Kyler’s mom must’ve been here recently. A Christmas tree stood in front of the windows in the foyer. There were two presents under it.

Curious, I walked over to the tree, my boots silent on the hardwood floors. I knelt down and picked up the red and green wrapped one, reading the little note attached to the sparkly bow.

Sydney—open this once you’re home and it’s Christmas morning. No cheating!

Love, Mary

I smiled as I placed the present back under the tree. There was one for Kyler, too, and hanging from the windowsill behind the tree were several stockings, each one for our friends. Kyler’s mom was awesome. Besides the fact that she’d made a billion bucks starting her own company, she was one of the sweetest women I knew.

“What you got over there?” Kyler asked, placing the guitar case down outside the living room.

Standing, I turned around, thrilled to find that I hadn’t immediately started drooling or caved into the silly notion of brushing the strand of hair that had fallen across his forehead. “Your mom left us presents, but we’re not allowed to open them until we’re home and it’s Christmas.”

He laughed as he rounded the stairs leading to the second floor. “I bet it’s a cheesy Christmas sweater.”

I followed him upstairs. “Your mom would never give a cheesy gift.”

“No. That’s usually your mom.”

“So true,” I replied, sliding my hand along the polished banister. Mom was such a cornball when it came to Christmas. “You know, I can carry my own stuff.”

“A girl shouldn’t carry luggage.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Especially someone who weighs ninety pounds.”

I rolled my eyes at that. “I don’t know what girl you’re talking about, because I’m pretty sure my ass alone weighs ninety pounds.”

“Uh-huh.” He stopped at the top landing. There were five bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. “Which room do you want? Andrea is staying with Tanner, right?”

Depended on whether or not they were ready to kill each other by the time they got here, but I nodded. “Any room works, really.”

“How about this one?” He strolled down the hall, stopping between the last two. The room he normally stayed in was directly across the hall. I couldn’t help but think he’d hear anyone who came in and out of this room. Not that I’d have any traffic.

Him on the other hand? I sighed. It would be like a bus stop.

When I nodded again, he nudged the door open and headed in, placing my suitcase on the deep brown bedspread. “I was thinking about heading down to the main lodge to get dinner. You want to come with?”