Mistletoe Match (No Match for Love)

by Lindzee Armstrong

  “You really love him, don’t you?”

  The mug clattered against the counter top and Michelle quickly righted it. “What? No. I mean, we barely know each other. There’s definitely an attraction there, and I think it’s mutual. But it’s too soon to call it love.”

  Hudson raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

  “It’s not like that.”

  “Chelle, we’ve known each other since we were babies. I probably know you better than you know yourself.”

  Michelle snorted. “That’s a little generous.”

  “I’ve watched you pine over countless crushes through the years. This is different.”

  “I don’t know—”

  “You’re totally gone on this guy,” Hudson interrupted. “Want to know how I’m so sure?”

  “Okay,” Michelle said, her voice a squeak.

  “Because you didn’t call me when you adopted Lola.”

  Michelle let those words sink in. Hudson had been her go-to person for years. But she hadn’t even thought to text him in nearly a week. Had she shifted to relying on Austin?

  “You’ve always come to me with everything, Chelle. This time, you’re going to someone else. That means something.”

  “Okay,” Michelle said, her voice breaking. “So maybe I’m falling for him. But what do I do now? Everything is such a mess, and this relationship would be so complicated.”

  “Complicated has never stopped you before. Fight for him, Chelle. If he’s man enough to win your heart—and I think he is—then he’s worth the effort.”

  Austin clenched the steering wheel, fighting the urge to take a left, drive to Michelle’s home, and wrap her in his arms. Speaking with her had knocked down his defenses, leaving him vulnerable and longing for things to return to how they’d been only twenty-four hours ago. He’d liked where they stood then, liked how their relationship was progressing. But he’d already been through a relationship with a complete lack of trust, and he wasn’t willing to put himself—or his children—through that again. He needed time to think, to regroup and decide where his life should go from here.

  What was he going to tell the kids?

  Austin pulled into the garage and took a deep breath, glancing at the clock. He’d been gone almost four hours, twice as long as he liked leaving Mariah in charge.

  The garage door opened, and Mariah peered out. “Dad?”

  Austin got out of the car. “Hi, honey.”

  She folded her arms, her forehead scrunching together. “You’ve been gone a long time. I was worried.”

  “I’m really sorry about that. Something came up at work, and I couldn’t get away.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  He gave her a smile he hoped was reassuring. “It will be. Go get your brother and sister. We need to talk.”

  Twenty minutes later, Austin had given them the child-appropriate version of events. He studied each of their expressions, wanting so badly to wipe away the concern he saw there.

  “So you don’t have a job anymore,” Mariah said.

  “Not at the moment,” Austin confirmed. “But I’ve got a lot of contacts in the business. I’m sure I’ll find something new soon.”

  “Does this mean we’ll have to move again?” Spencer asked.

  Austin placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

  “I’m glad you helped those animals.” Sydney jumped up from the couch and wrapped her arms tightly around Austin’s neck. “I bet Miss Collins is, too. I love you, Daddy.”

  Austin pressed a hand into his stinging eyes. How would the kids react if he and Michelle ended up parting ways? How would they react if he decided to press forward?

  They talked for another ten minutes and Austin answered their questions as honestly as he could while still keeping a positive spin on the situation. Sydney suggested they watched Christmas movies, and Austin spent the rest of the afternoon and evening cuddled on the couch with his children, fighting memories of Michelle.

  After the children were asleep, Austin booted up his computer and started emailing contacts. Despite the late hour, a recruiter immediately emailed him back with some promising leads and a request for a phone interview the following week. Austin leaned back in his chair, staring at the email. Things were always slow around the holidays, but he was confident he’d find a new job—the right job—soon. The recruiter had mentioned a nearby hospital searching for a new marketing director. The job sounded practically perfect on paper. But then, so had Wellsprings Pharmaceutical. This time, Austin would ask the hard questions and follow his gut. If nothing else, Michelle had taught him that.

  He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket to check the time and realized the battery had died. Austin grabbed a charger from his desk drawer and plugged it in, waiting for it to boot back up. Three missed texts and a voice mail, all from Victoria. Ah yes, the infamous friend from Yorba Linda. No doubt she’d seen the news coverage and called Victoria to tattle.

  Austin stared at his phone, wondering if he really wanted to deal with Victoria tonight. He’d already had to deal with Michelle—wasn’t that enough? Why did he always fall for women who were all wrong for him?

  He sighed, dialing Victoria’s number. Might as well get it over with.

  “Did you seriously get fired?” she demanded.

  Right to her problem with him, just like always. “I think you gave up the right to ask that question when you left me for another man,” Austin said evenly.

  Victoria let out a curse. “As long as our children live with you, I have a right to know. Do you have any idea how inconsiderate that was, Austin? Did you even think of how this would affect me? You know that I can’t take the kids right now. I’m leaving for Brazil in less than a month.”

