Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
MILLIE
I know it’s only three in the afternoon, but I am ready for a nap. I’m pretty sure Brian and I have visited every store in the city of Saddle Ridge gathering up supplies we’ll need to decorate for the upcoming events. I also spent an hour in the cutest local boutique looking for a few more outfits. My emergency funds might have taken a hit, but the pretty dresses and neutral sweaters made me smile when I tried them on.
I’ve just finished piling the last of my bags in the backseat of Brian’s truck and am getting settled in for the ride back to Springside when Brian’s phone rings.
“Hey, Bridget, what’s up?” he asks, pulling out of the parking lot before slamming on the breaks. “What? What do you mean?”
I begin to feel uneasy as I watch Brian talk to his cousin. It’s clear something isn’t right.
“Bridget, we’re still completely full. This can’t be happening. How bad’s the damage?” he asks as he listens to her response on the other end of the line.
“Okay. Do you know who’s in the rooms that are affected?” he asks with a groan.
“Bridget, you’re shitting me. You have to be making this up. Okay, fine, I’ll figure it out. Thanks,” he says before furiously tapping the end call button.
We’re still sitting in the parking lot, and I wait a moment to determine if I should ask him what’s going on. Is that too nosey? I don’t want him to think —
“Well, this is just great,” Brian says, interrupting my internal debate. “Bridget said that one of the pipes burst this morning from all the cold weather we’ve been having. They caught it in time, so it didn’t flood the whole floor. She said they’re working on getting it fixed, but apparently your room is uninhabitable for the next few weeks.”
“Uhh, oh my. Well, that’s less than ideal, I guess,” I say, feeling the anxiety knotting in my chest.
God, I should have known this whole setup was too good to be true. He’s gonna tell me this isn’t gonna work out and I’ll be on my own again.
“Yeah, you’re right about that. She did say she was able to grab most of your stuff out, but they’ve gotta close the room off until after the insurance adjuster can come by. Normally, this wouldn’t be too big of a deal, but thanks to the snow and the holidays coming up, we’re completely booked, and he may not be here for a few days, on top of the time it’ll take to get the damages fixed,” he explains, and I feel my anxiety continue to rise.
“I don’t suppose there are any other hotels in town, huh? Or an Airbnb? A bed and breakfast? A really nice lady with an air mattress? I swear, I’m not picky,” I ask, feeling like I already know the answer despite the desperation creeping into my voice.
“You’d be correct on the hotel and Airbnb front. The closest chain hotel is back in Saddle Ridge. Let me think…” he says, turning onto the main road and heading for Springside. “I’ll call Huey and see if he has any ideas.”
He punches his phone again before holding it up to his ear. Several minutes pass before he hangs up. “He didn’t answer either. Let me try Miss Sally. She’s not my favorite person, but she hears everything in town. Maybe she’ll know of someone I’m forgetting with a guest house or something.”
He waits with the phone up to his ear for another minute before groaning. “Unbelievable. I swear, as many times as she’s blown my phone up with a complaint about the grass needing to be cut at City Hall or her trash not being picked up on a holiday, but now that she could be helpful, she can’t bother to answer,” he says, rubbing his hand over his face.
We ride quietly for another moment before he says, “I’m sorry, Millie, this is unbelievable.”
I rub my hands up and down my arms, trying not to look as uncomfortable as I feel. “Oh, it’s okay. It’s not your fault. I can figure something out. Maybe I can find something in Saddle Ridge until my car gets fixed. I mean, obviously I wouldn’t be able to work at the inn, but—”
“Stay with me,” Brian interrupts, and I feel my eyes widen. Did he just say what I think he said?
I look over at him, and for a moment he looks shocked that the words came out of his mouth before he nods reassuringly and says, “Yeah, that could work. I have a guest room and plenty of space. I mean, I know it’s not ideal, and I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. But, Millie, you can’t leave. Not unless you want to, and hopefully your room will be available again soon.”
I try to ignore the way my heartbeat has quickened in my chest at his suggestion, but even I have to admit our options are pretty limited. And despite how attractive Brian is, there’s no way that he sees me as anything but an employee, so really there’s no reason to say no.
“Let’s do it, roomie,” I say, giving him a weak smile before closing my eyes and leaning back against my seat, wondering what in the hell I did to end up in this situation.
By the time we make it back to Deer Valley Inn, I feel like I’m going to be sick off the nerves and anxiety bouncing around in my stomach.
“I’ll just run in and grab your stuff. Bridget said she grabbed everything she saw before they closed it off, so let’s hope it’s enough to get you through. Plus, I need to grab some paperwork I left in my office. I’ll be right back,” he says, jumping out of the truck and making his way inside before I have a chance to respond.
I look around and try to focus on anything that might take my mind off the fact that I’ll apparently be living with my incredibly sexy boss. I spend a few minutes fidgeting in my seat until I’m unable to sit still any longer. I know Lizzie is probably asleep since it’s almost midnight in Paris, but I can’t resist sending her a text anyway.
Me: Buckle up cause I’ve got a story for you…
I start to sit my phone down, but it immediately pings with an incoming text.
Lizzie: Spill now please!
Me: Soooo apparently either I’m on Santa’s shit list or I have the worst luck in the world.
Me: My room at the inn flooded…
Lizzie: Oh my God, are you okay?!
Lizzie: What are you going to do?!
Lizzie: Do they have any extra rooms?
Me: No they don’t. So apparently I’m moving in with my new boss…
Lizzie: SHUT UP
Lizzie: YOU’RE LYING
Lizzie: I DON’T BELIEVE YOU
Me: I swear. He went in to grab my stuff. We’re waiting to see if anything opens up around town, but until then I don’t have anywhere to go.
Lizzie: MILLIE!
Lizzie: This is a Christmas miracle!
Lizzie: Please tell me you’re gonna ride him like he’s Santa’s sleigh!
Me: Lizzie, he’s still my boss. And I can’t. I’m sure he’s not interested anyway.
Lizzie: Bull shit. I bet you anything that before Christmas Eve you two are obsessed with each other.
Me: Yeah, yeah. Love you big, sis.
Lizzie: Love you bigger. Send me all the updates.
I spend the next few minutes daydreaming about how it would feel to have Brian the way my sister’s insinuating and feel my body heat at the thought.
God, I’m gonna lose it. I can’t keep worrying about this, or I’ll go crazy.
Deciding to focus on something other than my attraction to my incredibly hot boss, I tuck my phone away and reach to the floor for my bag. Pulling out my planner, I flip it open and start creating a to-do list for all the things I need to get done over the next week before the maze.
Arrange shuttles between the inn and the maze.
Make sure the kitchen has the supplies for the cookies.
Set up the decorations at the tree farm.
Reach out to volunteers.
Ignore the fact that my new roommate might be the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Easy enough, right?