The Mills & Boon Christmas Wishes Collection. Maisey Yates

      He waved, and hobbled back to Imelda, whose eyes were shiny with tears.

      Georges entered the room with the cake aloft and everyone cheered once more. As Edgar pushed Imelda’s wheelchair to the center of the room, guests threw heart-shaped confetti at her feet.

      Georges presented Imelda with the cake to more gasps of delight. The couple radiated a type of joy I hadn’t seen in such a long time. They appreciated every little thing, from the frames on each table, to the tulle draped above, and now the elaborately decorated, colorful cake. They cut the cake, both holding the knife before Imelda spoke a few words.

      “My darlings, like Edgar said, we wanted to thank you all for making time for us tonight. And we wanted to say a special thank you to Clio and the team at Cedarwood for achieving the impossible to make sure we could celebrate here, back where it all began. I hope you’ll all remember the lodge, and look after our newest Evergreen resident.”

      I blushed to the roots of my hair and mouthed thank you to Imelda.

      Next came the slideshow, and Imelda and Edgar’s family circled them as photos flashed from a drop-down screen. Their favorite songs played, and there was much crying and squeals of delight. I watched them for a beat, surrounded by their family, in their own little bubble of memory. While that played, I took a champagne flute and went outside on the deck for some fresh air, and to think about the night and the words that had been spoken. A lone tear escaped, part happiness, part sadness. I didn’t want it to end, for people to leave the lodge, but I supposed what I really meant was Kai. He kept intruding on my mind, and I was a sad that he was packing up and leaving Evergreen for good in the early hours of tomorrow morning. I wished I’d been truer, followed my heart more with him, but what did I want? There was an unmistakable spark there on my part, but it was too late. And really, what could happen? His job took him around America, and Evergreen would become a distant memory, so maybe it was for the best. The vague pang of desire I had was too indistinct to act on anyway.

      I drank my champagne, toasting my new life at Cedarwood Lodge, knowing, even though I had a hard road ahead of me, I was in charge of my life for the first time ever. For now, it was time to serve the cake and start the cleanup.

      Back inside, I watched everyone for a beat, and smiled to myself at the obvious joy on their faces. The first Cedarwood party had been a success, and not even the exhausted haze I was in could dampen my happiness.

      Under the moonlight, after much kissing and hugging, the last guest finally left. I shut the main doors and leaned against them. Every muscle ached, and I could still hear the thump of music even though it had been silenced an hour ago. I took off my heels and limped into the kitchen where the team sat nursing cups of steaming-hot coffee.

      I sat heavily, and let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you for tonight. You guys were totally amazing.”

      Micah and Isla were draped together, and Kai sat next to Georges, who snored softly, his arms resting over his chef whites.

      Coffees were emptied and slowly everyone pulled themselves up and headed for the door. We’d made beds up in the suites so no one had to drive after such a manically long day. I’d promised them all a full breakfast in the morning, and only hoped they’d sleep in so I could too.

      Georges tapped my shoulder. “Night.”

      “Night, Georges. Thanks for your help.”

      Micah’s eyes were practically hanging out of his head. He took Isla’s hand and led her away, with a backwards wave.

      “S-o-o-o, then there were two.” Kai looked alert, as if he’d already had eight hours’ sleep, though I knew he’d been at it longer than anyone.

      “Let’s soak up the moonlight one last time,” I said, pulling him up.

      We retreated to the deck once more.

      “You look beautiful under the stars,” Kai said.

      He was wearing a suit, and it fit him well, making him all the more handsome, like some billionaire playboy with his too-long locks and penetrating blue eyes.

      “Thank you.” I tucked a tendril of hair back. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” A sudden wave of shyness hit me. Hadn’t I wished I had time to tell him how I felt, the inkling I had that there was a spark between us we hadn’t acted on? I froze, unsure of my footing. Was there any point further complicating my life? Kai was leaving, and maybe that spark would fizzle out when we parted for good, because this was goodbye…

      Kai watched me for a beat. “I’ll miss this place.”

      A lone star streaked across the sky, stardust following in its wake. I took it as a sign: Kai wouldn’t come back, so this was my chance. It was time to take a risk!

      Standing on tiptoes, I acted before I could overthink it and quashed his farewells with a kiss. It was almost instantaneous – heat exploded through me as Kai leaned in, deepening the kiss, making me dizzy. After an age, he pulled away, but his hands slung low on my hips. All I could do was stare into his eyes, struck mute by desire. I’d never been kissed quite like that before.

      “Cl-li-oh!” A voice emanated from the front hall, slowly reaching me as I came out of my daze.

      I looked back at Kai, but I couldn’t read his expression.

      “Clio,” he said, his voice soft. “I have an early start tomorrow so I… I’d better head in.”

      “Sure, go for it.” I tried to sound blasé. So much remained unsaid, but what could I say now that someone was here? Would he just wake up and drive out of Cedarwood like nothing happened?

      I took a step back from Kai. The moment to say anything had slipped away and my worry about what that kiss – that kiss – had meant settled in. “Cl-li-oh!” I turned toward the voice just in time to see Amory burst through the ballroom doors.

      “Amory! What are you doing here?” My surprise rang out in the cool, autumnal air, but I glanced back over my shoulder to see Kai disappear through the back door.

      “I couldn’t let you throw your first party alone, could I?” Amory said as she strode across the floor in her six-inch heels and tight wrap dress, looking every inch the polished Manhattanite. “But where is everyone? It’s only just after midnight!”

      I laughed. “We’re in Evergreen, not New York!” I gave her a huge hug, shocked she would come all this way just for me. But of course she would. She was Amory; it was just her style to arrive ‘fashionably late’. And to interrupt…

      I tried to compose myself so she wouldn’t see my inner turmoil. Should I have told Kai I had feelings for him? But what exactly were they? They were too indistinct to act on. Surely he knew after the kiss?

      “Seriously, Clio, where is everyone?” Amory said, spinning around on her heels as my head reeled with a jumble of emotions.

      “No, really, Amory. Everyone went home. Parties in this neck of the woods tend to finish before the witching hour – all that fresh mountain air, you know. And tomorrow…” I took a deep breath. “…Most of the team are leaving, now the lodge is finished.”

      “Well, darling,” she said, linking our arms and steering me down the steps to the lush gardens, the flowers a riot of color under the moonlight, “I’m here to stay.”

      I was giddy with the knowledge Amory wasn’t leaving right away, but I knew there was another reason behind her sudden arrival. I could see it in the set of her jaw, the tenseness in her shoulders. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I decided to wait. She’d tell me when she was ready. Now wasn’t the time to start pushing her over her secrets, especially when I had one of my own.

      Stars twinkled in the inky night as we stared out at the place I called home, and I knew with a startling certainty that Kai would be gone when I woke up. But the thrill of that one kiss definitely wouldn’t fade from my memory any time soon!