Holly leaned back against the headboard of her lodge bed, a steaming mug of peppermint tea in her hands and her laptop balanced on her thighs. The lodge was unusually quiet tonight. The stillness was a welcome reprieve from the whirlwind of the past few weeks. Between helping organize the festival, battling her feelings for Jack, and Lucas showing up in town briefly during the holidays, she’d barely had time to think.
But now the town had settled, Holly finally felt like she could breathe again. She was savoring the peace, her thoughts wandering to the warmth of Jack’s kiss, the way he’d smiled at her in the glow of the twinkling festival lights, when a sudden knock shattered the moment.
Her brows furrowed as she glanced at the clock. It was nearly 9 PM—too late for an impromptu visit f
