Mistletoe and Mr. Right

by Sarah Morgenthaler

  “Lana, you’re late for your own meeting,” Jonah said as they entered the barn.

  “Unfortunately, this afternoon has been a little more packed than I expected,” she said cheerfully to the room full of eyes watching her warily. “However, I appreciate—”

  Midsentence, Rick stole her hand, causing her to pause and turn. “Rick?” She tilted her head in question.

  He knew he’d hurt her, and the absolute last thing Rick wanted Lana to feel was rejected by him. This was her decision; the ball was in Lana’s court. But dammit, Rick was playing too. And he wanted the win.

  “You’re standing under mistletoe,” he told her, not caring if the whole town heard the husky tone in his voice.

  Lana looked up. Sure enough, she was just beneath a sprig of mistletoe that had been suspended from the barn rafters. Her eyes flickered to the crowded room, then back to him. When she tugged on his hand, Rick came willingly, stepping in close. Close enough that everyone would know exactly who Rick had come here with.

  “Now you are too.” Lana flashed him a little grin, going up on her toes and kissing him.

  When she wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling his head down to hers, Rick laughed, taking the opportunity to dip her dramatically. Someone catcalled, and he was pretty sure Ash started gagging. He couldn’t have cared less.

  “I wanted to do this the last time you were under mistletoe, but I thought I might get in trouble.”

  “You still might,” Lana said archly, but her cheeks had a rosy tint, and her eyes sparkled.

  Instead of taking a seat with the rest of the group, Rick leaned against the refreshment table, arms crossed, watching Lana take the stage next to Jonah.

  “Thank you all for coming out here.”

  “We didn’t think we had any choice,” Graham spoke up teasingly. “Word gets around that you’re a dangerous shot, L.”

  “Only for those who annoy me, Graham.” Lana smiled sweetly at her longtime friend before continuing. “It’s not lost to me that there has been a lot of concern and unrest in town, most of which is centered on the Montgomery Group’s investments. I think everyone would feel better if they had a strong political figure to champion their concerns. As for myself, it would be easier to streamline those concerns through a focused entity with whom we can do business.”

  Lana’s smile widened. “Therefore, I nominate Graham Barnett as mayor of Moose Springs. For a full term, not a couple of days until he can pass it off on someone else.”

  The look of sheer astonishment on Graham’s face was only matched by the expression of glee on Ash’s. Easton’s beard twitched in what might have been a smirk.

  “I second the nomination,” Ash said, hopping up.

  “Wait, this isn’t how mayors are elected,” Graham protested. “I can’t be elected against my will.”

  “Everyone in favor?” Easton rumbled, earning a resounding “aye” from the gathered townsfolk. Horror dawned on Graham’s features.

  “Did you know about this?” Graham demanded of Rick and Zoey.

  “Why would I know about it?” Zoey asked.

  “Because you two have been in cahoots with her.”

  Rick flashed Lana a grin, even though he hadn’t known a thing about her plans. “I like being in cahoots with her,” he told Graham.

  Glaring back and forth suspiciously, Graham narrowed his eyes at Zoey. “Zoey Bear?”

  “Yes?” She sounded perfectly innocent, but her eyes flickering to Lana gave her away.

  Lana brushed a piece of imaginary lint from her leg. “Zoey had nothing to do with it. If you’re going to be upset, be upset with me.”

  “Oh, trust me, L,” he said. “I am.”

  Jonah looked around the room. “Anyone object to Graham Barnett as mayor?” No one raised a hand except for one.

  “I object!” Graham said. “Lana, you can’t be serious.”

  “Actually, you would make the perfect mayor, Graham. You pretty much do it anyway, and at least this way, you’ll get paid for the trouble.”

  “I don’t want more money; I want to be left alone.”

  “Then maybe you should have thought about that before you decided to take care of every single person in town.” Zoey said cheerfully, “I love you, by the way.”

