Chapter 18
Everything about this felt dangerous in its simplicity.
Not because of the deadline. Not because of the mantle.
Because being with her felt natural. Effortless.
He wasn’t measuring compatibility or calculating how to increase Gold Lumen.
He was skating beside a woman who made him forget to calculate at all.
Every part of him was just content to be here with Cora. Confessing how much she meant to him might have been a misstep, but to be honest he had no plan around her anymore.
Something had changed and he could no longer pretend it hadn’t.
“Addiction… That sounds dangerous,” she said.
“Yet I feel safe with you.”
“Same. Ah, what am I doing?” she asked, but it was more to herself. She pushed away from him, separating them.
“Cora?”
She groaned. “I … I have to know. You’re really being there for me, and everyone else. Is that for real? Are you for real? Or is this some game you’re playing?”
He skated toward her until she put up her hand. “Stay there. I can’t think when you’re close to me.”
She messed with his head too. That was where his certainty about her came from. She had to be the one for him. The way she had him rattled and tied in knots. This wasn’t casual. She didn’t belong on the Naughty List; she belonged by his side.
“Nick? Are you going to answer me?”
“It’s real. I’m not playing a game. I genuinely like helping people. One good deed always feeds another one. The more I can make those around me feel valued, the more they will do the same for others.”
She shook her head. “I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“I’m not unique,” he promised her. His entire family and everyone in Hearthvale did the same. He was a product of his environment, the same way that she was.
He edged closer to her and this time she didn’t stop him. He took her hand in his. “Still want to go to my place?”
“I’d be scared to go home now.”
“Why?”
“You might go into withdrawal,” she teased.
He laughed. This spark that she always had set his heart on fire. She shook off heavy topics and defeats with so much vigor and spirit. Maybe it was the survivor in her.
“Thanks.”
“Good deeds and all that… If I leave, you might turn feral.”
“No might about it. I definitely need you tonight.”
“You do?” They’d reached the side of the rink. She sat down to take off her skates and he did the same.
“You know I do. I’m not sure how I ever thought I could date another woman once you came into my life.”
“Anger and spite I’m sure played a part at first.”
“Hey. I’m offended.”
“By?”
“I’m not spiteful.”
“Tell me you weren’t wishing that I wouldn’t agree to your terms so you could walk away,” she demanded as she put her boots back on.
He put both of their skates back in the closet, buying time. He wouldn’t lie to her, but she wouldn’t understand the truth. How could he tell her that he needed her to have the best festival yet, but in a very different way?
“I always hoped you would accept my terms. I think together we can give Pine Falls and all our visitors the kind of Christmas they deserve. One that’s full of magic and wonder.”
Her eyes went wide and then she chuckled. “You sound like an advertisement. I might borrow that for our socials.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know. It makes me uncomfortable when you’re earnest. Don’t ever say that in front of anyone else.”
“No promises on that one.” He took her hand and led her away from the rink.
“Where’s your house?”
“The end of this street,” he said, leading her past lantern-lit shops to the spot where the cobblestones began to climb. “Locals call it Hearthcrest.”
Cora stopped when they were at the winding path that led to up to it.
There was a stillness to her as they passed under the arching pine branches heavy with snow.
Some flakes fell on them as they walked, filtered by the lamplight that shone down from the front porch of his house.
The house was a vast, tiered structure made from carved timber and pale stone, the many roofs stacked like folded wings, each capped with frost. Smoke rose from the tall chimneys that stood at different angles, filling the air with the scent of pine resin and sweet cedar.
“That’s your place?”
“It is. There are some public areas in there too, for the business. My ancestor built the house when he first came here. A lot of the first inhabitants of this area were housed in the space back when they all lived and worked together.”
“How long ago did they come here?” she asked. “This is remarkable. I find it hard to believe I’ve never heard this story before.”
“Folks up here don’t want this place to become a tourist attraction so we keep things pretty quiet,” he told her as he led her up the wide stone steps to the front porch which was supported by thick, carved pillars.
They were etched with ancient runes of protection and goodwill—markings that the first Nick Bari put on there to protect the dozens of wandering elves that had come with him.
