Decidedly With Mistletoe Read online

  Did I regret the previous night and the time we spent together before I headed to the resort? Not at all. It had been fun—just like we’d had a lot of fun when we were dating and engaged. Back then, we had enjoyed the simple things in life. The things that my family never noticed or felt were beneath them.

  Staring at the building, I released a long, fortifying breath, then grabbed my purse and climbed out of the car. I removed my suitcase from the trunk and headed to the resort entrance.

  The pine trees outside it were lit up with thousands of white Christmas tree lights. I approached the sliding doors and entered the lobby. The place was the opposite of the inn. Larger. Busier. Kids of all ages, along with their parents and grandparents, sat on the floor in the center of the room, watching a magician entertain them.

  I joined the line for the front desk. While I waited my turn, I glanced around the lobby. It had a modern rustic feel to it, with dark-stained wood. Boughs of pines and pinecones decorated the desk and the wall behind it.

  “Can I help the next person?” a woman said from behind the desk.

  I stepped up to her. “Hi, I’m Ava Versteeg. I’m checking in.”

  She typed away on the keyboard. “Yes, we have you in a room with a king-sized bed for five nights.”

  “That’s right.” I handed her my credit card.

  She did her thing and handed it back to me. “Will you need a second key?”

  I shook my head. After the amazing sex with Liam, I wasn’t in the mood to do it with a complete stranger.

  Not even a hot ski instructor.

  Liam had ruined me for everyone when it came to sex. Maybe it wasn’t too late to become a nun.

  You didn’t have to be Catholic to be one, right?

  She handed me the key card and told me my room number. “And I have this message for you that you’re supposed to read now.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s from another guest.”

  Weird. No one I knew was going to be here.

  Or maybe it was Zoe checking up on me. What better way to make sure I was actually kissing single men under the mistletoe than to come here herself?

  Would I be surprised if that was what had happened?

  Not at all—if she believed that much in the power of mistletoe.

  I moved away from the desk and opened the letter.

  For your early Christmas present, go over to the Christmas tree.

  The writing didn’t look familiar.

  I walked to the tree and circled it. My gaze scanned the ground for a present addressed to me.

  That was when I came across a familiar pair of work boots. Attached to a familiar pair of legs in jeans. The familiar winter jacket.

  And the familiar sexy smile that got my girlie parts excited in record time.

  That wasn’t the only part of me to get excited. My heart played traitor and began racing.

  He’s not really here, I tried telling myself. My body and heart and girlie parts chose to ignore me.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, doing my damnedest not to betray my body’s reaction to seeing him.

  “I came to see you.”

  “You did? I thought you were heading back to San Francisco to spend Christmas with your family and friends.”

  “I was. But Christmas is about being with the people you love. And right now, the person I love the most is spending the week in this resort.” He brushed his thumb against my cheek as if to wipe away a stray snowflake. “And I’m hoping she’ll let me spend it with her. I’m also hoping she’ll change her mind about her ground rule from last night. The ground rule that prevents us from talking about what really happened ten years ago.”

  I blinked. I was hallucinating. That must be it. Why? I had no idea. Maybe the smell of pine needles was going to my head.

  The Christmas version of sniffing glue.

  I shook my head—partly to clear it, partly to tell him I wasn’t interested in abandoning the rule. It was a good rule. A rule to keep Christmas cheer fully intact.

  “No, the ground rule still stands.” The words crawled out on a whisper, barely heard over the loud boom, boom, boom of my heart. “You told me everything I needed to know the night you broke up with me. And what you didn’t tell me, my grandmother was nice enough to explain.”

  I started to walk around him. Another hour and I’d be swooshing down the mountain.

  Or falling on my butt.

  All right—the latter was the most likely possibility of the two.

  Liam gently grabbed hold of my arm. “Except she lied to you, Ava. She never offered me money to break up with you. And if she had, I would never have accepted it. I had no idea until an hour ago—when Betsy told me what had happened—that you’d even believed that.”

  Ever walked into a wall? I haven’t either. But at hearing Liam’s words, I had a feeling this was exactly what it felt like. The Where-the-fudge-had-that-come-from? moment that caused stars to spin around your head and the ground to sway under your feet.

  “Okay, so she didn’t pay you off, but you did stop loving me—which, when you think about it, is a good enough reason to end an engagement.” Because who wanted to be engaged or married to someone who no longer loved you?

  I should know. I was clearly an expert on the topic.

  Did I believe him about the bribe? My gut did. But my gut had also once told me that Liam loved me, and look how wrong it had been.

  “I didn’t stop loving you, Ava. I only told you that because if I had married you, you would’ve lost your trust fund. Your grandmother had been quite clear on that part. But I underestimated you, thinking the money was important to you, even though I should have known better. Okay, it would have helped if I had known you didn’t want to be a lawyer, and you didn’t care about going to Harvard.” He raised his eyebrow as if to remind me that I hadn’t been entirely honest with him back then either.

  At his words, it was like the entire world had come to a sudden standstill. Oh. “You really did love me?” I asked, still uncertain what to believe. Uncertain if he had even heard me this time.

