by Cat Johnson
“Five golden rings . . .”
I pulled into the lot of the farm stand and realized I was humming and then singing along with the carol on the radio.
Strange for me to be humming at all, but extra strange that it was to what had to be the most annoyingly long and repetitive carol in the history of all Christmas carols.
I guess I was truly in the spirit this year. And that was fine with me. I had a lot to feel jolly about.
After parking, I wove my way through the maze of evergreens formed by the rows and rows of Christmas trees for sale.
When I pushed open the door of the market building, I saw the three Morgan brothers deep in conversation by the register.
A feeling of deja vu hit me. But this time, unlike last year, I knew them and they all knew me. And, more importantly, unlike last year, I wasn’t here because I was lost.
Although, I couldn’t be upset about the crappy GPS directions that had landed me here a year ago. To the contrary. By getting lost, I had found everything I’d ever wanted.
Coffee cup in hand, Stone lifted his chin in greeting when he saw me. Boone turned and smiled as Cash lifted one hand in a wave.
I walked over to the group and said, “Do you guys ever work? Or do you just stand around and talk?”
Stone’s brows shot high. “Hey, don’t begrudge us a few minutes of calm before the storm.”
Cash snorted. “True that. A Saturday in December? Yeah, we won’t have five seconds to even take a piss once we open for the day.”
“You here for a Santa shift?” Boone asked.
“Tomorrow. Today, I’m actually here to buy a couple of Christmas trees. A nice big one for the farmhouse. And a smaller, narrow one if you’ve got it, for the apartment in the city. They’re charging like two hundred bucks for one at the tree lots in Manhattan.”
“Jesus. Told you our trees are too cheap.” Cash backhanded Stone in the side.
Stone shot him a glare. “We’re not in Manhattan. We’re in Mudville.”
Boone nodded. “And we’re attracting shoppers from the city because of our low prices.”
Sorry that I’d started the brothers bickering, I brought the conversation back to what I thought would be a safe subject. “It’s not too early to put up a tree, is it? It’ll last, even with the heat on? All the needles aren’t gonna fall off by Christmas, will they?”
Real trees were not my area of expertise. I’d been kind of Grinchy about Christmas until recently.
Stone cocked a brow high. “Our trees were cut fresh this week, so yeah, they’ll be fine.”
I stifled a cringe as I realized I’d inadvertently insulted the man and his trees.
“Just make sure they don’t run out of water and they’ll last,” Boone added, good naturedly.
“Got it. Thanks.” Suddenly feeling the need to share the news that had a bubble of nervous anticipation growing inside me, I reached into the pocket of my overcoat and drew out the small red jewelry box. “I’m planning on hiding this in the branches for Elizabeth—”
My opening the box to reveal the diamond engagement ring inside resulted in a round of mumbled obscenities from the brothers as all three closed in around me, as if they were circling the wagons.
I looked behind me, wondering who they were protecting me from since we seemed to be alone in the building.
Stone glanced around the shop and hissed, “Are you nuts? Put that away.”
“What? Why?” I frowned.
“He’s not around enough to know what it’s like here,” Boone said.
“Well, he’d better learn and fast.” Cash blew out a breath and focused on me. “Dude, if any of the town gossips see that, there goes your surprise.”
I shook my head. “Nobody’s going to—”
“You don’t think so?” Stone leveled a stare on me as he asked, “Did you stop by the liquor store on the way here and pick up a couple of bottles of something?”
Frowning, I said, “Yes. How did you know?”
I’d bought a bottle of red wine for dinner tonight, and, in hopes of a celebration forthcoming, a bottle of champagne.
“Old Lady Trout saw you,” he told me. “She stopped by here a few minutes ago and made me open the register to sell her a quart of cream-line milk before the crowds got here. She took great pleasure in telling me you had not one but two bottles in your hand before noon. She’s now wondering if you have a drinking problem.”
“What?” I laughed at the pure absurdity of that.
“And Alice Mudd asked Red if you and Elizabeth were having problems because Binoculars Brimley told her Elizabeth was back in town without you,” Cash said.
“Jesus.” I shook my head. “She came early to set up the Santa Station.”
