by Ren Holly
Chapter 11
CHRISTMAS MORNING arrived suddenly. Andrew couldn’t even remember falling asleep. He rolled out of bed and right onto his bad foot. Searing pain racked his leg and blurred his vision. He released of string of curses that yanked Garrett right out of his dirty dream.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, still half-asleep.
“Sorry to wake you,” Andrew grumbled. He sat in a heap on the floor, grasping his throbbing foot. “I need to get ready for work. It’s going to be a long day.”
Garrett rolled out of bed and helped Andrew back to his feet. He rummaged through his drawer and tossed him an outfit suitable for work. Anna was still fast asleep on the couch.
“Be right back,” he whispered and then wandered out the front door. By the time he returned, Andrew had managed to join Anna on the couch. Their animated chatter transitioned to a hushed curiosity when Garrett wandered in carrying a large stick.
“What is that?” asked Andrew.
“It’s going to be a walking cane in just a minute,” Garrett said. He quickly broke the stick to Andrew’s height and smoothed out the edges with some sandpaper he had borrowed from the maintenance shed. As he worked, he coached Andrew on their story.
“Under no circumstances,” Garrett warned, “do you tell anyone what happened yesterday. You, me, Anna…. We’d all be fired. You cut yourself on an exposed nail, end of story.” Anna nodded solemnly.
“I got it,” Andrew promised.
They all wandered through the courtyard, under the massive live oaks covered in resurrection fern still green from the rainstorm, and into the lodge kitchen. Anna and Garrett were both on duty, but the naturalists were assigned to assist Andrew in the kitchen anyway. It was perfect—another small Christmas miracle—because Andrew certainly couldn’t have done it without them.
“We just need to bake dessert and heat the meals that the chef prepared,” Andrew explained.
“What are we baking?” asked Garrett as he donned an apron. Andrew and Anna laughed. It did not suit his rugged outdoor appearance, but that made it all the cuter.
“Cake.” Andrew smiled.
They blasted Christmas music and danced around the kitchen—well, Garrett and Anna danced. Andrew watched merrily. Hidden away in the kitchen, out of reach of the alligators, mosquitoes, and thunderstorms, it began to feel very much like a traditional Christmas. Through the course of the afternoon, the trio discovered Christmas baking was a tradition in each of their families. Andrew winked at Anna over Garrett’s shoulder as he planted a white flour handprint on his back in the guise of a hug. She giggled conspiratorially.
Later, when it was time to ice the cakes, Garrett took his revenge in the form of a messy icing kiss. Though Andrew did more directing than working, everything seemed to turn out well, including the dinner. When Anna and Garrett returned from serving the plates, Anna whispered to Andrew that Ace was not there.
“His grandmother said he left yesterday on the ferry,” she informed him. “Something about not feeling well.”
Andrew shrugged disinterestedly. “As a wise woman once said,” he recited dramatically, “nothing heals the heart like a boyfriend for Christmas.”
“She was wise, wasn’t she?” Anna laughed. “Oh, did we tell you that the island staff are throwing a small Christmas party in the old barn tonight?”
“Well, let’s clean up and join them!” Andrew grinned. He loved a good party. Anna and Garrett collected the dinner plates and served the dessert while Andrew, perched on a stool, quickly washed the dishes.
Afterward they wandered through the starlit night to the barn. Though old, it was magical. Twinkle lights were strung in the rafters, and someone had dragged in a lumpy pine tree and clothed it in bright-colored bows made from old T-shirts. Everyone was crowded around a foldout table, playing flip cup. Anna joined the ruckus, but Garrett led Andrew to a quiet couch in the corner.
“Is this party an island tradition?” Andrew asked with a yawn.
“I guess so,” he mused, “but we throw parties for everything.”
“I like it.” Andrew beamed. “If it weren’t for the mosquitoes, I could get comfortable here.”
“I’ll make it worth the trouble,” Garrett whispered into his ear and pulled him onto his lap. He gestured upward. Andrew followed his finger. Live, green foliage tied in a red cellophane bow hung discreetly from the ceiling.
“What is that?” asked Andrew skeptically. “Surely that can’t be mistletoe.”
“Indeed it is.” Garrett grinned. “The real stuff. I picked it this morning. Did you know it grows as a parasite on trees?”
