Free The Winter Spirit ARE by Indra Vaughn Page A

emergency!”
    “It can—” I began, but her nails dug into my arm and she dragged me away.
     

     
    “What the hell, Elisa, ow!”
    “I’m sorry,” she hissed, flicking the pantry light on. “But I had to do something before you made a total ass out of yourself!”
    “Ass? This is my B&B and I am done catering to cheaters and scum. What they’re doing is disgusting.”
    She dusted her hands off and flour drifted onto my slacks. “Keep your voice down. They’re married,” she said, slapping my chest lightly.
    “Yes, I’m very aware. I told you from the beginning—”
    “No, you dumb butt, they’re married to each other.”
    My mouth opened. Then closed. “Wha—?”
    Elisa rolled her eyes. “I overheard them this morning that soon things would go back to normal, and that this was so much fun, and where would they go next year. And at first I was as outraged as you, because I thought, God, they’ve been cheating for years. Then I listened closer. They’re not cheating, Nate. They’re married to each other and they do little trips like this every year to keep their marriage spiced up. They pretend they don’t know each other, book two rooms in a hotel under different names, pretend to meet for the first time, and bam , fluttery butterflies all over again.”
    “Oh my God.” I steadied myself against the nearest rack. “That’s actually…really sweet.”
    “Yes. It is. So I suggest you go in there and apologize for being a complete jerk.”
    I hung my head and felt awful. “Okay. Can I just…have a minute?”
    She patted my cheek and grinned. “Of course, you precious snowflake. Take your time.”
    I let her leave, put my arm on the shelf with maple syrup and jams and leaned my forehead against it.
    Damn, I was such an idiot.
    First with Owen…but no, I wasn’t going to think about that now. That was over and done with and good riddance, to be honest. But yeah, I’d have to apologize to my other two guests.
    I took a deep breath and straightened. “Just do it,” I said to myself. “And then you can get started on the Christmas shopping.”
    I turned around and there Gabriel was.
    “Hold on a second.” He gave me wry smile, reached out and I saw his hand tremble ever so slightly. He touched my cheekbone, rubbed it gently, and I felt a dusting of flour Elisa must’ve left behind fall away. “That’s better,” he whispered. He stared into my eyes, his lips parted. It felt like someone had driven a hook into my stomach and I was slowly being reeled in.
    “Gabriel…”
    He exhaled and I swear I felt it. A soft puff of air against my mouth. He looked so solid, so real. I just knew if I leaned closer, took the tiniest step so my feet were between his, then lifted my chin… It was there in his eyes, the same want I felt, the attraction that pulled me forward. The sadness crept into his gaze again. I shivered, he blinked twice, and then he was gone.
    Fuck .
    My stomach dropped so fast I felt nauseous, the adrenaline rush leaving me woozy. I gripped the shelf and let my head hang down.
    I had to get my shit together. I’d been perfectly happy before. I’d find my balance again. This was just some weird Christmas loneliness thing. Didn’t they say the holidays were the worst time to be alone?
    I shook myself, dusted the flour off my arm and pants and stepped out into the kitchen.
    Mr. Houzer and Mrs. Anderson—or whatever their real names were—had left the table.
    I went to the front desk, afraid I’d find them departing early, but all I saw there was a check from Owen for his stay. I peeked into the lounge in case he was waiting there, and found my happy couple instead.
    “Um, hello,” I said, straightening up. I clasped my hands behind my back. “I owe you an apology,” I began, but they scrambled to their feet, shaking their heads.
    “No, no.” Mrs. Anderson said. “It’s us who owes you an apology. We never thought how it might look from the outside and—”
    I held up my