Page 6 of Sweet Yuletide (Indigo Bay Christmas Romances #4)

“I’m sorry, we have no room at the inn.”

Of course, they didn’t. Michael almost laughed at the front desk clerk’s words, except he still hadn’t found Sheridan a room. She’d been napping for two hours, and he was no closer to finding her another place to stay than when he started.

He slumped on the breakfast barstool. “Thanks for checking.”

“No problem,” the woman said in a pleasant voice. “You might have a hard time booking a room at such short notice. A big fundraiser is happening this weekend, and Indigo Bay is a popular holiday destination. Everyone wants to make a wish on the community tree.”

Oh, right . Von had mentioned the Christmas Eve tradition. “Can I please get on your waiting list?”

“We don’t have one, but you’re free to check back as often as you’d like.”

I figured, but maybe another place will come through . “Okay.”

“I hope you find a room.”

Me, too . “Goodbye.”

He lowered his cell phone from his ear and reviewed the list of B so did her chin. She jammed her hands underneath her arms, hugging herself.

“I don’t know anyone in South Carolina except Hope, and she’s not here.” Her shaky voice matched the way she drew into herself as if trying to make herself smaller. “Where am I supposed to go now?”

Not fragile. Sheridan was afraid. She appeared ready to bolt, though he had no idea where she planned to go.

Michael hated to see her so frightened. Slowly, he moved closer until he’d cut the distance between them in half. “Hey, you’re not going anywhere.”

She eyed him warily. “I’m not?”

“You’re not,” he confirmed, hoping to lessen her fear. “You’re staying right here.”

Her mouth slanted. “Here, here?”

“In this beach house.” He didn’t want her second-guessing the situation.

Sheridan’s expression didn’t change. “You’re not kicking me out?”

Her question explained her reaction and likely had to do with her life getting ripped apart. Whatever had happened to her, however, was none of Michael’s business. He didn’t want to make a new friend, but he wouldn’t be a jerk about this.

“Of course not.” Part of him was offended she’d think he would do that, but then again, she didn’t know him. “This isn’t my place. We were both asked to house-sit. That’s no one’s fault. Just a mix-up.”

Sheridan licked her lips. “You want to be alone.”

So did she, but he wouldn’t bring that up with her so skittish. “Plans change. Von and Hope both need us to do things for them. I left my name on waiting lists, but they said it was unlikely any rooms would open up, so we’ll have to share the house.”

“Share it?” Sheridan spoke slowly as if testing out the words. “You and me? Here?”

That sounded like the last thing she wanted. Michael, too, but that didn’t stop him from nodding. “We’ll stay out of each other’s way.”

She opened her mouth before closing it. She didn’t appear happy about the situation. Well, neither was he, but what could they do?

“So, we just do our own thing while staying here?” she asked hesitantly.

Her uncertainty was unlike the woman who’d stood her ground when she first arrived earlier that morning. The difference was striking and worrisome.

“Yes, we don’t have to talk, interact, or see each other that much.” He hoped that put her at ease. “We’ll have to share the kitchen and living room, but we can take turns or make some rules about the common areas.”

Sheridan shifted her weight between her feet. She didn’t appear convinced this would work. “I suppose we don’t have another choice.”

“There isn’t if you want to stay in Indigo Bay and not live out of your rental car.”

She sucked in a breath. “I don’t want to do that. We can make rules now.”

He’d been joking, but she appeared to take him seriously. Funny, since few people he knew did.

She lowered her arms. “We need paper and a pen.”

“I’ll get something from the kitchen.” This wasn’t how he thought the discussion would go, but he was the one who brought up rules.

His family would die laughing at that. He held laughter back himself.

But if having official ones written made her more comfortable, so be it.

He grabbed the notepad and pen next to the landline, returned to the living room, and sat on the couch. “Take a seat.”

She kept her arms crossed in front of her chest. “I’ll stand.”

He readied the pen. “So, what rules?”

“We don’t go into each other’s bedrooms or bathrooms.”

With a smile, Michael wrote that down. “I have two older sisters, so I’m used to that one. Do you have any siblings?”

Sheridan angled her shoulders away from him. “We can each use a shelf in the fridge and take a spot on the counter for our food.”

As he jotted down the next rule, he noticed she hadn’t answered his question. “Works for me. I’m not much of a cook, so I bought easy stuff to make.”

“I watch TV on my laptop, so I won’t need to be in the living room.”

“I prefer watching on the larger screen,” he admitted. “Just tell me if you change your mind.”

“I won’t.” The words shot out. “Are you planning to invite, um, company over?”

“Company?”

“Friends, a date.” She swallowed. “A girlfriend.”

“No to all three. And my family is out of town. What about you?”

“I don’t know anyone.”

“If you met someone?”

Her cheeks turned a charming shade of pink. “I wouldn’t. I mean, I’m not here to meet… I just wanted to get away from my family and spend Christmas by myself.”

The way her words rushed out one on top of the other was as cute as her blush. But what she said provided a few more clues about why she was in Indigo Bay. “No guests. Does that work?”

“Uh-huh.” She stared at the floor. “And no walking around undressed.”

It was a good thing he’d put on a shirt after she went to shower and nap. “And here I was planning to spend the next two weeks living in my underwear.”

Her gaze jerked up to meet his.

“Joking.” He tapped his pen against the notepad. “Anything else?”

“I’ll do my best to stay out of your way.”

“Me, too.”

“Thank you so very much.”

Her polite tone bristled because fear remained in her eyes.

Michael didn’t know her. He wasn’t planning on getting to know her.

But like one of the wounded animals or birds he brought home as a kid, he had to do something.

“Look, neither of us expected to share a house with a stranger over Christmas, but all we can do is make the best of the situation.”

“You mean being stuck together.”

“Yes.” He was glad she’d said it and not him, even if he’d thought it. He also remembered what Von had told him. Michael held up the list of their rules. “We’ll each follow these, but if you need help with anything, just ask. I’m not from Indigo Bay, but I’ve been here a few times.”

“Okay, thanks.” She shifted her weight between her feet. “I’m going to the market to get groceries and then out to lunch.”

“Sweet Caroline’s Café has the best pies around,” he offered.

Sheridan’s expression softened. “That’s what Hope said. Do you, um, want anything?”

He appreciated the offer, but their rules would make this situation easier to handle. Even if a slice of pie sounded delicious, it made little sense to run errands or do things for each other if they planned on keeping their distance. “I’m good, but thanks.”

“Okay,” she said. “I’ll not see you later.”

Michael laughed, surprised by her humor. That was something he might say. Sharing the beach house might work out better than he expected. “I’ll not see you, too.”