Christmas At Prescott Inn

“Don’t worry,” Emilie promised. “I’ll make it a success. What’s the next step?”

“We’ll arrange for a van to take you to the airport. I’ll email you your tickets and itinerary shortly, so keep checking your inbox. From Miami International, I imagine you’ll be flying to Boston’s Logan Airport and then driving up to New Hampshire by shuttle bus.”

“Wait? We’re going to New Hampshire?” Emilie suddenly felt nervous. NathanPrescott lived in New Hampshire.

But he would never... She shook her head.

“Yes,” Lynn was saying, “New Hampshire. Is that a problem?”

“No, no,” Emilie said quickly. “Sorry. I just assumed we were going to a rink someplace sunny. With artificial ice.”

“I’m told it’s a seasonal rink with natural ice. Rather old-school.”

“Okay.” She could adapt to that.

Scratch that, she had to adapt to that. Whatever it took to keep the team together and to secure their new jobs.

“Emilie, are you still on board with us?”

“Oh, yes!”

“Then the van will meet you at the arrival gate and take you all to the resort in the mountains. The place is called Prescott Inn.”

Prescott Inn! It was Nathan who’d hired them.

Emilie felt as if the wind had been knocked from her. She slid down the wall until she was sitting on the carpet. It was suddenly hard to breathe. Or maybe she was hyperventilating.

“Are you there, Emilie? I heard a strange noise.”

Emilie nodded. “I’m here,” she managed to croak, hand over her chest.

Her mind was whirling. She was going to Nathan Prescott’s inn!

But why? Thoughts of him made tears spring to her eyes. He’d chosen his inn over her. Why would he want to see her now? And at the same inn that he’d shown her was more important to him than she was.

Did this mean he was second-guessing his decision? Did it mean he still cared about her?

They really had been in love, she thought wistfully.

Or maybe she was jumping to conclusions. His contract with them could just mean that Nathan simply wanted to help them out. He’d been on the cruise ship once, too, so he understood their predicament. Even if he’d only been a consulting accountant for the cruise line, he knew what the cruising life entailed. He got how serious a ship sinking was. It was a terrible, frightening experience, and even though they’d been lucky enough that no one had been seriously hurt—

“Hello? Emilie? Can you hear me? I think I’ve lost you.”

Emilie cleared her throat. “I’m still here.”

Sort of. She was having trouble processing her own scrambled and upset reactions. Honestly, though, what did it matter where the opportunity came from? Her team was being kept together and employed, if only for the short term. She was grateful for that. It was what she’d wanted. They would all feel better when they heard the news.

And the chance to prove herself to Lynn was just icing on the cake.

“So,” Lynn continued. “That’s it, then. I’ll process your contracts from our end and take care of the final details.”

“Okay...” If she could think of any other terms, now was the time to state them.

“Um. Lynn,” Emilie said, “what about a clothing allowance? We’ve lost everything in the sinking. Our rooms are underwater, and nothing is salvageable.” She assumed that to be true, anyway. “And none of us have warm coats or boots to wear in New Hampshire.”

“You’re right,” Lynn agreed. “Since this will be such good PR for us, I’ll see if I can authorize an advance for you. Let me get back to you on the amount, okay?”

“That would be great.” Emilie would organize a shopping expedition to a local mall here in Miami. That would lift everyone’s spirits. “I can’t think of anything else right now, but if I do, I’ll let you know.”

“Please don’t ask for anything else! I’m out on a limb for you as it is.”

“We’ll make you look good, I promise!”

Lynn sighed. “Just make a great new show and reconfigure the ship’s Christmas show for the new ice. I’ll talk with you soon.” She ended the call.

Emilie stood from her position on the carpet and dusted herself off.

Things were looking up.

And as for Nathan, well...

She checked her phone. He hadn’t called her. But somehow, she had hope in her heart. He’d reached out and offered them this lifeline, hadn’t he?

She would show him her honest appreciation for that when she saw him. He had broken her heart once, but in the spirit of Christmas, maybe it was time for forgiveness.

CHAPTER FOUR (#uac2e84fe-b41b-52ce-b716-65d03335780d)

WHEN EMILIE WALKED inside Prescott Inn, she found a lobby decorated for Christmas, with a fully trimmed tree, pine wreaths that smelled of the north woods and garlands atop every doorway.

She took a deep breath and appreciated the Christmas spirit.

This boded well.

But as she waited for someone to come out and greet them, she wondered why the inn felt so empty. And where was Nathan?

“Oh! Here you are!” A young woman with a big smile and dark hair came out from an office behind the front desk. She helped Emilie load her bags—meager as they were—onto a rolling brass luggage cart.

“Did you have a pleasant flight?” the woman asked sweetly.

“Yes.” Emilie touched her hand to her throat. “May I speak with Nathan Prescott, please?”

A blush crept over the woman’s cheeks. “I can answer any questions you might have. My name is Nell Lewis. I’m his marketing manager.”

“Oh! Well, does Nathan still work in this building?” She already knew the answer—the night before, she’d done an internet search. It had pained her, but in his official photos, Nathan Prescott was as handsome as ever. He looked just as he had the day he’d walked off the Empress Caribbean.

Reluctantly, Nell nodded. “Yes, and I am sorry, but Mr. Prescott is occupied at the moment. He’s put me in charge of helping you settle in.” She smiled brightly at Emilie. “How are your skaters? You’re Emilie O’Shea, right? I saw your interviews on TV.”

“Yes, I’m Emilie, thank you. And my skaters are outside, in the van.” Emilie forced a smile at Nell, still wondering if Nathan’s marketing manager knew about Emilie and Nathan’s romance.