Page 11 of Crewe (Nelson’s Honkytonk Saloon & Bar #3)

Chapter Eleven

R y sat beside Crewe, listening to the chatter and just for a moment, enjoying the moment. She’d had a fantastic meal, full of laughter and fun with friends, and she didn’t have to clean up anything.

Claus Snowdon and Levi Noel had been waiting on them at the bar.

They were both members of the local MC. Levi and his brothers ran Père Noel’s toy shop and all were Père Noel during the year.

Claus ran Mistletoe Treats, which Ry planned on visiting as soon as she could safely stand without popping the button of her jeans.

Levi had mentioned that Claus was grumpy but a great guy. She was definitely getting grumpy vibes from him, but when Freya tripped over her own two feet, he caught her and set her back on her feet.

Levi was over on one side of the room, letting all the kids take turns sitting on his lap and telling him what they’d like for Christmas. A woman dressed as an elf had come in and was standing beside him and would take a picture of Père Noel with the kids before they left his lap.

Burt, Crewe’s dad, sat down beside her and gave her a hug. “How you doin’, Ry?” he asked.

Ry was fond of all the Nelson patriarchs, but even though she’d never tell them, Burt was her favorite. His warm, boisterous personality and always having time to listen to the most inane things from her kids had her treasuring him in her life.

“I’m good. I ate too much, but the food was so good. Thank you so much for closing the bar so we could all experience this. I can’t wait to explore the town,” Ry said.

“It was a pleasure. We haven’t taken nearly enough family trips.

What good is money if you don’t make experiences with your family?

On that note, Bill, Peck, and I are taking all the kids back to the resort.

They’ve got a family movie night. We’ll do that, then we’re having a sleepover in the suite we’re sharing.

All you younger ones can just enjoy your first evening here,” Burt said.

“Oh, I can’t let you…”

“Can’t let him what?” Crewe interrupted.

“Burt said he, Bill, and Peck would take all the kids to a family movie and sleepover,” Ry said.

“Cool. Claus said we could pick up the rental bikes. Ry, would you do me the honor of a night ride on the back of my bike?” Crewe asked her with a gleam in his eyes.

She held her breath at his offer and wondered if she should pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming and still back in Dodge City .

Ellie and Vivi walked up and wrapped their arms around Burt, each placing a kiss on his cheeks.

“You guys are the best. The hotel said they would take care of getting the luggage to the correct rooms, so don’t be lifting all of our luggage,” Vivi cautioned.

“I’m excited for a night ride with Hennessy in this gorgeous place,” Ellie said.

Crewe stared at her with a smirk. She could feel her friends pushing her and Crewe together.

But, for the first time, she had a spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, what she wanted could possibly come true.

She’d have to see how everything went, but maybe it was time she had a little hope.

And wasn’t a town that celebrated Christmas all year round the perfect place to dream a little?

“Okay, sounds like we’re going on a night ride,” she said, then dropped her own kiss on Burt’s cheek. His blush was adorable. She didn’t know men his age still blushed.

“Ready?” Claus Snowdon asked. Ry looked at Ellie and Vivi, then tried to keep from laughing. Seeing the big man with the beard and a scowl on his face was funny.

“Yes, I’m going to run say goodnight to the kids, then I’ll be ready,” Ry said, walking over to where Peck and Bill were helping the kids get on their jackets.

She hugged both kids, then stared straight into their eyes. “You be good for the Papas and don’t fight with each other. I love you, and I’ll see you tomorrow after your sleepover,” she said.

“Yay, sleepover!” Freya yelled, throwing her hands in the air and dancing around.

She smiled as her daughter danced. She was thankful every day for meeting Vivi and getting a job at the bar.

Her kids had flourished. Having the other kids always around had given them a confidence they hadn’t had before. The job at the bar had changed so much.

She kissed both kids goodbye and then walked back to Crewe, who seemed to be having a serious conversation with Levi Noel. When she walked up, Levi nodded and walked off.

“What was that about?” Ry asked .

“Just something he thought I should know. Let’s head over to get the bike, and then we can go on the ride. I’m glad you said yes,” Crewe said.

Ry chuckled and followed Crewe out. Even though she’d felt maneuvered into the ride, she was fine with it. She was going to take the opportunities available during this vacation. By the end, she should know if she and Crewe were compatible and if they could build something together.

They’d picked up the motorcycles, and Crewe had a smile stuck on his face after Ry had gotten behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. He’d rather she were wrapped around his back, but with the bike they’d rented, she was on the passenger seat behind him, which was a little higher.

The club had extra riding gear for the rental bikes.

It was a great business for them. He was enjoying the ride, but he also couldn’t get Levi’s words out of his head.

Levi had pulled Crewe aside because he thought Crewe should know what Wyatt and Freya had asked for Christmas from Père Noel.

They’d each said they didn’t want any toys; they wanted to be a family with Crewe and have Crewe love them as their daddy.

He’d fought back tears when Levi had told him.

He wanted that too, with every fiber of his being.

Levi had put his hand on Crewe’s shoulder and said he wasn’t butting in, but if Crewe wasn’t serious, he’d need to figure out how to let the kids down without breaking their hearts.

Crewe had chuckled because Levi had been butting in, but he admired the guy for standing up for the kids.

They’d only been in Mistletoe Canyon for a little bit, and Crewe already loved the place.

Growing up with all nine of his cousins together, his dad and uncles had tried to make Christmas special.

They’d had a tree, which had ornaments the cousins had made over the years, but neither his dad nor his uncles were decorating geniuses.

