Beyond the Mistletoe: A Christmas Romance (Beyond Love Book 7) Read online

  Gabby was holding four Christmas gift bags, and I wondered what she had up her sleeve this time.

  “Okay, girls. I want you to open up your first gift of the weekend. I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for putting up with me while I planned this wedding. Or more to the point, while Carla planned my wedding and drove me crazy,” Gabby said with a coy smile.

  Carla was Gabby’s stepmom, and she was a fabulous event planner. Carla loved nothing more than finding reasons to throw a party, and something told me this event wouldn’t just be a party it would verge on a gala.

  Gabby handed each of us a bag and set the fourth one on the floor next to the overly plump leather chair she sat down in. Her smile was infectious as she motioned for us each to take a seat.

  “It’s nothing big, but I couldn’t resist. Emily, thank you for taking over so much at the bakery recently. You’re always willing to chip in, and I know I don’t even need to be in the same country to have things run smoothly. Not to mention you’re one of the most levelheaded friends I have.”

  “Hey, I resent that,” Brandy chided, grinning.

  “You’re very levelheaded,” Gabby assured Brandy. “But a little biased sometimes. I wouldn’t change a thing. I love your determination and your ability to make me realize what fun life can be. And, Lily, you’re such a loyal friend, and someone who I never thought would become a love-pusher.”

  “Gabby, we’re blessed to be your friends,” Lily said. Her voice caught and she made a funny noise in her throat. “These pregnancy hormones are rough.”

  “If you say so,” Brandy teased. “I think you’re just finally finding your human side.”

  Lily rolled her eyes, and I took a seat, peeking inside the emerald-green gift bag with bright red tissue poking out the top.

  “Who goes first?” Brandy asked, already digging into the tissue paper.

  “Well, by the looks of things, I’d say you,” Lily laughed.

  The red tissue paper fell to the floor as Brandy pulled out a red and white striped knit cap, gloves, and never-ending scarf.

  “Oh, my gosh! It’s the cutest ever.” Brandy pulled the hat over her head to her ears and batted her lashes while Lily dug in next.

  “They’re all the same.” Gabby informed us, pulling the same items out of her inside coat pockets. How she fit the scarf in there I had no idea, but it spoke to the size of the coat. “I thought we could all wear them today for pictures.”

  I quickly dug through the tissue paper and pulled out the softest pair of gloves I’d ever touched.

  “These are amazing,” I said, tugging the hat out next. “The yarn is like touching a cloud.”

  “I couldn’t resist. I thought at least parts of us needed to look like a candy cane.”

  “That we will,” Lily agreed. “But sexy candy canes.”

  “Did someone say sexy?” Jason asked, walking up behind Gabby. He was dressed in a bulky green sweater and worn jeans. He held a black knit cap in one hand and his jacket in the other.

  “I was just telling the girls how happy I was to marry the most sexy man in the universe,” Gabby fibbed. “Wasn’t that right?”

  We all nodded in agreement, and Jason beamed.

  “It’s nice to know my status has upgraded from world to universe.” He bent down and gave Gabby a kiss on the cheek, and I swear I could feel the sparks between them from several feet away. “I see a couple of the guys already in the bar. I’ll go round them up.”

  “Thank you,” Gabby said, her hand lingering on his hip before he walked away.

  “He is so in love with you,” I said, smiling as Gabby watched him enter the bar.

  “I’m one lucky girl.” She turned her attention back to us. “I’ve got one more set for Tori, but I haven’t seen her yet.”

  “They’re here. Ayden said the hotel let them check in early this morning, and Tori took a shower and fell asleep. He woke her up a few minutes ago. Tori had chaperoned a school field trip yesterday that went a little awry and she was exhausted. She couldn’t fall asleep until after two last night and then they woke up at six to get here.”

  Ayden and Mason were twin brothers, and Tori was Mason’s new girlfriend and a complete sweetheart.

  “Phew. I was worried they might not make it up here.” Gabby genuinely looked relieved and sank into the chair.

