The sun was just about to set as Eva and Poppy stepped into the elevator to meet the Wilder family already gathered downstairs in the lobby of the Wilder Inn.
Although calling it a lobby didn’t do it justice. The big room just inside the front doors of the old stone and wood building was even grander than the mansion, and that was saying something.
Eva had endured primping and polishing at Poppy’s hands for hours. But she had to admit, all the work Poppy had put in showed.
For once Eva didn’t feel like a vagrant next to Poppy dressed in her finest.
Poppy had blown Eva’s short hair pin straight, then used some sort of magic serum that had made it stand up in sassy chunky spikes that suited her personality to a T.
So did the outfit Poppy had chosen for her. Brown tweed wool pants, high at the waist and wide in the leg. A cream-colored silk top with pearl buttons, wide cuffs and the collar popped up. All of that topped off with Poppy’s leather slingback shoes that Eva had managed to shove her feet into, after some adjustments to the buckle on the strap.
She currently wobbled on the two-inch heels she wasn’t used to as she stood in the elevator.
When the doors opened, they made their way the short distance to the seating area in the lobby where she already heard the family’s voices.
She knew the moment Linc saw her. His eyes widened before he smiled.
He strode toward her, planting his hands on her waist as he said, “You look amazing.”
“Um, I see my brother over there. I'm going to see how he's doing,” Poppy said, no doubt feeling awkward as Linc stared into Eva’s eyes like he was about to devour her.
When she was gone, Eva said, “So are you saying Poppy has better clothes than me? Because don’t worry. I agree with you.”
“I’m saying you are absolutely beautiful… Maybe I just noticed because it’s the first time I wasn’t too busy reading the dirty sayings on your shirts.” His elusive dimple appeared along with that comment.
Linc—actually making a joke? He was like a new man. And she liked this one as much as the last.
“Hey, they’re not all dirty sayings. Some of them are political. Then there is my whole snark and sarcasm collection.”
He nodded. “Yes, I’ve noticed. Come on. I have a drink waiting for you.”
“Thanks,” she breathed in relief. He knew her so well. She could definitely love this man.
As they walked toward the group, Eva noticed Olivia had been allowed to come to dinner, but that she currently sat in a wheelchair. “Is Livvie okay?”
“Please,” Linc hissed near her ear, setting the butterflies in her stomach fluttering. “Don’t comment on the chair. It’s been a huge point of contention between them since he pulled up out front and the bell boy rolled it out.”
As if on cue, Olivia blurted. “I’m not sick. I’m pregnant.”
“What does it matter what you sit in? I’d think you’d just be happy to be here,” Wyatt told her from his place behind the chair.
“That must have been a fun arrival,” Eva observed.
“I was in my own truck but the scene in front of the hotel was one I won’t soon forget.”
“Hey, when do we vote for the winner of the challenge?” she asked as he led her to the empty sofa where two drinks sat on the table.
Linc indicated she should sit, then he sat next to her. “You don’t vote. We already did.”
“Wait. What?” She angled her body to face him.
“Blood Wilders only get to vote. It is called the Wilder Christmas Challenge, after all.”
“That’s not fair. You can cheat.”
He rolled his eyes. “How? There was one of us on each team.”
“Darcy and William were together.”
He cocked up a brow. “Darcy’s not old enough to vote.”
“Fine. You didn’t say that.” She pouted.
“You are really into this competition.”
“No, I’m not really into this competition. I’m into all competition.”
He nodded. “Mm. I’ve noticed. And Dad will announce the winners probably any moment. As soon as Olivia settles down.” Both of their gazes went to where Olivia was still shooting Wyatt a deadly look. “But while we’re waiting, I’d like to discuss the Wilder Foundation.”
She’d prepared for this. “That was crazy, right? Poppy is so generous.”
He was watching her too closely. “It wasn’t Poppy.”
“Of course, it was. Who else has a million dollars to throw around for a Secret Santa?”
“That’s a very good question.”
“If we’re talking gifts, can we talk about how you used my idea and gave Ethan a telescope?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Linc shook his head but she knew better. Especially when he smirked.