  “The kids aren’t going anywhere,” Austin said, anger making him sweat. He unfastened the top button of his shirt. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

  “Right, you’ll take care of it,” Victoria said. “What am I supposed to do in six months when you’ve lost the house and are facing eviction? Roberto and I will be in a tiny apartment in Brazil. There’s no room for the kids there, and getting visas for everyone will be a nightmare. I can’t believe you’d do this to me, Austin.”

  Me, me, me. That’s all Victoria had ever been concerned about. But Michelle hadn’t been upset because he hurt her—she’d been mad because she believed he was misrepresenting the animals.

  “I should’ve known something like this would happen,” Victoria continued. “I mean, my father had to give you a job when we were married. He’s the only reason you were successful, and without him, you’re falling on your face.”

  “He would’ve hired me regardless of who I was married to,” Austin said through clenched teeth. “I propelled his company to the next level.”

  “Right,” she said, venom dripping from her voice.

  Austin let her rant, the hateful words washing over him. This was nothing like what had happened with Michelle. He couldn’t imagine her ever speaking to him this way. He thought back to their fight last night. She’d asked hard questions, and she’d asked him to leave. But she hadn’t belittled him.

  They’d only known each other three weeks. If the tables had been turned, and he’d overheard misinformation about Michelle, would he have trusted her enough to not interpret things badly? Probably not.

  Austin closed his eyes as Victoria yelled, letting every encounter with Michelle flit through his mind. She was nothing like Victoria. Comparing the two women was like saying spam and a pork roast were the same dish.

  Michelle cared deeply about others. She was deeply committed to everything in her life. She had a passion that he was constantly in awe of—a passion for teaching, a passion for children, a passion for animals. A passion for life. And he was falling in love with her.

  He had to get her back.

  “Victoria, I�
�ve got to go,” Austin said.

  “What? You’ve got to be—”

  Austin hung up, not waiting for her to finish that sentence. He pulled up Michelle’s number and quickly sent her a text. Can I see you tomorrow? My place at seven.

  The response was almost immediate, breathing hope into his battered soul. Okay.

  Austin set down his phone, a new kind of apprehension filling him. Would she give him a second chance? He would beg her on his knees if that’s what it took. She was worth whatever effort it took to make things right.

  Less than twenty-four hours until their meeting. He had to figure out how to win back Michelle.

  The last twenty-four hours had been positively miserable. After Hudson left, Michelle had curled up on the couch, Lola sleeping in her lap, and thought about Austin—what she wanted from their relationship. What he meant to her. Did she love him? She’d never been in love before. But this ache in her heart certainly felt stronger than a crush.

  Michelle spent three hours getting ready for their meeting, obsessively changing outfits and fiddling with her hair and makeup. Texts were so cryptic. She had no idea what to expect from this meeting. Could you break up with someone you’d never really dated? By the time she arrived at Austin’s, she’d decided that whatever the outcome tonight, she wasn’t going down without a fight. She’d finally found her person, that other half that made her finally feel whole. She wouldn’t—couldn’t—walk away from that without at least trying to make it work.

  It took all of her courage to walk up to Austin’s door. Someone had strung twinkling white Christmas lights around the porch, and three painted snowmen made out of two-by-fours stood next to the door. Michelle did a double take. With their red scarves, they looked remarkably similar to the snowmen at the entrance to her subdivision. She took a deep breath, then knocked, jostling the evergreen wreath so that the bells in it jingled. Nerves ping-ponged in her stomach and she shoved her hands in her coat pocket to stop them from shaking.

  He couldn’t be breaking up with her. The chemistry between them was too tangible, their connection too strong. There were a lot of reasons why a relationship between them might be challenging. But there were just as many reasons why it would be the best thing to happen in their lives.

  The door swung open, and Michelle curled her hands into fists inside her pockets. Dim light from the hallway silhouetted Austin, making his hair glow like gold, and her stomach did a flip. He wore dark jeans and a red sweater, and she realized it was the first time she’d seen him in anything but a suit and tie. Casual looked more than good on him.

  “Hi,” Austin said, his voice flowing over her like warm honey. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Or course,” Michelle said.

  Austin took a step back, and she slipped inside. Down the hallway she could just make out the twinkle of Christmas lights in the living room.

  “You look beautiful tonight,” Austin said from behind.

  Michelle shivered, his warm breath cascading over her neck. If she turned around, she could fall into his arms without any effort.

  “Thanks,” she said. Apparently the black-and-white dress with the red cardigan had been the right choice. “You look nice, too.”

  Austin took a few steps down the hallway. “I thought we could sit in the living room and talk.”

  “Okay.” Michelle followed him down the eerily quiet hallway. “Where are the kids?”

  “Lucy took them to a movie. They’ll be back in about two hours.”

  The front entryway opened into the living room, and Michelle gasped. The entire space had been transformed. Garland lined the fireplace mantel, where an elegant porcelain nativity was nestled in a bed of angel’s hair. A twelve-foot high Christmas tree cast multicolored lights across the bay window, filling the space and making the room feel warm and cozy.

