Page 62 of Mistletoe Meet Cute
Tomato. To-mah-to.
Holly
Fine. I’ll wear something nicer, but I don’t have anything super sexy with me.
Hadley
Just no dumb Christmas saying shirts tonight, Holls.
Holly
I like my shirts.
Hadley
We know, but wear something else. Gotta go. See you soon.
CAMDEN
“Hey, Grinch, what do you think?” Holly walks into the kitchen with Sophie in her arms, the two of them looking like the best Christmas gift I could ever be given.
“I think my girls look beautiful.” And they really do. I take Sophie from Holly and laugh at the thick white bow wrapped around her head with cute red-and-white striped candy canes embroidered on it that match her dress. “You know she’s going to rip that off, right?”
Holly runs her hand along Sophie’s downy, soft-brown hair. “She and I had a little chat, and we’ve agreed she’s going to leave it on for pictures. Aren’t you, sweetheart?”
Sophie claps her hands and pumps her feet, sensing the excitement in the air.
“I’m ready when you are, Grinch.” Holly kisses my cheek and grabs her purse. “Did you put all the packages in the car?”
“Yeah. They’re in there,” I tell her.
“Perfect. Okay, last chance to back out,” she warns, and I grin.
“Not a chance.”
Holly kisses my cheek and heads for the door. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
By the time we make our way down the long driveway of The Barn, the headlights cut through the falling snow, leaving a halo effect everywhere they touch. Holly leans toward the window, taking it all in. “I swear he said he was closing early today. But he didn’t mention inviting anyone else for dinner. I still don’t understand why we’re doing dinner at The Barn and not the house.”
“Maybe your dad’s feeling festive. Or maybe your sisters wanted to show off the event space,” I deadpan, easing us into the only spot left between Luke’s SUV and a cherry-red Mercedes. When I check out the rearview, Sophie giggles, kicking her feet like she knows a secret she’s tired of keeping, and honestly, same, kiddo. Same.
Holly narrows her icy-blue eyes at me. “You’re up to something.”
“Why would you say that?” I play dumb.
She purses her lips, staring at the house. “Because something isn’t adding up.”
“Definesomething...” I try to play it off.
“Camden,” she tries for authoritative but comes off more cute than cop.
“Do you trust me?” I ask and open the car door.
With a dramatic sigh, she smiles, and I relax. “For the sake of my self-preservation, I feel like I should reserve the right to answer. But yes, Grinch, I trust you.”
“Good, then let’s go inside and figure the rest out later.” I round the car and unbuckle Sophie, lifting her in my arms and throwing the diaper bag over my shoulder before opening Holly’s door and holding out my hand. “Ready?”
“Absolutely not,” she laughs, shaking her head.
