Christmas In Love: A Greenbank Holiday Romance (Greenbank Holiday Romances Book 1) Read online

  Christmas in Love

  Greenbank Holiday Romances

  Karen Thornell

  Published by Karen Thornell, 2020.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  CHRISTMAS IN LOVE

  First edition. December 5, 2020.

  Copyright © 2020 Karen Thornell.

  Written by Karen Thornell.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  About the Author

  For Ben

  My first full-length novel will be dedicated to you... but I feel like I'd be a bad wife if I didn't dedicate this first to you, too.

  Chapter 1

  Cade

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Cade hit his car’s scan button for the third time, as if that would change the fact his parents’ small town didn’t seem to believe in more than three and a half radio stations. All of which were playing the same overly enthusiastic Christmas songs. Choosing one of those stations felt like giving in, and sitting in silence gave his brain too much time to think.

  The radio defaulted back to the first station and ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ flooded his car; not even a good version. It was some weird, pop rendition that got progressively faster, until he couldn’t tell if they were singing about ‘six geese a-laying’ or ‘sixty people praying.’

  He hoped it was the people praying; he needed their help getting through the holidays.

  As he turned onto his parents’ street, he felt a familiar, tense feeling. His jaw clenched.

  He hated Christmas.

  Okay, fine. Who could really hate Christmas? He didn’t actually, but it held more pain than joy these days.

  Honestly, he hadn’t even been home for the holiday in four years. Not since the Christmas his sisters helped him pick an engagement ring, which still sat in its case, rolled up in a pair of socks at the back of his underwear drawer. That was totally normal.

  He spared his mom and dad’s house a glance before deciding to drive around a little more. After four years, what was a few more minutes?

  Though his parents lived here in Greenbank, two hours from him, his sisters lived close to him in Denver. He saw one or the other, and their families, weekly. He’d seen Devon’s first steps, Lila’s last four dance recitals; he’d even stitched up the twins’ foreheads last month when they decided to reenact a wrestling match they’d seen their dad watching on TV. He loved those kids—all of them and their crazy antics.

  But something about being together with his whole family in one house made him edgy. When they all gathered, it was as if the conversation couldn’t help but turn to Cade and his unfulfilling life.

  Then it turned to their various suggestions of how to improve it.

  Never mind that he was a pediatric doctor. He took care of kids—sick kids! Heck, wasn’t that as fulfilling as it could get? He didn’t need hobbies, a vacation, or a girlfriend. He was fine.

  He pushed out a breath, steering the car around the next corner. Every single light post in this small town was wrapped in tinsel, and the roads were blanketed in snow. It was the perfect Christmas scene, and it made Cade scowl.

  He went down another street. Then another. And another. Eventually, he reached the town center, which was similarly idyllic in its Christmas cheer. Lights were on every business and nearly every house; snow was falling softly. This was why his parents moved here from Denver two years before. They were nearing retirement when his mom read an article listing Greenbank, Colorado as one of the top five small Christmas towns in the country. It didn’t take any more convincing than that; she decided this was where they needed to spend the rest of their days. Never mind the fact all three of her kids—and seven grandkids—still lived in Denver.

  A flash of color caught his attention, and he slammed the brakes. They skidded on the icy road, and the pedestrian jumped back, slipped, and fell flat on their behind.

  “I’m so sorry—you okay?” he yelled to the nearly-flattened woman as he rolled down the window. At least, he thought it was a woman. It was hard to tell in that parka.

  He should have gotten out of the car. What kind of dirtbag doesn’t get out of the car after nearly hitting someone?

  The woman—definitely the correct gender, as she scrambled to her feet and a tumble of auburn curls caught in the wind—brushed off her coat.

  “Fine—thanks,” she yelled. Then she kept walking. As if he was an acquaintance that had asked how her day was, not a total stranger that had nearly killed her.

  Cade watched as she reached the end of the crosswalk and disappeared past the buildings to his right. His mouth turned down. Something about her was familiar. That hair... no. What was it about the holidays that made Natalie the top-rated celebrity in all his thoughts?

  Oh yeah—the almost-engagement four years ago next week. That was it.

  He scowled at himself, then pulled a U-turn. It was time to stop avoiding his family.

  Plus, he had presents for his nieces and nephews. That ought to throw the scrutiny off him for at least an evening.

  Five minutes later, he pulled up to his parents’ modest brick home. He didn’t bother grabbing his bags or the presents, getting them later would make a good excuse to escape any potential digging into his personal life.

  His two knocks went unanswered long enough that Cade’s hands started to turn red. He tried the doorbell. Still, nothing.

  With a glance to assure himself it was his sister’s minivan in the driveway, he let himself in.

  Warmth and the smell of roast were the first things he noticed. Frantic yelling and running footsteps were the second.

  One of his brothers-in-law came into view, running across the living room and disappearing down a hall. His dad came rushing back from the same hall, then grabbed a stack of towels from a pair of hands—the owner of which was blocked from his view by a ficus. Two of his nieces nearly trampled Cade’s feet before he finally caught one of his nephews—Devon—around the waist.

