Free Blame It on the Mistletoe by Nicole Michaels Page A

“Did you make this?”
    Suddenly she felt a little ridiculous. “Yes, I did.”
    “Nice. You really should have it hanging in a doorway or something. Isn’t that what mistletoe is for?”
    “Do you have a point?”
    “Will you go out with a paying customer?”
    She scoffed. “No.”
    “I wanna buy this.”
    “No way. You’re not buying that. You’re not buying anything.” She snatched the ornament out of his hand and hung it carefully on a tree branch. “Stop patronizing me and go.”
    Brooke turned and walked around the counter. She needed a physical barrier between them. Her heart was pounding and she felt lightheaded. She really wanted to go out with Alex, but she was terrified.
    “I’m not taking no for an answer, Brooke. I’m only in town until Saturday. It can just be two friends. Dinner. No big deal. Your brother would kill me if it was more than that. In fact he’ll probably kill me no matter what.”
    She jerked her head around. “What does that mean?”
    Alex looked panicked, like he regretted his words. “Nothing … just … I assume he’s still really protective of his little sister, right?”
    She didn’t answer right away. Had Ryan spoken to him? Surely not. He wouldn’t do that, would he? “I’m twenty-eight. I don’t need Ryan’s permission or his help.”
    “No, you don’t. That’s obvious.” Alex glanced around the shop. “Can I pick you up at six tomorrow?” They stared at each other for a second.
    “I have a class. How about seven.” She took a deep breath, worry and elation warring in the pit of her stomach. “But if you are so much as thirty seconds late, I will never forgive you. I also plan to order the most expensive thing on the menu.”
    He grinned. “Deal.”
    Without another word Alex left, passing three nearly slack-jawed women in the doorway. They giggled after the door closed behind them, whispering and glancing out the window. Brooke put a hand over her mouth to cover her stupid grin. She was going out with that hottie. Tomorrow. She shook her head and greeted the ladies before something on the corner of the big wooden counter caught her eye. It was a twenty dollar bill.
What the hell?
    She rushed over to the tree to look for the ornament Alex had touched and admired earlier. She sucked in a breath. The mistletoe ornament was gone.

FIVE
    “Okay, now you can use the smaller pliers to squeeze the jump ring closed. Careful not to do it too hard because it might bend or break.” Brooke held up her demo ornament for the sixteen women to see. They had been a surprisingly skilled group, and she was grateful because she was more than a little distracted. Everyone was oohing and ahhing over their neighbor’s piece of tree art.
    “Okay, does anybody need help finishing up?”
    One woman raised her hand, and Brooke rushed over as the front door to the shop opened. She was technically closed, but she didn’t lock the door because it would violate fire code with customers still in the building.
    “Good lord, who is that?” Brooke heard one of the women whisper. From the tone of her voice, Brooke instantly knew who had entered the shop.
    “Holy shit, is that Alex Coleman? He’s grown up nicely,” another voice whispered. “Not really a surprise since he was always adorable.”
    Brooke stood up and locked eyes with the very sexy man she’d grown up with. She’d just seen him not twenty-four hours ago, but his gorgeousness was still shocking. He’d shaved, but not all the way, so there was just a hint of stubble. But enough was gone that the lines of his face were more visible. He wore dark jeans that managed to hang on his hip in just the right way, a dark belt, and a white button-up shirt under his coat. She shut her mouth and made her way toward him. He smirked, obviously noticing her discomfort.
    “You’re a little early, aren’t you?” she whispered.
    “Yes, but I couldn’t take even the slightest chance that you’d never forgive me, could I?