Holidays at Harbrook

When I booked a room at Harbrook Inn for the holidays, I thought I'd be alone with the staff forced to work, but it seemed every pajama-matching family had the same idea. I thought a place known for its winery meant there wouldn’t be any kids, but apparently, I was wrong.

I sat at the bar and ordered a bottle of their award-winning pinot noir, and slumped against the wood. I watched the snow fall in the mirrored backsplash and sighed for the umpteenth time. I didn’t even know what was wrong, I just knew something was missing. I thought being alone for the holidays would be the reboot I needed, but wherever you go, there you are.

"Alright, who pissed in your pinot?" The handsome stranger to my right asked, his burly voice almost as smooth as the bourbon he sipped. The nutty aroma wafted over to me.

I tried my hardest not to notice him earlier when he sat next to me, but the wine coursed through my veins and ignited every ounce of desire I holed up in this body for the last year.

"I’ll tell you who pissed in my bourbon.” He turned to me but I kept my eye on the illuminated bottles before me. “I missed my flight back home because a client insisted I be on-site even though the contractors were more than capable and instead of getting some cheap motel, I sprung for this place. Figured I’d do some of their activities and make the most of it, but they’re all booked up." He took a sip of his bourbon and I stifled a chuckle.

"I’m sure your wife isn’t too happy about you missing Christmas," I said despite the even tan on his ring finger.

He swirled his drink. "No wife; just my dogs and sister. What about you? Your husband knows you're at the bar with a handsome stranger?"

I laughed, finally turning to look him in the eyes, but my breath caught in my throat. I knew his side profile was attractive, but his face was something else.

I held up my empty ring finger. "Not married. It’s just me, alone on another Christmas."

He lifted his glass. "Not alone anymore."

Light classical played in the background and the smell of fresh pine and gingerbread floated between us. I offered a small smile and clinked my glass against his before I turned around to face the window. I’d been avoiding it because it put the smiling couples and laughing children around the fireplace on full display, but it was the perfect backdrop; the grand ceilings, intricate crown molding, the gold garland, and the snow falling lightly on the mountains.

"Name's Cayce, by the way," he said, his leg slightly brushing mine.

“Let me guess, you're about to ask my plans for the night and slide your key card over."

He smirked and shook his head. "I was actually going to ask your name so we can beat those kids at the gingerbread decorating contest."

I passed that sign earlier but decided I didn’t have enough talent or interest to participate. "Now why would you want to potentially ruin Christmas for the kids?"

He scoffed and gestured around the room at the parents and kids entranced by their devices. “They don't give a shit about winning anything, it’s just another holiday to them."

I looked between him and the flyer on the wall. "I haven’t decorated a gingerbread house since I was a kid."

He held his hand to his chest. "Don't you worry about that, I just need your name, baby."

Something lurched in my stomach at his use of the word, but I chalked it up to the wine. "Alex."

He looked me up and down and held out his hand. "Alex, it’s nice to meet you. I hope you're ready to kick these kids asses."

***

He underestimated how bad I would be at this. I looked at the other houses that were fine but had nothing on ours. However, the icing wouldn’t stick; it slid right off the gingerbread and plopped onto the silver tray. He left decorating the windows to me, but I should’ve been in charge of the lawn.

"Icing's too stiff," Cayce said as he effortlessly lined the trim of the house. "Try warming it up between your hands."

I rolled the icing bag between my hands, but it seemed he was doing great all by himself. "I think you just wanted to show off your decorating skills and I don’t know if I should be impressed or worried."

He chuckled as he used a toothpick to give the frosting a scalloped detail. "I'm an architect."

I tossed my piping bag on the table. "You don’t even need me, then."

"Teams of two to four only, remember? Plus, I really want that Rancher Experience. Not every day you get to make your own cowboy hat, ride horses, and sleep under the stars.”

I leaned back in my chair and watched him work as the poor kids around us plopped their gumdrops on the tops of their roofs.

"I—" A kid screamed and I watched their house collapse. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that he could do all of those things.

Cayce smiled and shook his head as the clock ticked down. "What a shame."

I took a sip of my fresh glass of pinot and stifled a laugh. It seemed a few of the parents might’ve had a change of heart because one tried to salvage the poor fallen one and another pair tried to help their kid’s lopsided roof, but the buzzer went off.

The judges walked around the room carefully examining each house and jotted things down on their notepads. Cayce’s smug smile faded when they slapped third place on our house and handed us tiny Christmas tree hats.

"It’s rigged," He snatched the tiny gingerbread man from the lawn and bit its head off.

"You should demand a rematch, fight to the death," I suggested as I straightened my hat, a prize I didn’t know I wanted until it was on my head.

"What a great idea." He followed me back to the bar and pulled out my chair.

I swirled my pinot and beat down those feelings dancing in my stomach. "So, Cayce. How does it feel to lose out on the Rancher Experience?"

He grunted and rolled his eyes, turning away from me. "I’m gonna have a word with the manager about the judges. they were clearly bribed."

"You really wanted it, huh?"

He shrugged his shoulders and held his glass close to his lips but didn't sip. "I’m disappointed, but I'll be alright."

"Hm," I admired my hat in the mirrored wall behind the rows of liquor bottles. "When I booked my room a few months ago I added every experience available. Don’t know why because I haven’t used one yet, but since you technically won me this cute hat, it’s only fair I invite you on the rancher experience.”

His chair squeaked as he turned to me, a huge smile across his face. "I could kiss you right now."

"So do it."

THE END