  “So what do you think about the selection?” Lily turned her attention to me and wriggled her eyebrows.

  “Selection?” I glanced down at my scarf set. “It’s very generous, and I love the pattern. I couldn’t have picked out a better holiday set myself.”

  Gabby chuckled and Brandy shook her head.

  “Of men,” Lily said, completely exasperated. “Of men.”

  “What do you mean of men?” I eyed her suspiciously. “I thought it was only Eric I was supposed to notice.”

  “Was it only Eric you noticed?” Lily asked, pressing her usually plump lips together into a thin line. I felt like a contestant at the National Spelling Bee or something as all three pairs of eyes waited for my answer.

  I blushed as my mind flashed back to Derek. The mere thought of him made my body tingle, and that had never happened in the several decades I’d lived on this planet. In fact, I was certain when I saw him today, I’d find out it was all in my head, strategically placed by champagne and hard cider. Grown women weren’t supposed to get flutters and electrical currents traveling through their bodies, unless there was a pacemaker installed.

  “Earth to Emily,” Lily chuckled. “I think you just answered my question.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I glanced around the lodge and noticed the large antler chandelier dangling over us. I wondered if they were real. I wondered anything to stay away from the conversation.

  “I thought with the particular drought we’re dealing with, it was only fair to bring two,” Lily whispered, touching my knee gently.

  “Drought?” I coughed, catching Derek out of the corner of my eye. In the bar, he slapped Eric’s back as they both laughed heartily, and I wondered if it was me they were laughing about. “I’m not in a drought.”

  “Self-imposed drought,” Gabby assured me, nodding.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. I knew they had good intentions, but I always found it striking that when single friends found their soul mate, they felt it was their duty to find you yours, and Lily seemed to be the worst of them all in her pursuit.

  “So…” Lily glanced quickly between Gabby and Brandy before her eyes settled on me. “Did I do okay for a weekend of fun?” Lily couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

  “You obviously have fantastic taste in men. All of you do.” I looked at each of them. “But I’m not really in the right mind-set to start a relationship. And we’re here to celebrate Gabby and Jason, not find me someone to date.”

  “This weekend is going to be all about fun,” Gabby reminded me. “It’s not like you ever have to see them again, and it does kind of provide a bit of entertainment for me. I’m not going to lie. But just remember. F.U.N. That’s all we’re talking.”

  “I’m not sure I can really do that kind of fun. I thought I could, but it’s just not in me. Second of all, while both are super attractive, I can’t just chew them up and spit them out. They’re not meat.”

  “Who’s not meat?” Derek’s voice surprised me from behind, and my cheeks flamed red.

  Gabby’s grin grew wider, and I let out a deep sigh and owned it once I realized none of my friends were going to save me.

  “You and Eric. You’re not meat,” I said, not turning to see Derek’s reaction. Rather, I tilted my head toward the vaulted ceiling and stared intently at the chandelier. It was turning into a great distraction.

  Not missing a beat, Derek knelt down next to my chair and stared just as intently at the ceiling. His arrogance should have turned me off, but instead it steadily built a fire in my belly.

  “Seems to be recreated antler, if that’s wha
t you’re wondering,” he said, resting his elbow on his knee. “Fascinating.”

  His close proximity did little to diminish my hopes that the hard cider and champagne were responsible for my erratic feelings for this man. I swore the air between us was charged, but I knew that wasn’t possible.

  “Quite,” I agreed, feeling all eyes on me, including Derek’s.

  “You know, Eric and I have a wager going.”

  My heart stopped, my jaw dropped, and my eyes fell to his. I couldn’t have heard him correctly.

  “Pardon?”

  His eyes seared a heat into me that literally took my breath away. I watched my friends stand up and leave me.

  Alone.

  With a man who finally took my breath away.

  His voice lowered into a seductive tone as I got caught up watching his lips move.

  “We have a bet going about which one of us you’ll fall for.”

