Page 54 of Mistletoe All the Way

“Not a bad incentive,” I whisper as the mayor asks J.J. what his favorite thing about the town is.

“Have you tried the milkshakes at the Candy Cane Diner? The chocolate with peppermint is amazing,” Eloise whispers, with a curve of her pretty lips.

That smile makes my chest ache for some annoying reason. Makes some irritating mix of emotions swell inside me. Because she’s being so… kind? Without being patronizing?

Who even knows? I rub at my sternum to make the sensation go away.

No luck.

And I’m familiar with the legend of the milkshakes. Chris has mentioned them a few times. She turns her attention back to the gazebo stage. I should look away from her, but I don’t. Instead, I watch her for a beat longer. She rolls her lips together. Rocks back and forth on her boots.

Oh.

Oh.

Is she… nervous too?

The mayor thanks J.J., then says, “And our next contestant in Mr. Holiday can often be found with his nose in a book or recommending a good one at A Likely Story. Please welcome Sebastian McCloud.”

As a guy in a red cardigan and black glasses jogs to the stage, Eloise draws a quick breath. A lot is riding on this contest for her. I’ve known that all along, of course, but seeing it play out is a powerful reminder. She’s the woman who showed up in Colorado unexpectedly with a hope to do something huge. She’s trying to compete against the big guys, and I’m the linchpin.

Which is a bizarre thought, but it also means saying no isn’t an option, even though the contest won’t be easy.

“My employees dared me to enter this competition. If I win, I’ll need to give them all raises—and maybe let them pick the next book club read.”

And he’s nailing the book-nerd brief.

I turn to my brother and joke—or maybe it’s not a joke—“Last chance for me to send in my second. You know you want to get up there and preen about how great your brother’s hot vet show is.”

He waves a dismissive hand. “Nah, everyone already knows. Also,” he says, wiggling his brows, “I fired Vince. Just channeled my inner you.”

That’s it! That’s how I get through the introduction. Play the twin game. The answer was in front of me all along. All I have to do is pretend to be him.

“And now I’m pleased to introduce Henry Rojas,” the mayor continues. “You might know him as the affable man who drives the Christmas train, which in some ways makes him a veritable Mr. Holiday already.”

Eloise leans closer, whispering, “My grandmother is dating Henry. He sounds terrific from her tales.”

“Great. More stiff competition,” I grumble.

“You’ll be great too.”

From the crowd, an older man who looks fitter than most young men strides to the stage, flexing his jacket-covered biceps. As he bounds up the steps, a woman around his age shouts, “Show them your dance moves.”

He laughs, then blows a kiss to her before taking the megaphone to say hello. “Ready for me to rock around the Christmas tree?” he asks, then shimmies his hips.

The crowd cheers.

There’s no way I’m winning.

But I’ve got to show up.

A minute later, he heads offstage, and the mayor says, “And now our final contestant is none other than a onetime Evergreen Falls resident.”

I wince at that description. Was that necessary? “He grew up here, and you’ve probably ridden a sleigh at his grandfather’s farm. Introducing Dr. Noah Lennox.”

With Rusty by my side, I weave through the crowd to the stage, ignoring the twisting in my gut, shutting out everything else but Eloise’s advice from when we were preparing for this.

I head up the steps.