One More for Christmas

Tab clapped her hands. “It looks like a fairy castle!”

“Does it?” Brodie adjusted his glasses, as if seeing the place properly for the first time. “I suppose it does. It was built as a shooting lodge in the mid-eighteenth century by my great, great, great—” He paused and shook his head. “I lose track of how many greats—grandfather who apparently wanted to impress his wife.”

“I’m sure she was more than impressed.”

“She was probably cold. Place must have been drafty in the winter with an icy wind blowing down the glen.” He gave a half smile. “Don’t panic—we’ve made a few upgrades since then. Plenty of heat and hot water. You’ll be cozy and comfortable.”

Samantha wasn’t worried. She knew she’d struck gold. Beyond the house the drive wound its way down to a neatly kept dock, past what looked like a small stable block. “You have horses?”

“At the moment there is just Pepper. He was my sister’s pony. Taught us all to ride. But we’re considering expanding that side of the business. Something else I’d like to talk to you about. Do you think it would be popular?”

Riding around the loch with snow-covered mountains in the distance? “For summer visitors, most definitely.”

He drove up the sweeping drive and stopped outside the front of the house.

On either side of the large doorway stood two Christmas trees, each studded with tiny lights.

Samantha couldn’t remember ever seeing a more welcoming home, and was relieved she hadn’t allowed that one embarrassing phone call to stop her experiencing this magical place.

She stepped out of the car and took a few steps, her feet sinking into the thin layer of snow that must have fallen since the drive had been swept.

The place was extraordinary.

Her niece obviously agreed.

“It’s a fairy palace,” Tab breathed, clambering out of the car, holding tightly to Ella’s hand. “Is there a dragon?”

“I don’t believe so.” Brodie rubbed his hand over his jaw, giving the question serious consideration. “I’m guessing we’d probably know if there was. We’d see droppings. Maybe a few scorched areas around the woodwork. If you see any signs of one, perhaps you would let me know. It could be a fire risk. Maybe a health and safety complication. Probably something we’d need to declare to the authorities.”

Samantha managed not to smile. He claimed not to have any experience, but she could see immediately that he’d be a perfect host.

Tab seemed to think so, too. “I will go on a dragon hunt. Can we build a snowman?”

“Not right now.” Ella scooped her up. “It’s almost bedtime.”

Michael slung a backpack over his shoulder and picked up a case in each hand, while Brodie unloaded the rest of their bags.

“You get into the warm. I’ll handle these.”

“I’m fine.” Samantha carried her own suitcase and walked with Brodie.

She wanted to say something thoughtful about his father, but what? She’d already said the wrong thing. She didn’t want to double down on her mistake.

Stuck for safe topics of conversation, she settled on the weather.

“I’m one of those rare people who love snow. I live in Boston. As well as snow, we have wind. I’ve actually seen snow falling horizontally there.”

“I know Boston well.”

“You do?”

“I’ve worked with a few tech starts-up there. Smart people.”

“Work? What work?”

“I’m a data analyst.”

“You—” She stopped dead. “I assumed you were an outdoors person who runs to the top of a mountain before breakfast.”