Kiss Me in Christmas

by Debbie Mason

  “The only reason you thought Grayson and Lord Darby were it for you is because they were British and had titles and money. At least we thought Grayson did. No, don’t argue with Uncle Ty.” He waved the wine bottle between them. “Remember, I stayed in your room last December. I saw the vision board you made when you were twelve. You wanted to be a queen. But you’re all grown up now. You’re an accomplished, wealthy actress.”

  “Without a job,” she hiccuped. “I think I prefer my fairytale world.”

  “Forget your professional life for now. It’s more important that you get your personal life straightened out. And that means making it up to your sister and coming up with a plan to win back Easton.”

  She shuddered at the word. She’d sworn off plans for good. “My track record with plans is as bad as it is with men.” She traced the rim of the mug. “Why are you so sure Easton’s my one?”

  “Because you didn’t care that he was broke, injured, and living in a shack. And for you, that’s huge. Trust me, Diva, you’re in love with the man. It’s the real deal.”

  The more she thought about what Ty said, the more she realized he was right. Her feelings for Easton were real. He’d been her first love, and she wanted him to be her last. But she was afraid to admit that to Ty. It was hard enough to admit it to herself. “Maybe. But you heard him, Ty. He doesn’t want me. He told me to go back to LA.”

  Ty set the bottle on the workstation and stood up. He came around her chair. “Put yourself in my hands and I’ll take care of everything. Consider me your fairy godfather, Diva.” He lifted her hair with one hand, reaching around her for his scissors. “Now, I think we need to do something dramatic. Since Easton likes your sister’s natural look, we’ll just…” He snipped.

  “No,” Chloe shrieked, leaning forward with her hands over her head. “You are not cutting my hair.”

  He held up a hunk. “I think I just did.”

  She grabbed it from him. “You’re fired!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next morning, Chloe and Ty snuck out of the apartment above the Sugar Plum Bakery. “We have two hours to put our win-over-Easton plan into action,” Ty said, holding open the apartment’s outer door for Chloe. “I have a blow-dry scheduled at noon, and we have to be at Naughty and Nice at two for the fittings for the fashion show.”

  Chloe touched her head. After Ty had nearly chopped off her hair, she was worried what he had planned for an encore. And he had one. He just didn’t want to share it around Estelle. Since Chloe didn’t know how to tell her manager the new plan included getting Cat and Grayson back together, it was probably for the best. So far, neither of them had responded to Chloe’s voice mails. Which is what she should be concentrating on instead of participating in a Ty plan. “What about walk-ins? I don’t want you to lose business because of me.”

  They stepped into the bright morning sunshine. “I’m not taking walk-ins until after the official opening. I’ve only been accepting appointments from people I know. Well, people your family knows. I wanted to work out the bugs and train the staff before I open to the public.” He took her hand and smiled. “What do you think of your new look?”

  “I feel naked.”

  He rolled his eyes. “All I did was tone down your makeup and dress you in more casual attire. You still have on your hooker heels.” He gave her an up-and-down look. “You need to buy a pair of jeans.”

  “They’re not hooker heels,” she protested, lifting the hem of her wide-legged cream pants. She had on a gorgeous pair of petal-pink Michael Kors sling-backs that matched the camisole she wore beneath her cream blazer. “I’m not buying jeans. They’re uncomfortable and ugly. I don’t do ugly, Ty. And I want my false eyelashes back.”

  “You’re not getting them back. You’re not in Hollywood. Besides, they weigh down your upper eyelids and make you look older. And Easton likes a more casual look.”

  “Really? No wonder my driver called me ma’am. You could have told me, you know.”

  “I just did. And speaking of a more casual look”—he lifted her hair—“I need to fix this. Maybe take off a couple inches?”

  Luckily, he’d chopped off a hunk from underneath where no one would notice. “No, I don’t mind toning down my makeup and wearing pants occasionally, but I’m not cutting my hair. If Easton doesn’t want me for me…then I don’t want him either.”

  “Yes, you do. And he wants you, too. We just have to show him you’re his perfect match.”

