Mistletoe and Mr. Right

by Sarah Morgenthaler

  “Headache?” Lana bit her lower lip, worried.

  “I’ve had worse,” he promised. “It’ll pass.”

  Readjusting the blanket higher on his shoulders, Lana said softly, “I’m so sorry for tonight. Are you mad at me?”

  “For thinking I was a moose?” Rick reached up to tug the end of the same hair tendril he’d been fixated on all night.

  “For trying to capture you.”

  “You did that a long time ago.”

  Lana ran her fingers through his much shorter hair. “You’re still drugged, dearest,” she said. “Try not to say things you’ll regret tomorrow.”

  Or maybe things she wished he meant now.

  “I’m not mad at you. Don’t think I have it in me.”

  As she held Rick’s head in her lap, it occurred to Lana that he was the only one in Moose Springs who didn’t.

  * * *

  “I think it’s time I start dating again.”

  They were halfway through a morning coffee and a cinnamon roll at Frankie’s when Rick made the quiet announcement to his friends. Normally, Rick didn’t splurge like this, but he’d recently survived a near moose-catching experience, and he was celebrating. Graham blinked at his announcement. Ash stared at him. Easton said nothing, but he did take a sip of his coffee. After this much time single, Rick figured they could have reacted a little more supportively.

  “I think I want to ask out Lana,” he continued on, because it was the truth. And…well…they were his best friends. They should know he was finally taking this step. All three had expressed their concerns about how long he’d been single after his divorce, so he’d expected a little more enthusiasm than this.

  “Are you insane?” Ash finally asked, reaching over the table to squash her hand on his face.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Feeling for a temperature. Graham, feel him. Is he running a fever?”

  Graham dutifully followed suit. “Yep, definitely feeling hot over there, buddy.”

  Rick tried to duck away from their hands, scooting his chair half an inch closer to Easton. Then he sighed as Easton finished a bite of cinnamon roll and wrapped a large hand across Rick’s forehead.

  “This isn’t very supportive,” Rick said grumpily. “And someone has icing on their fingers.”

  “You were just shot by this woman,” Ash reminded him.

  “Grazed.”

  “She travels a lot, buddy.” Graham shared a worried look with Ash. “I know you’ve been sweet on her for a while, but are you sure?”

  “He’s fine,” Easton decided, finally removing his hand from Rick’s face. “What about a dating site?”

  With an annoyed look at all three of them, Rick grabbed a paper napkin and scrubbed someone’s icing off his face. Ash brightened at Easton’s suggestion.

  “Ooh, a dating app is a great idea.”

  “Or I could just ask out Lana,” Rick countered as Ash stole his phone.

  So far, Rick’s morning wasn’t going the way he planned.

  “I’m not going on a dating site,” he said to the group, not that anyone was listening.

  “How about this one?” Ash ignored him completely, leaning over to show Graham. “It’s for rural Alaskan singles looking for a—oh. Well, that’s not exactly what I was thinking for him, but it wouldn’t hurt.”

  “It could hurt if he doesn’t stretch first,” Graham replied with a chuckle.

  “You’re not helping. Here.” Easton took Rick’s phone, typing in another site before setting the phone on the table in front of Rick. The icing had to be Easton’s, because now it was on Rick’s phone. He added in a rumble. “Ash is on this. What about you two?”

  The suggestion earned a simultaneous shudder from both of them. It was one thing to fall in love with someone he’d known growing up. It was another to consider dating the closest thing to a sister he had.

  “I just threw up in my mouth a little.” Ash made a face. “It tasted like kissing a first cousin, not removed at all.”

  “Again, not internet dating,” Rick said. “I want to ask—”

  The doorbell jingled as another customer walked in, this one impossible not to notice.

  Her. Rick very much wanted to go out with her. A real date, not just a vague “hey baby” version…whatever that actually was.

  The last time Rick had seen Lana, he’d been stoned out of his mind, sprawled across her lap. Remembering that made him want to groan in embarrassment. It also made him wonder if getting a second dart was possible. When he closed his eyes, Rick could still smell her perfume lingering in his senses.

