Page 41 of Babies for the Christmas Grump

I glance toward the bar, where I see Dex casually leaning against the counter, still enjoying the chaos—time for a bit of sunshine in his day.

“Dex! Can we get some snacks and drinks ready to sell?” I call out brightly. “Maybe something festive, like eggnog or hot cocoa? We need to turn this into a win, people!”

His grin widens, probably figuring out where I’m going with this. “You got it, boss. You want me to spike that cocoa?” he asks with a wink.

“Only if you want to keep your job,” I reply with a smirk. “Let’s get things rolling and make it a party. All the proceeds go toward making the Christmas Eve Gala a reality!”

I turn back to the crowd, hoping to keep them engaged. There I spot Pearl amid the madness, leaning against the wall near the bar with an amused look on her face.

She’s watching the scene unfold like it’s some private show, her glass of wine held loosely in one hand. Her gaze flicks to me for a moment, and I can’t help but give her a brief nod, a silent acknowledgment.

She gives a small, approving smile, as if to say,you’re handling this just fine, kid.

I smile at her, making my announcement.

“We’ve got drinks and snacks for sale right here, folks. Let’s make it a toast to Ryder’s holiday fame! You can even take a picture with the Christmas Prince while you sip your cocoa. But just remember, this is a hotel, not a theme park.”

I start directing the guests toward the bar and lounge area. A few people glance around, then follow my suggestion.

As more guests shuffle toward the snacks and drinks, the lobby begins to settle into normalcy. I catch Ryder’s eye from across the room, and for the first time today, he looks slightly relieved.

I’m still not sure if I can pull this all off.

But if I can keep the guests happy, and keep Ryder sane through the madness, we might just have a chance.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Ryder

December 7th

The chaosfrom this morning has finally started to settle.

The crowd has thinned out, and the buzz of excited chatter has quieted. But the effect remains, a static charge that won’t quite dissipate.

I sit at my desk in the relative quiet of my office, trying to focus on the spreadsheets in front of me, but my mind keeps drifting back to what just happened.

Sunny handled it.

Of course she did.

Her bubbly personality seems to turn everything, even the most absurd situations, into something manageable. She’s remarkable that way.

Tinsel’s perched on the windowsill, tail twitching against the glass. She’s been following me around more lately, as if she knows when I’m trying too hard to be fine.

She gives me a slow blink, the kind Sunny says is Tinsel’s way of saying, “Trust me.” I shake my head. A cat shouldn’t be more perceptive than I am.

But Sunny doesn’t let things slide for long. I hear the tap on the door before I even look up.

“Hey,” she says, poking her head in.

She’s still got that look on her face. The one that’s equal parts concern and determination.

“Everything okay?” I ask, trying to sound neutral.

I don’t want her to think I’m still shaken by the spectacle that just unfolded in the lobby. I’m fine. It’s just a lot.

“Yeah, just checking on you,” she says, stepping inside and taking a seat across from me. “You didn’t look great out there.”