Mistletoe Magic

by Fern Michaels

  “He’s right, Candy,” Hannah said. “Try to get friendly with him, see what he says. Now, I’m going to set up in the back office. Patrick, you want to show me around?”

  Hannah hated walking out of the room without telling Liam ’bye, or see you later, but the doors opened, and a crowd of skiers piled in.

  And they were all wearing red ski suits.

  Chapter 12

  Hannah managed to get through twelve of the applications in between strutting her stuff and acting like an airhead. Candy Lee sold six of the ski suits at fifteen hundred bucks a pop. No wonder Max’s sales receipts were off the charts. Maybe she should invest in a ski resort herself. It was almost four o’clock by the time Candy Lee told her the doors were locked. “That guy didn’t call today. I wish he would. I want to help catch him. I wish I’d paid more attention.”

  “That’s okay; you didn’t know. I sent my associate a printout of the phone bills for the past three months. She’ll find something. She’s good.” Max had e-mailed her copies of all the bills and she’d sent them to Camden, explaining about the modeling job that kept her out on the floor. Camden said she wanted overtime pay. Hannah agreed, and remembered to ask her to call as soon as she returned from her Hanukkah date with Art.

  Hannah had hoped Liam would stop by, but he hadn’t. They were here to work, and she had to remember that. If time permitted, maybe she’d invite him for a drink tonight. In her condo. She’d invite him for a working dinner. She would cook. She loved to cook. While she made dinner, he could go through the files.

  No! No! No!

  She had to forget about spending time with Liam, at least until they finished this job. She was ashamed at her own thoughts.

  “That dude is out back in the yellow Hummer waiting for you,” Candy Lee said. “He’s been there for about thirty minutes.”

  “Let me get my laptop,” she said, hurrying to the back office and grabbing her purse and computer.

  She was about to leave through the back door when Candy Lee stopped her. “Wait! You need tomorrow’s ski suit. I’ve spent quite some time looking you over today. I think we need to put you in something tighter, not so warm. So, this is what I want you to wear tomorrow.” She handed her two large shopping bags. “Don’t worry, I’ve got all the right sizes. You’ll like this outfit, too. It’s partially red. Now, go on so I can lock up.”

  Hannah gave the girl a hug. She really liked Candy Lee in spite of the tough exterior she showed the world. “I’ll see you tomorrow at nine o’clock sharp,” Hannah said before hurrying out the door.

  Liam waited in the Hummer. Hannah knocked on the window before opening the passenger-side door. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Candy Lee said you’d been out here for a while. You should’ve come inside. The kid makes a mean hot chocolate.” She put the bags on the backseat, then fastened her seat belt. She looked at Liam. He wasn’t wearing his seat belt.

  “Buckle up,” she said as he backed out of the parking place.

  “Yes, ma’am. Bad habit, I know.”

  “So, did you work on the system? Any chance you found the thief who’s stealing Max’s money?”

  “I have a couple of hits, but nothing is one hundred percent yet. All the hits were at one of the five or six local Internet cafés. That doesn’t make it easy, but it’s not so difficult that I won’t catch them. They were all in the late afternoon, so whoever is doing this is probably a local. Goes to one of the cafés when he knows most of the locals are either working or on the slopes. There is no obvious pattern as to which of the cafés they go to on a given day. With only fifteen transfers so far, it could take months before an outsider could find the pattern. And it could be a function of the traffic at the cafés.

  “It’s not much, but it’s something. I called Max. Told him what I’d found. I also told him about the calls Candy Lee’s been getting. His antennae went up immediately. Did you get anything back on the phone records?”

  “I haven’t checked my e-mail yet. If there was something significant, Camden would’ve called. So I guess that means no.” And her heart leapt with joy. She’d get to work another day at The Snow Zone, prancing and probing. Never in a million years had she ever had even the slightest thought that she would enjoy spending time at a ski resort, much less modeling for an appreciative audience. Never say never, her dad had always said. And damned if he wasn’t right.

  “So we spend the rest of the night going over more of the applications,” Hannah said.

