Stuck in Christmas (Holiday Magic #1)

Chapter 2

Two

Joe walked me to my car, and I noticed the air had more of a bite than when I arrived. I shivered and cursed myself for not bringing something warmer than a fleece jacket. Not for the first time, I considered staying the night at the Inn. I had no doubt their guest room would be warm and cozy, and I could only imagine what goodies Bonnie and Eli would whip up for breakfast.

“Here are the directions.” Joe handed me turn-by-turn navigation, handwritten on a diner order pad. Then, he offered me a steaming go-cup. “And hot chocolate for the road. Are you sure you won’t change your mind about sticking around?”

Guilt stabbed me again. “Can’t. I have to hurry up and get to the spa to relax. Thanks again for everything.”

I settled into the driver’s seat and pushed start on the car. The engine roared to life, and I waved to Joe a final time before backing out of the parking spot and heading toward the edge of town. I paused, catching a glimpse of the twinkling Christmas lights illuminating the square behind me. With a deep breath, I pressed on the gas pedal, ready to put Christmas, Mississippi, in my rear view.

But instead of moving forward onto the county road, I found myself right back where I started—right in front of Bonnie’s Inn. Confusion knitted my brows together. “What the?—?”

I must have blanked out for a few minutes, the scent of hot chocolate sending my brain ahead of itself. I shook my head and laughed at myself. I backed out of the parking spot, gripped the steering wheel firmly, and drove toward the edge of the town square. Just as I reached the edge where the town road meets the county highway, I drove into the invisible line on the other side of the square and slammed on my brakes.

“Not possible,” I said. I parked the car and got outside to examine my spot on the square. Yep. I was opposite to where I had tried to drive away. Somehow, I was driving in a loop.

I got in the car, slapped my cheeks a few times, and clicked the seatbelt into place. Maybe I needed to break through whatever was keeping me stuck here. Not that I wanted to examine what that thing was exactly. I gunned the engine and picked up speed to hurl me off the square and back on track, but the second the car’s bumper hit the other side of the square, I skidded back through the other side.

“For the love of cheeses!” I shouted and slammed back into the parking spot in front of Bonnie’s Inn.

I avoided the edge of the sidewalk as I stepped through the diner’s front door, the bell jingling cheerily above my head. Mocking me.

“Miss Renee,” Bonnie exclaimed, her voice as bright as the decorations around her. “Changed your mind about staying?”

“I keep getting turned around and can’t seem to leave,” I replied. How the heck was I going to explain what was happening?

“Ah, Joe’s directions,” Bonnie said knowingly, crossing her arms with a smirk. “Should have warned you about that.”

I shook my head. “Not sure it’s the directions.”

“You again.” Eli’s smoldering voice sent shivers down my spine. The devil stepped into the dining room and stared down at me.

“Me again. Hi.” I waved at him as if he were across the room and not standing right beside me. Something was wrong with me, and it wasn’t only the car.

“I thought you were leaving.”

“Me too,” I snorted. “Seems like I’m supposed to stay the night.”

Bonnie interrupted with a nudge of her cane on his backside. “Eli. Stop talking her ear off and get the lady’s bags. She’s going to be our guest tonight. Put her in the Mistletoe Suite.”

I raised my hands in protest, “You don’t need to go to that much trouble. A regular room will be just fine.”

Eli shrugged. “It’s the only one left.”

Despite drying off with the towels earlier, the wet spots on my clothes started sticking to my skin, making it seem colder in the diner than it was. A shiver went down my spine, and I gazed longingly at the Inn entrance. That warm bed and cozy surroundings were sounding better and better. “I appreciate the hospitality.”

“Nonsense. This is the Hospitality State,” Bonnie said, her enthusiasm infectious.

I smiled at the woman, and then I caught the glint of metal on the neck strap of her apron. It was an intricately painted enamel brooch with metal embellishments. “That is a beautiful pin you’re wearing.”

“A partridge in a pear tree.” Bonnie beamed and leaned closer so I could get a better look. “Joe got it for me on our first Christmas as a married couple. Probably isn’t worth more than a quarter, but it has sentimental value.”

“It’s beautiful and reminds me of something,” I started, but Eli’s voice jolted me back to reality.

“Are you coming?” He demanded as he held open the door between the diner and the inn.

I hugged Bonnie and hustled across the floor to where Eli waited. “Sorry.” I followed him through the door and up a set of carved stairs. “This is a beautiful inn. How long has Bonnie had it?”

“Long enough,” Eli replied.

I couldn’t help but dig some more. “That’s quite an answer.”

“That’s the best you’ll get tonight. Good night.” Eli placed my bags on the bed with a thud, then laid a key on the dresser before lingering for a moment.

I waited for him to say something else, but he simply gave me a curt nod and then disappeared down the hallway .

“That’s weird,” I muttered, shaking my head as I unpacked.

Once settled, I prepared for bed, then reached for my phone to tell the automated assistant when I wanted to wake up. “Hey, set the alarm for seven a.m.”

“I’ve turned it on,” the automated assistant replied. His voice seemed peeved that he was doing something I asked him to do hundreds of times.

I fluffed my pillows, hoping the morning light would bring clarity to my wildly tangled night. “Let’s see if the roads look better in the light of day.” It was part prayer as I closed my eyes.

As I was about to dive into deep sleep, I dreamed of standing on the town square, outside Bonnie’s Inn, waiting for something. I heard jingling bells and heavy breaths, and when I turned to see what was behind me, I realized I was smack in the path of eight reindeer, barreling through the sky, right for my face.

I threw myself to the side, expecting to end up on the floor of my room at the inn. Instead, I fell face-first into a snowbank.