Page 29 of Under the Mistletoe
Rand blinked at the goblet, then took it from his brother as reality coursed through him like lead filling his soul. The woman from the river…the one he’d been searching for was Princess Astryn, his brother’s future bride. His future sister-in-law.
The room narrowed to only her as she floated down the steps. Her long blonde hair flowing behind her picked up the light of the candles and almost gave her the appearance of a wood nymph.
Her eyes scanned the room before landing on first him and then his brother. The pause in his direction had been for but a moment, but her blue eyes had drilled right through him. Was that longing? Curiosity? Hope? Whatever it was, it disappeared as a wall seemed to slam down in her expression. Gone was the Astryn he’d met in the glade. This was Princess Astryn, his future queen. Rand swallowed against the weight in his chest, then blinked away.
It didn’t matter. No woman had ever had a hold on him, and that wouldn’t change today.
He patted Orin on the shoulder. “It isn’t the face you have to watch out for. It is all that is behind that smile. She is probably a pampered shrew who is used to always getting her way.”
If only Princess Astryn were the shallow, entitled woman he was conjuring in his head right now, he might be able to keep himself from wanting her. But he already knew she wasn’t like that, which meant one thing. He already did want her. She had latched herself into his heart, and he had no idea how to shake her loose.
Orin stepped forward to claim her for the first dance, and Rand turned away. He dropped the goblets on a nearby table and kept walking. He forced one foot in front of the other rather than going back and asking to steal the dance. Rather than promising her again to build her that cottage. Rather than demanding to know if this was what she really wanted or if she was simply being loyal to her own crown.
He needed air.
No matter what it cost him, he couldn’t jeopardize this alliance. Anathia needed it. Orin needed it.
He blew out a deep breath as he pushed through heavy oak doors into the night air, but even that wasn’t enough to clear his head. A long ride on Calavar might do it. He headed toward the stable and picked up his pace.
Look at that. It turned out he could put the crown above his own desires. And it was just as wretched as he’d feared it would be.
* * *
Devin closed her eyes and set the phone aside, letting the scene tumble through her.She had latched herself into his heart, and he had no idea how to shake her loose.She’d never felt a statement more. Logan’s eyes questioning her about her childhood flashed before her.
She had to be honest. As much as she tried to keep Logan at a distance, all it had taken was one question—one caring look—and she’d already started to fall for him. They might be done with the visits, but he said he’d be at the skating.
Maybe she’d call him and say he didn’t need to come. Her heart twisted. She couldn’t do that to the Wallis kids.
No matter what it cost him…Anathia needed it. Orin needed it.The Wallis kids needed it.
The kids had to come first for her. So Devin just had to figure out how to survive until Christmas. Unfortunately, a long ride on a horse wasn’t an option for her, but maybe a bowl of ice cream would do the trick.
* * *
What Logan needed to be doing was working on his next chapter, not shopping in a mall in Muskegon on a Saturday. Correction. He wasn’t shopping. He was waiting for his sister and sister-in-law while they shopped and navigated the holiday crowds. Logan tucked his feet under the bench as a young family with a stroller navigated their three kids to the line for Santa that had grown twice as long since he’d claimed a spot on the bench next to Luke and Austin thirty minutes ago.
The boy at the front of the line burst into tears as they led him toward the jolly old man, but it wasn’t quite loud enough to drown out “All I Want for Christmas Is You” that poured over the speaker for the second time.
Logan glanced at Luke and Austin sitting on the bench next to him with their eyes glued to their phones. He held his breath, waiting for their reaction to his fourth chapter. It wouldn’t be published until tomorrow, but Luke and Austin had begged for an early glimpse while they waited for the ladies, so he’d sent them the file. Why was watching people read his work so intimidating?
Christina wanted chapter five tonight, but his mom had been so excited for the annual ornament shopping trip that he couldn’t say no. He just hadn’t counted on the added stores and waiting for his parents to treat all the grandkids to Cookies with Santa.
“I’ll give you this. When you decide to put your heart on the page, you don’t hold anything back.” Luke blew out a long breath.
“What?” Hadn’t Luke been reading the chapter?
“I mean, you’re Rand, right?” Luke motioned to his screen.
What in the world was Luke talking about?
“I thought he was Orin”—Austin lowered his phone—“so does Libby. She said you have always undervalued yourself.”
Logan let his gaze bounce from one to the other, then back. “I have no idea what you two are talking about.”
“Two brothers, one girl. Like the party you told me about.” Luke exchanged a look with Austin, then shrugged. “We all assumed?—”
“It’s fiction.” Logan stood and pulled out his phone and searched for the file. “This has nothing to do with me or Devin or even Liam, for that matter. I thought I’d made it clear I wasn’t interested in Devin anymore.”
