Snowed In With The Grinch

Chapter 3: Meet Jack Winters

Holly rubbed her temples, the ache in her head growing with each passing second. She had come all this way to attend the networking event that was supposed to give her life some semblance of direction, and now she was stranded in a town that looked like Christmas had thrown up all over it. Worse yet, her only company so far had been a too-cheerful desk clerk and a tow truck driver who hadn’t even pretended to feel sorry for her.

She glanced around the lodge, trying to tamp down the rising wave of panic. Families and couples filled the room, laughing and chatting as though the storm outside was just a cozy inconvenience instead of the disaster it was. The scent of cinnamon and pine wafted through the air, mingling with the sound of soft holiday music playing over the lodge’s speakers. Every corner of the room was decorated—garlands hung from wooden beams, tiny reindeer figurines stood on tabletops, and even the fireplace mantel was dripping with red ribbons and twinkling fairy lights.

To anyone else, it would have been picturesque. To Holly, it was just another reminder of how much she hated Christmas.

She sank deeper into the armchair by the fire, wrapping her coat tighter around herself. There had to be a way out of this. She couldn’t just sit here waiting for the storm to pass; she needed to get to the Summit Lodge. She needed to fix this disaster.

She was mid-panic when a voice broke through her thoughts.

“Rough night?”

Holly’s head snapped up. Standing in front of her was a man holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate. He looked infuriatingly relaxed, leaning casually against the side of the fireplace like he didn’t have a care in the world. His dark hair was slightly tousled, like he’d just stepped in from the storm, and his eyes sparkled with amusement. He was wearing a ridiculous sweater—red, with a giant reindeer face on it—that might have made her laugh if she weren’t so irritated.

“Excuse me?” Holly asked, her tone sharper than she’d intended.

“Your night. Looks rough,” the man said, gesturing to the fire. “You’ve got that ‘I’d rather be anywhere else’ vibe.”

“I’d rather be at the Summit Lodge,” she muttered, glaring into the flames.

“Well, bad news about that,” he said, taking a sip of his drink. “Storm’s got the roads blocked. Summit’s a no-go.”

Holly scowled. “I know. I’ve already been told.”

“Just checking,” he said with an infuriating grin. “Some people don’t listen the first time.”

Holly’s irritation flared. “Do you make it a habit of bothering complete strangers?”

The man raised his eyebrows, clearly amused by her hostility. “Bothering? No. Offering hot chocolate to stranded travelers? Sometimes.”

“I’m fine, thanks,” she snapped.

“Suit yourself,” he said, holding up the mug as if to toast her. “But you’re missing out. Marjorie makes the best hot chocolate in town. Extra whipped cream.”

Holly rolled her eyes, hoping he’d take the hint and leave her alone, but instead, he sat down in the armchair across from hers.

“Name’s Jack, by the way. Jack Winters.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

Holly stared at him for a moment, debating whether to engage or just ignore him completely. “Holly,” she said finally, her voice clipped.

“Nice to meet you, Holly.” His grin widened. “What brings you to our little slice of heaven?”

She let out a bitter laugh. “Heaven? Sure.”

“Come on,” Jack said, gesturing to the room. “It’s cozy, isn’t it? Warm fire, pretty lights, hot drinks—what’s not to love?”

“Everything,” Holly said flatly.

Jack’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow. Tough crowd.”

“I don’t have time for this,” Holly muttered, standing up. “If you’ll excuse me…”

“Hang on,” Jack said, rising to his feet. “You didn’t answer my question. Why are you here?”

She hesitated, glancing toward the front desk where Marjorie was chatting with another guest. “I was supposed to be at a networking event at the Summit Lodge. It got canceled. End of story.”

Jack studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to her surprise, he smiled. “Well, you’ve got some bad luck, I’ll give you that.”

“Gee, thanks,” she said, crossing her arms.

“But hey,” Jack continued, undeterred. “Maybe being stuck here isn’t the worst thing in the world. Snowfall Valley’s got its charms.”

Holly raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“Plenty of things,” he said with a shrug. “Good food, friendly people, beautiful scenery. Oh, and the Christmas Festival. You can’t beat the Christmas Festival.”

Holly groaned. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Nope,” Jack said, his grin returning. “We take Christmas very seriously around here.”

“Great,” Holly muttered, sinking back into her chair. “That’s exactly what I need—a front-row seat to more holiday cheer.”

Jack chuckled, sitting back down. “Let me guess. You’re not a Christmas person.”

“What gave it away?” she said dryly.

“Well, the scowl for one,” he said, pointing to her face. “And the way you’re glaring at that garland like it insulted your family.”

Holly couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her. It was short and barely audible, but Jack seemed to notice.

“There it is,” he said, his tone teasing. “A crack in the armor.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Holly said, her smile fading.

Jack leaned back in his chair, studying her again. “So, if you hate Christmas so much, why’d you come to a Christmas-themed town during the holidays?”

Holly hesitated. She didn’t owe this stranger an explanation, but something about the way he asked made her want to answer. “The networking event. I needed it. I lost my job, and I thought… I thought this could be my chance to turn things around.”

Jack’s expression softened. For the first time since he’d appeared, he looked genuinely serious. “That sucks. I’m sorry.”

She shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable with his sympathy. “It is what it is.”

“Still,” Jack said, his voice quieter now. “Getting stuck here doesn’t have to be the end of the world.”

Holly glanced at him, ready to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped her. For a moment, he didn’t seem like the infuriatingly cheerful guy in the reindeer sweater. There was something deeper there—something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

Before she could say anything, Marjorie called out from the front desk. “Jack! Can you give me a hand over here?”

“Be right there!” Jack called back. He stood, brushing imaginary dust off his sweater, and gave Holly one last smile. “Hang in there, Grinch. You never know—this place might surprise you.”

With that, he walked away, leaving Holly staring after him.

Holly can’t help but wonder what Jack meant about the town "surprising" her. As the storm rages on, she realizes she might have no choice but to spend more time in this infuriatingly festive town—and with its infuriatingly charming resident.