Another message from the gallery about my upcoming show in February.Me being here is reckless. I should be in my studio finishing my mountain series, yet I’m here, so I slap on my best ‘I’m happy to be home’ smile.
The key turns smoothly in the lock.Warmth and the scent of fresh coffee greet me as I step inside.
"Aunt Sue? Uncle Tommy?" I call out, stomping snow from my boots.
"Danny?"
My heart stops. That voice. Deep, familiar, impossible.
Derek, my ex-boyfriend, steps out of the kitchen, coffee mug in hand, and my body betrays me with an instant flash of heat.A tailored sweater stretches across shoulders that are broader than I remember.His sleeves are pushed up, exposing those muscled forearms that send unbidden memories of him pinning me against my apartment wall next to my easel, his hands leaving smudges of paint on my skin as he...
What the hell am I doing?
I force my eyes up to his face, but that's worse.The last time I'd seen him, he'd been wearing that same expression of charm and regret as he'd told me he had to take the opportunity before him and that I should understand. But as I stood there, paintbrush frozen mid-stroke, my heart shattered even as I nodded. Because loving Derek had always meant understanding his drive for more, even when 'more' meant leaving me behind.
That memory helps me find my voice."What are you doing here?"
He asks the same question simultaneously, and my traitorous mind takes me back to when we were twenty-two, in love and finishing each other's sentences.But we're not those people anymore.He made sure of that when he walked away.
"Your aunt asked me to watch Scout while they're away," he says, just as my aunt's scruffy rescue mutt comes bounding around the corner.
I focus on steadying my breathing, ignoring how his sweater clings to his chest as he bends to scratch Scout's ears.The years have been unfairly kind to him.The boy I loved has matured into a man who looks like he belongs on the cover of Fortune magazine.
Swallowing, I straighten my spine."No, they told me they’d be here for a family Christmas." I set down my portfolio case, careful not to damage the paintings inside."I even spoke to Jasmine recently, and she didn’t say anything about you being here.”
Derek’s eyebrow raises a tad, but his smooth facade quickly returns. “My sister doesn’t know I’m here. No one does.” He sighs. “Not yet at least. You know how news flies in this town.”
I sigh. “Where’s my aunt and uncle?"
Derek shrugs before setting down his mug. He pulls an envelope from his back pocket."Found this on the counter."
I snatch it from his hand, trying to ignore how our fingers brush.Inside is a note in my aunt's familiar scrawl.
Dearest Danny and Derek,
Surprise! We thought you both could use some Christmas spirit this year.There is cookie dough in the freezer, decorations in the attic, and Scout needs lots of love and attention.We'll see you on Christmas Eve!
Remember, sometimes the best masterpieces come from unexpected collaborations.
Love,
Aunt Sue & Uncle Tommy
"Unbelievable." I crumple the note."I'm leaving."
"In this weather?" Derek raises an eyebrow, nodding toward the window where rain now falls in thick drops."News said there were blizzards heading over to the West.Not the best conditions for driving back to Utah."
"I'll catch the next flight."
"Good luck with that. Airport's already announcing delays and cancellations."
I pull out my phone to check for myself.The bastard's right. A massive storm system is being projected.No flights until at least tomorrow afternoon.I must have literally just made it out before the delays.
Scout whines and paws at my leg.I look down into his pleading brown eyes, then back at Derek who watches me with that same measured gaze that used to watch me paint for hours.
"Fine." I hoist my suitcase, careful not to bump my portfolio case."I'll take the guest room."
"Already claimed it."
"This is my aunt's cabin."
"They invited me too." A hint of a smile plays at his lips."We could share."
"In your dreams, Wall Street." I march past him toward my old bedroom, Scout trotting at my heels.
"Still bitter about New York?" he calls after me.
I slam the door without answering.Scout scratches to be let in, so I open it just enough for him to squeeze through before closing it again.
"Traitor," Derek mutters from the hallway.
I sink onto my childhood bed, and Scout jumps up to lay his head in my lap.The walls still hold the remnants of my sketches of mountains and dreams I once had of sharing my art with the world.Dreams that took me away from here.Away from him.
"What am I going to do?" I whisper, scratching behind Scout's ears.
He looks up at me with complete adoration, unlike the man in the otherroom.I'm trapped here with my ex-boyfriend, who all but ran over my heart chasing his big city ambitions,and enough Christmas activities planned to fill a flipping Hallmark moviemarathon.
This is not how I planned to spend myholiday.