Nick’s home took her breath away. Everything about this little village nestled into the hills made her feel like she was in a movie, or a dream.
The front doors were massive, seemingly built from oak and reinforced with bands of wrought iron.
They opened silently when Nick lifted the handle and pushed it.
“No locks?” she asked him. No matter how idyllic the town around this place seemed, it was still the twenty-first century.
“Uh, biometric coding on the door handle. I’m the only one who can open it,” he said. “And my parents.”
“I can’t believe you grew up in a place like this,” she said as they entered the main hall. She tipped her head back to look up at the dark vaulted beams. “Is that smoke damage on them?”
“Just from years of hearth smoke.” He gestured to the large stone fireplace that dominated one side of the hallway.
Large wood logs were laid in it and the mantel was decorated with lighted garlands.
Tiny carved houses that resembled many of the buildings they’d passed on their way up were nestled within it.
“Did you carve these?” she asked, walking over to get a closer look. Her nerves were back. There was nothing she wanted more than to have sex with Nick. That craving in her had grown with each intimate encounter they had. She ached to have him inside her, to feel his silky beard on her naked skin.
But it wasn’t just to satisfy a carnal ache. She liked him. A lot. She wanted him to like her too. He’d pretty much admitted he did. But he didn’t really know her. He couldn’t. There was something about her that always made people leave her—even people she hadn’t liked half as much as Nick.
That frightened her to her core.
“Only this one and this one,” he said, pointing to two smaller pieces that looked newer, without the patina of age on them.
“Those are my favorites.”
Tugging her into his arms, he kissed her slowly, deeply in this large hallway that was bigger than any church she’d been in. A part of her wondered why it didn’t feel cold or impersonal but instead was warm, welcoming, making her feel like she belonged there.
Hallways seemed to branch off in every direction. This house was big. Like, bigger than she realized from the outside.
He led her up a curving staircase sided by tall windows framed in dark wood and edged with glimmering frost. Through the enormous panes of glass she could see the village scattered down the hillside in golden lights. Cora slowed and stopped to look at it.
How had she never seen this place before? “I don’t understand.”
Nick stopped behind her, his hand on her shoulder, reassuring her. “What’s to understand? We’re behind Jack’s place, in the woods that hide the village from the road.”
“I guess. I wish I’d known this place was here. I could borrow a few ideas for the festival. You’ve already replicated part of the town in the convention space, but this feels so much bigger. Happier. Now I sound foolish.”
He chuckled in that way that sent sparks of fire throughout her body. “Never foolish. There’s a homey comfort from Hearthvale.”
“Hearthvale?”
“That’s what this place is called.”
That sounded about right.
Another staircase rose in front of them.
It was wide, curved, and felt centuries old.
The banister seemed to have been carved by hand and was etched with tiny scenes.
Leaning in closer, she wasn’t sure, but it looked as if it showed elves carrying toys and one looked a bit like Buddy.
There were depictions of children laughing as they opened presents.
She traced her finger over them as they climbed.
“This place is… Well, no wonder you believe in magic. This entire mansion feels like it’s something from a fantasy.”
“I promise you it’s real. I’m a bit of a slob in my private space,” he reassured.
It was true. His bedroom was actually a series of rooms, more like an apartment.
Bookcases lined the walls as they entered, this entryway more personal.
She noticed that some of the spines were old and leatherbound, while other paperbacks were cracked and showed signs of heavy use.
There were framed sketches of toy designs and an entire shelf of hand-carved wooden figures.
This was clearly Nick’s domain. There was a large desk in one corner that was stacked with letters and books. One of the books looked massive, and it was open on the desk. She could see columns and figures but when she moved closer to examine it, Nick was there first, flipping it closed.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to pry,” she said. Had she seen her name in there? No, it couldn’t be.
“Just have some private notes in there,” he said. She noticed the large tapestry hanging against the stone wall opposite the bookshelves. It looked large and old, like one of the ones she’d seen photos of from Hampton Court in the UK. She’d watched a TV special on them one time.