  “Hey, buddy!”

  “Uncle Cade!” The four-year-old stopped squirming long enough to peer into Cade’s face. “Did you see the swimming pool?” His little face split into a grin.

  “Isn’t it a little cold for swimming?”

  “Yeah, but this one’s inside, so it’s okay! I’ll show you!” He twisted out of Cade’s arms, grabbed his hand, and pulled him down the hall. Cade blinked, trying to take in the house as he was dragged along. One of his nieces was watching a show on the couch, a half-eaten dinner was set out on the table, and a giant Christmas tree was tucked into a corner by a large picture window.

  “Cade!”

  His head snapped forward at his mother’s voice. “Hey, Mom. What’s going on? Is it just me or has the family reached a new level of crazy?”

  “It’s the basement, Cade, a pipe burst! It must have happened over an hour ago because the whole downstairs is flooded! At least two inches everywhere!” Her hands flailed, and graying hairs that had escaped her bun bounced against her cheeks.

&
nbsp; Cade felt his jaw go slack, and he pulled back on Devon to stop him from dragging him down the hall. “What do you need help with? Has someone turned off the water? Have you vacuumed any of it up? What are you...? Here, let me take those.”

  Mom gratefully handed over the stack of towels. She brushed her hair back from her face. “Vacuum?”

  “Yeah,” he said. Devon, apparently bored now they weren’t going to see the ‘swimming pool,’ ran off. “Do you have a wet-dry vac? Or maybe one of your neighbors does?” Cade glanced at the stack of towels in his arms. “Doesn’t sound like these are going to cut it.”

  She sighed, pushing out an exhausted breath. “You’re right, I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ll call Carol; her husband seems to have everything in that extra garage of theirs.” She stepped around Cade and moved down the hall, leaving him standing there with a stack of towels and nowhere to put them. He turned to follow.

  “Cade-y!” Abigail’s sing-songy voice reached him seconds before her arms wrapped around him, causing his leaning tower of towels to pitch dangerously.

  “Hi, Abby. Do you mind... err...” He struggled to keep the towels upright, but she didn’t let go, and three fell off the stack.

  “Who let Cade help? He always ends up making more of a mess than he cleans up.” Brooke’s voice cut in as Cade finally disentangled himself from Abby.

  He glared up at the sister closest in age to him, who was grinning mercilessly at him.

  “Mom said Carol is going to lend us a wet-dry vacuum, to vacuum up the water.” Brooke turned to Abby, while Cade scooped up the towels. His sisters had him surrounded, penned into the hallway.

  It was only slightly terrifying.

  “Vacuum water? You can do that?” Abby sounded incredulous.

  “Yup. Where do these towels go?” He tried for an escape.

  Brooke pointed aimlessly toward the kitchen. “Linen closet.”

  “That’s helpful.”

  “Well, if you’d visited once in the last two years, you’d know where that was, wouldn’t you?” Okay. They were jumping right into his failures. Awesome.

  “Oh, give him a break, Brooke. Here Cade, I’ll take them for you.” Abby snatched the towels from his arms and spun on her heel.

  Cade followed. She was generally the safer sister to be around.

  “Don’t mind Brooke, we all know why you don’t join the family get-togethers.” Abby glanced at him as they walked down the hall.

  “And that is?”

  She gave him a sad smile, but didn’t say anything.

  “Hey—why do you think I don’t come to family events?” Cade demanded.

  “Oh, thank you, Abby.” Mom pocketed her phone as Cade and Abby stepped into the kitchen. Abby continued through a door beside the wall of cabinets at the back of the room, not even acknowledging Cade’s glare at her back. Why did people always offer unsolicited advice, but not answer his questions? He couldn’t follow and demand a response because his mom turned to him.

  “I’m so sorry, Cade, this isn’t at all how we wanted to welcome you home.”

  It wasn’t home, and probably never would be, but Cade wasn’t going to disagree with his own mother. “It’s fine, mom. Do you need me to go grab that vacuum?”

  “No, Carol’s husband is going to bring it over and help your dad clean things up. You can eat something if you’d like? We were halfway through dinner when one of the kids came running up, yelling about the new swimming pool.” Mom sighed, but she had a bit of a smile on her face as she did. That was his mom, ever positive.

  “Sure. Thanks, mom.”

  “Of course, honey.” She smiled at him, but then her eyes widened. “Oh! Cade! Oh, no!”

  Cade looked around frantically, expecting a stampeding elephant with the panic suddenly on her face.

  “Your room! Oh, no, your room,” she groaned, pressing a hand against her forehead.

  “Not following, Mom...”

  She looked up at him with big, sorrowful eyes.

  “The room we set up for you was in the basement. It’s under two inches of water now.”

  Chapter 2

  Natalie

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, Mom.”

  “I am honey, and you could be too. If you’d just get out there more. Grow your hair back out, maybe try that personal trainer I suggested—”

  Natalie squeezed her eyes shut. “Sorry, Mom, the inn’s phone is ringing, gotta go.”

