No Ordinary Christmas

by Belle Calhoune

  Her sister shrugged. “I just heard it through the grapevine. One of Mama’s friends.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “You know how they love to gossip.”

  Lucy let out an indelicate snort. Despite her tender age, Tess was quite proficient at spreading stories around Mistletoe. At this rate, Lucy realized, she’d be a pro by her teen years.

  “We did briefly date in high school,” she acknowledged, unwilling to tell her kid sister about their extensive history as best friends leading up to their romance.

  Tess was shifting around from one foot to the other. “Do you think you could ask him for a favor?”

  Lucy thought her eyes might bulge out of her head. “A favor? What are you talking about, Tess? I haven’t seen him in almost nine years! I’m hardly in a position to ask him for anything. He’d probably laugh in my face if I asked him for a can of soda.” Especially after her snarky behavior last night. Dante might run in the opposite direction if he saw her coming. The realization that he might not want anything to do with her caused a sharp twist in her stomach. It was strange feeling this way since she’d convinced herself she didn’t want to see his gorgeous face ever again.

  “I might have told the kids in my class I could get him to come in for our guest-of-the-week program,” Tess said in a muffled voice. Her head was down and she was looking at the floor. She refused to meet Lucy’s gaze.

  “You did what? Seriously, Tess. Why would you do that? You don’t even know the man.”

  “But you do,” Tess said in her most angelic voice, swinging her gaze up to meet Lucy’s.

  When had her baby sister perfected this hangdog look? And her tone was a perfect blend of sweetness and innocence. It was downright scary.

  All of a sudden, the sound of a barking dog rang out from outside. As a result, Astro let out a low growl and began making yipping noises. He ran toward the window and got up on his hind legs as he peered out of it. She had to admit it was pretty adorable, considering Astro had nothing to back up his bark. He was in the lightweight category of guard dogs. All growl and no grit.

  “Is that Rufus outside? What is he barking at?” Lucy asked, sitting up in bed. Rufus belonged to her parents. Their whole family knew Rufus barked at only two things—strangers and cats. She sincerely hoped it was the chubby orange tabby from down the road. Lucy wasn’t big on uninvited guests, especially when she was supposed to be catching some extra sleep or vegging out in her pj’s to Stranger Things on Netflix.

  Tess walked over to the window and peered through the blinds. She let out an excited squeal. “Oh my gosh! It’s him!”

  “Him who?” Lucy asked. Dread churned her stomach into tiny knots.

  Tess turned back toward her with widened eyes full of excitement. “It’s your famous ex-boyfriend! He was in the driveway, but now he’s heading toward your front door.”

  No way! Dante wouldn’t come over, not after the way they’d argued last night. Her body’s immediate response was to freeze up, right before pure adrenaline began pulsing through her veins.

  “Tess! If this is a joke…” she said in a warning tone. She wouldn’t put it past Tess to pull her leg about Dante. That’s how her little sister rolled. In the not-so-distant past Tess had made her parents believe that a reindeer was grazing in their backyard. In fact, it had been a dog munching on their bushes.

  “I’m not kidding. Just you wait. The doorbell is going to ring any moment now. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.” Just then the doorbell rang.

  “Oh no! Seriously?” Lucy asked in a whisper.

  “Why are you whispering? He can’t hear you from outside.” Tess was now giggling as if Lucy was the lamest person she’d ever seen in her life.

  Why would Dante seek her out the morning after their awkward run-in?

  Astro woofed and ran toward the door before Lucy could grab hold of him. Tess raced after him, her footsteps echoing down the hall on the hardwood floors.

  “Tess! Tess! Do not answer the door. I am not entertaining a guest in my pajamas,” she instructed in a raised voice. Especially not a drop-dead gorgeous ex. “Tess! Do you hear me?”

  Seconds later she heard the sound of the door being opened, followed by her sister’s chirpy voice welcoming Dante inside. Lucy moaned and slapped her palm to her forehead. This wasn’t happening! Her idyllic Saturday morning sleep-in had been interrupted by her nosy little sister and a famous celebrity she used to date.