I had to work so we’d agreed I’d meet her for the weekend.
Stone nodded. “Oh, I know. You don’t have to tell me.”
“But it’s proof of how things are around here, bro. Get used it,” Cash warned.
“What are you guys so engrossed in talking about over here?” Elizabeth’s sudden appearance behind me surprised me but explained why Boone’s eyes had gone wide as he stared over my shoulder. She pressed a kiss to my check. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I replied, grateful I’d already put the ring box back in my pocket.
“I was just telling Chris here how lucky we are to have you helping out again this year now that you’re a fancy store designer in the city,” Boone slid smoothly into that impressive fib.
She laughed. “Not so fancy. It’s for a small chain of stores that upcycle old things into new things. All I do is arrange the displays. But I love it. I’ve never been happier.”
I cocked up a brow. “I hope I maybe have a little something to do with that happiness.”
“Maybe a little.” She held her thumb and forefinger close together and smiled.
I pulled her close to me and kissed her on forehead. “I missed you this week.”
She rolled her eyes. “I was only gone four days.”
“I know. But the apartment feels empty without you in it.”
Stone cleared his throat. “Do you want us to go so you two can be alone?”
I drew in a breath and leaned back from Elizabeth to look at the oldest Morgan brother. “Sorry. I can’t help it. And no, I don’t want you to go. I want you to help me pick my Christmas trees.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Trees? Plural?”
I smiled. “Yes. One for the farm. One for the apartment.”
Her blonde brows drew low over her sky blue eyes. “Didn’t you tell me you haven’t had a tree since moving out of your mom’s house after college?” she asked.
“That’s true. What can I say? I’ve been overcome by Christmas spirit. It must be because your Winter Wonderland here is so wonderfully festive.” I pulled her closer and rested my forehead against hers . . . then heard the combined groans of the three Morgan brothers.
“You guys are sappier than our trees,” Cash joked.
Boone snorted out a laugh. “Good one, Cash.”
“How about I pick those trees for you while you two continue . . . whatever this is?” Stone offered.
“Thanks,” I said, without releasing Elizabeth and without even looking up.
A Christmas tree—or two—would be nice, but there was nothing Santa could put under either of them that I needed or wanted. I already had everything I could ever want right here in my arms. And if—when—she said yes and agreed to wear that ring hidden in my pocket, it would be like Christmas every day of the year.
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed this little peek at Christmas in my fictional town of Mudville.
If you want more small town fun, love, craziness and mystery, don't miss MISTER NAUGHTY.
Happy reading!
Cat
MISTER NAUGHTY
How the hell I went from working the fall harvest at Morgan Farm to secretly writing an online dating and sex advice column for the males of Mu
dville, I can’t figure. All I know is I blame my girlfriend Harper for it. Apparently dating a writer for two years has done something to my brain.
But that’s not the worst of it. Oh no. My bigger problem is that my youngest brother is sprinting to the altar, intent on a Christmas wedding with a woman he’s known for barely a year. Boone beating us to “I do” is not going to sit well with Harper. It should go over about as well as the news that I’m the anonymous writer she loathes.
What will happen when I finally confess that I’m secretly Mr. Naughty, the man she’s declared her arch enemy? Hell if I know, but I don’t need any advice column to tell me that my holiday this year is not going to be merry.
GET THE BOOK
SMALLTOWN SECRETS
KISSING BOOKS (Stone/Harper)
RED HOT (Cash/Red)
HONEY BUNS (Bethany/Brandon)
ZERO FORKS (Boone/Sarah)
UNDERCOVER SANTA *(Elizabeth/Christopher)
MISTER NAUGHTY (Stone/Harper)
DOG DAYS *(Stephanie/Michael)
BAD DECISIONS (Carson)
*Denotes a Mudville short story. All other Mudville titles are full-length novels.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cat Johnson is a top 10 New York Times bestseller and a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance that usually features hot alpha heroes (who often wear combat or cowboy boots) and the sassy heroines brave enough to love them. Known for her unique marketing she has sponsored pro bull riders, owns a collection of camouflage and western wear for book signings, and has used bologna to promote romance novels.
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UNDERCOVER SANTA
CAT JOHNSON
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