Page 17 of Believe In Us

“Well, I don’t plan on going anywhere.” We grinned at each other.

She gestured toward the windows behind me. “It’s snowing.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see soft, plump snowflakes falling. “So it is. It’ll be fun to have a snowy Christmas.”

Out of nowhere, Elsa looked anxious. “Gah! Thanksgiving is coming soon. We have to plan!”

“You don’t need to panic,” I said.

“I know there’s just a lot to plan. Maggie is really into it,” Elsa explained. “After they lost their dad and Bree, and then rebuilt this place, she’s more into the holidays than ever. Family is important to her.”

Every time I contemplated with the Silver family had been through, my heart ached a little. “I’ll help. I’m great at organizing things like that.”

“You will?”

“Of course. I mean, I’m not family, but I’m happy to help.” Elsa narrowed her eyes at me. “I work here,” I added quickly.

“I know, but you know how Maggie is. She wants everybody to be a part of it. It’s a given that she’s going to invite you and your dad and Kendall and her parents and, well, frankly, anybody that needs a place to be. That’s why they have reservations all through the holidays. She loves it.”

I let out a happy sigh. “I love that too. I’m super into the holidays.”

“Well, let Maggie know. She’ll be ecstatic.”

We heard footsteps approaching my door and glanced over. Haven appeared, and the moment his eyes landed on Elsa, his slow grin was instant. I took the moment to study him. All the Silver brothers were handsome, but I felt nothing for any of them. Not a single zing. But damn, if Lincoln smiled at me like that, I would probably just collapse in a heap at his feet.

“Fish blood,” Haven said by way of greeting, and Elsa giggled.

“Yes. I didn’t know it was there and Chloe helpfully asked me why I had blood on my face.”

“I’m going to head over to the barn apartment and shower.” He rolled up his sleeves, which were covered in dirt and grease.

“What have you been doing?” she asked.

“We were changing the oil on all the snow machines and one of the bolts came undone quicker than I expected.”

“I’ll come with you,” Elsa said with a grin.

A little while after they left, I made my way down the hallway to the family kitchen. Maggie was standing at the counter, tasting something from a tray of appetizers that Tommy made. Tommy made everything for the family these days. Just starting high school, and he already knew what he wanted to do. He’d recently decided he wanted to be a chef and baker, and he had skills in spades.

Maggie closed her eyes and let out a happy hum. After she finished chewing, as I stopped beside her, she said, “These are amazing. Help yourself.”

Tommy beamed from where he was pulling something else out of the oven. “What are these, Tommy?” I called over.

“Brie cranberry puff pastries. I’m testing them out for Thanksgiving.”

“They sound delicious.” I popped one in my mouth. The bright burst of flavor from the cranberry with the Brie and a touch of brown sugar was, in a word, transcendent. “Chef’s kiss,” I said after I finished chewing, bringing my fingertips together and blowing a kiss as I opened them. “Speaking of Thanksgiving, Elsa tells me you like to make a big deal of it.”

“I do. You and your dad are invited, of course,” Maggie said with a nod.

“You know I love planning things. Can I help?”

“Plan away,” Maggie said, clapping her hands together. “Much as I love it, I have to admit I’m a little haphazard about it. Tommy is assigned to the menu, obviously,” she said, gesturing toward him with smile, “but I could use a little help with the rest. We want to plan something for Thanksgiving, Christmas and then something small for New Year’s. Not a big meal, but something for the occasion.”

“All right, Tommy, I’m going to come up with a list,” I called over.

Tommy grinned. “Awesome, Chloe.”

Just then, before I even turned my head, I knew Lincoln walked into the kitchen. For me and my hormones, he was magnetic. I could feel his presence like a vibration, and heat blazed through me.