  Lucy jumped out of bed and tiptoed down the hall. She could hear the chatter of voices down below—Dante’s husky tone mixed with her sister’s childlike one. What colossal nerve! Who exactly did Tess think she was answering Lucy’s door and inviting Dante to come inside? And why was he here in the first place? Last night hadn’t exactly been warm and fuzzy between them. Was he a glutton for punishment?

  “Lucy! You have a very important guest straight out of Hollywood!” Tess’s voice reminded her of nails on a chalkboard. Why in the world was her sister torturing her like this? She’d made it perfectly clear not to answer the door and that she didn’t want to see Dante. But now he was already inside her house and Tess was schmoozing with him. No doubt she was buttering him up so she could ask him to be her special guest at school.

  Reminder to self: Make Tess pay dearly for this.

  It would serve Tess right if she changed the locks to her house. Problem was, Lucy would never do such a thing to her baby sister. Just the thought of Tess’s cherubic face staring at a door that wouldn’t open caused a pang in her heart.

  “One moment,” Lucy answered in a strangled voice. There was no graceful way out of this now that she’d been put on the spot. She would have to go downstairs and come face-to-face with Dante when she’d literally just hobbled out of bed. Her hair was a wild mess and she hadn’t even brushed her teeth yet or washed her face.

  Suddenly, she snapped out of it. Hiding up in her bedroom was pointless and totally juvenile. It was time to put her big-girl panties on. Never let ’em see you sweat, she reminded herself. She wouldn’t give Dante the satisfaction of seeing he’d rattled her by showing up at her home. It was time to channel her inner Beyoncé.

  She darted into the bathroom adjoining her bedroom. She took a quick glimpse in the mirror and groaned. Her hair looked like a rat’s nest while her skin had seen better days. She’d been so emotionally exhausted last night she hadn’t taken the time to wash off her makeup or moisturize. Lucy quickly pulled her hair up and twisted it into a topknot. She reached for her cleanser and washed her face, then put on a thin layer of blush-colored lip stain. She reached for her primer, foundation, and bronzer, carefully applying each product to her face. She threw off her Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer pajamas and replaced them with a pair of slim-fitting jeans and her favorite oatmeal-colored sweater. Lucy released her hair from the elastic and ran a brush through it until it was loose and wavy.

  She looked at herself critically in the mirror. Considering she’d just gotten out of bed, she looked pretty presentable. Or at least half-decent. Why did she care anyway? She wasn’t trying to impress Dante. Ha! She couldn’t even think it with a straight face.

  Lucy grabbed her glasses from her bedside table and put them on, even though she really didn’t need to use them very often. She had a pretty weak prescription. Wearing glasses always made her feel stronger. They were a shield she hid behind. Over the years she hadn’t been able to let go of the crutch. At the moment she needed the support.

  She followed the sound of voices, which led her to her bright and airy kitchen. With its all-white decor and sparkling-new appliances, it had been one of the major selling points.

  In the clear light of day, Dante looked scrumptious in a white Celtic cable sweater with a pair of black cords. She almost stopped in her tracks at the sight of him sitting at her kitchen table across from Tess. Judging by his socks, she assumed he’d taken his shoes off at the door.

  His tawny-colored skin and strong jawline lent him a distinctive look. He smiled at her, showcasing a se
t of unforgettable dimples. Back in the day those little indentations had made her knees go weak. At the moment they were making butterflies swirl around in her stomach.

  “Morning,” he said, lifting a mug to his perfectly shaped lips and taking a swig of tea. Tess had laid out Lucy’s tea set, complete with sweeteners and milk, along with several boxes of various tea flavors. She’d even put out a plate of blueberry scones. It was clear they were having a grand old time, guessing by the huge smile etched on her sister’s face. She was in ten-year-old heaven.

  It wasn’t difficult to see why Hollywood had snapped him up and made Dante West one of the biggest box-office draws in recent memory. He radiated pure charisma.

  “Good morning, Dante,” she said, shocking herself by making her voice sound unbothered. “What brings you over here?” After last night’s tension, Lucy was determined not to lose her cool. She wasn’t proud of her emotions boiling over. This was her opportunity to showcase a more polished version of herself.

