Caylee joined her and started jumping up and misting the wreath with her. “I need the exercise, too.”
Riley laughed as she looked at Caylee’s fit physique. “You have nothing to worry about. You look great.”
“I agree,” a male voice said as it walked into the lobby.
Both of them spun around to see who it was. Riley smiled but Caylee did not. A good-looking guy in his early twenties walked toward them holding a poinsettia.
“Merry Christmas,” he said cheerfully.
Riley noticed instantly that he only had eyes for Caylee.
“Paul, what are you doing here?” Caylee asked sharply. “Are you the local florist now?”
The way Caylee said florist made it sound like a bad thing.
Riley was surprised by Caylee’s tone, but it didn’t faze Paul at all. In fact, he was grinning as he walked over to Caylee and handed her the poinsettia.
“It’s great to see you, too, Caylee,” Paul said. “I saw the florist when I pulled up and thought I’d help bring something in.”
“Still doesn’t explain why you’re here,” Caylee said, her expression was impossible to read as she put the plant down on the table.
Paul held out his hand to Riley. “Hello, I’m Paul Harrison. You must be Riley Reynolds, the author everyone’s talking about.”
Riley nodded. “I am,” she answered, but she was still much more interested in why Caylee was acting so strange. “And if you’re not the florist—”
Paul answered her question before she could finish by holding up a camera that was slung over his shoulder.
“I’m the photographer your publicist hired to cover the Christmas Camp.”
“No!” Caylee blurted out.
Riley gave Caylee a confused look.
Paul just smiled. “Small world, right?”
Caylee, hands on her hips, stared back at him and didn’t blink. “Clearly, not small enough.”
Riley looked from Caylee to Paul. “So I’m guessing you two already know each other?”
“We do,” Paul said. “Caylee and I go way back. We both grew up here in Christmas Lake. Caylee was my first girlfriend.”
“When we were six years old,” Caylee shot back.
“Still counts,” Paul said as he smiled at her.
Caylee rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to him, Riley.”
“So you still live here?” Riley asked.
Paul laughed. “No, I moved to Denver. I’ve been freelancing there for the past five years. I do photography and a lot of different social media, so I’ll basically just be here to follow you around and document everything you’re doing.”
Riley raised her eyebrows. “Follow me around? I know Mike said someone was coming to take some photographs, but—”
“Exactly,” Paul cut in. “That’s what I meant.”
“But you’re not staying here,” Caylee said. It was a statement, not a question. “We don’t have any room.”
Riley gave Caylee a curious look because she knew the lodge was far from full.
“Don’t worry, I’m staying with my parents in town,” Paul said. “They love having me here for Christmas.”
Caylee stood there staring at Paul and then finally turned to leave. “I need to go check with Maryanne to make sure everything’s good with the . . . cookies.”
Paul laughed. “You’re making cookies now? When did you start cooking?”
Caylee clearly didn’t appreciate his question. When she smiled a sweet smile, Riley could tell it was forced.
“First of all, it’s baking,” Caylee corrected him. “And a lot of things have changed since I saw you last.”
“I look forward to catching up, then,” Paul said with a confident smile.
“Can’t wait,” Caylee said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, as she left the room.
Paul laughed as Caylee disappeared. “Same ole Caylee,” he said, smiling.
“I’m guessing there’s some history there?” Riley asked.
Paul nodded. “Oh yeah, we’ve got history, but I’ll let her tell you about it. I don’t want to get on her bad side since I’m going to be here all weekend.”
Riley couldn’t help but laugh. “Smart man.”
“I saw Luke down by the lake. I’m going to head down and talk to him,” Paul said. “I’ll get the lay of the land and see where some of my best shots will be. What’s your schedule like? I’d like to get some pictures before the party tonight, after you’re all dressed up. Mike told me to make sure you were wearing a red dress.”
“Seriously?” Riley said, shaking her head. “That guy is out of control.”
“Or just being a good publicist,” Paul offered.
When Riley gave him a warning look, he rushed on. “I mean, the guy hired me so what else am I going to say,” he said. “Don’t worry. We’re going to have a great time this weekend. You’ll barely know I’m here.”
Riley wasn’t sure she believed him. “I’ll be upstairs in my room before our guests arrive. Luke and everyone want me to make my first appearance at the party tonight.”
“A grand entrance,” Paul said. “Smart. Adds to the drama.”
Riley laughed. “I don’t know about the drama part, but that’s the plan.”
“Is it okay if I get some shots of you in your room once you’re ready? Mike told me you have a very Christmassy room.”
Riley rolled her eyes. “Of course he did.”
“So is that a yes?” Paul asked hopefully.
Riley took a deep breath. “Sure, whatever you need.”
“Great!” Paul said as he headed back out the front door. “I think it will be cool to see the room that Miss Christmas is staying in. See ya later.”
“See ya,” Riley responded while wondering how many ways she could hit Mike with a snowball.
Paul passed the real florist who was coming in holding two more poinsettias.
“Where do you want these?” the florist asked. “I have two dozen coming in.”
Riley looked around. “You know, I’m not sure, but I’ll find someone who knows. Hold on.”
When she got into the kitchen, she found Caylee telling Maryanne about Paul’s arrival.
Riley was surprised to see the usually chipper Caylee frowning with her arms crossed defensively in front of her chest.
Riley walked over to her. “Okay, you have to tell me what’s going on. What’s the story with you and Paul?” She was dying
