Mister Mistletoe (It's All About the Mistletoe Book 3) Read online

  “Mister Mistletoe”

  It’s All About the Mistletoe #3

  By Laura Ann

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  MISTER MISTLETOE

  First edition. October 8, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 Laura Ann.

  Written by Laura Ann.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  NEWSLETTER

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  Mmm...

  Tired of Christmas stories?

  CHAPTER 1

  DON’T FORGET!

  DEDICATION

  To the curly-haired volleyball player.

  You inspire me every day.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  No author works alone. Thank you Victorine,

  You and your sister make it Christmas every time

  I get a new cover. And thank you to my Beta Team.

  Truly, your help with my stories is immeasurable.

  NEWSLETTER

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  PROLOGUE

  “Okay... everyone here?” Lane’s eyes darted around as she counted all the little squares on her computer screen.

  “Lane and I make six!” Wren shouted from just behind Lane’s head.

  Faye pinched her lips to keep from laughing as she watched Lane put a hand over the offended ear. “Geez, Wren, we can hear you just fine.”

  Wren shrugged unapologetically. “Sorry. I’m a little overexcited.”

  “Like we couldn’t tell,” Faye murmured low so no one would hear her.

  “Ya think?” Lane mumbled bringing her gaze back to the computer screen full of smiling faces.

  “It’s just that we haven’t seen each other in FOR-EV-VER!” Wren made a silly face at the screen, causing it to erupt in more laughter.

  “It may have been years since we were all together, but Wren, I don’t think you’ve changed at all,” Faye snickered. She fluffed her hair. Her corkscrew curls were wild today, and she had recently dipped the ends in purple dye. She loved the dramatic new look, but it still caught her off guard once in a while.

  “Wren might not have changed, but some of us have,” Britta frowned and looked down at her lap.

  “Yeah, well, you needed to put on a few pounds, Girlie.” Wren sniffed. “Now you actually look like an adult instead of a little girl.”

  “Wren!” Lane scolded and elbowed Wren. “Be nice.”

  “I am!” Wren made a face. “She looks great. I was just telling her that.”

  “Then just say she looks nice,” Lane said with exasperation. “You don’t have to-” Lane shook her head. “Never mind.” She turned back to the computer and smiled. “How about we get to the point of this video call, huh?”

  “Here, here!” Faye laughed.

  Lane cleared her throat. “As you all know Evanwood’s Christmas Ball is coming up,” she started.

  “Can you believe it?” Grace said with a laugh. “I swear time goes faster each year. We all graduated ten years ago, people!”

  “No kidding,” Faye added. “That stupid ball is just a constant reminder of how fast it all goes.” And a constant reminder of everything I left behind.

  “I don’t know,” Esther piped up. “It sure feels like ten years to me,” she said softly.

  “That’s because you stayed in that podunk town,” Faye said before she could think better of it. Nothing had ever felt so good in her life as the freedom she had gained by turning her back on Evanswood. It was hard to understand why anyone would want to stay there permanently.

  “Ladies!” Lane snapped when Esther winced. “We’re not here to pick on each other.” She huffed. “I thought we were all friends?”

  “Sorry, sorry.” Faye put her hands up. “You’re right.” She looked pointedly at Esther. “Sorry, Esther. Just because you made different choices than me doesn’t mean they were wrong.” Although I still think you’d be better off if you get up and get out.

  Esther kept her gaze on her lap, but nodded.

  Delayed guilt finally filtered into Faye’s chest and she sighed. When Esther finally looked up, she mouthed “Sorry,” and was relieved when her friend gave a small smile and another nod. One of these days I’ll learn to curb my tongue, it really isn’t fair of me to compare our situations.

  “Come on, Girlies,” Wren said. “Let’s get on with it. We called this meeting because of the upcoming ball... and the fact that every stinkin’, single one of us... is still single.”

  “What exactly are you expecting us to do about it?” Britta narrowed her eyes. “So we’re single. Most of us aren’t coming home for the ball, anyway.”

  Lane sat up straight, jumping back into the conversation. “That’s exactly what I was hoping to change.” She bit her lip before continuing. “I think we should all meet up. Like we said, it’s been years since we’ve been together and ten years since we graduated. Don’t you think we should all take advantage of the opportunity?”

  “Why?” Grace asked as she scrunched her nose. “Like you said, it’s not like we have anyone to show off, and we keep up with each other on social media. Why bother coming to the ball?”

  Lane’s squished her lips to the side. “I just...” she glanced at Wren, who nodded in encouragement, “I just thought it might be nice to see each other and to show the town what we’re up to.”

  Faye frowned, suddenly suspicious. “What exactly are you getting at?” Lane is the most introverted of all of us, why is she pushing this?

  Wren pushed her face back into the screen. “Haven’t you guys received your invitation yet?”

  “No,” Faye huffed. “What does it say?”

  Lane sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Mostly the usual, but then it makes a remark about bringing a significant other, or not coming at all.”

  Faye’s jaw dropped. What? “Who the heck came up with that idea?” She snorted.

