The Book Club Hotel(99)

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t tell me. Nor do I have a clue what Delphi asked for.” And it was bothering her. “If I don’t know, how can Santa bring it?”

“I hope that’s not a question you’re expecting me to answer because we’ve definitely strayed beyond the scope of my expertise.”

“I don’t know why she won’t tell me. She always tells me.” She frowned. “I just have to hope she loves what I’ve chosen for her.”

“And how about you? What do you want Santa to bring you?”

The question made her smile. “I think I’m low on Santa’s list of priorities.”

“You’re always thinking about other people. How about thinking about yourself for a change?”

For the past few years she hadn’t had the luxury of being able to put herself first. Even before Brent had died, they’d been so busy renovating the inn and then building the business that all she’d wanted Santa to bring her was a good night’s sleep.

But tonight, for the first time, she had no one to think about but herself.

And it had been so long since she’d had an evening that was all hers, not shared with the inn, or even with her daughter, whom she loved deeply but whose presence allowed little in terms of personal space. And while being busy was good and had helped her to get through each day, she wondered if it had also kept her stuck in the same place. It was so much easier to do what needed to be done than contemplate an alternative.

“I am thinking of myself,” she said. “That’s why I’m here.”

But why was he here? She didn’t know much about his dating life, but it was impossible to live in a town like this one and not hear things. There had been rumors about Noah and one of the local doctors, and she knew from comments she’d overheard that plenty of women were interested, but she’d never seen him with anyone. She didn’t know if he’d loved and lost, or never loved at all.

“We’ve arrived.” Noah swung the car into a space outside a restaurant that glowed with festive charm. Surrounded by pine trees, the mountains rose behind it, the snow luminous in the moonlight.

Hattie sat for a moment, absorbing the atmosphere. “What a perfect place. It looks like a log cabin. I feel as if I’m in Switzerland. How did I not know about this?”

“You haven’t exactly been getting out much. But hopefully, we’re going to change that.”

She looked into his eyes and felt a jolt of heat. A relaxed evening with a friend, he’d said, but she was pretty sure he didn’t look at any of his friends the way he was looking at her at that moment. And he was making it sound as if this dinner wasn’t a one-off. As if this might be the beginning of something and not just a single night.

She was surprised by how much she hoped that was the case.

“Careful.” He closed the car door and extended a hand. “The path might be icy.”

She took his hand, thinking that the heat currently pounding from her would melt any ice in a moment.

“You’ve been here before?”

“A couple of times. In the summer they have tables out on the deck, overlooking the river and the mountains. It’s a pretty place and the food is excellent.”

Who had he come here with? Had he sat across from the doctor, looking at her the way he was looking at her now?

She pushed the thought away. They were both too old to be bringing the past into the present. That was life.

He opened the door to the restaurant, and they stepped inside. Instantly, she was enveloped by the cozy atmosphere. Delicious smells drifted from the kitchen. There was an open fire, and fairy lights and foliage artfully twisted over thick wooden beams.

“This is wonderful.” She felt the heat from the fire and unfastened the buttons on her coat. “The only place I’ve eaten in the past year that isn’t my own home or yours is Delphi’s favorite pizza place. I hope I can remember how to order something that doesn’t have toppings and come ready sliced.”

She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the large mirror that stretched the length of one wall behind the tables and stared for a moment because she didn’t recognize this glamorous version of herself. It was like meeting an old friend after years of absence and searching to find those aspects that were familiar.

Her eyes looked bigger thanks to Anna’s expertise with makeup, and her hair, usually close to unruly, tonight looked artfully creative.

She handed over her coat to the girl who was hovering, and saw Noah looking at her in a way he never had before. Or maybe he had, just once, on the night of the Halloween party. She’d seen the same hungry look in his eyes in the fleeting seconds before she’d kissed him, when two glasses of “witches’ brew” and a deficit of human contact had eradicated all traces of self-control.

She rubbed her palms over the fabric of her dress, feeling suddenly self-conscious. “Too much? You can blame Delphi. I started with my standard safe black dress, but she said it was boring. You’ve probably noticed that five-year-olds aren’t subtle. To win her approval, something must either glow in the dark or sparkle.”

“You’re doing both.” His voice was husky. “Remind me to thank Delphi when I see her next.” Before he could say anything else they were interrupted by a woman who appeared from the kitchen.