  The nerve. I’d never mistaken arrogance for charm before, but with Derek I was skating on a slippery rink. Worried I might come sliding into a messy finish, I regained my composure and readied for battle.

  “Are you serious?” I wanted to be insulted, but I was far from it. If I was being honest with myself, I was almost flattered, but I wouldn’t let that show.

  He nodded and a wry grin spread across his delectable mouth. I noticed he missed a morning of shaving, and I liked the scruffiness along his jawline.

  “And you think you’ll be the one?” I asked, scowling.

  Derek shook his head and stood up slowly.

  “On the contrary. I think Eric has it in the bag.” He turned and walked away, leaving me completely bewildered and once more…breathless.

  Chapter Six

  I sat snuggly tucked in between Esquire Eric and rugged Derek as the sleigh bounced along the snowy path at a steady pace. Bodie had curled up on my feet in an extra horse blanket, and Gabby and Jason sat across from us. Another fuzzy blanket had been stretched across the three of us.

  Only one word completely encapsulated how I felt right now.

  Awkward.

  I often thought of myself as a free spirit who never let a thing rattle me. I was an artist with a soul meant for creativity. Yet, as I sat wedged in between these two men, I felt completely uptight and ready to explode at the first prick.

  “So how are things at the bakery, Emily?” Jason asked, attempting to ease me out of my shell; except now the conversation felt even more stilted than it had seconds ago when we were all admiring the glistening snow-topped trees.

  “Great.” And that was the only word that managed to pop into my head and out my mouth.

  Jason nodded and hugged a giggling Gabby.

  “Still painting?” he continued, knowing full well I was.

  “I am.”

  “Nice.”

  “Yep.” I pressed my lips together.

  Couldn’t I pull something more out of myself?

  Gabby shook her head, realizing how absolutely clumsy the conversation had become. I had no idea what was wrong with me other than the fact that I was securely squeezed in between two incredibly good-looking men and was expected to do something about it. The pressure was more than I could handle.

  “What do you like to paint?” Eric asked.

  He attempted to turn on the bench so our eyes could meet, but we were tucked in so tightly his shoulders went up to his ears, and he looked extremely uncomfortable.

  “I dabble in all kinds of things. It seems to depend on my mood. I had a brief period where I concentrated strictly on storms a few months back, landscapes prior to that.”

  “My sister does charcoal. She’s quite good. I don’t have a creative bone in my body.”

  “Why don’t you tell him why you were focusing on storms,” Gabby prompted, the puffs of cold air hovering in front of her mouth.

  Was there nothing sacred? I flashed her an evil look, but it was absolutely impossible to be aggravated at her. Her happiness bordered on delirium with the combination of wedding and holidays coming up.

  “The reason is not that interesting.” I shook my head.

  “But it’s pertinent,” Gabby added.

  I sucked my lip in and saw Derek smile out of the corner of my eye.

  “I had a few online dating fiascoes.” I saw my own breath in the air and shivered.

  “Haven’t we all?” Derek’s laugh was infectious. The sound of his voice soothed me to my core, but I couldn’t fathom him resorting to the online underworld of companionship.

  “Not me. I stay away from that at all costs,” Eric said matter-of-factly.

  “Smart man,” I muttered under my breath.

  “So why storms?” Derek asked.

  I sat quietly for a second or two wondering the same thing. The icy temperatures nipped at my nose, and I let out an unexpected sigh. Was it a wise idea to let two potential suitors know about my dating failures? I held in a laugh. Suitors? I really needed to leave some of the classics behind and start reading contemporary romances.

  But I enjoyed curling up by the fire with my classics and Bodie.

  “I’ll probably sound like a raving lunatic, but I got mad at the whole online attempt and furiously painting cloudy skies seemed like the most productive way to take out my aggression.” We passed several snow-covered boulders bordering the trail, and I knew I’d rather paint those than the storm clouds any day. Maybe it was being squished in between two attractive men, who, by all appearances, didn’t mind competing for my attention. It was kind of…nice.