  “Camilla,” Esther said softly. When the rest of the girls looked at her, she shrugged. “I already have my invite as well. I’m sure it reached me earlier since they know where I live. Anyway, Pastor Larsen needed help this year and Camilla volunteered. She decided she wanted it to be more exclusive, so she’s only allowing you to come if you have a date.”

  “Should have known,” Britta muttered under her breath.

  “She probably married some hotshot lawyer and wanted a better chance to show off her diamonds,” Wren said with a smirk.

  “I don’t think she’s married, but she is dating a doctor. Plastic surgeon I think,” Esther supplied.

  “Then it’s not diamonds she’s showing off.” Wren snickered until Lane elbowed her again.

  “How do you know all this?” Faye asked.

  Esther shrugged. “The gossip mill around here hasn’t slowed down one iota since you all left.”

  “Nothing was stopping Camilla from bringing her date to the ball anyway, why get all snooty about those who don’t have one?” Grace asked.

  All eyes turned to Esther, who blushed bright pink. “Uh... all I know is what the old ladies at church are saying.”

  “Do share,” Wren encouraged with a mischievous grin.

  “Well, I guess Camilla has mo
ved the ball from the church to the Evanwood’s ballroom and is really going all out.”

  “Meaning?”

  “She’s trying to make it all high-society and stuff, I guess.” Esther shrugged. “But the date thing I guess was to weed out... undesirables.”

  Faye raised an eyebrow. Who does she think she is? she thought angrily. Having a man is way more ‘undesirable’ than not having one.

  “Undesirables? Are you serious?” Britta squeaked. “That’s ridiculous!”

  Esther made a face. “All I know is the rumor. I haven’t spoken to Camilla in person. She doesn’t actually live here any more.”

  “Then how the heck did she come to be in charge?” Wren demanded.

  “Beats me. But she does visit a lot. Her parents and grandma are still here.”

  “Who is she to say we have to have a man? Can’t we all go stag? Buck the rules a bit?” Grace asked.

  “Oh sure, until she has her dad arrest us for breaking the rules.” Faye rolled her eyes.

  “Only Camilla would be able to get away with that,” Britta grouched. “Stupid, sheriff’s daughter.”

  “Wait, wait, wait.” Grace leaned into the screen. “What I don’t understand is why Lane is so set on us all going.” All eyes turned to Grace, and she immediately sunk back in her seat, blushing fiercely. “None of us are friends with Camilla, never have been. So why are you set on us going to the ball? Can’t we just ignore it like we have for years?”

  “Because Camilla sent her a personal note along with the invitation,” Wren supplied.

  “Wren!” Lane screeched. “You promised!” she hissed.

  Wren shrugged. “Desperate times, Girlie.”

  “What did the note say?,” Faye interrupted and all the other girls nodded, wanting to know as well.

  Lane sighed. “She wrote me a nice little letter about how sad it was I wouldn’t be able to come and that maybe I would have better luck next time.”

  “You can’t be serious!” Esther gasped.

  “Serious as a caffeine addiction,” Wren said glibly.

  Faye whistled and folded her arms over her chest. “We’ve been gone ten years and that girl still can’t leave you alone? What the crap is her problem?”

  Lane shrugged. “I’ve never done anything to her, so I don’t know why she hates me so much.”

  “It’s just because you were prettier and nicer,” Britta piped in. “It’s a classic tale of jealousy.”

  Lane smiled and shook her head. “Don’t I wish. Anyway, I guess I... I don’t know. It’s dumb and I shouldn’t be intimidated by her petty bullying.”

  “Alright everyone, listen up.” Wren pushed her way in front of Lane and got her face right into the webcam. “As much as we might not want to admit it, we were total losers in high school. Every. Single. One of us. Now, we have the opportunity to shake it up a little. One of our own is being taunted by a prissy know-it-all who needs to be taken down a peg or two. Are we all really going to say that after ten years we still can’t get a date to a dance? Are we willing to carry the banner of ‘Loser’ on our foreheads for the rest of our lives?” Wren clucked her tongue and shook her head. “I, for one, am not. For once, just once, I want to show up with the hottest guy in the room and make all those wimpy, cheerleading snobs envy me.” Wren put her hands in the air. “Call it pride, call it ego, call it whatever you want, but I’m sick and tired of coming in last and this is our one chance to come out on top. And! Best of all, in doing so, we’re defending Lane’s honor.”

  Britta scrunched her nose. “You’re being dramatic, Wren.”

  Wren pointed at the screen. “Maybe so, but you have to admit I have a point.”

  Faye reluctantly nodded. “So, what are you proposing?”

  Wren scooted to the side and Lane got back on the screen. “All we’re trying to do is help each other out. I thought between the six of us, we could help each other find a date and maybe save some face on the dance floor.”

  “So we’re looking for fake boyfriends?” Grace asked with wide eyes. “Really? That sounds so... naughty.”

  Not the word I would use, Faye thought glumly.

  Lane winced but nodded. “Yeah. Kinda, I guess. I mean... no one has to know but us, and the guys of course. But I think that’s better than trying to find a real boyfriend on a short timeline. Talk about awkward.”