  “Okay, sweetheart, but think about what I said!”

  “Uh-huh. Love you.”

  Mom ended the call first and Natalie dropped to a barstool. She felt a little bad about lying to her about the phone. But any conversation with her mom always left her feeling exhausted. Or bad about herself. Kinda like any conversation with her doctor.

  In an attempt at distraction, she looked around the dimly lit kitchen. Four of the seven guest rooms at the bed and breakfast had been rented, which was pretty good considering only six months ago this place had been a museum for dust. Still, she needed to fill those last three rooms if she was going to make the mortgage and payments on her construction loans.

  She’d fill them. It was almost Christmas, and the town flooded with people at Christmas. At least, that’s what her best friend said. And April would know—she’d lived here three years. Unlike Natalie, who hadn’t even passed the year mark.

  Now, Natalie just had to cross her fingers those floods of people would stay at the bed and breakfast, rather than the hotel down the street. Absently, she rubbed her hip where she’d fallen in the snow a couple hours before. That was going to bruise.

  The bell above the front door rang. She glanced at the clock. Huh. 9:47 PM. Only one guest hadn’t arrived, but they weren’t due till tomorrow.

  Putting on a welcoming smile, she stepped from the kitchen into the large entry that doubled as the check-in.

  She had a brief moment to inspect the newcomer as he stood turned slightly away from her, facing the wall of historic photos. He had on a tan peacoat, nice pants, and dress shoes. The hard angles of his jaw were visible above a scarf. Somehow, an aura of confidence surrounded him.

  “Welcome to the Greenbank Bed and Breakfast, how can I help you?”

  He turned from the photos, and Natalie got her first full look at him. Shock slid over her like icy water.

  “Natalie?” he breathed; his own shock apparent.

  Natalie blinked. This wasn’t happening. Words stuck in her throat. “Cade.” She couldn’t meet his eyes. “What brings you to Greenbank?” Ease. She must exude ease. She reached to lean onto the check-in counter. And missed.

  Thankfully, Cade didn’t laugh while she stumbled to regain her balance. He didn’t show any emotion at all; he just stood there staring at her, looking even more handsome than four years ago.

  Had it really been four years? It felt like four days right now.

  “My parents live here.”

  His parents. So the couple she kept seeing around town was actually Mr. and Mrs. Davis, not figments of her imagination. That would have been nice to know.

  His eyes still searched her face, as if looking for the answer to something.

  Well. No answers here, buddy. Nothing to see, move right along.

  “Really?” Natalie couldn’t help her curiosity. “I thought they lived in Denver?”

  “Until almost two years ago, yeah. Then they moved here.” He lifted his hands, as if that explained why his family would uproot after spending their whole lives in the same city.

  “Oh. Cool. Very cool. Like this weather. Ha.” Natalie grimaced at herself.

  Cade’s brow furrowed. “Yeah, I guess. Anyway, their basement flooded, and I need a place to stay until it’s all aired out. The hotel is booked until next week, so...”

  The hotel was booked? Already? And Natalie had only filled two-thirds of her cute, homey rooms? That was sobering.

  “Do you have any availability?” Cade asked.

  Right. Now was
not the moment to lament her poor business skills.

  “Yes. Uh, yes, I do.”

  “I can try and find somewhere else? Maybe I could drive out to Woodcastle.” He stepped back to the door, as if staying a twenty-minute drive from his parents was better than staying somewhere inhabited by her.

  Actually, it wasn’t a terrible idea.

  No. She shook her head. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she needed the business more than anything. More than she needed to avoid her ex-boyfriend.

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Natalie skirted around the counter and wiggled the computer mouse, finally feeling like the room was not tilting on its side, sending her thoughts spilling from her ears. She pulled out a brochure. “The Aspen room, Mountain room, and Pirate room are available.”

  After a brief hesitation, he grabbed the offered trifold. His eyebrows raised as he glanced over it, then up at her, “You have themed rooms?”

  Natalie narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin slightly. “Yes.” Themed rooms were cool.

  “Why a pirate room?” He was looking down again.

  “It was fun to decorate.”

  “Uh-huh... okay.”

  “The Tree House room is a particular favorite, but it’s currently booked. So is the Beach room.” Why was she telling him this?

  “Bummer.” Somehow, he didn’t sound sincere. He handed back the brochure, and Natalie half expected him to announce his plans to drive to Woodcastle. “I’ll take the Mountain room.”

  “Perfect.” She pulled out a contract and another pamphlet, handing them over. “It’s $95 a night, breakfast is included, and parking is around back.” She looked up at him, “But I’m guessing you already figured that out.”

  He nodded, so she continued—bull-dozing through the conversation way faster than her construction crew had done pretty much anything when they’d fixed up the B&B.

  “I lock the doors each night at ten. You’ll have a keycode if you need to get in or out after then. Yours is written right here. Checkout is eleven in the morning. How long will you be staying?”