Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Hayden was sure he would expire right here in the big sleigh bed in Elle’s suite at her mother’s inn. But what a way to go. He peered through his lashes at the erotic image she made, her naked skin dewy and pink as she rode him with reckless abandon.

“Yes,” she cried when he dragged his fingers down her sweat-slicked torso to grip her hips more securely.

She was close to the edge. Hayden could feel her muscles begin to clench around him. He could sense her breaths becoming more fractured. Truth be told, he was holding on by a thread himself. His own breath sawed through his lungs painfully.

Elle was gasping now, her movements becoming more frantic. He decided to take pity on her, grazing his thumb against her sweet spot once, then twice, until she came in a rush. Hayden couldn’t make out the words she was crying out because his ears were roaring. The pleasure he felt when her muscles closed in around him was nearly too much to bear. He thrust his hips into her with such force, it was a wonder she didn’t go flying when he came.

Hayden gathered her up in his arms. Her wild hair formed a curtain around them. He could feel her heart racing beneath his palm pressed to her spine. She drew lazy circles on his abdomen. Neither of them seemed to have the strength to speak.

It was a good thing because he had no idea what to say. Today had been eye-opening. And not just because sex with his best friend was everything that he never let himself imagine it could be. But because it had been more than simply mind-blowing. It had touched his soul.

He brushed her hair off their faces so he could press a kiss to her forehead.

“Mmm,” she murmured.

When she looked up and her eyes met his, his chest grew painfully tight. Her expression was equal parts awe, passion and confusion. They were easy for him to identify because he was feeling them, too.

“Hayden?” she whispered.

He quickly shushed her by reversing their position and taking her lips in a possessive kiss. She moaned into his mouth while scraping her nails down his back. He tore his lips away and pressed them to each of her eyelids.

“I don’t want to ruin this by analyzing it to death,” he murmured against her skin. “Let’s not think about it too deeply. That way, we can enjoy whatever this is for right now. Please, Elle.”

She hesitated only briefly before agreeing with a nod. Her eyes fluttered closed. He rolled over onto his back and drew her into the curve of his arm before kissing the tip of her nose.

“Sleep now,” he told her. “I’ll be here to keep you safe.”

“But I don’t want to miss a moment with you.”

Her words made his throat tight.

Neither do I.

The realization shouldn’t have surprised him. If he were being honest with himself, he would admit he’d loved this woman for years now. He’d come clean that he never wanted to be apart from her. He would tell her she was his person.

Except doing that would likely send her scurrying back to New York long before the holidays were over. He couldn’t take that chance. Now that he knew all of her. Now that his body would forever crave hers. He needed to keep this light until he could figure out a way to persuade Elle that all she ever wanted was right here in Chances Inlet.

He waited until she was breathing evenly and deeply. Carefully, he slid his arm out from under her neck and replaced it with a pillow. She didn’t move when he sat up to attach his leg.

When he returned from the bathroom a few minutes later, dressed and ready to sneak out, Hayden almost changed his mind. Elle had worked a leg free and goose bumps were forming on her skin in the chilly night air. But rather than crawl in beside her to warm her up, he covered her with one of the bright Christmas throw blankets her mom had strewn about the suite. He took a minute to fold Elle’s clothes and place them beneath the nightstand along with her shoes just in case she suddenly woke from one of her nightmares.

“You’re safe, Elle,” he mouthed. “Get some rest.”

He forced his feet to move away from his sleeping beauty. Using the light on his cell phone, he crept down the stairs in the bootlegger’s passageway, nearly colliding with someone at the bottom. He aimed his light at the other person.

“Aunt Kitty?” he hissed.

“Hayden?” his aunt whispered.

His aunt looked as rumpled as the woman he’d just left upstairs. And was that a damn love bite on her neck? He was going to kill West.

Hayden must have said that last part out loud because his aunt reached out and grabbed his arm.

“You’ll do no such thing,” she said with a quiet forcefulness that stunned him.

“How long have you been sneaking in and out of the inn?” he demanded. “And how do you even know about these passageways?” Hayden had discovered them alongside Elle’s brothers a decade ago.

She dipped her chin. “Patricia might have mentioned them earlier this evening. And aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black?”

A sound upstairs had them both jumping. Aunt Kitty tugged on his arm until they reached the panel that led out of the inn. The ocean breeze was bracing this time of night. His aunt wrapped her arms around her midsection. They walked a few paces before they turned and looked at each other.

“Do not tell your mother,” his aunt commanded.

“Don’t tell Mom,” he said at the same time.

She chuckled as she began striding down the long driveway. “I’d like to go on the record as saying I’m all in with Team Elle and Hayden.”

If only there were a “Team Elle and Hayden.”

“What makes you think I was with Elle?”