  “You decorated,” Michelle said.

  “The kids helped me this morning. I couldn’t let them wake up Christmas morning with no tree for the presents to go under.”

  Michelle walked over the tree, her heart melting at the obviously homemade ornaments. She touched a salt clay handprint that had been decorated to look like Santa. “A school project?” she guessed. Her class had done something similar a few years ago as a present for the parents.

  “Spencer’s.” Austin stood a few paces back, hands in his pockets as he watched her intently. “Third grade.”

  “A lot of people prefer trees with expensive department store decorations, but I’ve always loved trees that tell something about the family they belong to.”

  “That’s what I thought the first time I saw your tree.” A rueful grin flitted across Austin’s lips. “Doggie treats. I was instantly enchanted.”

  Michelle looked away, her mouth suddenly dry. Was enchanted, as in the past tense?

  “Let’s sit.”

  Michelle nodded, taking a seat on the edge of the sectional. Austin sat as well, leaving a few feet of space between them but angling his body toward hers.

  It was now or never. Michelle took a deep breath, then plunged. “Austin, I am so incredibly sorry for jumping to conclusions. I was completely out of line, and you were right to call me out for it.”

  “No, I was out of line.” Austin reached forward, grasping both of her hands in his.

  Michelle’s heart thudded in her chest as her knees trembled. Did he mean … ?

  “My relationship with Victoria was never good. When you questioned me, it brought up a lot of negative memories from arguments I had with her. I was terrified I had made an error in judgment once again.”

  “It was a knee-jerk reaction,” Michelle said quickly. “With Bella’s death, the timing was a perfect storm that I should’ve known better than to get sucked into.”

  “I know that now. And honestly, if the tables were turned, I don’t know that I would’ve reacted any differently. You aren’t Victoria, and it isn’t fair—to you or to myself—to compare the two relationships.”

  “I kept expecting you to bail, just like every other guy. We both made mistakes.”

  His grip on her hands tightened, and the tingles in her stomach grew. “I don’t want to make mistakes with you, Michelle. You make me want to be a better man.”

  The tears did overflow then, and she quickly pulled one hand free to wipe them away.

  “What’s wrong?” Austin asked, concern clouding his face.

  “I’m just so … so grateful for you. You risked your career to alert the FDA and save those animals.”

  “Yeah, about that. Do you know anyone hiring?”

  Michelle gasped. “You quit?”

  “More like got fired. Apparently companies don’t like it when you turn their secrets over to governmental agencies.”

  Michelle reached out, resting her hand on his cheek. Austin leaned into it, and she stared into his face in wonder. “Do you have any idea how incredible you are?”

  “Me? You’re the one that’s incredible. I’m all in, Michelle. I know a relationship with me comes with a lot of baggage. I’m unemployed. I have trust issues, an ex-wife that loves to interfere, and three incredible children that will have to come first. But despite having the deck stacked against us, I know we can make it work. I want to make it work.” He placed his hand over hers, which still rested on his cheek. “Can we just agree to start over?”

  “Oh, please yes.”

  Austin chuckled, pulling her in for a tight hug. She clung to him, inhaling his Christmasy scent.

  “Do you have any idea how crazy I am about you?” he whispered. “When I picked Sydney up from school that first day and you were so direct and unapologetic, I knew I was in trouble. And then you breezed in here with your caramel popcorn and Christmas movies, making my children laugh, and I was a goner.”

  Was it possible for a heart to explode from happiness? “For me it was when you rushed Bella to the vet, no questions asked. I knew then you weren’t the bad guy I kept trying to cast you as.”

  He rested h
is forehead against hers, his minty breath wafting over her. “I’m falling for you, Michelle Collins. And I don’t want to stop.”

  Michelle closed her eyes, happiness flooding through her. “The feeling is mutual.”

  Austin let his eyes flick up, and Michelle followed his gaze. A sprig of mistletoe hung just above the couch, the red of the berries contrasting with the green of the leaves. Michelle’s mind flashed back to the night they met, and giddy anticipation filled her.

  “Oh look,” Austin said, his voice low and gravely with emotion. “Mistletoe.”

  Michelle laughed, resting a hand on his chest. “I wonder how that got there?”

  “My money’s on the elves,” Austin whispered. His eyes searched hers, asking a question she was more than willing to answer.

  Michelle moved her hands to the back of his neck. That seemed to be all the encouragement he needed. He leaned down, his lips pressing against hers. Michelle urged him closer, her lips parting in a silent invitation he was more than willing to accept. Her head swirled, but this time it wasn’t from champagne. The reality of a future with Austin was more intoxicating than any alcohol. His kiss was every bit as delicious as she remembered.

  “I think I love you,” he whispered, his lips brushing against hers.

  “Is this what love feels like?” Michelle asked. “If so, I’m a big fan.”

  He laughed, lowering his head to hers once again. They had at least an hour until the children would return, and she intended to enjoy every second of it. Austin was her own Christmas miracle, and she would never take him for granted again.

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