  “I love you too, traitor.” He turned puppy dog eyes to Lana. “L, this is the meanest thing you could do to me.”

  Lana flashed him a sweet smile. “The way I see it, you care about Moose Springs, and you’re willing to do anything necessary to protect it. I want to work with the best person I can to keep Moose Springs’ interests at the forefront of any changes the Montgomery Group makes to their properties.

  That’s you. Sorry, Graham. You care too much.”

  Groaning overdramatically, Graham slunk out of the barn, Zoey following. She gave Lana a double thumbs-up behind Graham’s back.

  Everyone was watching her, and for once, the eyes pointed her way weren’t filled with distrust. Well, maybe some distrust. But definitely not the normal animosity.

  “This town is the most important thing to Graham,” she told them. “And he’s not afraid to go head-to-head with me. He’s going to make the best mayor, no matter how much he whines about it.”

  “Why would you give Graham the power to shut you down?” Ash wondered. “You know he’s going to try.”

  Ash may have asked the question, but curiosity was on more than only her face. Everyone stayed quiet, waiting for Lana’s answer.

  “Because the town matters to me too. I know you don’t believe that, but it’s true.”

  “Well, thank goodness that’s been arranged.” Jonah sounded relieved. “Town halls are now up to the mayor to hold. Show up to the Tourist Trap on the second Monday of every month from now on. If he tries to leave, I’ll block the door.”

  The crowd started to disperse, the townsfolk energized at the new change in their local government. Rick joined her, wrapping his arm around her waist. A buzz of conversation followed everyone out the door, leaving Lana and Rick in the relative privacy of the emptying barn.

  Rick pulled her in for the biggest, best hug she had been given in years. “This was a good call. You’re brilliant.”

  Flushing at the compliment, Lana said, “Graham being in a position of power will actually make doing business in Moose Springs easier. It’s better to deal with a figurehead than an angry group of people. The town needed a strong protector now more than ever.”

  She started to say more, but Lana grew distracted when Rick took her face in his hands, pressing a kiss to her left cheek, then another to her nose. A third to her lips, leaving his own tingling, like cayenne pepper in chocolate. Sweet and rich but fiery. He couldn’t get enough of her.

  “I promise I’m not the enemy,” Lana whispered, breathless.

  He tilted his head down so that his forehead rested against hers. “I know. I’ve always known. One day, they’ll know it too. From now on, I’m going to help you prove it to them.”

  “You’ll help me catch a moose?”

  “Only if you aren’t holding the tranquilizer gun.”

  “I shoot you one time by accident, and you just won’t let it go—” Lana huffed, then she could only laugh as he pulled her close, kissing her all over again.

  Chapter 12

  It was usually a bad sign when someone showed up first thing in the morning without an invitation. But considering this someone was carrying an armful of Frankie’s bear claws while wearing the sexiest ugly Christmas sweater in existence, Rick was willing to let it slide.

  Besides, Lana was welcome on his porch any day of the week, pastries or no.

  “I tried to call you, but I was having reception issues,” Lana said as a way of saying hello when he opened the door. “It occurred to me that maybe I’m overstepping my welcome here.”

  D
rawing her in for a long, slow kiss, Rick allowed himself the luxury of resting his cheek against her hair as he held her. “You’re always welcome with me.” His voice was still low from sleep. He’d been up for a bit but was not nearly the level of awake Lana was.

  The look she gave him was better than caffeine, and the second kiss left him far more alert than the first.

  “Where did you find a sweater with Jake on it?” He flicked the jingle bell attached to Sweater Jake’s snout.

  “A girl has her secrets,” Lana said. “Especially one who flies too much and always reads SkyMall.”

  “So to what do I owe the surprise?” Rick led her inside, out of the brisk cold. He set them both a seat at the kitchen table, speaking quietly because Diego was still asleep.

