The Magic of Mistletoe

What else could she have meant? When his left eyebrow rose devilishly, Macy quickly got the point of her open question. A once-forgotten pitter-patter fluttered in the pit of her stomach. “Yes, the cream.”

“I’ll take mine black.”

Macy shrugged and poured some of the hazelnut in her Santa cup. “I have this sinking feeling that Serena isn’t coming today,” she confessed out of nowhere. Maybe she just wanted to let him know up front that it was going to be a long day with just the two of them. She wasn’t sure if she could trust herself to be around him all day long. “You’re more than welcome to back out if you want.”

Without even blowing, Duke lifted the snowman to his mouth and drank. “I’m staying.”

“It’s Thanksgiving, you know.”

“And happy Thanksgiving to you.” Duke grinned, tilting his cup in cheer. “Stop trying to come up with excuses. You can’t do all this yourself.” He waved one hand in the air at the decorations.

“You don’t even know what this—” she mocked his movement with her free hand over her head “—is.”

“Technically, you can hang up Christmas decorations all by yourself.” Duke set his drink down. “You did do it all yourself before, didn’t you? Climb trees and string lights, haul all your own stuff that you have stored in a warehouse not far from here. But just because you can doesn’t mean I’m going to let you. Speaking of which, there wasn’t a car in sight on my way over here, so we should make good time to get back here at nine so you can watch the parade.”

Truly flattered, Macy beamed and bit back a smile. “I see you did your research and watched the video on me?”

When Macy first got up and running, Monique had done a piece on Winter Paradise, Macy’s decorating business. She and her cameraman followed Macy around when she didn’t have any help. It was just the promotion she needed. The video was now ten years old. The segment had ended with Macy climbing onto her couch in her red-and-white-striped footy pajamas, cuddling next to a then-three-year-old Gia. Although Macy wished that part could have been on the editing floor. She’d decorated Monique’s house for free as long as Mo promised never to show the clip again. Duke had to have gone to great lengths to find it in the old tapes at the studio.

“I like to know what and who I’m working with.” He nodded and slowly smiled. “So I went home last night, studied you. You’re very impressive.”

Heat from her blush toasted her cheeks. Duke Rodriguez stood in her kitchen, giving her compliments. Slowly Macy tried to relax, resting her hip against the counter. “Not everyone enjoys Christmas as much as I do. I might be the only person who gets goose bumps when stores start putting out holiday decorations before Halloween.”

“I don’t know about Halloween.” Duke winked. “Someday I’ll have to tell you how we celebrate Christmas in my hometown.”

“It doesn’t even snow there,” Macy teased easily.

“And seventy degrees is ideal Christmas weather?”

Macy raised her eyebrow. Touché. “Well, the weather will be colder come Christmas.”

He nodded his head in honorable acceptance of her comment. “I have to say, I watched your video over and over.” He glanced around the kitchen, letting out a long sigh. “So this is where you raised your kids?”

“Yep, up until this year.”

“I bet you have a big tree.”

She nodded, admitting the truth. “What about you? Are you going to put up a tree?”

“Sure, if you think I need one.”

For a moment, she forgot that she was going to decorate his place. “Oh yeah, right.”

“Did you forget ab

out me just that fast?” he teased.

As if, taunted a voice in the back of her mind.

“I bet with your reputation around town, you’re able to get the best tree.”

“The first tree,” Macy boasted, “although this year, I don’t have time to get the first one.”

He smiled back at her. “I bet you’re like royalty around here.”

“Nah, I just like to make sure that everyone is happy through the holidays.”

Nodding, Duke leaned against the counter, mirroring her. Through half-closed lids, his eyes focused on her lips. Self-consciously, Macy licked them, wondering freakishly what it would be like if he kissed her right now. Her throat went dry, and she couldn’t think of a thing to say. The silence growing between them only provided more time for her to stare at him with her naughty thoughts. She prayed for a break in the awkward quietness. She prayed for anything to stop the wanton thoughts she was having about this man she barely knew. C’mon, Serena, show up!