  “What in particular made you so mad?” I didn’t need to look at Derek to know his eyes were sparkling with intrigue.

  “I guess that I’d even let myself make a profile,” I confessed, bringing my hand up to adjust my scarf over my nose. We were now swiftly gliding toward a frozen pond, and the winter scenery somehow made me relax slightly.

  “I’m sure you’ve got some doozies,” Derek agreed. “I’ve got a whole slew of them myself.”

  “In fact, Derek goes over to Lily’s house for Sunday dinners and tends to provide the entertainment with dating stories gone awry,” Gabby confirmed.

  “Is that so?” I asked, twisting to see him.

  “Indeed, it is.”

  I sat stumped. In all honesty, I couldn’t imagine Derek having any issues finding women to date. In fact, my gut told me both Derek and Eric had no trouble lining up the females, which made this particular situation even more troubling. Why were they here putting up with this weekend’s events? Was the dating scene that dire?

  Derek’s eyes linked with mine, and I felt the flutter return. I didn’t know if it was the snow in the air or what in particular, but he looked absolutely incredible. The scarf tucked around his neck framed his face and forced me to concentrate solely on his eyes, which was almost my undoing.

  I cleared my throat and sat back on the bench. Tempted to glance in Eric’s direction to see if the same flood of emotion ran over me, I wiggled slightly to get a glimpse.

  “Well, I’d love to see your sister’s work. I’ve always thought about experimenting with charcoal.”

  “You two should meet,” Eric offered. “I’m sure she’d love to show you her drawings. She’s got a website too.”

  “I’ll have to check it out.” I turned slightly, catching Eric’s gaze. There was no arguing the fact that he was extremely attractive, but…

  “Uh-oh, Derek,” Jason laughed. “Do you have any artistic siblings to introduce to Emily? Or is Eric one-upping you?”

  This was so embarrassing.

  “Not a one. I might be destined to a life without love…” I heard the smile in Derek’s voice.

  “But he doesn’t need a creative sibling, considering—” Gabby began.

  “Let’s keep some mystery about me.” Derek waved his hand to cut Gabby off, and she hid her disappointment, but not before flashing a wry expression in my direction.

  “I didn’t want to be the person to burst your bubble about your chiwoodle�
��” Eric began.

  “I don’t think you could.”

  The sleigh bounced over a mound, and I found myself grabbing Derek’s leg to steady myself. In doing so it was impossible to miss the strength in his long, lean muscles as they contracted under the blanket. My body temperature immediately went up several degrees, but rather than remove my hand right away, I let it rest there.

  Catching Gabby’s grin widen, I straightened up and acted like the feelings flooding through me never happened. At the most, this weekend was meant to be all about the fun, not feelings overtaking my senses.

  “Well, Bodie isn’t technically a chiwoodle,” he continued.

  “What do you mean?” I didn’t even bother to turn.

  “I looked it up last night on the web and he’s technically a wapoo.”

  I felt Derek’s body shudder with laughter but didn’t hear a thing come out of his mouth as everyone waited for my response to this earth-shattering proclamation.

  “What are you talking about?” I removed my hand from Derek and instantly wished I hadn’t.

  “The AKC posts the acceptable hybrid names, and Bodie’s Chihuahua-poodle mix is actually called a wapoo not a chiwoodle.”

  There was something about Eric’s delivery that irked me slightly.

  “The AKC doesn’t know everything about everything,” I informed him. “Bodie grew up as a chiwoodle, and I’m not going to blow up his world and tell him he’s actually a wapoo. That’s crazy.”

  “A chiwoodle literally doesn’t exist,” Eric countered.

  “A chiwoodle does exist, and he’s literally sleeping soundly on my toes right now.”

  Derek couldn’t keep in his laughter as Eric turned to face me. I attempted to make eye contact by dislodging my shoulder from Derek’s.

  “You can call Bodie whatever you want, but the AKC doesn’t recognize it.” Eric smiled, lifting a brow.