Page 9 of Crewe (Nelson’s Honkytonk Saloon & Bar #3)

Chapter Nine

R y stared at Vivi and Ellie as they explained about the vacation. Ry thought it sounded wonderful, but she figured she wasn’t family, so she’d need to find something else to entertain the kids.

“So we’re closing the bar, and I have all the reservations.

Here’s the tentative itinerary I made, but I’m sure we’ll change stuff once we get there.

I did make sure to go ahead and get spots at the chocolate-making class for the kids.

They even allow someone as young as Sutton to sign up, though I think that Ezra, Wyatt, and Freya are the perfect age for the class.

But Morgan and Elijah said they’d sign up.

Winnie and Sprite signed up their kids too,” Vivi finished.

“Wait. What did you say? Why would my kids be signed up?” Ry asked.

“Were you not listening? The guys are closing everything. You and the kids are going with us,” Ellie said.

Ry stared at the women who were her closest friends. They were taking her and the kids with them like they were family?

“We’re going too?” Ry asked.

Vivi got up along with Ellie and pulled Ry in for a hug.

“Yes, you and the kids are going too. I talked to your parents, but they’d rather tour another battleground, so they are heading out when we do.

Now we need to figure out what clothes to take.

Everything is included, so the only thing you might need to pay for would be presents you buy, though I can totally see the Papas buying more than the kids will ever need,” Vivi said .

“At least we can drive, so we’ll have plenty of room to bring things home,” Ellie said.

Ry smiled at her friends. She wasn’t sure if anyone could love Christmas more than Ellie. It might be because that’s when Sutton had come to them and she and Hennessy had gotten together, but she had already started talking about Christmas last July.

“Okay, I guess we’re all going to Mistletoe Canyon for a vacation,” Ry said, wondering how the hell she was going to keep her feelings for Crewe hidden.

He’d brought her a new dish to try last night while she was working.

She’d mentioned she loved crème br?lée, and he’d decided to try his hand at it.

He’d nailed it perfectly. If he kept feeding her all her favorites, she’d need to add running or some exercise, or her lush figure might not fit in her clothes.

Freya and Wyatt would be so excited for the chocolate-making class and visiting a town celebrating Christmas all year long.

She’d made a huge deal about Christmas every year, even when money was tight.

She knew herself well enough to know that she was trying to make up for the kids not having a dad, but they were better off without him.

He wasn’t one to care about anyone but himself.

It’s why when he told her to get rid of it, she’d decided to not even put his name on their birth certificates.

She’d raised them by herself with help from her parents and hadn’t missed him one bit.

But she’d be lying if she said she didn’t miss having a husband to help shoulder the load.

She used to picture her favorite book boyfriend as the imaginary man of whichever book she was reading, but since she’d spent time with Crewe, his smiling face was the one she saw whenever she imagined forever.

She thought about being a part of the Nelson family. She and the kids living above the bar with Crewe and the other families. But mostly, she pictured Crewe picking her up and carrying her to bed, where he slowly undressed her, kissing each inch of skin revealed until he made her his.

But then she’d worry that if she opened herself up to him and he wasn’t the man she thought he was, would she and the kids lose everything? But she couldn’t stay alone forever because she felt like she was cheating Freya and Wyatt out of having a dad.

She was so confused, but she also didn’t know how to find a solution.

Maybe being away from work for a while and some space from Crewe in Mistletoe Canyon would help.

She listened to Vivi and Ellie go on about all the attractions and realized Mistletoe Canyon would be the perfect time to get her head on straight.

It was a whole city devoted to Christmas.

How hard could it be to avoid Crewe until she figured out her next steps?

Vivi watched Ry’s thoughts drift from their conversation. She and Ellie shared a look. Vivi didn’t know two people more in need of a swift kick in the pants to get on with their lives than Ry and Crewe .

She adored all the Nelson men, but Crewe was a planner and had been plodding along for far too long. Vivi and Ellie had plans to see all the men, including the Papas, find their loves, but they needed Crewe to get out of the way first.

She and Adley had reserved the whole resort, then they’d divided the rooms between the groups. Vivi hid a smirk. Crewe and Ry were going to find themselves in close quarters and unable to get away from each other.

Vivi adored Ry, but she also knew that with Ry’s background, she wouldn’t put herself first unless she was pushed.

Not a problem, because Vivi had grown in confidence from the scared woman Whiskey had rescued on the side of the road. Now, she wanted everyone to be as happy as she was.

Ry just needed her eyes opened to the possibilities of love for a lifetime with the man of her dreams.

~** ~

Ry tucked Freya and Wyatt into their beds. She’d read them each a chapter from their current books.

She was sitting on the floor between their twin beds. She’d offered them both their own rooms, but they weren’t quite ready for that.

“Mama, so we’re having Christmas next week?” Wyatt asked.

“No, we’re not having the actual Christmas, but we’re visiting a town for vacation that celebrates Christmas all the time. We’ll do fun activities, and I think you can sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what you want for Christmas,” Ry said.

“Père Noel’s lap. That’s what Ezra said he’s called there. I know exactly what I want,” Freya said.

“Oh, what?” Ry asked.

“I’m not telling you. I’ll tell Père Noel so it will come true,” Freya muttered, rubbing her eyes. Her girl had always fought sleep, always wanting to squeak the last little bit of fun out of the day.

Ry leaned over and kissed Freya’s cheek. Her curls close to her face weren’t quite dry from her bath, but she’d be fine. Ry had to wonder what Freya wanted badly enough that she wouldn’t share with her mom.

Ry leaned over and tucked Wyatt’s cover on his chest and kissed his cheek. “Do you have something you’re going to ask for?” Ry asked.

Wyatt nodded. “But it’s a secret, so it will come true,” he whispered, smiling at her.

She adored both her kids. They both had such kind hearts and sweet personalities, even though she and Wyatt had some words over video games, she knew it was just part of growing up.

“Well, we’ll get packed, and Vivi said we’ll leave right after lunch. Get some sleep so tomorrow will be here quick,” Ry said, turning their light off. A faint nightlight on the wall kept the room from total darkness. Freya still liked a small light, though Wyatt said he was ready to not use it.

She headed out to the kitchen, poured herself a glass of water, and picked up her book to read. Tomorrow morning would be soon enough to pack, and tonight, she wanted to forget everything and be taken away into a story .

She settled in her chair and kept her eyes on her book.

She wouldn’t stare over at the bar and wonder what Crewe was doing.

She opened the page where she’d left off and rolled her eyes.

She’d forgotten she’d stopped at the love scene in the book because every touch made her imagine Crewe’s hands on her body.

She tossed the book on the table and flipped on the television.

Maybe some reality TV would help her forget the sexy man across the street and what she wished he was doing to her.