  He stepped closer. “It damn near killed me telling you that I no longer loved you, especially since it was a lie and I knew how much I was hurting you. But her arguments made sense at the time. She convinced me I wasn’t good enough for you because I was military, and because I could never give you the lifestyle you were used to. She might have also referred to me as being a leech.”

  Which Liam would’ve hated. If anything, my wealth had made him uncomfortable—and that was why his accepting the bribe hadn’t made much sense. But despite knowing that, I had ignored my gut and believed my grandmother’s lies.

  Just like I had ignored my gut and married Chris. I really owed my gut a big apology. Yes, gut, I promise next time I’ll trust you. No more ignoring you.

  It was my turn to take a step forward. “That’s where she was wrong. You were always enough for me, Liam. You saw me in a way that my own family refused to.”

  He let out a long breath. “So you believe me?” There was so much love and hope in his face, it was impossible to do anything but believe him.

  “Of course. How could I not? You’re forgetting that wasn’t the only time she used the trust fund to try to manipulate me into doing what she wanted.”

  He closed the distance with his final step and traced his thumb along my cheekbone. The look in his eyes was one I’d seen so many times while we were engaged. It was the same look I had seen last night and again this morning at the inn, only I had been too stubborn to notice it until now.

  “I still love you, Ava. I never stopped loving you.” He voice was low and chock full of emotion—the kind of raw emotion that left my heart singing.

  “I love you, too, Liam. Always have. Always—”

  I didn’t get any further than that. His lips crashed into mine and everything around us—the laughter of the kids watching the magic show, the smell of Christmas, the decorations—faded. Th
e only thing that existed was the man who had his arms around me. The man whose tongue was performing its own magic against mine. The man who owned my heart.

  The only man who had ever owned my heart.

  “Mummy,” a little girl’s voice said, “Why are they kissing?” She made a loud bleh noise, and I mentally giggled. I would have stopped kissing Liam, but my lips and body didn’t agree with my brain.

  Not that my brain agreed with that thought either.

  “That’s because they’re standing under mistletoe. You’re supposed to kiss under the mistletoe. It’s a tradition.”

  Mistletoe?

  I glanced up. The woman was right. A small bunch was hanging from the ceiling, tied with a familiar looking ribbon. “Did you know about that?” I asked him softly.

  I swear the smile that spread on his face was brighter than the Christmas tree lights.

  “Your friend was right. You did find the man you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life with under the mistletoe.”

  I laughed. “How about we don’t tell her that? Or else we’ll never hear the end of it.”

  He chuckled. “Sounds like a good plan.”

  And then, because we were still under the mistletoe, he went back to kissing me.

  And who was I to complain?

  EPILOGUE

  LIAM

  One Year Later

  * * *

  TRENT’S MOM fussed with my tie, doing her best not to tear up. How did I know? She had already sniffed a few times since taking on the task of ensuring I looked perfect for my wedding day.

  She might not have been my biological mother, but she was as much a mother to me and my sister Kelsey as our own mother had been. The only difference was that Joanne had witnessed Kelsey getting married and was about to watch me marry the woman I loved. My own parents hadn’t been as lucky.

  “Your mom would be so proud of the man you’ve become.” Sniff. Sniff. “And she would have loved your bride as much as I do.” Sniff.

  “I know.” My voice came out gritty, and I coughed to clear my throat.

  “Mom,” Trent said, standing next to us in the main lobby of Harold and Betsy’s inn. “It’s bad luck to make the groom cry before his wedding.”

  She gave him a stern eye. “I seem to remember you tearing up prior to Kelsey walking down the aisle. And look how perfectly things turned out.”

  She glanced over her shoulder to where my sister was sitting with my five-month-old nephew in her arms. Ethan was busy giggling at three-year-old Lily Hoffer, who was making silly faces at him. Her own little brother was asleep in her father’s arms.

  The surprise that Kelsey had alluded to the day I discovered Ava stranded on the road last Christmas? Yes, you guessed it. It was that I was going to be an uncle.

  I grinned at my sister and my friends sitting behind her: Josh, Travis, and Wes. Josh was sitting with his wife Holly. Next to her was Travis’s very pregnant wife, Emma. Wes, the last of my single friends, was busy talking to Trent’s father. Trent had already warned him that the love bug was contagious and that it would bite Wes in the ass next.

  Wes subsequently declared that he was fine being the last of the dying breed. Of course, it would’ve been more convincing if he hadn’t been staring at Emma’s friend, Hannah, at the time.

  “You’re right,” I said, swiveling back to Joanne. “Everything turned out perfectly.”

  She went back to fiddling with my tie. “I love your choice of color for the tie and lapel flower. Burgundy was your mom’s favorite color.”

  I smiled softly at her. “I know.” Yes, there might be a chance that I had told Ava this when we discussed the wedding plans.

  “The color isn’t the only thing that is perfect. The place looks amazing.” She glanced around the lobby, which had been converted into a makeshift wedding chapel. All the available surfaces had been decorated with pine boughs, pinecones, and small rustic hurricane lamps.

  The place did look amazing.