She shot him a look that clearly said come on . “Livi was coughing up a storm when I passed by her room. From what Patricia mentioned, she’s still pretty sick.”

Guilt licked at his belly. He and Livi had barely shared a kiss on the cheek since they met, though. Hayden owed her nothing. Still, he made a mental note to let her down gently once her flu subsided.

“I appreciate the support,” he told her. And he did. “But we are keeping things on the down low.”

“For now, you mean?”

Could be forever.

He hated how much it hurt to think Elle might still choose her career over him. When he didn’t answer, Aunt Kitty threaded her arm through his.

“The heart knows what it wants. You are her North Star, Hayden. You always have been. Elle will always find her way back to you.”

While he appreciated his aunt’s optimism, he wasn’t convinced Elle wanted to find her way back to Chances Inlet. “All the same, I would prefer not to let my mom in on any potential Team Elle and Hayden talk just yet.”

“You leave your mother to me. When the time is right, I’ll find a way to convince her to see reason.”

Hayden chuckled as they passed Mr. McDaniel’s brightly colored pine tree. “I don’t think I want to know how you’ll accomplish that.”

They were both wrapped in their own thoughts as they strolled down the quiet side streets in town.

“So, West, huh?” he eventually asked.

“He’s not the man you think he is.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it. Although he’s not scoring any points with me by making you walk home alone this late at night.”

“Oh, he’ll be madder than a wet hen when he finds out,” she replied. “He was deeply asleep when I left. I didn’t have the heart to wake him. I don’t think he sleeps very well.”

Hmm. West and Elle had a lot more in common than either one of them knew. Although the man was likely behind much of Elle’s insomnia.

“Has he finished his book yet?”

Aunt Kitty shrugged.

Hayden swore. “Does he even realize Elle’s job depends on it?”

His aunt’s steps faltered. “What are you talking about?”

“If Elle can get him to turn the completed manuscript in on time, she’ll be promoted to lifestyle columnist. It’s her dream job.”

Although not for reasons anyone else desired a dream job. She’d be good at it, sure. But she was mainly after the cache it would give her among her siblings. Hayden understood her goal. He just didn’t agree with her logic.

“If Everett is aware of that, I’m sure he won’t let Elle down on purpose,” she told him. “Like I said, he’s not the man he appears to be.”

Hayden grunted. “Let’s hope not.”

“For crying out loud, Elle. Because of your video blog, our phone is ringing off the hook with media types wanting to interview my damn dog,” Ryan bellowed as he stormed into the inn’s breakfast room several days later.

Elle looked up from the French toast casserole she was drowning in maple syrup. She had to admit that one advantage to her assignment babysitting West was her mother’s fabulous breakfasts, especially since her appetite seemed to be gnawing at her constantly these past few days. Ryan lowered himself into the chair beside her and proceeded to help himself to a slice of her bacon.

“Hey! That’s mine!” She tried to slap his hand, but her brother was quicker. “I’m telling Mom.”

“Go ’head. She likes me better anyway. And it’s the least you can do after thrusting Kringle into the spotlight again. You are going to have to coordinate all these interview requests, little sister.” He jabbed the piece of bacon at her. “Besides, I thought breakfast was only for the paying guests.”

She looked around the room, grateful to find it empty. It was already after ten. Hayden had kept her up well past two in the morning the past few nights. For the first time since the earthquake, sleep came easily. Whereas before she was up with the birds, she was now logging a solid seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night. She’d become a pampered princess.

It wasn’t like she had much else to do anyway. West had locked himself in the study all week without bothering her with any of his ridiculous requests. She hoped that meant he was writing.

Not only that, but the town’s social media was chugging along, bringing in more tourists for the holidays than the previous Christmas. Soon, Elle would have to resort to washing dishes to keep herself busy. Anything to distract her from thoughts of Hayden.

Hayden.

Elle smiled to herself. The attraction she’d felt during her drunken kiss last year wasn’t a one-off. And when they’d both finally let go . . . wow . Jeremy had certainly never lit up her body the way her best friend did. Being with Hayden had an added level of intimacy to it because they both knew each other so well. What they shared felt like more than just sex. And it was crazy good.

Or just plain crazy.

They’d crossed a line. Going back to what they were before was impossible now. Not that she wanted to. Ever. But she didn’t want to lose him either. Just the mere thought had her stomach seizing.

Hayden insisted they ignore the elephant in the room—the pesky fact that she lived ten hours away. That her career was in New York City and his was here in Chances Inlet. She’d been so caught up in the moment that she’d agreed. Why not enjoy the here and now, he’d reasoned. Except the “here and now” had an expiration date. As much as everyone wished for the holiday season to last forever, it didn’t.

Ryan reached for another slice of bacon, except this time Elle was quicker. She jammed the whole piece into her mouth to keep her brother from snatching it.