  “Lana,” he called, her name slipping from his mouth before he had made the conscious decision. Those glorious eyes met his, and immediately a rosy blush stained her cheeks. And when he rose, offering her his seat, that blush darkened.

  “Oh, no need,” Lana said, waving him back down. “I don’t have very long. Are you… Everything okay?”

  “She means are you still high on moose tranqs?” Ash said out of the side of her mouth.

  “I’m fine,” he told her.

  A checkup with his regular physician this morning revealed he was perfectly healthy. Other than his arm being sore and being mortified at singing love ballads to Lana, Rick was no worse for the wear.

  Embarrassed but no worse.

  While she ordered her drink and a pastry to go, Rick cast around and found a spare chair, pulling it over to their already crowded table. Returning, Lana offered him a grateful look, sitting next to him. She glanced with mild curiosity at his phone still lying on the table, then politely averted her eyes.

  “That’s not real…” Rick stuttered, seeing the fake profile his friends had started building for him. “These three are idiots.”

  Ash and Graham gave her twin waves of matching innocence. Easton hid his guilt behind his beard.

  Lana exhaled a soft laugh. “It’s a very nice profile. And the picture is almost as good-looking as you are.”

  Rick flushed at the compliment. He couldn’t help but remember the feeling of her leg beneath his head, her fingers in his hair, stroking soothingly. It was that—her touch—which had sent a shot of adrenaline into his recently anaphylactic sex drive. When Lana touched him, Rick knew how ready he was to have human contact again. Someone who wanted his hands on her too.

  Lana’s eyes lingered, as if making sure he was definitely okay, then she turned to his companions.

  “Ash,” Lana said. “I was hoping to hire you to take me for a little ride.”

  “A little ride where, exactly?”

  “Oh, you know…out and about.”

  For some reason, she was being evasive, which only made Rick more curious. He wasn’t the only one.

  “Do I want to know?” Ash asked, sounding suspicious.

  “I’ll try to keep my evil machinations at a minimum. Rick? Do you mind if I steal a moment of your time? I was hoping to talk to you for a minute. Privately.”

  “You’re not going to shoot him again, are you?” Easton rumbled, causing Ash to snicker as Rick rose to his feet, following Lana outside.

  She looked nervous, fiddling with her coffee cup with slightly shaking fingers. “I’ll pay you for the electricity we used the other night.”

  “Naw, it’s no big deal.”

  “Even though I tranq’d you?”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time something like that happened around here.” Rick shrugged. “Won’t be the last either. But since I’d rather spend my time anywhere other than the emergency room, I appreciate your crappy aim.”

  “My aim is very good when three gallons of Ruby Lockett’s eggnog isn’t coursing through my veins.”

  “You and everyone else.” He noticed her hands were still trembling. “Are you cold? We can go back inside.”

  �
��No, just concerned about you. I wanted to see how you were feeling.”

  “Now that the moose tranqs are out of my system?” Rick chuckled at the consternation on her face.

  “I promise, I had no idea the cinnamon in the eggnog was cinnamon schnapps. I would have been far less indulgent. I also plan on covering all your current medical expenses and any that may occur as a result of my…indiscretion.”

  “Thinking I was a moose.”

  She wrinkled her nose when she was upset, and if it weren’t so cute, Rick would have tried harder to stop teasing her. Instead, he stepped closer. This time, he didn’t mind the hand reaching up to press against his forehead, checking for a fever.

  “Lana. It’s fine. I’m fine. It’s actually kind of funny.”

  Suddenly, she had her arms wrapped around his neck, hugging him. The action was so unexpected, Rick stood there for a moment. Then he tentatively placed his palm on the small of her back. He’d only meant for it to be a chaste hug in return, but Lana leaned into his chest. Rick’s arm slipped around her waist of its own accord, drawing her snug to his torso.

