Christmas with My Grumpy Ex (Feuding Hearts Christmas #1)

11. Frozen Moments

11

FROZEN MOMENTS

ELLIE

I weave through the bustling ballroom, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor as I dodge waiters balancing trays of champagne flutes and hors d'oeuvres.

The air buzzes with excitement, a palpable energy that only comes with the final preparations for a major event. But beneath the surface, my nerves are frayed, my mind a whirlwind of checklists and last-minute details.

"Ms. Hawthorne!" A voice calls out, and I turn to see Chase, our head of event design, hurrying towards me with a panicked look on his face. "We have a problem with the ice sculptures. The delivery truck broke down, and they're saying they won't make it in time for setup tomorrow morning."

I take a deep breath, pushing down the wave of anxiety that threatens to overwhelm me. "Okay, let's not panic," I say, more to myself than to Chase. "Call our backup supplier. If they can't do it, we'll reach out to that new place on 5th Avenue. We'll make this work."

Chase nods, relief washing over his face as he scurries off to make the calls. I turn my attention back to the room, my eyes scanning for any other potential disasters waiting to happen.

"Miss Ellie!" Amelia's voice cuts through the chaos, and I smile as I see her bounding towards me, her curls bouncing with each step. "Can I help with anything? Please?"

I laugh, kneeling down to her level. "Well, Miss Amelia, I could use an expert opinion on these centerpieces. What do you think? Too much glitter, or not enough?"

Amelia's face scrunches up in concentration as she studies the elaborate floral arrangements. "Hmm... I think they need more sparkle. Everything's better with extra glitter!"

"You know what? I think you're absolutely right," I say, winking at her. "Why don't you go tell Chase that we need to amp up the glitter factor?"

As Amelia skips off, her excitement infectious. It's moments like these that make me realize how deeply I've fallen for this little girl... and for her father. The thought of Max sends a jolt through me, memories of our night together flashing unbidden through my mind.

But I can't afford to let my feelings for Max distract me, not when there's still so much to do.

Hours pass in a blur of vendor check-ins, last-minute adjustments, and endless cups of coffee. By the time I glance at my watch, I realize it's well past lunchtime, and Amelia's been trailing after me like a patient shadow all morning.

"Hey, sweetie," I say, turning to her with a smile. "What do you say we take a break and grab something to eat? I think we both deserve a treat after all this hard work."

Amelia's face lights up. "Can we go to Serendipity? Please? Daddy always says it was Mommy's favorite place."

Laura's the last person I want to think about, but this isn't about me.

"Of course we can. Let's go get our sugar fix, shall we?"

As we step out of the hotel and into the crisp winter air, I can't help but feel a sense of relief. The chaos of the gala preparations fades away, replaced by the festive atmosphere of the city. Christmas lights twinkle in shop windows, and the scent of roasted chestnuts wafts from a nearby street vendor.

Amelia chatters excitedly as we walk, her small hand warm in mine. I listen, nodding and laughing at all the right moments, but my mind keeps drifting back to Max. The way he looked at me that night in the ballroom, the heat of his touch, the intensity in his eyes... and then the guilt and regret that followed.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts as we enter Serendipity 3. The cafe is a winter wonderland, decked out in twinkling lights and shimmering tinsel. The scent of chocolate and cinnamon fills the air, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the magic of it all.

We settle into a cozy booth, and Amelia immediately buries her nose in the menu, even though I know she'll order the same thing she always does. I smile at her enthusiasm.

"So, what'll it be, Miss Amelia? Let me guess... frozen hot chocolate?" I tease, already knowing the answer.

She giggles, nodding vigorously. "Yes, please! Can we get extra whipped cream?"

"Of course we can. It's not a proper frozen hot chocolate without a mountain of whipped cream, right?"

As we wait for our treats, Amelia regales me with stories about school and her friends. I listen, marveling at how easily she's wormed her way into my heart. It's dangerous, I know, to get so attached when my relationship with Max is... complicated, to say the least. But I can't help it. Amelia's joy is infectious, and for a little while, I let myself pretend that this is real. That I'm more than just her father's fake girlfriend.

Our frozen hot chocolates arrive, piled high with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Amelia digs in with gusto, and I laugh at the whipped cream mustache she sports after her first sip.

"You've got a little something..." I say, gesturing to my own upper lip.

Amelia grins, deliberately smearing more whipped cream across her face. "Like this?"

I burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the cafe. "Exactly like that. You look very distinguished."

As we enjoy our treats, I find myself relaxing for the first time in days. The stress of the gala preparations, the confusion over Max, it all fades away in the face of Amelia's infectious laughter and the simple joy of sharing a moment together.

But our peaceful interlude is interrupted by a familiar voice. "Well, well, if it isn't the lovely Ellie Hawthorne."

I look up to see Daniel Thomas standing at our table, a charming smile on his face. I recognize him from the social events I've attended with Max, though we've never been formally introduced.

"Mr. Thomas," I say, keeping my tone polite but distant. "What a surprise to see you here."

Daniel's smile widens as he slides into the booth next to me, uninvited. "Please, call me Danny. And the surprise is all mine. I didn't expect to find such a vision of beauty in the middle of my afternoon."

