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

had.
    When he had finished relaying the story, there was silence on the other end of the phone. “Rose? Are you still there?” The reception could be spotty in the mountains; maybe he’d lost the connection.
    He heard a cough and then Rose’s voice, much quieter than usual. “Colin, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were in love.”
    Colin tripped over his feet and dropped his bags in the snow. When he recovered, he said, “What are you talking about? Love? That’s crazy.”
    “Is it?”
    “Rose, you’re being ridiculous. I just met this woman.”
    “Colin Hartford, I’ve been around the block a few times, and I know more about love than I’d care to admit,” she said. “And I’ll tell you what. You don’t need weeks and months to fall in love; you just need the right two people and the perfect circumstance.”
    Colin brushed the snow off his bags, quickly checking to see if any had slipped inside. “Well, I don’t know about that.”
    “Just keep an open heart,” she said. “I have to run now. There are still more gifts to wrap before the madness starts.”
    “Have a happy holiday, Rose,” Colin said with a smile. “I’ll see you next week.”
    “Merry Christmas, Colin.”
    After he hung up, Colin couldn’t focus his thoughts. In love? With Andi? He’d never heard anything so ridiculous. He didn’t do relationships, let alone ones that involved actual love. And with Blaine’s ex? There was no way. But if anyone could see it, it would be Rose.
    She’d been a fabulous assistant to him and his father before him. She had known him since he was a child. He had to admit, she was probably the one person who knew him the best. After his father died and Colin decided to take over the alarm systems company, Rose had walked him through everything. She’d been indispensable. And so loyal. Even when his dad practically ran the business into the ground, she’d stayed with him, despite only barely making a wage herself. Colin had more than made up for that, though.
    It wasn’t until after he’d turned things around and built up the business again that Colin had the idea of expanding into the Caribbean. The decision to offer companies down south top-of-the line security had been a good one. Both Colin and Rose did well for themselves now. But he’d been gone a long time and it was no secret that Rose had wanted Colin to come home. But would he stay? Colin stopped walking, bent down and scooped up the snow in his bare hand. The icy coolness ran through his fingers as it melted. Yes, he was ready to take the snow over the sandy beaches.
    A figure in a shop window caught his eye, distracting him from his thoughts. The store looked to be classier than the typical souvenir shop he’d seen earlier. There were ceramics, ornaments, and other beautiful handicrafts that even he could appreciate. But it was an item in the back of the window that’d made him stop.
    Stuck on a shelf, towards the back of the display, was the perfect non-Christmasy Christmas gift for Andi. They hadn’t said anything about exchanging presents. But it didn’t seem right to have such a lovely tree in the villa with nothing under it. Besides, she wasn’t a stranger anymore. She was Andi.

CHAPTER EIGHT

    “Eva, don’t freak out.” Andi tucked the phone under her chin and flipped through the file in front of her. “I may have a little project for us.”
    “Any conversation that starts like that is bound to make me freak out,” Eva said. “What on earth have you done?”
    Andi smiled at her friend’s reaction. She knew Eva wouldn’t reject it out of hand.
    “Well, it’s a small little Christmas party for the Lodge.” Best to ease her into the idea.
    “Andi, the Lodge doesn’t do small parties. Just tell me.”
    So she did. Andi spilled the story about how Carmen was left in the lurch for an event coordinator and how since she just happened to be there, Andi thought she’d help out.
    “But you hate Christmas,” Eva