  It hadn’t occurred to him how much she needed a hug until her arms tightened about him.

  Man, she felt good. How long had it been since he’d had a woman in his arms? Long enough that he wasn’t sure if he was holding on too tight or if she minded his head dipping down. Lana’s hair was silky as it brushed against his throat.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, abruptly pulling away. The loss of her was a shock to his system. “I feel terrible about everything yesterday. I kicked Silas out of Alaska. He’s on his way back to Chicago. You won’t have to deal with him anymore, not if I have any say in the matter.”

  “That’s a relief. I might have just locked the door if I saw him coming again.”

  “You and everyone else who’s ever met him.” Taking a deep breath, Lana plastered her breezy smile in place. “It’s never a dull moment with us, is it?”

  “You keep me on my toes,” Rick said gently. He waited, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she chewed on her lower lip, the same way she had on his couch. In his somewhat stoned state, he’d been mesmerized by the action, but today he understood it for the concern it was.

  “Lana?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Stop worrying about me. You have enough on your plate.”

  Allowing himself a moment of sheer self-indulgence, Rick held out his hand to her in silent request. When she placed her fingers in his, he stepped closer, wrapping her up in a much better hug. This time, she rested her cheek against his chest.

  “You’re a really good guy, Rick.”

  “It’s all a lie. I rob banks and seduce billionaires when no one’s looking.”

  This time, her smile was softer but real. “Then I’ll have to be on my toes.” Pressing a quick kiss to his cheek, Lana said, “Thank you.” Then she hurried away, tugging her jacket around her to ward against the cold.

  Rick watched her go, then he rejoined his friends inside. Ash and Easton had been having far too much fun setting up Rick’s dating profile.

  “Delete it,” he told them firmly. “I’m going to ask Lana out.”

  Ash pulled out her phone, typing into it. Her movements were quick and precise, the way they always were when she was pissed. “You’re an idiot. East, tell him he’s an idiot.”

  Easton took a drink, smart enough to not get in the middle.

  “Graham, please save him from himself.”

  Graham watched through Frankie’s window as Lana headed down the steps to her car. “She’s a sweet girl. Just don’t know how long it’ll last, buddy. She’s never here in town. But if you’re just looking for a holiday fling…”

  “I don’t know what I’m looking for,” Rick admitted quietly. “But I’d rather figure it out with her.”

  “Fine.” Ash stood up, resigned. “She did shoot you in the arm. Makes sense for you to shoot yourself in the foot. If you’ll excuse me, the princess needs a ‘lift.’”

  As a sky-blue SUV drove toward the resort, Rick knew that he wasn’t waiting anymore. Jen had moved on, and it was time to do the same. Time to start living his life while he still had it. A guy could be mistaken for a moose any day.

  Rick was going to ask Lana out—for real this time—and pray she said yes.

  * * *

  “Is there a reason why I pulled the short straw today?”

  The usual acerbic tone in Ashtyn’s voice was almost lost beneath the thwapping of helicopter blades cutting through the cold winter air.

  Normally, Lana would have met Ash at the hangar on the far side of town, but she had been wrapped up in phone calls, and she needed to be back for a meeting with Hannah about the Christmas party. If she wanted to do this, she needed to go in a very small window of time, meaning it was far more convenient to have Ash pick her up at the resort’s private helipad.

  “Shuttling people to and from the airport isn’t my gig. Tell me why I agreed to this again?”

  “Because I asked nicely,” Lana said as she climbed into the copilot’s seat, pulling a headset over her ears. “And I doubled your normal fee for the convenience.”

  Through the headphone, Ash’s sarcasm came through loud and clear. “There are other pilots, you know.”

  “I prefer to support female-owned businesses.”

  Ash snorted. “I’m not buying it.”

  She might not believe Lana, but it was true. There was no point in trying to argue with someone who couldn’t be convinced, so Lana looked out the window instead.

  “Besides,” Lana said, “the other pilots were too scared to go up here in December.”