  “How are we going to do that?” she asked nervously, when she realized they were headed in the direction of the Mountain Co-Op. “I’m not learning to shoot a gun. They scare me.”

  He shuddered. “Me too. But that wasn’t what I had in mind. Easton’s physically fit, so we’ll show him that you are, too.”

  As Chloe had seen with her own eyes, Easton was in incredible shape. And while she was careful what she ate…“But I’m not. I have a heart condition, and I can’t do strenuous…” He glanced at her, and she sighed. “All right, so I thought I had a heart condition. Why don’t we just go for a walk along the boardwalk?”

  “That’s for old ladies. We’ll go for a jog.” He held open the door to the co-op. “I’m sure Mr. Hardy can suit us up,” he said, referring to the owner.

  She made a face. “We’ll get all sweaty.”

  “I didn’t think of that. Okay, jogging is out. Morning, Mr. Hardy.” Ty waved to the gray-haired man behind the counter, then looked around the warehouse. Every type of sporting equipment imaginable was laid out on the concrete floor. Brightly colored activewear hung on the walls, and footwear for the corresponding activity lined the shelves beneath them. Ty pointed to an orange kayak. “How about…” He trailed off when she arched an eyebrow. “…Right, you can’t swim.”

  Mr. Hardy sauntered over. “Can I help you two?”

  Ty gave him an idea of what they were looking for.

  “I see, so you want to appear to be active, but neither of you are. Nothing too strenuous or that will ruin your hair or make you sweat. Does that about cover it?”

  “Yes, you’re very good at this,” Ty complimented the older man.

  “You could go for a walk along the boardwalk. I have some tennis shoes over here.”

  Chloe crossed her arms and gave Ty an I-told-you-so look. He ignored her, and said, “No, that won’t work.” His brow furrowed as he glanced around, then he pointed to a row of shiny new bikes. “Why didn’t I think of that? We’ll go bike riding.”

  Seeing as how Easton was an avid cyclist, it was an inspired idea. There was only one problem. “I don’t know how to ride a bike.” Her parents had been so overprotective she’d never been allowed to learn.

  Ty and Mr. Hardy shared a look, then the older man said, “It’s probably for the best. You’d have to wear a helmet.”

  Thirty minutes later, Mr. Hardy helped them maneuver the bicycle-built-for-two out the doors. They’d settled on a pretty pink-and-white bike. It matched their new cycling outfits perfectly, and Chloe’s sling-backs.

  Mr. Hardy cast them a worried look. “I really think you should reconsider buying the helmets.”

  Chloe and Ty shuddered at almost the same time. They’d tried the helmets on. They looked hideous, not to mention what they’d do to their hair. “We’ll be fine, Mr. Hardy. We’re just riding up and down the boardwalk. Chloe, you get on the back.”

  Mr. Hardy rubbed the side of his nose. “The rear rider has to be clipped in, and unless Chloe will agree to exchange her high heels for a pair—”

  “Oh my goodness, no. Did you see my legs in these stretchy shorts? They’ll look like stumps if I wear tennies. You take the back, Ty.”

  It took another fifteen minutes for Mr. Hardy to get them organized on the tandem bike. Once they were set, they turned to wave at him before heading off on the sidewalk. “Thanks for all your help, Mr. Hardy!”

  The older man’s eyes went wide, and he yelled, “Mrs. Tate, move out of the way!”

  Ch
loe whipped her head around, accidently jerking the handlebars to the right. Ty overcorrected by jerking to the left, and they hit a parked car. Evelyn Tate backed against a store window, clutching her shopping bag to her chest. “Sorry, for the fright, Evelyn. Your next blow-dry is on the house,” Ty yelled. “Pedal, Diva, pedal. I think that big guy owns the car we just hit.”

  Ten stores down, they both let out relieved breaths. “Okay, we’ll just take a short cruise down Main Street. Make sure you wave and say hello to everyone by name. Easton will expect his girlfriend to be friendly.”

  This was true. “But I don’t know everyone’s names.”

  Ty sighed. “Just follow my lead.”

  Easy enough, Chloe thought. Only riding the bike while waving hello didn’t go according to plan. “Stop yelling at me, Ty! I’ve never ridden a bike before.”