She was very happy that her man was such a bad liar. It gave her that extra boost of confidence that she could trust him since he was shit at lying.
But she refused to feel bad about lying to him about the endowment. It was better if he didn’t know.
Besides, that Russian oligarch who was raking in billions by driving up oil prices during the war in Ukraine wouldn’t even miss the single million she’d syphoned off to fund the charity. Maybe she’d bought him a little bit of good karma using some of his money for good so really, he should thank her.
A waiter brought over a tray of hot cider, which Eva wasn’t too excited about until she realized that she could just dump the bourbon in her glass into it.
Happy after doing just that, and giving it a quick stir with the cinnamon stick in the glass, she leaned back next to Linc and sighed.
In the huge fireplace, real logs crackled and burned, filling the air with the faint scent of wood smoke.
It was easy to imagine the Wilder family at Christmas looking much like this a hundred years ago surrounded by aromatic greens, red berries and flickering white candles. Maybe the outfits were a bit different, and today they all had cell phones in their pockets, but really not much else had changed.
Tradition was strong with these people. She’d never valued tradition all that much herself. Maybe that was because she and her mother didn’t have any of their own worth remembering. Their watching whatever old Christmas movie was playing on network TV while eating a frozen dinner wasn’t exactly something for the history books.
Eva had called her Mom before coming down to dinner. Her Dad wasn’t on her call list. He’d be with his new family anyway. That was it. The extent of her own family Christmas.
But now, for the first time in her life, she had more. She had her chosen family surrounding her.
“All right, all. It’s time for the announcement of the winners of the annual Christmas challenge. All the competitive events are over and the Wilder men have voted.”
“I guess women never got the vote here on Roan Mountain,” Eva mumbled and saw Linc laugh.
“And it’s a four-way tie,” William announced with an excitement that revelation didn’t warrant.
Eva narrowed her eyes. “Wait a minute. Is it always a tie? Is this like how every kid gets a trophy for participation nowadays?”
And if that’s the way things were, why did she work so hard to win? Dammit, she wished her official Christmas challenge notebook was here. She was going to review those rules because this was bullshit.
“No. Usually there are winners and losers,” Wyatt explained.
Eva narrowed her eyes. “Then I demand a recount.”
“Decisions of the judges are final,” Ethan decreed.
“Well, next year the voting is going to include everyone and I want oversight of the ballots to prevent voter fraud.”
“So does that mean you’re planning to be around here for Christmas next year?” Linc asked.
“Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?” She frowned.
He shook his head. “Definitely not. In fact, the opposite. I was thinking you might want to stay. At my place, I mean. For good. Instead of moving back to Rosie’s.”
She hid her surprise. “Well, you do have better WiFi than Rosie’s.”
“So you only like me for my WiFi?”
“Pretty much. And I don’t hate your bed. It’s, you know, a good mattress. Good for the back.”
“Mm-hm.” He nodded, leveling a stare at her that said he was tolerating her teasing but didn’t like it.
She smiled and decided she’d tortured him enough. “And the guy the place comes with isn’t so bad either.”
His lips twitched with a smile. “Now, we’re getting somewhere.”
He leaned in for a kiss and she pulled back. “Do the Wilders all know about us now or are we going to cause a scene if you kiss me here?”
“Are you kidding? That news spread through the family like wildfire.”
“How? I had Poppy with me.”
“Apparently Poppy texted Olivia. It was all over after that.”
Eva sighed and dared to glance around. Everyone seemed to be chatting and having a good time. And, thankfully, mostly ignoring them. “At least they’re not teasing us.”
Linc cocked up a brow. “What’s wrong? Can’t take a little teasing?”
“Sure. I love a little teasing if I’m the one doing it.”
He smiled at her and her heart clenched.
Feeling the need to be alone with Linc, she asked, “How late does this thing usually go?”
“Not late. Darcy has to get to bed. Why?”
“Just thinking about getting home.”
“Yeah?” he asked, looking eager.
“Yeah.”
Home. For the first time, the word felt right. She’d see if the feeling lasted. But as Linc’s big warm hand wrapped around hers, and he leaned in for a kiss, she had a suspicion it just might.