A Blazin’ Christmas Wish (Christmas Comet Romance #2)

Chris

Lulu

"Anything else you need, Lou?" the kind cashier, Kristina whispered.

I waved my hand before I picked up my groceries. "I'm fine. Got so much coming up. Are you coming to the Kringle Night in a few days? Bundle up! It'll be fun. I'll even bring my hot hot cocoa!"

Kristina's face paled and she looked away from my face. My planted smile faded from my face as I realized it was going to be another no. "I think I'm busy. You know how I get in the cold."

A tight fake smile rose on my face as my fingers wrapped around the plastic handles as I tried to slow my racing heart. "Yeah, sure, thanks. Have a good one." Quickly, I took a few steps away as I tried to stem the heartache inside me.

"Hey, Lou?" she said.

I blinked and paused. Turning slowly, I turned back towards her. "What?"

"There's a zoning meeting coming up. After the holidays."

I looked around and narrowed my eyes as I tried to wrack my brain on why that was important. "So?"

"It's the area around Moss Creek."

My shoulders dropped. "The B&B is on Moss Creek."

"I heard a hotshot developer is coming after the holidays to look at the area and sell it to the county."

I bit my bottom lip as I tried to stare at the eye-blasting fluorescents. Blinking away the tears, I nodded. "I'll figure it out. Don't worry."

Kristina tilted her head. "You sure?"

"Yeah. Happy holidays if I don't see you again!" I exclaimed as I turned on my heels to leave.

"You, too!" Kristina yelled as I stormed out the door.

When I heard there was going to be a once in a lifetime chance to see the Kringle star, I thought it was a sign.

I'd made so many plans with the B&B and the community Kringle Night to see the star.

I had seen other towns online making a big deal for it, I figured I could.

Taking a steadying breath, I opened my trunk to put the groceries away.

My phone started ringing, but I couldn't reach my phone in time before it hung up.

Once the bag was in the trunk, I pulled my phone out of my side pocket.

A local truck driver's name, Rich with dollar signs beside it, was on the missed call list. I smirked.

This was always a good sign for me: it meant that someone's car broke down and they were needing a place to stay.

I tapped the button and leaned against the trunk.

"Yello?" I said as he picked up.

"Lou? I just dropped a guy at your place. Where's your staff?"

Wincing, I stared at my feet. "Someone quit. Others are on holiday. It's..."

"How far under are you?"

"I'm fine, Rich. Leave me alone. I guess my guest is sitting on the porch?"

Rich chuckled on the other end. "Yep."

"Guess I gotta go home."

Rich sighed. "Are you doing okay?"

I squinted my face as I tried to figure out how I could get him to drop this. "I told you, I'm fine."

"You usually have someone on the property. I'm worried about you," he whispered so low I could barely hear him over the roar of his diesel truck.

"Thanks. If I need you, I'll call you."

"Don't forget Randall is off for the next five days."

"Yeah, I know. It's sweet," I said as I pulled the phone away from my ear. "Gotta go! Bye!"

Slamming my body into the car seat, I sighed.

As much as I kept telling everyone I was fine, I wasn't. Instead of starting my car, I looked on social media and found the zoning meeting for Lone Wolf Developers.

I didn't own all the land, but the map showed the land that I owned.

The caption mentioned eminent domain and the LWD promised a supermarket and more.

The cold wind whipped around my legs as I swiped through the social media page.

Part of the land was a walking trail and the old B&B, which was just rotting.

There was a small fantasy I had when I decided this was what I was doing—that I could buy the old B&B, The Kraken, but it was too much work with the historical society.

Down the road, I was able to find another fixer-upper which has become my pride and glory. My mother would have been proud.

But I'm failing right now. Economic downturn, whatever, whatever.

For some reason, I wasn't getting as many lodgers right now.

Shaking my head, I turned on my car and turned the engine over.

The cold supposed-to-be heat hit my face until I hit the buttons and more warmth hit my face and I backed out of my parking spot.

The street lights were flickering on as I drove down the road until I turned towards the B&B that I owned.

Sure enough, a man was standing in front of my Christmas tree on the porch.

On the far side of the porch, the swing twisted rapidly in the icy breeze.

I parked in front of the covered porch and walked to my trunk.

