Page 63 of Mistletoe Meet Cute
And seconds later when we walk through the doors, the world explodes.
“Surprise!”
Holly startles, her hands flying to her mouth as she just ... stops. Breathing. Blinking. Moving. She stops everything.
When I talked to Luke last weekend, I had no idea what he and his sisters would be able to manage, but damn, they did well. The place has been transformed into a winter wonderland fit for a queen... or my beautiful vixen.
Evergreen garlands and strands of cranberries are strung with golden string lights, twinkling above as they hang from the open timber beams of the vaulted ceiling. A twenty-foot tree sits in the corner of the room, every branch beaded with glass cherries and mistletoe, and a hand-blown glass dragonfly sits at the top. The tasting bar is piled high with a beautiful arrangement of food and a towering red-velvet birthday cake with candy-cane sparklers on the top tier.
It’s all fucking perfect, and as Holly looks around the room, tears pool in her eyes. She lifts her face to mine and steps into me. “You did this. This is what you were up to.”
“Happy birthday, vixen.” She drops her face to my chest. “Love you, Holly.”
And when she looks back up at me, her eyes are clear, and her smile is incredible. “I love you too, Camden. So much.”
Well, damn . . .
Her family converges before I can tell her what she means to me.
“Thank you, sweet baby Jesus in a manger, you did not wear a punny sweater. I’m so proud of you.” Hadley squeezes Holly before she’s passed to Ryleigh, who grins mischievously.
“You’re lucky. I was going to bedazzle one that saidSleigh My Name.”
“Oh wow,” Holly vibrates. “Was that my birthday present?”
“It can be,” Ryleigh teases.
Luke catches Holly in a hug that lifts her off her feet. “Love you, Holls.”
“Did you do this, Luke?” she asks him when he sets her back down, and my center shakes his head and points at me.
“This was all Monroe.”
“Hey,” Rainey argues. “It was his idea, but we helped make it happen.”
A guy who looks like a younger version of Luke walks over with his hands shoved into his pockets. His grin is lopsided, and his eyes are warm. “Happy birthday, Holls.”
“Briggs,” she squeals and jumps at him, forcing him to catch her. “We missed you.”
“Yeah, I heard.” He looks across the room at their dad, who’s standing off to the side. “Rainey and Dad already have work lined up for me for the rest of break.” He turns toward me. “And you must be Camden and Sophie.”
I hitch Sophie higher and shake his hand.
“I can’t believe you organized this,” Holly whispers, awed.
“Believe it. That man of yours is a bully with a Google doc,” Rainey adds.
Hadley shakes her head. “Better be careful, Holls. Rainey might just try to steal your man. She loves a good Google doc.”
“Spreadsheets are better,” Rainey corrects her.
“I incentivized, not bullied. And be grateful I did. Hades wanted a disco ball.”
“Aww, Grinch. You called me Hades. That makes you family now.” Hadley laughs at me, and my heart squeezes as Holly rests her head on my shoulder. “It’s a good vibe.”
“Uh-huh.” Rainey says primly. “Rustic chic is the only acceptable vibe at Cherry Creek. You were going for stripper chic.”
“No strippers at the vineyard, Hadley,” Holly’s dad announces when he finally joins the growing group. He shakes my hand with a smile. “You sure you know what you’re doing, Camden? My kids are feral.”