  It had been Harold and Betsy’s idea when I told them a few months ago that Ava had said yes when I proposed to her and that we’d planned to keep the wedding small. Ava had already had an oversized, overpriced wedding, and look how that marriage turned out.

  This time she opted for intimate.

  Ava’s mother was talking to Betsy on the other side of the room. Unlike Ava’s grandmother, who was sitting at the back of the room, scowling like she’d sat on dog shit, Ava’s mom was laughing and chatting with Betsy. The two of them were responsible for the wedding decorations and for making the day magical for Ava.

  Joanne fiddled with my tie once more, then smiled up at me with tear-filled eyes. “You’re ready.”

  Trent chuckled. “I think he’s been ready for the past five minutes. Maybe you should go sit with Erin and Darren and all your grandchildren.” Erin was Trent’s sister and Kelsey’s best friend—and practically my little sister by default.

  “Good idea.” She hugged me, taking care not to squash the rose pinned to my suit lapel.

  “How are you doing?” Trent asked after she’d left us at the altar. “Not getting cold feet, are you?” He grinned at me, knowing full well I couldn’t be happier to be here.

  Harold approached us before I had a chance to respond. “I’ve just received word that the two lovely ladies are ready.” He laughed a deep and jolly sound that really did sound like Ho, Ho, Ho. “Should we get started then?”

  “Absolutely.” Did I mention Harold was our marriage officiant for the wedding? But instead of wearing his Santa outfit from last Christmas, he had chosen a gray suit and a dark-green tie.

  He nodded for the keyboardist to begin, and the wedding guests took their seats as the first strains of the music filled the room. A moment later, Zoe, wearing a long navy dress with very short sleeves, stepped through the dining room doors. In her hands was a bouquet of cream-colored roses with small red roses and bright-green leaves mixed in.

  She began walking to where Trent and I were standing near the fireplace.

  And it was in that instant that I was glad we had chosen to keep the wedding small. I only had to wait for Zoe to finish walking down the aisle before it was Ava’s turn.

  Zoe grinned at me, then shifted her attention to the doorway she had just walked through. The music changed, and everyone stood.

  And my future stepped into the lobby, her hand on her father’s arm.

  My heart almost crashed through my rib cage at the sight of her. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Her white gown was simple and brushed against the floor. The top was cut low, hinting of the cleavage I’d enjoyed a great many times, but her chest and shoulders were covered with sheer floral lace. Under her veil, her blonde hair was long and wavy.

  My heart started pounding in my chest, demanding that the keyboardist pick up the pace. The sooner this ceremony was over, the sooner Ava would be in my arms again.

  Ava and her father finally stepped up to us. He nodded his approval at me and smiled. Even though Ava and I would’ve gotten married without her family’s consent, we were relieved her parents had accepted me into the family. Turns out, they too hadn’t known about the lie Ava’s grandmother had told her.

  “Who is giving the bride away?” Harold asked.

  “Her mother and I are,” her father replied. And so began the wedding ceremony that should have taken place over ten years ago.

  But like they say, better late than never.

  They also say that some things get better with time, and in our case it was most certainly true.

  Ava’s father lifted the veil away from her face, kissed her cheek, and walked to where her mother was seated in the front row.

  Ava passed her bouquet to Zoe, and I took hold of her hands. Harold shared what love is, and indicated for Ava to say her vows. Zoe handed her the ring.

  “Liam, you’re my best friend, my lover, my sun and my moon. You’re my reason for smiling when I’ve had a tough day. You’re my reason for grinn
ing the rest of the time. I can’t wait for this to continue as we grow old together. Will you accept me as your wife?”

  I grinned at her. “You’d better believe I do.”

  And with that, she slipped the ring onto my finger, and her lips transformed into my favorite smile. Well, my second favorite smile. My favorite one usually accompanied dirty talk in the bedroom…or the bathroom…or the kitchen.

  Trent handed me the matching gold band.

  “Ava, the day I found you stranded on the side of the road, just two days before Christmas, was one of the best days of my life. And since then, every day has been brighter and filled with joy because I get to be by your side. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our days the same way as we grow old together. Will you accept me as your husband?”

  There was a hiccupped sob from the direction of Trent’s mom.

  And Ava gave me what was now my new favorite smile—my wife’s beautiful grin. “Absolutely.”

  I slid the ring onto her finger, then lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed it.

  “With the power vested in me by the state of California,” Harold said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  He glanced upward in an obvious way that made us both do the same. Above our heads was something I hadn’t noticed until now: mistletoe.

  He leaned closer to us so only we could hear him. “Something tells me you two don’t need that magic anymore. You’ve already created your own.”

  I winked at Ava. “You can never have enough magic.” I lowered my mouth to hers and tenderly kissed her.

  Everyone applauded. I shifted forward, my breath spanning across her cheeks. “And in a few minutes, when everyone’s preoccupied, I plan to perform more magic on you.”

  Ava released a shuddered sigh, and I chuckled.

  We spent the next hour or so with Kelsey taking wedding photos, followed by Ava and I socializing with our guests. The best part about having a small wedding with only twenty of your closest friends and family? It was easy to talk to everyone without feeling like you were being split in several directions.