Once Vivi came into the family, she’d added a lot of decorations and some traditions.

When Hennessy was trying to convince Ellie to see him, he’d added to the decorations.

He and Ellie had started buying the little Christmas Village buildings and planned to add a couple new ones every year.

Crewe ached to make their own traditions with Ry, Wyatt, and Freya. He wanted those kids to only know joy. He couldn’t protect them from everything but the things he could, he needed to do everything possible.

They’d ridden up Mistletoe Mountain Road, which traversed the three mountains that made the backdrop of Mistletoe Canyon so spectacular.

Instead of being a dark road for a night ride, the town had the same old-fashioned lanterns along the road every quarter mile.

Each lantern post was about twenty feet tall and was beside the road.

Each lantern sported a wreath with decorations hanging from it.

He saw a group of cabins on the mountain, enclosed by a tall fence.

He’d also spotted a helicopter pad and a couple of what appeared to be military-style Humvees.

He wondered if it was a company or just some veterans needing to feel safe.

It seemed like minutes, and they were riding down the mountain.

Crewe was sad to see the night end. Ry would go to her room, and he’d go to his.

He waved at the riders as the MC guys split off along with the unattached Nelsons.

Hennessy and Whiskey motioned they were heading somewhere else first. They hadn’t talked about anything, so Crewe took the main road into town, turning up Lodge Road.

A couple of winding turns, and the lodge’s sign Mistletoe Canyon Lodge and Resort appeared.

He could see why they called it a lodge and resort.

The main building was exactly how he imagined, with tall pillars out front holding up an awning to keep six rows of cars out of the weather while they unloaded.

He pulled under the covered reception area to find out where he’d need to put the bike.

He held his hand so Ry could get off the bike, then he turned a little to steady her.

Jelly legs after riding on a bike for the first time were no joke.

A valet walked up to him .

“Sir, can I help you?” he asked.

“We’re with the Nelson party. I rented a bike from the MC, but I’m not sure where I should park it,” Crewe said.

“The MC has a special garage we park their bikes in,” he said, walking behind the bike and writing down the tag number, then getting the identification number off the plate that was on the fender of the bike.

He tore off a ticket. “Just bring this or call down with the number when you’re ready to take the bike out.

We’ll bring it directly to the front for you.

Do you need anything from the saddlebags before you go in? ” he asked.

“No, thank you,” Crewe said, getting off the bike. Should he or shouldn’t he take Ry’s hand? This trying to change their relationship was maddening, not having a roadmap on the way to her heart.

“Have a merry stay,” the valet said.

Crewe walked through the entry and headed toward the registration desk.

The lodge lobby was huge with tall ceilings.

Windows toward the top of the walls would let in natural light during the day.

A Christmas tree that had to be forty feet tall stood in the corner of the room, decorated with red and gold decorations and twinkling lights.

Crewe didn’t normally notice how a place smelled, but the lodge had a citrus with cinnamon scent that made him feel like it was Christmas. If the ride down the main street of Mistletoe Canyon Falls Road didn’t inspire the Christmas spirit, staying at this hotel did.

“How may I help you, sir?”

“I’m with the Nelson party checking in. Crewe Nelson and Ryanne Blackstone,” Crewe said, waiting while the woman typed on her computer.

“It looks like they did some moving around because of the issue with a couple rooms. It says a Burt Nelson has your room keys. The note says to send you to room 412 when you arrive. The elevators are right there. Fourth floor and then to the right,” she said with a smile.

“Thank you,” Crewe said. He wondered why they didn’t just leave the keys at the front desk. The family Trust was picking up the tab for the trip, so he didn’t need to even present a credit card.

“I wonder why Burt has our keys,” Ry muttered as they waited for the elevator to get to the fourth floor.

“No idea. I was wondering the same,” Crewe said, then waited until Ry walked out of the elevator to follow her to room 412.

He knocked, impatiently waiting to hear what was going on.

His dad opened the door and then walked out into the hall.

“Sorry, the kids fell asleep, and I didn’t want to wake them up.

I’m guessing you need your keys. Here they are,” Burt handed an envelope to Ry and one to him.

“Rooms are on this floor down the hall past the elevators. Also, Vivi said she has something special we’re all to wear tomorrow, and she’ll deliver them around eight in the morning.

Breakfast is downstairs in the restaurant at nine,” Burt said.

“Thanks, Dad,” Crewe said and headed down the hall. All his envelope said was his name, so he tore it open to see the card inside, along with a piece of paper that said room 469. He waited as Ry opened hers, then she pointed.

“I’m that way,” she said.

“Me too,” he said, letting her get a little ahead of him so he could watch her ass as she walked.

Her butt jiggled just enough to be enticing.

She stopped in front of a door, and he looked up to see where his room was.

She was standing in front of room 469. She used her key card, then waited a minute and stared at him.

“Are you close by?” she asked.

“Umm, yeah,” he said, showing her the piece of paper with his room number. Her eyes widened, and then she double-checked her own room number.

“I don’t know what to say,” Ry said.

Was he a complete jerk that seeing her flustered was doing something for him? He could see her breathing a little faster, and a blush had risen from her neck and filled her cheeks. Was it possible she was envisioning them sharing a room?

“How about we go in the room and see how it’s set up?” Crewe asked .

His daddy didn’t raise a fool, and he’d just been given an early Christmas gift of sharing a room with the woman he wanted with his whole being. He followed Ry into the room and just freaking barely kept from whooping in glee.