  “I’m sorry for interrupting your morning, but I have something to run by you.” He swung his gaze toward Tess who was leaning forward in her chair and listening to his every word.

  “Don’t mind me,” Tess said with a smirk. “I’m just here for the scones.” She took a big bite of her scone and began making contented noises as if she was a connoisseur of baked goods. Lucy rolled her eyes. At some point she really did have to pull her sister aside and have a serious discussion about manners, as well as acting her age.

  Dante drummed his fingers on the table. “I have a proposition for you,” he said, his eyes glinting as he locked gazes with Lucy.

  The word proposition brought to mind all manner of things Lucy didn’t want to think about. Moonlit kisses. Making out in the back row of the Regal movie theater. Skinny-dipping at Spinnaker Lake. She didn’t want to take this walk down memory lane even though moments from the past were crashing over her in unrelenting waves. It was so much easier to pretend as if she didn’t miss Dante being a huge part of her life. It felt so much better to dislike him than to yearn for everything she’d lost.

  She swallowed past the huge lump in her throat. “What is it?”

  “I want to film some scenes for the movie at your library.”

  Lucy couldn’t have been more shocked if he’d told her he was moving back to Maine and leaving Hollywood in his rearview mirror. She felt her eyes widening. Words eluded her. Never in a million years could she imagine her library being used as the setting for an adrenaline-producing action film. Was he completely out of his mind? An image of her precious books being blown to smithereens flashed before her eyes. She couldn’t allow such mayhem to take place there. Not on her watch.

  Dante was calmly staring at her with single-minded focus, clearly waiting for her reply.

  Stalling for time, Lucy cleared her throat. “I-I don’t think that’s a good idea, Dante. The library isn’t built for high-action scenes with explosives and fights.” She winced. “We have rare books there. It’s way too risky for our inventory.” She scrunched up her nose. “The townsfolk wouldn’t approve.”

  “Well, if it makes any difference in your decision, it’s not an action movie, Luce,” he explained, sending shivers down her spine by using his old nickname for her. “It’s a love story. There’s not a single explosion in the whole film.”

  A love story? She let out a squeak. Since when did Dante make anything other than action flicks? His characters had survived so many explosions, fans had started calling him Inferno. “A love story?” she asked, surprise ringing out in her voice.

  Dante nodded. “Yes. You look shocked. Is it so hard to believe?”

  “I thought you only made action films.” She wasn’t going to admit it to Dante, but she’d seen just about every movie he’d ever made. There wasn’t a romance film among them! Not that she couldn’t imagine him romancing a beautiful actress on and off set. Over the years she’d seen enough snippets about him to know he wasn’t exactly shy when it came to the ladies.

  “I’m the writer, producer, and director of this film,” he explained. “It’s probably the most important movie I’ll ever make because it’s a departure for me. I’m laying it all on the line with this one.” There was a strained quality to his voice, one she easily recognized. He was nervous. Clearly this film was a high-stakes endeavor for him and his production company.

  “Makes sense,” Tess said with a nod. “Serious films could get you major cred in the industry. You might even get a Golden Globe, an Oscar, or a Palme d’Or.”

  Lucy frowned at Tess. A Palme d’Or! What ten-year-old even knew about the Cannes Film Festival or the awards they bestowed? Tess needed to stay out of grown folks’ business and focus on being a kid. She ought to divert her sister’s attention away from this conversation as soon as possible before she asked to be an extra on set. Tess wouldn’t hesitate to insert herself into the unfolding situation.

  “Tess. Astro is sniffing at the back door. Could you take him out for me, please?” she asked, knowing she wouldn’t refuse or make a fuss. Her sister loved Astro as much as Lucy did. Maybe more.

  Tess groaned as she got up and headed toward the back door. Lucy watched as she planted her feet in Lucy’s boots, then grabbed one of her coats from the coat rack. Lucy stifled a giggle at the sight of her shuffling around in the snow in boots and a winter jacket that were several sizes too big. She felt a squeeze in her heart. At moments like this, the love she had for her baby sister felt as if it might swallow her up whole. Although she could be a huge pain in the butt, her wide-open heart and innocence were endearing.

