When Riley looked out at all the Christmas Campers, she saw that everyone was smiling and seemed excited. Even her exes in the back of the room had looked up from their phones.
“So, Riley,” Luke said, turning to her, “would you like to do the toast?”
Riley gave him a surprised look. This had not been part of their plan.
“Oh, it’s okay,” she said. “I don’t know it by heart. You go ahead.”
The truth was, she didn’t know the toast at all. This was the first time she was hearing about any Christmas Camp toast. Yet another surprise she wasn’t prepared for. It made her wonder what else Luke was planning to spring on her.
When Luke looked back at her, he kept smiling. “Riley, you should do the toast. This is your Christmas Camp. Don’t you agree, everyone?”
When Luke looked out into the group everyone started cheering.
“Riley! Riley!” the twins started chanting.
Luke picked up a 4x6 glossy red card from the table. “We’ve printed up a copy of the toast right here and have a copy for everyone else, too, in case they’d like to have it. So please, do us the honor of making this first toast to Christmas Camp at the Christmas Lake Lodge.”
When everyone started clapping, Riley didn’t feel like she had much choice. She forced herself to smile as she joined Luke. He handed her the card and stepped aside.
“Toast,” Carrie said.
“Toast,” Terrie echoed.
Everyone laughed.
“Okay,” Riley said, holding up her Champagne glass in one hand and the note card in the other. “Here we go. The official Christmas Camp toast.” She took a deep breath before she started to read.
“To our family, friends, and community . . .
To the people we’ve lost but will never forget . . .”
For a moment, Riley felt herself choke up as she thought about her dad, but kept going.
“To love everlasting . . .”
She couldn’t help looking to the back of the room where she made eye contact with each of her exes before continuing.
“Merry Christmas . . . To Christmas Camp.”
Everyone repeated back to her, “To Christmas Camp!”
Then they started clinking their Champagne glasses with their fellow Christmas Campers and wishing each other merry Christmas.
When Luke held out his glass, he looked into her eyes. “Merry Christmas, Riley. I hope you get everything you wish for.” He looked over at her three exes as he clinked his Champagne glass to hers, making his meaning clear.
She didn’t have time to respond because he was already heading toward the front door where Brianna the realtor had just walked in.
Riley watched him smile as he took her coat. Riley couldn’t help but notice how happy he looked to see her or how beautiful she looked in a backless, sexy, black cocktail dress. Riley was jealous that Brianna was wearing black and looked amazing.
She was so busy watching Luke with Brianna that she didn’t even see Caylee come up to her.
“Wow, that’s some dress,” Caylee said, following Riley’s gaze.
Riley nodded. “It sure is.” She turned to Caylee. “So Luke and Brianna . . .”
“Yeah, they’ve been a thing on and off for years,” Caylee said.
“Why on and off?” Riley asked.
“Luke travels so much for his job, I’m guessing the long-distance thing wasn’t working for them.” Caylee shrugged.
Riley glanced back over and saw Brianna take Luke’s hand. “Well, it looks like right now they’re back on.” Riley said. She didn’t know why it bothered her, but it did, which was crazy since she had three guys claiming to be her boyfriend.
“Riley? Did you hear me?” Caylee asked.
Riley quickly brought her attention back to Caylee. “Sorry, what?”
“I was saying you really hit the jackpot with the three guys in the back of the room. They’re all hot and seem nice.” Caylee whistled as she glanced back at the three guys. “I mean, seriously, Riley, leave some for the rest of us.”
“It’s not like that,” Riley said. “It’s not like that at all.”
“I know,” Caylee said. “Because I know why they’re all here.”
Riley’s eyes grew huge. “What?! Tell me!”
Caylee looked around and saw the twins were eagerly listening. “Not here,” she whispered. “Come on.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
A couple of minutes later, as soon as they were safely in Riley’s room, Caylee pounced.
“Tell me everything,” Caylee demanded.
“Wait,” Riley said. “You tell me everything. You’re the one who talked to my exes. What did they say? Why are they here?”
Caylee, with an all-knowing smile, walked over to the desk where the Santa figurines were lined up. She picked up one of the Santas, headed for the dresser, and put the Santa down in a new spot in front of the mirror.
Riley, baffled, threw up her hands. “Caylee, are you going to redecorate my room or tell me what’s going on?” She was losing her patience. “We need to get back downstairs. I don’t want people wondering where I’ve disappeared to.”
“Hold on,” Caylee said as she walked back to the desk and picked up two more Santas and had them join the other Santa on the dresser. So now there were three Santas lined up, facing the mirror.
“What are you doing?” Riley asked, exasperated.
Caylee put her hand on top of the first Santa she’d brought over to the dresser. “Colin, the guy with the great smile . . .” She moved her hand to the next Santa. “And Brendan, the ruggedly handsome guy. Now I understand that description from your books . . .” Her hand moved to the third Santa. “And Tyler, the high-society guy who looks like something out of GQ magazine. They are all here for one reason.”
“Let me guess. Mike invited them,” Riley said. She knew this had Mike’s fingerprints all over it.
Caylee shook her head. “Nope. You did.”
Riley’s eyes grew huge. When Caylee laughed, Riley looked at her like she was fruitier than a fruitcake.
“Me? What are you talking about?”