  “I figured you had a busy day ahead of you with the tournament, and I have a busy day ahead of me with the Christmas party. Since I’m not the one who has to stay up all night, I thought I’d bring you some breakfast.” She shot him a cute look. “A healthy breakfast, of course.”

  “Naturally.”

  “And…maybe I didn’t want to wait until tonight to see you,” Lana said. The flirty statement came out more shy than normal for her. Rick had the feeling whatever had happened at her job yesterday was still on her mind. She seemed distracted and uncertain. That was okay. He was happy to eat another bear claw and prove to her that she was right where she belonged.

  “You didn’t think I would show up to your party?”

  Lana shrugged, focusing on a forkful of pastry. “I think you have a business to run. The last thing I would do is divide your attentions from where they need to be.”

  This time, her lips tasted like sugar and cinnamon.

  “I wouldn’t miss it, gorgeous.”

  “Well, in that case…” Her speculative glance made him immediately shift in his seat. “Are you still not opening the pool hall until tonight?”

  Rick nodded. “That’s the plan.”

  “Do you need today to get set up for it?”

  Hmm. He had the feeling he was about to get propositioned. Some fairly enjoyable imagery came to his mind on that one, but Rick could tell Lana was shifting into work mode.

  “I know tonight is a busy night for you,” she said. “But I was wondering if I could borrow you for an hour later this morning. An hour and a half, tops.”

  One look at Lana’s hopeful expression and he knew he was going to do whatever came out of her mouth. “What do you need?”

  “I’m sort of out a Santa Claus.”

  Rick blinked. He knew he was blinking, because all he could see was her pretty face, the snow behind her shoulders, and fresh flakes on her shiny hair. Then eyelid. Lots of eyelid.

  It was never too late to start making boundaries for oneself.

  “I’d be Santa,” she explained as if instinctively knowing he was ready to back out. “But I’m already an elf, and the suit really wouldn’t fit me. I’d arranged for someone from the resort to be my Santa, but he’s come down with a rather nasty cold. He said he’d still do it, but it seems cruel to ask him to have a townful of children asking for toys while he’s sick.”

  “But it’s not too cruel to ask me to do it?” Mouth curving despite himself, Rick shook his head. “I’m not really the Santa type.”

  “Not jolly enough?” Her eyes danced. “I promise to get you out as soon as possible, and I’m happy to help you tonight at the tournament as a thank-you.”

  He liked the idea of having her there tonight, but he didn’t want her to feel obligated. “You should come, but I don’t need the help unless you’re bored. I’ll have Diego working.”

  “And if I show up anyway?”

  “Then the terrible rosé is on me.”

  Lana grinned. “It isn’t that bad.”

  “It isn’t that good either.” Rick took a swipe of icing on his fork, then shook his head in bemusement. “Santa huh?”

  “If it helps, I’ll have a pitcher of special ‘no children allowed’ eggnog to coax the cheeriness out of you. I certainly plan to partake. Are you all right? You look a little pale around the edges.”

  “I’ve seen the damage you can do with special eggnogs.” Rick’s hand found her knee, his body oriented in her direction. Was the physical pull between them as overwhelming to her as it was to him? The inches between them felt way too far. “What would I have to do?”

  “Oh, the normal Santa things. Lots of ho ho hoing, I’d imagine. Sit on a chair and let people take pictures with you. I’ll be right there with you.” Lana flashed him a quick grin. “Don’t worry. I won’t let any of the women sit on your lap and pull your beard.”

  “I thought you were trying to convince me I should do this.” He gave her a teasing look as they stood before taking their plates to the sink.

  “I can promise you all the cookies and milk you want, plus a very grateful Grass. He’s the next in line. Hannah said she’d twist his arm to make him if I couldn’t come up with an alternative. You don’t have to though. No pressure.”

  If she’d stayed her smiling, cheerful self, maybe Rick would have had a chance. But the moment her smile slipped, so did his self-respect, his self-awareness of what was best for him, and any generally intelligent decisions he was capable of making.