I feel my cheeks heat up, uncomfortable with his blatant flirtation. Amelia watches the exchange with wide eyes, her spoon frozen halfway to her mouth.

"That's very kind of you to say," I reply, trying to keep my voice neutral. "But I'm here with Amelia, enjoying some quality time together."

Daniel turns his attention to Amelia, his smile never faltering. "And who's this lovely young lady? Max's daughter, right? You're the spitting image of your father."

Amelia nods shyly, clearly unsure of how to react to this stranger's presence. I feel a surge of protectiveness.

"Yes, this is Amelia," I say, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand reassuringly. "We're having a girls' day out while her father finishes up some work."

Daniel leans in closer, his cologne overwhelming in the small space. "Well, I hope you don't mind if I join you for a bit. It's not often I get the chance to chat with Max Wellington's girlfriend without the man himself hovering nearby."

I shift uncomfortably, acutely aware of how close Daniel is sitting. Part of me wants to shut down his advances immediately, but I'm also conscious of Amelia watching our every move. I don't want to create a scene or make her uncomfortable.

"That's very kind of you," I say, forcing a smile. "But really, Amelia and I should be getting back soon. We have a lot to do before the gala."

Daniel's hand comes to rest on my arm, and I have to resist the urge to pull away. "Come on, Ellie. Surely you can spare a few minutes for a friendly chat? I've been dying to get to know you better since I first saw you at that charity event last month."

I open my mouth to respond, my mind racing for a polite way to extricate myself from this situation, when suddenly I feel the air shift. A familiar presence fills the space, and I look up to see Max standing at our table, his eyes dark with an emotion I can't quite place.

"Daniel," Max says, his voice low and controlled.

The tension in the air is palpable as Max's gaze flicks between Danny's hand on my arm and my face. Without a word, he slides into the booth next to Amelia, effectively boxing Danny in.

Daniel's smile falters for a moment before he recovers, leaning back slightly. "Max! I was just getting to know your lovely girlfriend here. You've been holding out on us, keeping her all to yourself."

Max's jaw tightens, and I feel a shiver run down my spine at the intensity in his eyes. "Ellie's not available for anyone else's attention," he says, his voice firm and unmistakably possessive.

The words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. I feel my breath catch in my throat, stunned by the raw emotion in Max's voice. This isn't just part of our act anymore. The way he's looking at me, the tension in his body... this is real.

Daniel seems to sense the shift in the atmosphere. He clears his throat, sliding out of the booth. "Well, I should be going. It was lovely seeing you again, Ellie. Amelia."

He nods to Max, a flicker of a challenge in his eyes before he turns and walks away.

As soon as Daniel's out of earshot, Max turns to me, his eyes searching my face.

"Are you okay?" he asks, his voice softer now but still tinged with concern.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. My mind is reeling from Max's possessive display. What does this mean? After pushing me away, after telling me our night together was a mistake, how can he act like this?

Amelia, bless her, breaks the tension. "Daddy! You're just in time. We saved you some frozen hot chocolate!"

Max's expression softens as he turns to his daughter, but I can still feel the weight of his gaze on me. "Thanks, sweetpea. It looks delicious."

As Max and Amelia chat, I find myself lost in thought. The way Max reacted to Daniel's flirtation... it was more than just playing the part of my boyfriend. There was real jealousy there, real possessiveness. But what does it mean?

After everything that's happened between us, after the way he pulled away, can I trust these feelings?

I watch Max with Amelia, seeing the love and tenderness in his eyes as he listens to her recount our day. My heart aches with longing for what could be.

A family. A future. But the memory of Max's guilt, of his retreat after our night together, still stings.

As we leave Serendipity, stepping back out into the chilly New York afternoon, I can't shake the feeling that something has shifted between us. Max's hand rests on the small of my back as we walk, a gesture that feels both familiar and thrillingly new.

But beneath the warmth of his touch, doubts still swirl in my mind.

Can I trust this? Can I trust him? Or am I setting myself up for heartbreak all over again?

As we make our way back to the hotel, Amelia skipping ahead of us, I steal a glance at Max. His profile is strong, determined, but I can see the conflict in his eyes.

He's fighting something—his feelings for me, his guilt over Laura, or maybe both.

I take a deep breath, the cold air filling my lungs. Whatever's happening between us, whatever this means, I know one thing for certain: I'm in deep. Despite my best efforts to protect my heart, I've fallen for Max Wellington all over again. And this time, with Amelia in the mix, the stakes are higher than ever.

As we reach the hotel, Max turns to me, his eyes intense. "Ellie, about what happened back there..."

But before he can finish, we're interrupted by Chase rushing out to meet us, his face pale with panic. "Ms. Hawthorne! We have another crisis with the gala preparations. We need you right away."

I nod, slipping back into professional mode despite the turmoil in my heart. "I'll be right there, Chase." I turn to Max and Amelia, forcing a smile. "Duty calls. I'll see you both later?"

Max nods, his expression unreadable. "Of course. We'll talk soon, Ellie."

As I follow Chase back into the hotel, my mind racing with both work concerns and personal confusion, I can't help but wonder: What would have Max said if we hadn't been interrupted? And more importantly, am I ready to hear it?