  The ladies were quiet for a moment while they all contemplated the plan.

  Can I do it for one night? Faye mused. One date doesn’t mean I have to let a man into my life, it’s going to be fake, after all. I hate that Camilla thinks she can get away with this. It’s time that someone stood up to her delusions of grandeur. Faye slapped her hand on the table she was sitting at. “I’m tired of Camilla coming out on top, too. I’m in.”

  Lane smiled and her tense muscles relaxed. “Great!’

  “Me, too.” Grace shrugged. “I mean, why not? Unless the guy’s a total weirdo, it should make for a pretty fun night.”

  Britta nodded. “Yeah. It will. I’m in as well.” She smiled. “Plus, I don’t want Lane to have to take all of Camilla’s nastiness.”

  All eyes turned to Esther, who was chewing her lip.

  Faye watched her friend fight an inner battle and held back the urge to speak up. Esther had to make her own choices, even if Faye thought they were ridiculous. Who spends ten years pining after a guy? No man is worth that kind of devotion.

  “I guess so,” Esther finally agreed. “It’s not like I have anything better to do.”

  “Woo hoo!” Wren put her hands in the air and hollered, once again making Lane wince.

  Lane glared, holding one hand on the side of her head. “That’s great, guys. I think we’ll do much better with us all planning together.” She smiled. “We have one month until the ball, so that should give us plenty of time to come up with potential candidates.”

  Faye chuckled and Wren snorted at Lane’s description.

  “So, for our first assignment, everyone needs to make a list of men they know, who might be willing to help us out. You can even pair them with a specific partner if you think a certain person would get along with them the best.”

  “On it!” Grace said with a smile.

  “Sounds good!” Faye added.

  All the other women nodded and after a few more minutes, they logged off.

  Faye blew out a breath and slumped in her seat as she shut off her computer. “Men, men, men.” She scoffed. “It always comes back to them.”

  Standing up, she walked across her studio apartment to grab a glass of water. “Who do I get to help me out?” she muttered, leaning back against the counter. Her mind ran through all the men in her life. “So... there’s my brother. Ha!” she barked. “That’s a no-no. And there’s...” Faye took another long swallow and then stared into her empty cup. “James,” she breathed, the butterflies immediately taking flight in her stomach. She set the cup in the sink and gripped the edge of the counter. “But how can I ask him? How can I spend the evening with him and then let him go?” She hung her head. “If I open that gate, I’m worried I’ll never get it shut again.”

  Her mind spun, but Faye discovered there really was no one else in her life. She kept to herself, on purpose. The only close relationships she had were with the girls she graduated with and her brother, everyone else was held at arm’s length, including the man who was close to stealing her heart.

  “But it’s only one night,” she whispered to herself. “Only one night. Surely I can make him understand that.” She stood tall and thrust her shoulders back. “I’ll just have to make him understand. There can’t be anything beyond this one night. After the ball, things will just have to go back to what they’ve always been.”

  Yeah... lonely, she mentally snarked at herself. Shaking her head, Faye forced the thought aside. “I’ve come too far to let go of the reins now,” she muttered. “It’s only for one night. That’ll have to be enough.”

  CHAPTER 1

  �
��Casual... Act casual,” Faye muttered to herself as she stood in her brother’s kitchen. She knew he’d be home any minute, so she quickly unloaded the cartons of Chinese she had brought with her.

  Just as she finished setting out the plates and forks, the garage door opened. “Faye?” her brother Marcus called out. “You here?”

  “Yeah!” Faye answered, ducking quickly to check her hair in the microwave reflection. “I brought dinner. Oh!” she gasped as Marcus came around the corner and swept her into a hug.

  “Hey, Sissy! Long time no see!” Marcus gave her a squeeze, then gently set her down and held her by the shoulders. “How have you been?” His eyes wandered over her before frowning at her hair.

  All the warm fuzzy feelings from his greeting vanished and Faye rolled her eyes. “I’m fine, thanks. And don’t you dare make a comment about my hair.” She fluffed the purple tinted corkscrews. “I like it.”

  Marcus shrugged. “I guess you’re a grown woman,” he murmured. “Do what you want. Although most men aren’t going to be drawn to a purple people eater.”

  “I don’t know,” another masculine voice joined the conversation and Faye’s heart rate tripled as she turned toward the sound. “I think it looks pretty great.” James stood with his arms folded across his broad chest and his thick shoulder leaning against the corner of the wall.

  Never have I ever been more grateful that I don’t blush. Faye stuck her chin in the air. “Oh goody. I was just praying for your approval, now I know it’s worth keeping.”

  James laughed, his green eyes sparkling. “I always knew you listened to my opinions. That’s why I offer them so freely.”

  “That or maybe you just have too many of them,” Marcus shot back.

  James laughed and fist bumped his friend.

  “You got enough food in there for the three of us?” Marcus asked, walking to the table.

  “Probably,” Faye offered, already knowing she did. “You know Chinese restaurants always send enough for an army.”