by Frankie Love
“This is really good…” I take the first bite of my chicken salad sandwich. “Did you make this?”
“Nah, my mom made it. Don’t worry, if I tell her you like it, she’ll never stop making it for you.” He looks down and laughs under his breath.
“I can’t wait to meet her.” I nod. “She must be a very interesting woman if she ordered mail-order brides for all six of her sons!”
“The agency told you all about that, huh?” He picks up his sandwich. “I’ll admit, I was a little shocked when she broke the news to me. I think we all were.”
We continue eating, and Nate tells me the whole story. Holly Huckleberry told me some of it, but he fills in the rest of the details. Nate was in full agreement with buying the town, but he wasn’t that enthused about marrying someone he didn’t know.
That’s somewhat comforting. I had hesitations myself. My roommates thought I was crazy. My mom told me I had lost my mind. My father, who normally doesn’t raise his voice, actually yelled at me on the phone. Nonetheless, I made the decision that I felt was right for me.
I chose my own trajectory. No turning back now.
“Can I ask you a question?” Nate looks up at me after he finishes filling in all the gaps that were missing from Holly’s version of the six-brides-for-six-brothers story.
“Sure.” I shrug. “You can ask me anything you want. I’m an open book. I guess I kind of have to be if we’re going to get married.”
“It goes both ways.” He nods in agreement. “How does a girl as beautiful as you end up becoming a mail-order bride?”
“Asking the hard questions first, okay.” I look down and blush. “I like that.”
“We don’t have long to get to know each other.” He laughs to himself.
“True.” I lean back in my chair and feel emotions swelling up. “A couple of years ago, I thought my life was a fairy-tale. I’m ashamed to say that I believed that because my parents were rich, and we lived in a nice house. I was spoiled growing up. I’ll be the first to admit that.”
“Money isn’t everything.” Nate chimes in with a truth I realized shortly after my entire world fell apart.
“I know.” I sigh. “But it means a lot to some people. My boyfriend, for example. The guy I thought I was going to marry.”
“What do you mean?” Nate narrows his eyes.
I tell him the rest. How my father’s company went under. How hard he worked to keep it afloat, risking everything in the process. A risk that didn’t pay off. I tell him about my boyfriend who dumped me shortly after that, and how I suspected it had a lot to do with the fact my father’s company went under. There were times when my boyfriend seemed more concerned about the state of my father’s business than planning our wedding. That should’ve been a sign from the start.
“Wow.” Nate blinks a couple of times in surprise. “What an asshole.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Yes, he certainly was. It broke my heart at the time, but I had so many other things to worry about. I had to get a job and find a way to support myself.”
“Now you’re here to save Snow Valley.” He smiles. “And marry someone you don’t even know.”
“You seem nice enough.” I meet his smile with one of my own. “I haven’t seen much of Snow Valley, but it looks like a very nice place to live.”
“It is.” He nods. “I’ll give you the grand tour tomorrow.”
“What are we going to do until then?” I raise an eyebrow.
“I was kind of hoping you would help me decorate for Christmas.” Nate points toward a stack of boxes. “I put up a few things, but if this is going to be your home…”
“That sounds fun.” I push my chair back and stand up. “Let’s get started!”
I used to love Christmas. It was my favorite time of year. The presents were nice, and I had that spoiled little rich girl attitude toward them for a long time, but after we lost everything, I began to realize that the rest of the holiday was what mattered most. The last two years have been tough, and I haven’t been able to enjoy the season at all.
“Do you want to hang the lights first or decorate the tree?” Nate walks over and opens one of the boxes.
“Let’s save the tree for last.” I look into the box and reach for some decorations. “You have a lot of stuff!”
“Yeah, gifts from my mom mostly.” He chuckles under his breath. “Although I have bought a few things myself.”
The first thing we do is string some lights up outside. It’s cold, and while I packed my thickest coat, it’s not up to par. Nate loans me one of his that fits me like a tent, but it’s really warm. Even that isn’t quite enough to stave off a Snow Valley winter. I hold the ladder and get a nice view of him in his jeans while he’s on top of it.
Nate entertains me with a few jokes and stories about his life while we’re decorating, and that does take my mind off the cold. I could listen to him talk all day. His voice is so full of life and excitement. He makes me laugh so many times I remember when I used to be surrounded by people like that.
I miss it so much. I miss being happy. I’ve gotten so used to being down in the dumps that I’ve almost forgotten how good this feels.
We spend a couple of hours getting lights up and decorations on the lawn. We laugh and joke our way through it, but the temperature feels like it has dropped several degrees by the time we’re done.
“I feel…” my teeth chatter, “…like an icicle.”
“Come on inside. I’ll start a fire.” He puts an arm around me, and we walk back inside.
It takes a few minutes for the fire to start roaring. Nate rubs my shoulders and arms to help warm me up faster. His hands feel so good. I’m reminded how long it has been since I’ve been touched. I haven’t even had a hug in almost two years. My parents never were the type to show that kind of affection often, and it completely evaporated after everything fell apart. I lean back against him, and he pulls me into an embrace. This feels even better.
