Page 48 of Mistletoe All the Way

“I did. I was trying to impress Noah with my skills. Show him what I could pull off.”

She shakes her head, amused. “It worked. Totally thought he was Chris. Especially with that whole Trashy P thing.”

“That was a nice touch,” I say, remembering. “Noah’s pretty fast on his feet.”

She smiles at me, like she’s saying Gotcha. “You’re so into him.”

“No, not at all,” I deny, trying to play it cool.

“Liar, liar,” she whispers.

That’s the problem with friends. They know you too well. I check the time on my phone once more. “Oh, look. I have to go!”

“You are such a little liar,” she calls out as I sail out of the diner. And since she does know me too well, I remind myself that this time around with Noah there can’t be any mistletoe distractions.

I swear I’m not that eager to see Noah.

My cat watches me from his spot on the vanity, twitching his striped tail as he stares like a judge on the bench while I add a little more mascara.

“What? He’s a client,” I say to Alexander.

His tail smacks down harder on the marble countertop this time, a cat gavel.

“Client-ish,” I add, swiping on some blush.

His tail slams down again.

I turn to Alexander and stare right back. “Look, I needed to touch up my makeup before I meet with him.”

My cat jumps off the counter and sashays away, giving me a full view of his butt as he heads toward Betty, lit up already even though it’s afternoon.

“Fine, get the last word in,” I say to him, but he’s parked his furry butt on the tree skirt and is bathing his nether regions.

I whip back around and check my reflection one more time when my phone buzzes.

A text from Noah blinks up at me.

NOAH

Rusty’s here.

I laugh at his no-nonsense way of letting me know he’s also arrived.

ELOISE

I’m heading over now! And when the mayor introduces you later today, just remember what we’ve been talking about.

Noah has never said he dislikes public speaking, but I figured it out, so I researched how to handle public speaking when you, well, can’t stand people or public speaking. Prepare your remarks in advance. Rehearse them out loud. And if you forget what to say or your focus is off, just speak from the heart. He won’t have to say much today, but I want him to feel comfortable when he does.

His reply arrives quickly.

NOAH

Got it. Tell everyone you like to torture me.

I roll my eyes as I grab a canvas bag with a fun little item I picked up for Noah. As I scurry to the parking lot, I check the Cowboy Vet feed, then pump my fist. The ornament photo is racking up some fresh likes—including a comment from Rudy at the coffee shop.

I’d love some help hanging lights on the tree here!