As I wrapped my hands around the handles of my bags, I said, "You here for a room or to kill me?" A choking sound erupted from the stranger, and I turned towards him. I smiled and raised my arms. "Care to help?"

He blinked and stepped off the porch and grabbed the jug of milk. "Sorry. I was looking for Lou. Have you seen him? Rich said he owns this place. You work here? Maid?"

I froze for some strange reason. It was normal for people to call me Lou, but something about him assuming I was a guy caused me to stop.

I plastered a smile on my face. "I do a bit of everything.

Lou is kinda busy right now. Let me get you settled, and then I'll show you around.

How many days will you be here?" I asked as I breezed past him.

I placed the bags on the ground and pulled my keys out.

"Right now, you are the only guest, and a lot of people are off cause of the holidays. "

"I guess Mr. Lou might be happy about the new zoning ordinance. I'm sure this is all stressful."

"The boss loves this place, but you already know about that?"

"Rich talks a lot."

Pursing my lips, I felt a sliver of suspicion.

Ignoring my gut, I reached towards my ankles and brushed against the air.

Pausing, I looked at him and noticed he had grabbed the bags I put on the ground.

"Oh, thanks. Kitchen's this way," I said as I straightened up and rushed to the kitchen.

"I'll have to text our pastry chef and make sure she comes in tomorrow morning. "

He dropped the groceries on the large kitchen island beside me. "She doesn't come in every day? What sort of place is this?"

I turned and put my hands on my hips. "Hey, as you can tell, there's not many people, and this is the holiday season. There was no need for her to come in and make pastries if it's just the employees here. Don't be rude," I snapped.

He lifted his hands and shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

In this moment, I could look at him. The stranger was hot.

He was a few inches taller than me—enough that I'd have to get on my tiptoes to reach the top of his head.

His eyes were light green with swirls of brown surrounding the pupil.

His face was sculpted with high cheekbones, and a five o'clock shadow brushed along the edges of his jaw.

My eyes trailed down his neck and noticed the cut of his clothes.

It was high quality and very expensive from my guess as I caught a logo at the edge of the collar.

I wondered why he was here. Shouldn't he be having a perfect Christmas at some mountain ski lodge?

With my cheeks burning, I realized I had been staring way too long at him.

I smiled politely and turned away. He stepped closer, and my heart raced at the sudden closeness.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into my ear. His hot breath traced down my neck and caused goosebumps to rise on my arms. A shiver went straight to my pussy, and I shook my head.

"Thanks," I muttered as I started tossing stuff into the fridge. "What are you doing in this area?"

"I was going to visit the mountain thirty minutes from here until Christmas, and then I was coming this way for work."

Warning bells rang loudly in my head, and I slid my eyes towards him over the open fridge door. "Oh, really?"

"My car broke down. Do you think the mechanic will fix it by tomorrow?"

I threw my head back and cackled. "No."

The stranger glowered. "What do you mean?"

I sighed and shut the door. I dramatically draped myself over the kitchen island.

"Randall is like a Hallmark romantic. As a gift to his wife, he takes off the week before and a few days after the holidays to make sure she's not handling the kids alone, cooking frantically, and what not.

He even defends her against the relatives. He's amazing."

He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "You have a crush?"

I pushed myself up and faced him, my heart pounding in my chest. "I like romance. I like undying passion. I—"

Smirking, he crossed his broad chest with his arms, and the jacket on his arm tightened around his biceps.

I wondered how strong he was with that bulge of muscles.

My cheeks grew warmer as I looked away as the thought of bulges brought on a flash of another bulge.

"Do you have a Hallmark-worthy love?" he whispered in a particularly hoarse voice.

I started picking up the plastic bags scattered around the kitchen. "This is a state of the art kitchen. The future plans to maybe have this as more of a full-service menu one day."

As I was trying to get away from him, he closed the space between us. "You didn't answer my question," he said.

I laughed. "No. I'm still looking for my Prince Charming. So instead I look at the stories like Randall's and sigh and wish even harder. But I have the B&B and I helped decorate it. Plus there's the star event coming up for the Kringle comet. Are you going to come?" I babbled.

"Kringle comet?" he asked as his dark brows furrowed.