  “Oh, there’s Vivi and Chance going into the Chronicle.” Ty poked her in the back. “Work it, and look good doing it. Stop pedaling so we just kind of glide by. I’ll peek in the window to see if Easton is…Diva!”

  * * *

  Easton walked into the Chronicle. Vivi was sitting at her desk with tears streaming down her face. “Oh my God, I’ve never seen anything so hilarious in my life,” she was saying to his chuckling brother.

  Well, that was a relief. At first glance, Easton thought she was crying. “You guys going to let me in on the joke?”

  “You might want to take a walk on the boardwalk and check it out for yourself, little brother. Chloe and Ty were headed that way.” Chance grinned at Vivi, who started laughing again.

  The smile fell from Easton’s face. He was still angry about yesterday. He couldn’t believe Chloe had pulled a fake-faint. One more sign that she was a spoiled drama queen, and he’d fallen hook, line, and sinker for her act. “What did she do now?”

  “Other than taking out half the shoppers and cars along Main Street, nothing much.”

  “But…but”—Vivi gasped for breath—“you have to admit they looked stylish doing it. Their outfits…” She was laughing too hard to finish.

  His brother must have picked up on Easton’s growing frustration and explained. “They’re riding a pink-and-white tandem bike. And from what I could tell, neither of them knows what they’re doing.” Chance started laughing. “They were yelling at each other between waving hello to everyone.” His brother got himself under control and wiped his eyes. “And you know how Chloe said she only ever wears high heels? It’s true.”

  “Jesus. Tell me she at least had a helmet on.”

  “Well, we suggested that, didn’t we, honey?”

  “We sure did,” Vivi said. “Once we got Ty back on the bike after they’d crashed into the building, we recommended they both should have on helmets.”

  “And?”

  Chance’s shoulders shook. “They didn’t want to mess up their hair.”

  Easton clenched his jaw and dropped his messenger bag on the chair in front of Vivi’s desk. “I’ll be back.”

  He couldn’t help but think Chloe riding a bike had something to do with him. He might be angry at her, but that didn’t mean he wanted her hurt. And Chloe on a tandem bike with Ty had the makings of a disaster. As he headed down the path into the park, he searched for some sign of them on the boardwalk. It was a warm spring day with not a cloud in the sky, drawing more people than usual for a weekday morning stroll. At least, from what he could tell, they hadn’t run anyone over. Yet.

  That’s when he saw them. He scrubbed his hand over his face, fighting back a smile. They looked like they were having fun. The two of them were laughing as they pedaled along the water’s edge. At the pace they were going, he was surprised they remained upright.

  Ty spotted him and poked Chloe. She turned her head and gave him a movie-star smile. The light breeze blew her hair back from her face, and she lifted her hand to wave. She looked beautiful and…Oh, shit. “Chloe, watch out!”

  He didn’t make it in time to save them from toppling over. At least the railing along the boardwalk saved them from a tumble into the fast-moving creek. And the mother pushing her baby in the carriage had quick reflexes. Easton made sure she was okay before moving to Chloe’s side.

  He righted the bike and helped her to her feet. “Did you hurt yourself?” he asked, as he did a brief head-to-toe scan. And he had to make it brief, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to stop staring. Her pink cycling outfit hugged every curve of her petite body, and where her pink high heels should have looked ridiculous, they made her legs look incredible in the form-fitting shorts.

  “Just my…” Her cheeks flushed, and she rubbed her chest.

  Okay…so not much he could say to that. “Ty, how about you?”

  From where he sat on the ground, Ty rubbed his ass and scowled at Chloe. “This is the second time she crashed into something and sent me flying.”

  “I didn’t mean to. This was all your idea. I told you I’ve never ridden a bike before.”

  Ty threw up his arms. “I suggested jogging in the park, but you didn’t want to get sweaty!”

  “You didn’t want to get sweaty either!”

  Easton fought back a laugh. “Okay, you two. I don’t know what’s brought on the sudden urge to get fit, but maybe you should start off slow. Like walking.”

  Chloe put her hands on her hips and glared at Ty. “That’s what I said.”