  “Actually, Max gave me the night off,” Liam said.

  “Lucky you,” Hannah replied sullenly, like a pouting child.

  “And lucky you, too, if you accept my invitation.”

  “Okay, where and what time?” Hannah said a bit too quickly.

  Liam chuckled. “Anxious for a night out on the town? Even though it’s supposed to drop way below zero tonight?”

  “I’ll wear this jacket. I kid you not, I haven’t been cold at all today. Whatever this stuff is made of really does work.”

  “I can guarantee that if it didn’t, there wouldn’t be as many skiers out in this crazy weather.”

  “I believe you.”

  “A friend of Max’s wife is directing a Christmas play tonight at the local high school. He asked us to join him. Said to tell you Grace and Ella would be there, and Stephanie and her girls, plus a few others he wanted you and me to meet. Are you game?”

  She’d never been to a Christmas play in her life. Of course she was game. She’d spend the night out in the cold if Liam McConnell were beside her.

  “Sure, it’ll be a fun way to kill some time. When should I be ready?”

  “The play starts at seven, so say, six thirty?”

  “Six thirty it is,” Hannah said.

  Thirty minutes later, she was soaking in the tub and singing at the top of her lungs.

  “ ‘Jolly old Saint Nicholas, lean your ear this way . . .’ ”

  Chapter 13

  The school gymnasium was packed as it was opening night for A Christmas Carol. The play was being directed by Angelica Shepard, a former Broadway star who’d recently married Dr. Parker North, a trauma doctor from Denver. This information was included in the program they received as they made their way to the front row, where Max had reserved two seats for them. They’d made a few wrong turns trying to find Telluride High, which had cost them precious time. They’d planned to meet Max’s other guests before the start of the show, and they still would, but not until afterward.

  Hannah wore a pair of slim-fitting black wool slacks with her black boots. She wore the purple, red, and black ski top Candy Lee had given her for tomorrow and its matching jacket, hat, scarf, and gloves. Her legs were a bit cold, but her upper body was warm and toasty, just as Candy Lee had explained.

  They settled into their seats. The crowded gymnasium was completely silent except for the sound of a baby with the hiccups. A few soft laughs could be heard, then all went silent as the deep maroon curtains were opened.

  Hannah watched in fascination as the young actors and actresses performed the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. The stage was set to resemble an old house in need of repair. The young student in the starring role performed as though Charles Dickens’s tale of Scrooge had been written for him exclusively. When Scrooge was later visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, the audience oohed and ahhed. A couple of small children cried and were taken out of the gymnasium.

  Hannah couldn’t take her eyes away from the stage. She was so caught up in the action, she didn’t realize that Liam had taken her hand in his until he gave her a squeeze when the Ghost of Christmas Present took Scrooge to visit the impoverished Bob Cratchit, where he was introduced to a very ill Tiny Tim, who might die because Scrooge was too cheap to pay Bob Cratchit a decent wage. In Act Two, when the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come frightens Scrooge with visions of his own death, and former associates will only attend his funeral if lunch is served, Hannah gave Liam a return squeeze. In the f
inal scene, when Scrooge was transformed on Christmas morning, with love and joy filling his heart, Hannah’s eyes filled with tears. This was her during Christmas, minus all the mean stuff.

  The audience gave the kids a standing ovation, and the clapping lasted so long that Hannah’s hands were beginning to sting. She’d never been so touched by something so simple. Though she knew the story, she’d never really connected its true meaning to herself, but this was so her. She’d even referred to herself as Ms. Scrooge. No more. She wiped the free-flowing tears from her face and sat down when the director, Angelica, came out onto the stage. She thanked her students, the parents, the volunteers, and the art department at the local community college. And once again, there was a standing ovation.

  When all the excitement had simmered down a bit, Max said he wanted to introduce Hannah and Liam to the guests they were supposed to have met before the play.

  “They’re serving cookies and punch in the cafeteria. Let’s meet up there; we’ll be able to hear better.”

