Page 15 of Mistletoe Love Match
She turned to Alec. “We haven’t been abducted by aliens. We’re dead. We’re dead, and this is where people go when they die on Christmas Eve.”
“I can promise you, you’re not dead,” Mr. Krangle answered. “But the temperature is dropping, and you could be dead very soon if you don’t take the proper steps.”
Holy shit!This had gotten creepy fast.
She was about to tell Alec to hit the gas and ditch the ditch when the reindeer lumbered up to the window, stood between the Krangles, and grunted. The old man released another bowl-full-of-jelly laugh, then pulled a freaking carrot from his pocket and fed it to the beast.
She’d nearly forgotten about the wild animal.
“Is your reindeer okay?” Alec asked as the creature chomped away.
“He’s just dandy,” Mr. Krangle replied and patted the animal on its giant head.
“Comet is our excitable boy, aren’t you?” Mrs. Krangle remarked—like there was nothing totally bonkers about this situation.
“Can’t blame him, though,” Nick Krangle continued. “It’s a special night. Children all over the world are waiting for him.”
Holy holly and the ivy.These people really and truly believed they were Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Alec reached for his seat belt. “If everything’s okay with your reindeer, we’ll be on our way.”
A smile spread across Mr. Krangle’s face. “No, you won’t. You’re not going anywhere.”
ChapterFour
Calliope Cress
Why would this carbon copy Santa tell them they couldn’t leave? What the hell was this Christmas crazy talk?
She leaned toward Alec and lowered her voice. “Is this the American Christmas version of a serial killer movie? Are they about to throw us into a dank dungeon?”
Mr. Krangle knocked out another ho-ho-ho of a laugh. “You are quite imaginative. We don’t have a dungeon, young lady. This is Mistletoe Manor.”
“That literally means nothing to me,” she answered, eyeing the penlight. If need be, they’d have to defend themselves with the ridiculous implement. She was about to go for it when Mrs. Krangle cleared her throat.
“My dear husband is simply trying to convey that the road is closed ahead,” the woman reported.
“Should we go back to Denver?” Alec asked in a voice that saidplease, for the love of God, say yes.
Before Calliope could answer, the cookie lady shook her head. “That’s not an option either. The road is closed a few miles back due to the icy conditions. You’re stuck here for the night.”
Oh, hell no!
“We have to spend Christmas Eve in a ditch?” Calliope shrieked, her voice rising an anxious octave.
Alec retrieved his mobile and studied the screen. “These people are telling the truth. Highway patrol shut down Route-Twenty-Four because of icy driving conditions.”
She was ready to lose it and really throw a wobbly.
The road was closed. They were stranded in a remote slice of treacherous mountainous terrain, and there appeared to be a very good chance they were in the company of sugarplum-loving psychopaths.
It was time to drop a little East London attitude on these Yuletide yokels. “Listen here, boyo,” she began, spreading it on thick as she eyed Mr. Krangle. “We’re expected in Rickety Rock. Our families are there. They’re waiting for us. And they will come looking for our bodies if we don’t arrive on time. Also, my brother is a really big guy—like, massive.”
God help her. She sounded crazier than the Krangles.
“Why don’t you give them a call and let them know you’re here,” Mr. Krangle suggested with the twitch of a grin.
Now she felt like a right plonker. She lifted her chin. “And we’ll be doing that—straight away.”