  “Don’t do me any favors.” Ash’s lips had curved into a smug smirk as they lifted off, angling over the mountainside. “Nice penis, by the way.”

  “I’m growing rather fond of it. Hannah is going to tell on me if I don’t get rid of it.”

  “Good luck with that. Jax thinks it’s hysterical.”

  The familiar way she seemed to know the resort owner’s feelings caught Lana by surprise. “Oh. Are you and he…?”

  Ash grimaced. “Not if his life depended on it. I grew up with the little brat. There’s no way I’d ever get with him. I wasn’t aware we came up here to discuss my love life. I should have charged you more.”

  “Trust me.” Lana grinned at her. “You’re charging me enough to have proved your point.”

  Ash snickered before seeming to realize she wasn’t supposed to. Slipping her sunglasses on, Lana settled in to appreciate the view as they flew higher into the snowy mountain range. In another place, she and Ashtyn could have been friends. Lana didn’t only respect her. She honestly liked the other woman. She’d love to hire someone like Ashtyn Lockett and keep her on the payroll for those tough jobs that needed doing. There was nothing Ash was afraid of, except for maybe the massive mountains her brother was so famous for climbing.

  Lana didn’t blame her. Freezing to death on the top of Mount Veil wasn’t Lana’s idea of a fun time either. Ash was far smarter than her twin, as far as Lana was concerned.

  “How’s your brother?” she asked.

  “Preoccupied. He’s got this informal thing going with a local newspaper reporter, but she wants more than he does. East doesn’t know how to let her down easy. He’s dragging it out and causing himself all sorts of problems.”

  “Easton never seemed like the settling down type. I always guessed he’d stay a bachelor as long as humanly possible,” Lana said.

  “You and me both. But you never can trust people.” At Lana’s questioning look, Ash explained. “I don’t like change is all. Seems like lately, everything is changing around here. You’re not helping things.”

  “People grow,” Lana said. “So do towns. Stilting Moose Spring’s potential is like trying to keep a child frozen in time. We all grow up
eventually.”

  “Some versions of adults are far superior to others,” Ash said drily. “If my town is unrecognizable in ten years, don’t think I’m not blaming you.”

  There wasn’t much Lana could say to that. She already knew.

  Overlook Ridge lay high above the town of Moose Springs, right before the tree line gave way to ice and snow. Between the remaining evergreens and the constant gusting of winds off the monstrous Mount Veil in the distance, the ridge was a particularly difficult place to land. A deep blanket of snow was spinning off the ridge in flurries, obscuring the visibility but leaving a small area clear. If the pilot was skilled enough to combat the combination of elements fighting to toss a helicopter back off the mountain.

  Ash was skilled enough.

  They landed much quicker and with less curse words than the last person who had flown Lana up here, which was the point of using Ash’s piloting services. She was the best. And while being budget conscious was always important, Lana preferred to save her coupons for when she wasn’t on the edge of a thousand-foot drop-off.

  Lana waited until the helicopter was settled in place, then she unbuckled her seat belt.

  “You’re not going out there, are you?” Ash’s eyes widened.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve been here before.”

  “If you get blown off the mountain, I’m not jumping after you.” Ash killed the propellers and unbuckled her seat belt. The Lockett blood had too much protector built into it to keep her in the aircraft, no matter what Ash liked to say.

  They edged along the ridge until they were out of the worst of the flurries. Here, they had the best view of Moose Springs. Several thousand feet below them, the town was a tiny dot against the base of the mountainside.

  “Okay, why are we up here?” Ash asked. “If it’s because you’re buying the whole mountain range, you’ll need to hike down. My ass is leaving you up here to reconsider.”

  Lana didn’t answer. She knew her reasonings weren’t going to be what her pilot would appreciate.

  There were only about six and a half hours of daylight in Moose Springs in December, with the mountains obscuring much of the sun’s light. Farther north, that amount of time decreased to much less. Higher up where they were, Lana had a chance to feel more sunshine on her face than the people she cared about would feel down there.