  Liam and Hannah followed Max through the crowded gymnasium down a long hall that was decorated with Christmas trees cut from green construction paper. Bells and angels and snowflakes had been placed neatly on bulletin boards. Hannah couldn’t get enough of the cheery scene. How had she missed this as a child? It wasn’t as though she’d had a bad childhood. Her father had been wonderful, but sadly, he hadn’t bothered to share the joy one should share with a child and their loved ones during this festive time of year. Like the fictitious character created by Charles Dickens, Hannah had experienced a life-changing moment, only hers wasn’t nearly as dramatic as the story of Scrooge. But it was far more of an eyeopener. She would not let another minute pass without being forever thankful to Angelica Shepard and the students at Telluride High. As a matter of fact, she had all those millions at home just sitting in the bank. She would find something charitable that she could be a part of, maybe something to help children from abusive homes. Yes! That was it. She would talk to Grace later and see what she thought of the idea.

  Cheered by her newly discovered love for Christmas and the joy it brought to so many, Hannah couldn’t wait to call Camden and tell her about her experience.

  In the cafeteria, Max had gathered a large group of people, and one by one, he introduced Hannah and Liam.

  “This is Stephanie, Patrick’s wife. And this”—Max fluffed the blond curls on the head of a little baby boy—“is Shannon Patrick Edward O’Brien, future Olympian.”

  “You don’t know that,” said a young girl with dark brown hair and large brown eyes. She appeared to be around ten or so.

  “Amanda, mind your manners,” Stephanie said. “This is my daughter, Amanda. And this”—Stephanie motioned for another girl, who had been talking with a group of kids her age and was the spitting image of Amanda to come over—“is Ashley, who is thirteen.”

  Both girls shook hands with Hannah and Liam.

  Next they were introduced to Ella, Max and Grace’s daughter. “I’m three,” she said, and held up three pudgy fingers.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Ella. I am three, too, but twice,” Hannah explained to the little girl with dark hair and green eyes just like her mother’s.

  The little girl didn’t have a clue what Hannah was referring to, but since everyone else laughed, she laughed right along with them.

  “This is Bryce, Grace’s brother, and his beautiful wife, Melanie.”

  More handshaking and nice-to-meet-yous. Hannah knew she wouldn’t remember everyone’s name, but at least when Max spoke of them, she would be able to recall their faces. Faces she always remembered; names . . . well, not so much. That was Camden’s job.

  Patrick kept looking around, then spied a couple, raced across the room, and practically dragged them across the cafeteria. “This is my sister Claire and her fiancé, Quinn Connor. They’re attorneys, too. Quinn is from Ireland.”

  Liam stepped forward to shake his hand. “Nice to meet ya,” he said with an overly exaggerated Irish accent.

  “And ya, too,” Quinn said in a genuine Irish accent. “We’ll have to talk shop another time.”

  “Nice meeting you both,” Hannah said. There were so many people, she was a bit overwhelmed by it all. In a good way.

  “Okay, I think you’ve met most of the clan. We’re all going to Eagles Nest for a late dinner, minus the kiddies, of course, if you want to join us. We’ll take the gondola up, though. No snow coach this time.” Max searched the group, stopping when his eyes found Grace. They were a handsome couple, Hannah thought. Though she didn’t think Max could hold a candle to Liam, but now wasn’t the time or place for those kinds of thoughts.

  “Do you want to go?” Liam asked her.

  “I’m game if you are,” Hannah said excitedly. “I am hungry, come to think of it. I don’t think I’ve eaten since breakfast.”

  “Then I’ll take that as a yes.” To Max, he said, “We’ll meet up in say”—Liam looked at his watch—“half an hour?”

  “Perfect. Grace’s mother, Juanita, is in town tonight, so she’ll handle the kiddies. She’s got some help, I think.” Max looked at Grace.

  “Yes, her beau, as she calls him, is hanging around tonight,” Grace said. “Mom is a widow, but I think that might change soon.”

  “How nice,” Hannah said. “I guess we’ll see you at dinner.”