  Easton’s lips twitched. She might be a total drama queen, but she was pretty damn cute. He looked over the bike. “Doesn’t appear to be any damage. Why don’t you take it back to Mr. Hardy and see if he’ll give you a refund?”

  Ty and Chloe stared at him. “We can’t do that,” they said at almost the same time.

  “Why not? Was it on sale?”

  “Well, no, but we bought matching outfits, and when we weren’t crashing into things, it was fun,” she said.

  “Chloe’s right. We just need some practice. Maybe you could work with us?” Ty said to Easton.

  He looked down at Chloe. “Have you fixed things between your sister and Grayson yet?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve tried, but they won’t return my calls.”

  “Let me know once you have, and I’ll think about teaching you both to ride.” As the words came out of his mouth, Easton assured himself it had nothing to do with how smoking hot she looked. His father was married to her mother, which made her family. He was obligated to keep her safe. “And just so you both know, no helmets, no lessons.”

  * * *

  “Say it again…Ty, you were right. It was a brilliant plan.”

  After they’d picked up their clothes at the Mountain Co-op, as well as two helmets, Ty went to work and Chloe went back to the apartment to shower. They were now on their way to Naughty and Nice for their fittings.

  “Shush,” Chloe said under her breath. His plan had worked brilliantly, which she’d already told him. And she wasn’t about to repeat her praise now. Estelle was with them. Chloe still hadn’t figured out a way to break the news to her manager, and walking across Main Street wasn’t where she wanted to do it. But as she recognized several of the women entering the high-end ladies clothing store, that became the least of her worries.

  She stopped in her tracks. “Ty, I thought it was just Estelle and me having our fittings today.”

  He looked at her and frowned. “No, everyone is.”

  “W-who’s everyone?” she asked, rubbing her chest.

  Taking both her and Estelle by the arm, he led them across the road while rhyming off the women involved in the fashion show. The long list included her mother, sister, Nell McBride and her friends, and the mean girls from high school. Basically, every single person in Christmas who had an ax to grind against Chloe.

  She pulled her arm from Ty’s hold. “I feel a headache coming on. I think I’ll go—”

  Ty leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Your sister won’t take your calls. This is the perfect opportunity to talk to her. Remember what Easton said.”

 
; “Don’t you worry, my dear. I won’t allow anyone to say a single word against you. We’re in this together.”

  Chloe gave Estelle a weak smile. She didn’t agree with Ty. Apologizing to her sister within earshot of the women from town was far from perfect. He had no idea how catty and cruel some of them could be. But Estelle obviously had her heart set on going, and Chloe couldn’t leave her to deal with Nell and Liz on her own. Drawing on her inner diva, Chloe lifted her chin and walked to the shop’s door with her patented elegant grace.

  Fifteen minutes later, her inner diva had curled into a protective ball.

  From where Ty stood outside the fitting rooms, he cast her a concerned glance. The women had congregated in small groups, completely ignoring Estelle and Chloe. Every time Chloe made an attempt to speak to one of them, they’d pretend they didn’t hear her or walk away. Her mother and sister hadn’t arrived yet.

  Brandi said something to her friends. They looked at Chloe and laughed before turning back to their conversation.

  Chloe’s stomach cramped. She didn’t know how much more she could take. They were making her feel as awkward as they had in high school. Stealing the confidence she’d taken years to develop. It was always that way when she came home.

  “Don’t let them upset you, my dear. They’re just jealous,” Estelle said, staring down the women.

  Chloe patted Estelle’s hand. “They’re not—” She broke off at the sound of the door chime and inwardly groaned when her mother, sister, and Nell entered the shop.

  “Hey, Cat,” several women called out, waving her sister over.

  Tongue-tied with nerves, Chloe blurted the first thing that popped into her head when her sister approached. “Don’t you look lovely, Kit Kat. Are those jeans new?”

  Her sister stopped in front of her. “Really? That’s all you have to say after what you did?”

  Around them, conversation stopped. “I tried to call you…” She twisted her sweaty hands. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sent the picture to Grayson. I wasn’t thinking—”