He was going to find the Emerald House and crash a New Year’s Eve party.
Chapter Nine
SOFIA
“Iknow I’ve seen your work twice now, but wow, I still don’t know how you do it,” Sofia said appreciatively, giving Holly a quick hug as she surveyed the interior of the Emerald House.
The coffee shop had been entirely transformed with curtains of lights and tiny glittering silver disco balls, creating the illusion of dancing light and rainbows throughout the room.
She turned to her left and gasped. The whole restaurant was also alight, having been completely transfigured in the same classy-party style. Sofia momentarily imagined she was in a swanky New York City hotel, not in a small town in Oregon.
“You included the restaurant?” That had never been part of the New Year’s Eve bash before.
“Esmeralda sold a hundred tickets this year,” Ash said, raising his eyebrows.
“What?And she didn’t consult with you first?”
“She said since it’s a fundraiser for the animal shelter, we should just take it in stride, basically.”
Sofia watched as Holly squeezed Ash’s hand.Ugh, they are cute.Still, her temper flared at his words.
“Well, then, if Esmeralda says it, it must be so.” She let out a deep breath, then a grin split her face, her irritation dissolving at the magic around her. “Holly, I’m so glad you made it to an Emerald Hollow New Year’s Eve bash. The chamber goes all out on prizes for the silent auction. And I’ll be making my favorite sparkling margaritas. Virgin for you, of course,” Sofia added quickly, taking Holly’s hand and pulling her away from Ash.
“Here. I made you something. I had no idea how perfect these would be until I walked in here.” She reached into her clutch and handed Holly the sparkling disco ball earrings she’d made earlier that day.
“Sof, these are stunning!” Holly exclaimed, admiring them before expertly slipping them into her ears. They complemented the burgundy red dress she was wearing, and all the lights in the room seemed to reflect off them, making Holly appear more radiant than ever.
“You look fab. I bet Ash can’t keep his hands off you,” Sofia teased.
Holly flushed, but a soft smile played on her lips. “You look gorgeous too,” she said, not rising to the bait.
Sofia had chosen to wear a sparkling floor-length silver-and-black gown and her highest heels. She still wasn’t as tall as Holly, but she was inching closer. Sofia loved to dress up, and New Year’s Eve was the perfect night for it. She was going to dance away all the stress and unwelcome memories that the morning had brought on. There was no better way to start fresh than welcoming in another trip around the sun.
The sparkling margaritaswere as popular as always, and Sofia decided to take a break from serving drinks to hit the dance flooragain. Ash had done an excellent job choosing the DJ, and the party was already lively by ten o’clock.
Sofia tried not to let herself wonder how many of the party guests were couples who would be kissing at midnight as she danced through the crowded room. There she was for another year, surrounded by many people she loved but still feeling a little alone. Still, she wouldn’t let it get her down. New Year’s Eve wasnotjust for lovers. It was about new beginnings and dreaming big, and that was her mantra for her business that year.
She stopped by the bar and made herself another sparkling margarita, smiling in satisfaction as she took a sip of the fizzy concoction. At least her drink-making skills had improved as she aged, she thought with a snort.
Holly gave her a quizzical look, and Sofia shook her head. She was glad to have a friend like Holly and more than glad that Ash had finally found someone. But there was no such magic for her. No world-traveling handsome man in market research who instantly fell in love with Emerald Hollow would fall out of the sky for her.
Besides, it would be easier for her to fall for someone she already knew, so she wouldn’t have to question everything about their past and what they might be keeping from her. Unfortunately, pickings were slim in Emerald Hollow. She already knew everyone in the town, and none of the men was the one for her.
Park, a local who managed a sporting goods store, had been trying to dance with her all evening. She’d given in for a couple of songs but turned him down when he’d asked for a third. Sofia wasn’t interested in the guy, and she didn’t want to give him the wrong impression.
She wasn’t entirely surewhyshe wasn’t interested. He’d been divorced for two years, was conventionally attractive, andseemed nice enough, but there was no spark there. And Sofia knew enough about herself to know better than to waste their time if there wasn’t one.Thoughthe last time there was a spark between me and a man, it ended in disaster,she reminded herself.
Sofia took a big swig of her cocktail and pushed that thought away. Noah had already invaded her thoughts enough that day, after she’d gone months without thinking about him and what had happened. She’d thought she was making progress, but her reaction to the stranger, Isaiah, had shaken that notion.
She walked over to Holly and grabbed her wrists, pulling her onto the dance floor. The music continued to blare, the drinks continued to flow, and before Sofia knew it, it was eleven thirty. She swiped a flute of champagne from a tray, preparing for the toast at midnight.
She cruised by the silent auction near the lobby to see where she stood. She’d bid way too much on an overnight trip to Ashland and secretly hoped someone would outbid her. The cabin fever she was experiencing because of the snow had her dreaming of escape. She glanced at the sheet.Darn.She was still the top bid.
A rush of cold air hit her bare arms, and she turned to look at the front doors. Her eyes met those of the person who had just walked in, and she gasped, her fingers slipping from the stem of her glass.
The delicate champagne flute shattered as it hit the floor.
Chapter Ten