  “I’ll do it.”

  As her face lit up, Rick tried not to think about how good happiness looked on her. “Thank you, Rick. You’re going to make this party absolutely perfect.”

  When she kissed him, Rick was more than happy to lean against the sink and do that for a while. Breathless, they pulled apart. “Do you have plans before the party?” he asked, voice lowered with desire.

  Lana’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes half-closed as he pressed soft kisses along her neck.

  “I have a remote conference scheduled with the company’s board of directors,” she said. “Then, Zoey and I are meeting for a quick Santa Moose catching planning session before I have to start setting up the party.”

  The things this woman did on a daily basis made his flesh crawl. Rick didn’t even like video calls on his cellphone.

  “Zoey told me to bring my A game,” Lana added.

  Rick wasn’t sure this woman had any other default setting than A game.

  “How do you bring your A game to catch a moose?”

  “I’d tell you, but it would be breaking the super secret code of moose catching between women. Sorry, Rick. You aren’t allowed in our tree house.” As she headed for the door, Lana winked at him. “See you later, Santa.”

  * * *

  Everything was perfect. The resort’s massive river rock fireplace had been turned into a winter wonderland.

  Hannah stood in the middle of the room, pursing her lips as she oversaw the final details. She checked her watch, then glanced over at Lana.

  “Well, everything’s ready on our end. This is a lot of food.”

  “And I promise to pay for every crumb,” Lana told the other woman. “I know you don’t think anyone’s going to show up, but I refuse to invite a town full of people to a Christmas party and not have a town’s worth of refreshments for them.”

  Lana was proud of the decorating table. It was loaded with cookies ready to be iced and covered with all kinds of sprinkles. But the best part was the gingerbread town. If anything was going to win her points with Moose Springs, it would be the miniature gingerbread town.

  A soft, uncomfortable cough pulled her attention to the man standing in the doorway of the room. Rick always looked good, but he was bringing it today. His long-sleeve shirt hung on his broad shoulders just right, and he’d put on a pair of jeans so new, Lana could see the faint outline of where he’d peeled the sizing sticker off the leg.

  Too bad she was about to ruin him with a Santa suit.

  Rick was staring at her from across the room, jaw slightly slack.
>
  “Oh dear,” Lana sighed. “I was hoping no one but Hannah would see me with my elf hair.”

  Her teasing seemed lost on him, then Lana realized that her hair wasn’t why he wasn’t speaking.

  “I had to improvise,” she told him. “The costumes came a bit snug.”

  “Thank goodness for that,” he replied.

  Sharing a look of mutual amusement with Hannah, Lana crossed the distance between them. She slipped her arm through Rick’s companionably.

  “Now, don’t be nervous. This is your workshop. What you say goes. You are Santa, after all.”

  He didn’t look convinced. “Are you sure you don’t need a cookie decorator? Or a present passer outer?”

  “Nope. Santa it is. Come with me. I left your outfit in my room.”

  Lana had chosen a pair of festive green pumps to complete her outfit, and the height of her heels had her at eye level with him. Rick kept glancing at her then quickly glancing away, as if guilty for having looked in the first place. It was more than a little adorable, especially considering he’d had his hands all over her that morning.

  Rick followed her to her suite, then stepped inside, the door partially closing behind him but not latching shut.

  “Don’t worry. You won’t accidentally see anything embarrassing. No frilly underthings to send you running screaming.”

  Shoulders loosening at her joke, Rick leaned back against the door, arms folded over his chest. “I was enjoying the frilly underthings last night,” he said, voice husky with remembrance.

  The door snapped shut on him, making him fall back that critical inch between cool and adorably awkward.

  For the second time since he’d arrived, Lana had to bite her lip to cover her mirth. She waved him into the suite’s bedroom, taking down a garment bag from where it hung waiting on the closet door. “As much as I’d love a repeat, the guests are due to arrive in ten minutes.”