Andrew tried to fight his growing smile. The gesture was so purely romantic. He leaned in slowly and brushed his lips along Garrett’s jawline. Garrett, clearly unsatisfied, pushed Andrew back against the couch and pressed his lips firmly to Andrew’s. He slid his tongue between Andrew’s lips for a few short moments.
“I’ll get you a better gift next year,” he promised, suddenly pulling away.
“The mistletoe is plenty,” Andrew whispered back. And the promise of next year is nice too.
Chapter 12
The Christmas Party—One year later.
ANDREW WAS assigned as chief barn decorator for the Christmas party, and though the decorating wasn’t quite finished, the party was in full swing. The couches and chairs were all full of people chatting idly about the past year. There were even a few new faces on the island. Andrew was interested to see if Anna and Blair would blossom into something special. If the rumors were true—his rumors—they definitely would. Andrew spied them sitting on the couch he and Garrett had occupied just one year ago. A small bouquet of mistletoe swayed gently above them. Andrew smiled and scanned the room for Garrett. He was chatting with the other naturalists about fishing.
“I’m getting better too,” Andrew said, wandering over to join them.
“Yes.” Garrett nodded. “You’ve come a long way.” He pulled out his phone. “And I have the picture to prove it.” In the excitement of last year, Andrew had forgotten all about the picture.
“Let me see!” he grumbled good-naturedly, seizing Garrett’s phone. Everyone crowded around. The only hint of the redfish was a small tailfin in the bottom corner. Andrew’s hands, still in position, were empty. His eyes were squeezed shut to protect himself from a tail to the face. Garrett smiled, blissfully ignorant. Everyone laughed, especially Andrew.
The party was wildly successful. Most of the island personnel had decided to stay for the holiday. As the evening progressed, Andrew found himself with Garrett under the mistletoe once more.
“Is this your doing?” Andrew asked, pointing up at the ceiling.
“Of course.” Garrett grinned, leaning in expectantly. Andrew kissed Garrett delicately and pulled away just enough to peek into his eyes. They were filled with emotion. The intimacy left Andrew weak and wanting more. He pressed his lips against Garrett’s, this time harder and full of hunger.
Garrett coaxed his lips apart and pushed his tongue gently against Andrew’s. He tasted like sweet wine. It was intoxicating.
He pulled back to whisper into Andrew’s ear, “Move in with me.”
Andrew turned to look at him. Garrett’s expression was hopeful. Andrew nodded with a budding smile.
“Usually I make them buy me a ring first, though,” Andrew teased.
“I bought one,” Garrett shot back, the Christmas tree lights twinkling in his eyes. He kneeled down in front of Andrew and took his hands. Andrew’s eyes widened; the tears were en route.
“It’s only been a year,” he began, “but I know in five years, ten years, and even fifty years, I’ll want to share Christmas, and all the other big and small moments of my life, with you.” Garrett reached in his pocket and pulled out a velvet-covered black box. Anna squealed in delight and pointed from across the room. Katie shushed her. Tears were freely flowing down Andrew’s cheeks now. He took a deep, calming breath and nodded.
“Me
too,” he breathed, trying to keep it together.
Garrett slowly opened the box. Inside was a simple band inscribed to read My best catch. He gently slipped it onto Andrew’s finger before jumping up and twirling him around several times. Garrett was laughing, Andrew was crying, and Anna was aggressively snapping photos to document the moment. The party erupted as everyone cheered.
“Let’s sneak out early,” Andrew whispered into Garrett’s ear.
“Where to?”
“The beach.”
REN HOLLY is always on the lookout for new opportunities and adventures. She has tried her hand at a lifeguarding, physical therapy, toy store sales, graduate school, and wildlife research. She considers it all life experience for her newest endeavor—writing. Ren is a lover of regency romance novels, happy endings, coffee, and swimming. As part of her newest adventure, she is in route to South Carolina, where she will spend the next four years writing contemporary romance (with happy endings, of course) while her ever-supportive husband works on his dissertation.
By Ren Holly
Mosquitoes and Mistletoe
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Mosquitoes and Mistletoe
© 2018 Ren Holly.
Cover Art
© 2018 L.C. Chase.
http://www.lcchase.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64405-041-5
Digital eBook published December 2018
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