“I’m allowed to eat the leftovers,” she said around the food in her mouth.

“Are you this much of a bohemian when you’re on a date? No wonder you are still single.”

Elle had never been so relieved to see Bernice appear. The woman practically floated into the room with Kringle in her arms. She handed Elle a piece of paper.

“Read all about it, girlie. The travel network is sending a team to shoot a report about our town. They saw your video blogs on social media, Elinor. This is exactly the publicity we had hoped for. Heck, we don’t need to hire a PR firm. Not when we’ve got you.” She leaned down and kissed Elinor on the head.

Kringle squirmed beneath Bernice’s hold. Ryan reached over and rescued his dog. “I think Elle intends to make a name for herself in a bigger way.” He snuck a piece of bacon to the dog. “Chances Inlet is in her rearview window. She’s on track to do the McAlisters proud by becoming a big-time journalist in New York.”

Bernice harrumphed. “What’s wrong with being a journalist here in the town that raised her? If we can’t even get one of our own to help us, this place is doomed.”

“Don’t tell me this charming hamlet has run off all the reporters?” West asked as he sauntered into the room and headed straight for the coffee urn.

“It seems we are not worthy of a newspaper, an advertising magazine or even a PR firm to see to our measly social media needs,” Bernice fumed.

West tsked while he filled his mug. “A town without a newspaper is a town without excitement.”

“That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to tell everyone,” Bernice practically shouted.

“Oh my. It sounds as though I’m interrupting an interesting discussion.” Livi hesitated in the doorway. Elle’s mom was by her side.

Ryan stood and walked over to hold out a chair for her. “Nah. Just Bernice being Bernice.”

The older woman made an unintelligible sound before disappearing in the direction of the kitchen.

“How are you feeling?” Elle asked. She felt guilty that she hadn’t checked on Livi. But things were awkward enough before she’d slept with Hayden.

“I feel a lot more human now that I’ve showered,” Livi responded.

Elle’s mom set a cup of tea and some toast in front of her guest. “You sit here and recover while I go change the sheets and freshen up your suite.”

“Did I overhear Bernice correctly?” Livi tore at a piece of the toast. “The Travel Channel is coming to Chances Inlet?”

“It would seem so. It says here that they are including us in their ‘Top small towns to visit at Christmastime’ segment.” Elle handed her the sheet of paper Bernice had left.

“That’s quite a coup. For your next trick, you should get Hayden’s furniture some notice. He’s a talented artist, and social media would eat up his stuff,” Livi said. “Who knows? He could probably turn his side hustle into a full-time gig.”

Elle ignored the hint of pride in the other woman’s voice as she championed Hayden. Mainly because Livi’s idea had merit. Hayden was a talented woodworker. And why shouldn’t his business get some social media love? He’d hate it, but he didn’t have to know. And if his business grew, he could potentially afford to work from anywhere.

Like New York City, perhaps.

“By the way, has anyone seen Hayden around?” Livi asked.

West was quick to answer her. “Not today, but I’m sure Elle can get him over here in a hot minute.”

“I’m sure I’ll be too busy sharpening your pencils,” she snapped.

The man had the nerve to laugh as he wandered out of the room and back toward the study.

Good riddance!

Livi looked at her expectantly. Ryan’s expression was more curious. Elle was saved by the buzzing of her cell phone. She froze for a moment, hoping it wasn’t Hayden calling. Thankfully, it was her editor, Madelaine.

“It’s my boss,” she explained before hurrying out of the breakfast room and closeting herself in the music room.

“Good morning, Madelaine,” Elle said.

“I’m very disappointed with you, Elinor.”

She sank onto the piano bench, trying to catch her stomach before it hit the floor. What could she possibly have done wrong? Had West told the team at Vantage that he couldn’t meet his deadline? Her palms were suddenly damp.

“I can’t believe you haven’t secured an interview with Santa’s dog. Kringle belongs to your brother, does he not? Vantage should have the scoop over everyone else. Are they asking for a fee? Because we will pay it.”

Technically, Kringle belonged to Jane’s son, Henry. But Elle didn’t care about that. She was relieved she wasn’t losing her promotion before she even got it.

“Of course Vantage is getting the scoop,” she told her editor, hoping that her confident tone would make the other woman believe Elle had thought of it long before this phone call. “In fact, I was just negotiating with my brother about this.”

“Excellent. I knew I could count on you. And this type of interview will be a good piece to dip your toe into the lifestyles section. Well done. Let me know when you have it completed, and we will get it off to the digital side of the house.”

After Madelaine ended the call, Elle jumped up and did a little victory dance among the nutcrackers in the room.

“I’m ‘dipping my toe’ into feature writing! And she didn’t even ask about West,” she told the wooden soldiers before pulling open the door and racing to find her brother and his dog.