  When Tess drifted out of sight Lucy swung her gaze back to Dante. It was a strange feeling to be staring into his soulful eyes after all this time. No matter what else changed about a person over the years, their eyes always stayed the same.

  “The terms of the agreement would be generous, Lucy. I’m prepared to make this a very lucrative partnership for the library.”

  The number that rolled off Dante’s lips caused her to gasp. The library was in dire need of financial support in order to offset the town’s budget crisis. When tourism had dipped in Mistletoe there had been a ripple effect on local businesses and civic entities. As a result, donations to the library had shriveled up. Money had been stretched really thin for the past few years. She’d done as much as she could to keep things going in a positive direction, but the lack of funding hampered even the best of intentions. This type of money would be nothing short of a miracle. Her head began to spin at all the possibilities.

  A donation of this amount would allow Lucy to implement badly needed programs for the community, as well as supplement the library’s inventory, add library hours, and invite local authors in for workshops and programs. She could actually purchase the latest bestsellers from the New York Times list. They could even host bingo nights and write-ins for aspiring authors. It would be a game changer for the Free Library of Mistletoe. And a dream come true for Lucy.

  Her mind began to whirl with the pros and cons.

  Pros:

  She’d receive a big fat ginormous check for the struggling library.

  Loads of media attention would be focused on the library.

  The library would be immortalized on film. Pretty cool!

  She would fulfill her goal of saving the library.

  Cons:

  She would have to see Dante on a regular basis or at least on filming days.

  The day-to-day operations of the library might be compromised.

  Lucy didn’t have to rack her brain to figure out what her answer should be. Given what was at stake, it was a no-brainer. If someone had told her last night she would be agreeing to Dante’s proposal she would have called them all sorts of crazy. But in the cold light of day she had to face facts. The library’s financial situation was precarious, and this infusion of cash could help turn things around. Allowing her personal feelings to get in the way would be selfish.

  She sucked in a deep breath. “
Yes, I think we can work something out that’s beneficial to both of us. I’ll have to run it by the board of directors, but I can’t imagine they’ll have a problem with it, as long as we set certain ground rules.”

  Dante rubbed his hands together. “That’s wonderful news. I’m glad I took a chance and came over here. I wasn’t so sure I should ask after last night.”

  The look Dante sent her was probing, as if he was interested in rehashing what went down between them outside the diner. She had no intention of opening up that can of worms at the moment. Tess was bound to come back inside shortly, and Lucy didn’t need an audience to witness the discord between them. It was best to not even respond.

  “You were really angry at me, and believe it or not, I get it,” he said, his voice sounding way more tender than she wanted to acknowledge. All she truly desired was to keep thinking of him as the big bad bogeyman from her past. That way she would be wearing an impenetrable suit of armor whenever he was around.

  She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not going to apologize for anything I said, but I could have been a tad more civil,” she conceded. She was trying so hard to be the bigger person, as Stella had suggested. Considering their tangled past, someone should give her a medal. Maybe the town of Mistletoe should throw her a parade.

  “Well, I promise you, I’m a lot better at following the rules these days.”

  “I imagine so,” she responded, her lips twitching despite her desire to remain reserved. “There really wasn’t anywhere to go but up.”

  Dante chuckled. His eyes danced with mischief. There were little dimples at the corners of his mouth. He still resembled the boy who’d been her best friend and partner in crime. In a matter of seconds, all the years melted away. Dante had always been the mastermind and she’d gone along with his schemes rather reluctantly. It had been hard to resist his charm and soulful brown eyes. He’d had her wrapped around his little finger.

  For a moment their gazes locked and held. Something intense pulsed in the air between them. It felt electric. It seemed as if all the oxygen had been sucked from the room. Lucy reached out to hold on to the edge of the kitchen table. She suddenly felt light-headed, as if a slight wind might blow her over. Dante appeared a bit startled too, as if he’d been knocked a bit off-kilter. Lucy could see it in his eyes. Perhaps she wasn’t the only one who felt a bit out of her depth.