“Once you warm up some, we’ll take care of the decorations in the house and get started on the tree.” He leans his head against mine.
“Perfect…” I smile.
I don’t just mean the roaring fire. I mean him. My husband-to-be. The man I came all this way to marry. I know it isn’t possible to learn everything about someone in a matter of hours, but I can’t help but feel like Nate is the very definition of the word perfect. I’m sure he has faults. Everyone does. I have my fair share.
But in this moment, I don’t care. I’m just happy to be in his arms.
“All warmed up?” Nate squeezes me a little tighter.
“Let’s stay in front of the fire a little longer.” I look up at him and smile.
I’m warm, but I don’t want to leave his embrace. He doesn’t seem to be in a hurry either. He keeps me in the tighter embrace, and I can feel his breath on my ear. It makes me tingle. I begin to trace the top of his hands. They’re rugged and cracked in places. The hands of a working man. I imagine them on my skin. Exploring my body. I finally have to snap myself out of my momentary trance because he’s making me hotter than the fire.
“I guess we should get started.” I sigh.
“Yeah.” He exhales sharply.
I can’t help but wonder if he was lost in the same moment of tenderness that I was.
Chapter Five
Nate
I feel drawn to Catriona. I don’t know what it is about her, but I’m getting closer and closer to falling in love with her by the minute. Her intoxicating smile certainly pulls me in, but there’s so much more. She hasn’t had an easy life. Maybe that’s something I can relate to. I was blessed with a family who loves me to death, but I didn’t always appreciate that. Catriona lost all of the things she took for granted. I can’t even imagine how my life would have turned out if my family hadn’t been there to support me.
“Once all of your things arrive, we can hang some of your ornaments on the tree.” I open the box I have and start sorting throug
h them.
“I don’t have much…” She looks down for a moment. “I didn’t even have a tree last year.”
I walk over and take her hand. “You’ll always have a tree here, and we’ll decorate it any way you want.”
“That sounds nice.” She smiles.
“Maybe we’ll go shopping for a couple of ornaments when I take you on a tour of Snow Valley.” I let go of her hand and walk back to the box. “I’ll let you pick them out.”
“Let’s get your ornaments on the tree first and see if we even have any room.” She laughs and reaches into the box.
There’s so much going on in my head right now. We’re just decorating a tree, but it’s so much more. It’s our tree. The first one I’ve shared with anyone since I moved out on my own. Amelia didn’t have much Christmas spirit. I think that was one of the reasons my mom didn’t like her very much. Every moment with Catriona feels so important and so incredibly special.
I thought I would be resistant when she showed up. I was even prepared for it to be nothing more than a business transaction to save the town, if that was what it took to make my mom happy. Now I’m wondering if I’m going to be the happiest one of us all. I’ve needed this. I just didn’t realize it.
“Is this you?” Catriona holds up an orb shaped ornament that has a picture in it.
“Yeah, that’s me as a kid.” I laugh and take it from her. “We made these in school. Second or third grade maybe?”
“You were a cute kid.” She smiles.
“Geez, what happened to me?” I walk over and hang the ornament on the tree. “I used to be so innocent.”
“Not so innocent now?” Catriona’s voice is laced with a hint of sarcasm.
“If you only knew…” I turn back toward her.
“You can’t be that bad.” She tilts her head slightly. “Especially if you’re making me sleep in the guest room.”
“Maybe I’ll let you decide where you sleep tonight.” I narrow my eyes.
“Be careful.” Her eyes reflect a hint of deviousness. “I’m not so innocent myself.”
“I can already tell you get anything you want with that beautiful smile.” I walk closer to her.
“Can I?” She takes a step back.
“Yes…” I match her step.
“Even if I lure you into a trap?” She takes another step.
“What kind of trap?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Look up.” Her grin gets wider.
I look up, and a bit of confusion sweeps under me as I realize I’m staring at some mistletoe. “How did that get up there? I didn’t hang it…”
“Nope, you didn’t.” She shakes her head as I level my gaze on her.
She’s begging for a kiss. I don’t have to be standing under the mistletoe to know that. I can see it in her eyes.
“Funny, I don’t feel trapped at all right now.” I pull her into my arms.
My lips find hers. They sear together. Our first kiss. I tell myself that I just want to taste her lips, but as soon as I do, I can’t help myself. Our tongues intertwine, and I begin to ravage her mouth. She kisses me back with the same ferocity. My body begs for more. I slide my hands up her back and resist the urge to push her toward the couch. I don’t want to go too fast, no matter how much I want to taste more than just her lips. By the time our lips part, we’re both forced to gasp for air. Sweet breath of life. Not nearly as sweet as Catriona.
“Wow, do you kiss every girl like that when you first meet her?” Catriona looks up with that same devious grin on her face.
“No, just the ones I plan to marry.” I let go of my embrace and take a step back. “I believe we have some more decorating to do.”
“I’ll try to concentrate on that.” She looks toward the box.
The kiss has lit a fuse between us. It’s burning, and it won’t be long until it explodes. I can feel it, and so can she.