  Finally, they were able to make their escape. When they were inside the Hummer, Hannah leaned back against the headrest. “I think this has been the best evening of my life. And to think what I’ve missed all these years. I am going to make up for it, I promise.”

  “What have you missed?” Liam asked as he carefully maneuvered through the parking lot.

  “Christmas. I’ve missed Christmas.”

  On the drive to the gondola, Hannah gave him the condensed version of her life and her distaste for the holidays.

  “I’ve never been big on celebrations, but I never had anyone to celebrate with. But now I think that’s changed for me as well.”

  Hannah said nothing. She let the silence of the night envelop her and wrap her in the best gift of all.

  The future and all its possibilities.

  Chapter 14

  The next day, nothing happened at The Snow Zone. No calls, no weirdos wanting to poke her. And when Camden called, there was no news on the phone records. She’d stayed out too late last night and enjoyed every single moment, but today she was truly tuckered out. And to think she’d agreed to ski with Liam after they’d finished up for the day.

  Max met up with them long enough to tell them the slopes were theirs for as long as they wanted and insisted on keeping two of the bunny-hill lifts open just for them.

  “This is employee time, too. Don’t forget, these people live to ski. Tasha and Terrence are skiing, too. Don’t say anything to either of them. I want to watch her first. If I see she’s got a bit of talent, I’ll pop up on the slopes. I need to loosen the old bones anyway. Haven’t had time to ski.”

  Hannah and Candy Lee went to the rental shop, where she was fitted with ski boots, beginner skis, and poles. “Oh. My. Gosh. My feet feel like they weigh a ton,” Hannah said as she slowly walked out of the rental shop.

  “You’ll feel as light as a feather once you start gliding through the snow. We have four inches of fresh powder. It’ll be perfect for you. Have fun.” Candy Lee waved and headed for her car. She had a date tonight, and she had told Hannah that while she could ski any time she wanted, she didn’t always have a date. Hannah told her that she completely understood.

  Liam waited for her at the bottom of the bunny hill. She carried her skis over her shoulder as she’d been instructed. She dropped them on the snow-covered ground next to Liam’s. “I’m a bit nervous. Are you?”

  “A little, but you’re with me. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He looked in her eyes, and Hannah knew what was going to happen next.

  His lips were warm when they touched hers. He tasted like peppermint
and chocolate. She kissed him back, softly, her lips gently touching his. The slight kiss sent butterflies to her stomach, and she was sure they were dancing. Liam raised his mouth from hers and gazed into her eyes. “This is okay?” he asked.

  She didn’t bother to answer with words. She stood on her tiptoes in the uncomfortable ski boots and pressed her mouth against his. Waves of desire burned in the center of her, unlike any she’d ever experienced. Liam took that as a sign and deepened the kiss. He parted her lips with his tongue, and she allowed him free rein over her lips, her tongue, her teeth. He continued to explore her mouth until the sound of a snowmobile blasting past them brought them back to earth.

  They broke away from one another, and each felt a bit shy, different, as though their first kiss had changed the status of their relationship. And it had, for both of them.

  Terrence and Tasha came flying through the snow once again, stopping this time when they saw that the couple was no longer in a lip-lock.

  “I knew you two were a couple; don’t ask me how, but I did,” Terrence said as soon as he removed his helmet. “This is Tasha.”

  “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you. Your brother told me about your dream of becoming an Olympic skier. I think it’s fantastic.”

  “Thanks,” Tasha said shyly. She was petite but muscular. Her honey-colored skin was flushed from the cold, but Hannah knew the girl could have cared less. She saw two sets of skis hooked on the back of the snowmobile. “I’d love to see you ski a bit before I give it a try. Maybe I can learn something from you,” Hannah said, then looked at Liam and winked. He knew what she was up to. He gave her a slight nod.

  Tasha put her skis on first, then her helmet and gloves, along with a pair of goggles. “You’re not supposed to go on the mountain without goggles unless it’s sunny. Right, Terrence?” She looked to her brother for approval.

  “Right, but Miss Ray and Mr. McConnell are guests of Mr. Jorgenson. I think he’ll let them get by without them just this once.”