Page 34 of Chasing Cheer
Ash’s face only brightened more. “If I didn’t know how much you love your friends in Canada, I might try to convince you to stay.” His voice was relaxed, but his eyes scanned the room as he spoke, not quite settling on her.
Holly remembered the comment he’d made outside the Italian restaurant, when he’d joked about Enzo convincing her to stay. She’d gone quiet then, completely still. The words had jarred her. Holly had never moved anywhere—couldn’tmove anywhere. Her home was at the North Pole. But she didn’t seem to be having such a strong reaction to the implication now. Her mind was comfortably taking in the music and the people around her.
“Are you keeping tabs on everything?” Sofia demanded, suddenly breaking free from another conversation. “Just relax, Ash. Most of the business is done. Now it’s party time.”
Sofia held up her glass to Holly. “And I need a refill. How about you?”
“Yes!” Holly exclaimed and followed Sofia to the drink table. She filled her glass again and scooted closer to Sofia just as Sofia let out a little gasp.
“What?” Holly tried to see if one of them had spilled their drink.
“Lucas,” Sofia whispered, narrowing her eyes.
Holly followed her gaze toward the door. A tall, thin man about her and Ash’s age had stridden into the room. He had pale skin and bright-blue eyes and was wearing a puffer vest over a long-sleeve shirt, jeans, and boots.
“Why do you look like you’ve swallowed a snowflake?” Holly asked, though she was picking up on something unsettling as well. The man’s clothes fit in with those of the others, but the way he held himself didn’t feel right to Holly. His eyes looked tired but also oddly focused.
Sofia paused, seeming to wonder at Holly’s strange phrasing, but recovered and whispered a response. “He was Ash’s old business partner. They didn’t end on the best of terms. But you know about that now.”
Holly turned to the man with more interest than before.
“So he’s the one who didn’t believe in Ash’s vision for the Emerald House?” Holly took another large drink of her cider.
“It’s not just that. He gave Ash a hard time during the buyout, and he still seems bitter that Ash’s vision has panned out. Lucas lives a few towns over now but drops in every now and then to rain on everybody’s parade. It’s not a coincidence he’s here tonight, during the chamber mixer.” Sofia took a huge swig of her cider, set her cup down heavily on the table, and stood up straight, looking as if she were ready to stride right over to Lucas.
“Are you going to talk to him?” Holly hoped the answer was no.
“Somebody’s got to see what he’s up to.” Sofia marched toward the door, and Holly followed her warily, feeling like a young reindeer navigating their first complicated flight pattern. Confrontation was something she’d rarely encountered in her days as Ms. Claus, and she knew instinctively that it wouldn’t be something she was good at.
Before coming to Emerald Hollow, if she encountered a negative situation brewing, she got out of there as quickly as possible, striving to maintain her Cheer levels. But based on the fiery expression on Sofia’s face, it seemed it wouldn’t be necessary for Holly to do much other than provide backup. She took a deep breath and followed her friend.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
“Hellooo, Lucas,” Sofia said.
Did she have another cider when I wasn’t looking?Or maybe it really was as strong as she’d indicated. Holly gulped, feeling light-headed.
“Sofia,” Lucas said, barely turning to look at her. He was searching the crowded café.
“Looking for Ash?” Sofia asked, planting herself in front of Lucas so he had to look at her.
He smirked. “Just wanted to say hello. The party’s open to the public, right?”
“Not really.” Sofia placed a hand on her hip.
“Then who is this? A new chamber member?”
“Holly is none of your business. She’s here as my guest.”
“I see,” Lucas said, studying Holly more closely. “Emerald Hollow doesn’t get a lot of new young women very often.” When he smiled, a shiver ran up Holly’s spine.
“Yeah, maybe she and your wife can be friends. Can I help you with something?”
Lucas’s eyes darkened, then he gathered himself. “I’m just going to get some cider and make some small talk. Is that okay with you? I think I have a right to be here, seeing as my dad used to own the place.”
Sofia rolled her eyes. “Your dad and Ash’s dad built the place together. Yeah. We all know that. But Ash bought you out, fair and square.”
“Like I said, I’m just here for the cider.”