We stand a lot closer while we’re decorating the tree. Our hands constantly brush as we hang ornaments. The electricity between us is so wild that the lights on the tree could probably turn on all on their own.
I’ve never felt anything like this before. My chest gets tight every time I see her smile. My heart is beating out of control. I can feel my pulse racing.
“What are we putting on top?” Catriona turns to me. “An angel or a star?”
“The only angel I see is you.” I reach over and pick up the star that normally rests on top of my tree.
“How many times are you going to make me blush today?” Her cheeks take on a soft pink hue as the words leave her lips.
“I want to make you do a whole lot more than blush.” I pull her close, and the Christmas star falls out of my hand.
“Oh yeah? Like what?” Catriona melts into my embrace, and I lean forward.
“You know exactly what I mean.” My hands explore her body as I taste her lips for the second time.
There’s no doubt in my mind that she does. I feel it in her kiss. The connection between us happened the first time we laid eyes on each other, and it has gotten stronger by the second. This woman is going to be my wife. I thought it was pure insanity, but now I’m not so sure.
I think I’m falling in love.
Chapter Six
Catriona
Nate kissed me twice. I lured him into the first one, but I didn’t have to beg for the second. Or maybe I did. My body language always betrays me. There’s something about him that pulls me in like a moth to a flame, and it isn’t just because I’m here to be his wife. I feel a genuine connection. It shouldn’t be this way. Not this quick. The day my heart was betrayed was the day I said I’d guard it with my life. I don’t feel like I have to protect myself around Nate. I’d tear my heart out of my chest and give it to him if he’d take it.
Being a mail-order bride seemed like such a risk, but I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made. If the scars on Nate’s knuckles are any indication, he’s been in a few fights in his time. All I want right now is for him to fight for me. For us. For what is blossoming between us as we turn his house in a Christmas wonderland.
“I think we’ve put out every decoration you own.” I look into the empty box.
“Yep, we have.” He nods.
“Now what are we going to do?” I turn toward him and can’t even begin to hide the grin that spreads across my lips.
“It’s about time for me to start dinner.” He motions to the kitchen. “Would you like to start with a glass of wine?”
“Sure.” I follow him into the kitchen. “Are you actually cooking, or do you have another one of your mom’s favorite recipes stashed in the fridge?”
“Are you worried that I might poison you?” He chuckles as he begins to open a bottle of wine. “My cooking isn’t that bad; I promise.”
“I can’t wait to try it.” I sit down at the table. “Need any help?”
“You just sit there and look beautiful.” He pours a glass of wine for me. “That’s all the motivation I need.”
“Okay.” I reach for my wine and take a sip. “I can do that.”
He compliments me nonstop. If he keeps it up, I might start believing a few of them. The only compliments I got from the guy I almost married were the ones I pried out of him when I was feeling down in the dumps. I’m not sure any of them were authentic. Just like our relationship. One lie on top of another until I had nothing left that he wanted.
I sit at the table and watch as Nate begins making dinner. He looks so damn sexy when he’s concentrating on something, studying ingredients, and even when he makes a slight mistake that requires him to make an adjustment. It isn’t long until the smell of country fried steak fills the kitchen. It smells a lot better than what they served at the diner. My mouth is watering before he finally gets it to the table.
“I know it’s not much.” He places one of the country fried steaks on my plate. “Grilling and frying are my specialties.”
“It smells amazing.” I look down at my plate as he serves som
e mashed potatoes and corn to go with the country fried steak.
“And, of course, you have to have the gravy. Do you want it on your potatoes or just your steak?” He reaches for a gravy ladle.
“Both.” I nod as he serves it.
“That’s what I like too.” He smiles and fixes his plate.
We make small talk over dinner. More discussions about our lives, but nothing heavy. I’ve told him the worst part of mine. He’s shared enough for me to get a good understanding of why Holly Huckleberry said he was a little rough around the edges. The Mistletoe family is fascinating. I can’t wait to meet the woman who is responsible for bringing us together, the man who helped her raise the amazing guy I’m having dinner with, and all of my future brothers-in-law. Sisters-in-law too. I’m not the only woman who has come to Snow Valley with plans to get married this holiday season.
“So, how do you spend most of your evenings?” I lean back from my plate after I finish my meal.
“Hmm.” He looks down for a moment. “A drink, usually? Maybe a little television. A few trips out to the back porch…”
“Why?” I raise an eyebrow. “Isn’t it a little cold for drinking on the porch?”
“I guess you’ll find out eventually.” He sighs. “I been trying to kick the habit for a while.”
“Ah.” I catch his drift. “That doesn’t bother me. I tried it a couple of times in high school. I told you, I’m not that innocent.”
“If you keep smiling at me, I might be too distracted to think about it anyway.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand.
“Then I guess I’ll have to smile a lot.” I look up at him and bat my eyelashes. It probably looks better in my head, but it does make him laugh.
We move to the living room where we continue to drink wine and tell stories about our lives. Prior to meeting Nate, I would have never guessed life in Snow Valley could be that interesting, but he could probably make a story about watching paint dry sound engaging. Before I realize it, hours have ticked by and we’ve almost finished our wine.
