Read Online Unexpected Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Series Book 1) by Elena Aitken - Free Book Online Page A

further, the guys returned with mugs of hot chocolate. “I was just telling Andi how you two have plenty of time to think about having kids,” Sarah said.
    “Oh were you?” Colin said.
    “Well, of course, I mentioned how wonderful they are and all that,” Sarah said, looking to her husband.
    “Of course,” he agreed.
    “But seeing another couple so in love and carefree like these two, well, I can’t help but think of what it was like for us once,” Sarah said.
    Kirk leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. “We’re still madly in love.”
    Colin slid onto the bench next to Andi and put his arm around her shoulders. Pulling her close, he said, “Well, I’m sure when the time is right, children will be a blessing to our love just like it has been for you two.”
    Andi would have shot him a glare if he’d been looking at her. Instead, she jabbed her elbow into his rib cage the best she could. In response, Colin pulled her closer into an embrace.
    “But for now we’re still having fun learning just as much as we can about each other,” Colin said. “Isn’t that right, darling?”
    “Couldn’t have said it better myself, pumpkin,” she said.
    “So, how long have you two been married?” Kirk asked. He unstrapped the baby, who had started to fuss, and handed her to Sarah.
    “We’re newlyweds.”
    “Two years.”
    They answered at the same time.
    Kirk and Sarah exchanged confused glances, and Kirk asked, “You don’t remember?”
    Andi waited for Colin to explain. After all, it was his lie.
    Saving him from answering, Carmen, from the front desk, spotted them from across the fire. She waved and started making her way through the crowd towards them. “Excuse us for a moment,” he said. Colin took the hot chocolate from her hands, put it on the bench and pulled Andi to her feet.
    Andi shrugged an apology and was still stifling her giggle as they walked towards Carmen.
    “Mr. Hartford, Ms. Williams,” Carmen said when they approached. “I just wanted to thank you again for being so understanding about the mix-up in the rooms.”
    “Oh, it’s been fine,” Andi said.
    “More than fine,” Colin added. “In fact, we’ve been enjoying a lot of the Lodge’s activities together. I’m determined to show Ms. Williams how much fun Christmas can be.”
    Carmen smiled cautiously and glanced down at their clasped hands. “Well, it was most definitely a happy coincidence that the two of you had met before and I’m so glad it’s all working out,” she said. “I do wish we had more activities planned, but our event coordinator quit and left me in quite the situation.”
    “That’s awful,” Andi said. “But it looks like you’re managing okay. This is a fabulous setup.” She waved her arm to encompass the campfire.
    “I’ve been fortunate with my staff,” Carmen said. “They’ve really stepped up. But I’m just so upset that the Holly Berry Ball won’t happen this year. It’s just too much for me to take on, as well as running the desk, and it’s such a shame because this year would have been our tenth anniversary.”
    “The Holly Berry Ball?” Andi asked.
    “It’s our annual Christmas Eve celebration. We’ve always prided ourselves on providing a family friendly dance to celebrate the holiday season. It’s wonderful, but this year, I just don’t think I can pull it off on my own. I know the children will be so disappointed.”
    For a moment, Andi was afraid the woman was going to cry. She was doing a good job keeping it together, but Andi couldn’t help noticing the stray hairs escaping her barrettes, and the dark circles under her eyes. Isn’t that what the holiday’s did to people? Turned them into big tightly wound balls of anxiety.
    Her stomach turned, but Andi knew she didn’t have a choice. Even though it was a holiday event, and the thought of organizing something as cutesy sounding as a Holly Berry Ball made her slightly queasy, she knew she wouldn’t be able to live