Page 1 of Under the Mistletoe

Prologue

I was eleven years old when I first discovered the power of the mistletoe.

It was a day I would never forget.

I was sitting beside the Christmas tree, watching as our family and friends came through the front door. There was an odd little ball of green and red ribbon hanging from the ceiling, and every time a couple stepped under it, the guy would kiss the girl. Sometimes, it was just a little peck, while others were deep and passionate.

I spent the better part of the night watching the different couples sharing a magical moment together, and I found myself wondering what it would be like to be kissed like that. And just as that thought crossed my mind, Thomas walked into the kitchen. He was several years older than me and always treated me as such, but that didn’t stop me from thinking that he was my one and only.

If there was anyone I wanted to kiss under the mistletoe, it was him.

The wheels started turning in my head, and before I knew it, I was standing under the mistletoe. My hands were fisted by my side, and I was practically giddy as I stood there waiting forhim to notice me. My heart was pounding so hard I was positive everyone around me could hear it.

When Thomas finally spotted me, his lips curled into a smile, and I just knew my dream was about to come true. I just knew it. Every nerve in my body hummed as he started towards me.

I ran my tongue over my lips, preparing for the big moment, and just as I was about to pop with excitement, I felt something brush up against my arm. I glanced up and found Casey standing next to me, and my heart sank. I quickly looked back at Thomas, and he was still coming in our direction.

I was tempted to shove Casey out of the way, but it was too late.

He was already standing right in front of her.

A knot formed in my throat as I watched him lean down and kiss her on the cheek. She laughed, and the sound echoed around me, making the knot in my throat even tighter. I might’ve just been a silly kid, but I knew it just wasn’t a kiss under the mistletoe.

He’d chosen her—just like he’d always done.

Disappointment sank its teeth in deep, but I refused to let the hurt show. I simply stepped away, blending back into the crowd, and pretended that the mistletoe had never meant anything.

But it did.

And it always would.

Torch

I was still shaking off the last bits of sleep as I made my way up the front steps. The sun was just starting to come up. Usually, I’d still be out cold, but I couldn’t sleep, and I was craving one of Dad’s famous bacon and egg biscuits.

I knew he’d be up. Hell, he was always up at the crack-ass of dawn, so I thought nothing of it as I pushed open the back door and headed inside. I stopped dead in my tracks when I found Mom sitting on the counter with her legs wrapped around Dad’s waist and her arms around his neck. They were locking lips like a couple of teenagers, and neither of them had a clue that I’d just walked in.

I cleared my throat using all the dramatics I could muster, then grumbled, “Really?”

“Don’t you know how to knock?”

“Wouldn’t have to knock if you’d do that shit in the bedroom.” I got a kick out of giving them a hard time, but I leaned against the stove as I added, “Aren’t you guys too old for that anyway?”

“Not when you have a smokin’ hot wife like mine.”

“Aw, damn. That’s Mom you’re talking about.”

“Doesn’t make it any less true.” Dad cocked his brow. “How do you think she became your mom?”

“Well, you best watch it, or you’ll end up with a broken hip or better yet, another me.”

“I’d rather have a broken hip.”

Mom swatted him on the shoulder and said, “Okay, you two. That’s enough.”

“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Dad slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her over to him. “I wasn’t done with you.”

I’ve heard all the stories of when Mom and Dad met. They were an unlikely pair. Dad was a hard ass with a chip on his shoulder, and Mom was a complete goof with a knack for pulling pranks. Apparently, she gave him a hell of a time, but she got under his skin, and they have been driving each other crazy ever since.

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