Page 59 of Mistletoe Misses
“You’re right. I’m sorry. Anyway, we’ll find out soon who she has eyes for.”
“Why do you care? I thought your beady eyes only saw Izzie.”
I snicker, causing Cooper to turn on me.
“You can’t laugh at that,” he demands. “Your one-track mind is worse.”
“My bad.”
“We should’ve brought the cooler,” Cooper grumbles under his breath.
I want to laugh, but my first customer, Harper Whitacre, has stepped up to my table.
“Hi, Maddox. Here we are again.” She flashes a timid grin. “Except this time, you can’t run away.”
“I didn’t run,” I quip, but we both know better. I most certainly ran away as I always do. For our third mistletoe encounter, she’s got me cornered.
She curls her forefinger in a come-hither motion, and I give in, leaning forward on the table to meet her waiting pucker. Her glossy lips barely touch mine, and I’m not complaining. She doesn’t either and moves to Cooper’s table with a giggle as he braces for impact.
Watching them, I wonder if he’s kissed anyone since entering the Army. If I had to guess, my answer would be no. He’s too loyal to the woman who holds his heart without knowing it. I’m sure my stellar example isn’t encouraging him to take the leap and get out of the friend’s zone. Look what happened when I tried it.
Our little brother takes the opposite approach. Aaron gives himself away without considering the consequences, nevercommitting to anyone or anything—other than baseball. He’s an everlasting sparkler, burning his chances of ever finding something real with a reckless brilliance that overpowers the world surrounding him. I’m not sure which is worse—his oblivion, Cooper’s sacrifice, or my hypersensitivity.
Aaron twists in his seat, excited to see if Harper purchased a kiss from him too. She matches his goofy smile with her own giddy version and makes her way to him. In the full-steam-ahead F-it style he’s perfected, he stands for a better angle and lays a long, sweltering kiss on her lips, ignoring rule number one. Cheers erupt outside the gazebo as they slowly part and wipe each other’s lips with a thumb. Her arms pump high above her head, encouraging the over-eager crowd on her way to the exit.
Aaron drops into the chair, his usual arrogance taking over his face. “Who’s up next?”
“We’ll see if you’re just as eager when Addie comes to our tables and not yours,” Cooper teases, knocking Aaron’s excitement down a few notches, and I swat a warning across his shoulder.
“Let him have his fun before he ends up like us.”
We get through the next dozen customers without incident or tongues involved, and a quick inspection of the line tells me Jada is about three back from the donation table.
“Great,” I let out between customers, and Cooper leans my way.
“What?”
“Do you know Jada Miller?”
“I’ve heard the name. What’s the problem?”
“She’s coming up in line. I knew her late husband, and we spent some time together at the duck race. She thinks it was a date.”
“Was it?”
“Not to me, but she asked me to kiss her, and I couldn’t. Carmen was there too.”
“Look at you, proving you’re Ember Falls’ most eligible bachelor like everyone thinks.”
“Shut up.” I dismiss the ridiculous comment. “Kissing her seemed wrong then and certainly now.”
He shrugs. “You’ve kissed twenty women tonight.”
“I know, but this one is different. We’ve spent time together.”
“Are you and Carmen exclusive?” he lowers his voice to ask.
“No, but—”
