Page 51 of Wait a HO HO HO Second!

“Yes, but not romance novels. Do you read a lot of those?” Kian asked, confused by her sudden prickliness.

The withering look Joy pinned him with made him wish he hadn’t asked. “My taste in genres is not on trial here.” Kian held up his hands and nodded, deciding that opening his mouth was not the smartest move, given what kept coming out. “My point is, we will share this room, but I will not be happy about it, and I’d better not find out you tricked me.”

“That didn’t happen.” Kian grabbed his phone and pulled up their reservations. “See?” Joy took the phone, read it quickly, then handed it back. “I didn’t think checking in late would be a big deal. That’s on me, but I swear it wasn’t intentional.”

“Fine, let’s just get to the room before they give it away. I’m tired and hangry.”

“You got it,” he said, holding out his hand to help her up. They walked back to the desk, and Kian smiled at Nancy. “We’ll take the room. Do you have a rollaway bed?”

“No, we don’t have those, and this room doesn’t have a sofa bed, but I did find a shower chair,” Nancy said with such hope and happiness that Kian couldn’t help but appreciate her efforts.

“That’s so kind. Thank you,” Joy said, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

“Do you have an extra quilt, maybe? I’ll be sleeping on the floor,” Kian explained, hoping it would earn him points with the woman beside him. Not that he wasn’t willing. He was, but more than anything, he wanted her to know he would do anything to make her more comfortable.

“I don’t even have an extra washcloth. We’re on snowstorm protocol, and we have a lot of people doubling and even tripling up in rooms.”

“It’s no problem,” Joy said with a smile. “We’ll make it work. Is the restaurant still open?”

“It is,” Nancy said, swiping two cards. “They’ll be open late with a full menu, at least until they run out of items. After eight p.m., it will be room service only because we won’t have any waitstaff left.”

“Room service sounds perfect,” they said together, and they laughed.

Kian took the keys from Nancy with a smile. “Thanks for your help and for understanding my confusion.”

“It’s no problem, Mr. Van Adler. I’ve added an extra six thousand points to your account for a future stay, and dinner is on the house.”

“That’s not necessary, Nancy, but thank you.”

“At Saffron Hotels, we appreciate your return business and your understanding. Your luggage and shower chair will be in your room. Enjoy your evening, and stay warm!”

Kian motioned for Joy to go first, then followed her to the elevators, where she hit the up button. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and he half expected her to be angry, even though this wasn’t his fault. But that wasn’t the look she wore. If he wasn’t mistaken, it was sadness. The look said she was trying to keep herself together.

The thought hit him in the gut. All he wanted was to know why she was sad and what he could do to fix it. Maybe it was his way of making up for all the times he’d made her sad when they were younger. As they rode up to the room in silence, with Joy staring at the floor, he knew that wasn’t the reason. The pang in his chest told him that somewhere along the way he’d started to care about Joy as more than a business colleague. He wanted to know why she was sad because he cared.

He chuckled at the irony. The one woman he’d once treated so callously was now teaching him what empathy truly meant.

28

#Kingstrumpqueens

The shower had warmed Joy’s body, but the pit of her stomach was still a block of ice. Somehow, she had to go back out there and face the man who was perfect from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. Her toes were anything but perfect. They were calloused and contorted, looking more like the feet of someone three times her age. Don’t even get her started on the disasters that were her legs. Should she care what Kian Van Adler thought of her legs? No. For some reason, she did, though. She feared that reason was the kisses they had shared, which had sparked a new hope that they could be more than business colleagues.

“As if,” she muttered.

Knowing this moment would come, she’d put it off as long as she could. First, she insisted he shower while she ordered food. Kian was toeing the line, so he didn’t argue, though she could tell he wanted to. He wanted her to shower first and warm up. In the end, she’d won, but the food would arrive soon. She’d better find the courage to head back out there and face him.

Joy could pretend it was perfectly normal to share a meal and spend the night with her nemesis. Okay, ex-nemesis, but still. The hard part was knowing that when it came time to go to bed, she’d have to take her braces off. She’d leave her socks on, but even they wouldn’t hide what the disease had done to her legs.

Why was she like this? It didn’t matter what Kian Van Adler thought of her or her legs. Once Christmas was over, he’d go back to Minnesota, and she’d stay in Snowcap Ridge. Her mind flashed to the kiss by the tree, but she shook it away. Even that didn’t matter. Kian was made for the Sabrinas of the world, not the Joys. Sad but true.

Joy wiped away a tear and sighed. Hiding in the bathroom was not a solution. All she could do was put on her big-girl panties and go out there. Maybe the memory of what he used to say to her had her on edge. Did she think he was still so callous and thoughtless? No, but memories could easily overtake reality in a situation like this.

He’s read about the disease. It stands to reason he’s seen pictures, right?

“But not mine!” she growled at the voice, as though that would quiet it. Joy had a real bone to pick with her subconscious. Until Kian returned, it kept its trap shut. As soon as he shows up? BAM! It decides to boss her around. Not gonna happen.

Joy leaned over the sink, staring at the woman in the mirror. “You have nothing to prove to Kian Van Adler. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Don’t let him get in your head. You are a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man to make you happy. You’re already happy doing what you love. Would it be nice to have someone who complements you? Yes. Is it necessary? No. Don’t stop being who you are just because Kian Damn Van Adler makes you feel vulnerable. Vulnerability is important in a relationship, but you aren’t in one, so you owe him nothing. Tonight is no different from any other night, and you don’t have to let him psych you out.”