Page 48 of Christmas in Mistletoe
“I wondered if you’d like some banana bread and tea before you head out into the cold?” He glanced at Ruby, then at Fran. Could he feel the crackle in the air? Or was he oblivious?
“Sure. Let me just show Ruby these designs, then we’ll be down.” She ushered him out of the room. Then she shut the door and let out a breath.
Fran caught Ruby’s gaze. She gave her a wide grin.
Fran slid down the door, laughter taking hold of her. “We’re far too old to be living with our parents, aren’t we?”
Ruby laughed, then sat on the floor next to her. “In our defence, it’s not what we normally do. This is a break from our normal lives. We’re in Mistletoe. What happens in Mistletoe stays in Mistletoe.”
Fran paused. Was Ruby talking about their situation, too? It was too early to ask. They’d shared two kisses. One way too short. She’d like a do-over.
Instead, Fran opened her laptop and showed Ruby the designs, which she approved immediately. To be honest, Fran could have shown Ruby anything. Neither of them was concentrating anymore.
“Tea’s ready!” Dad shouted up the stairs.
Fran rolled her eyes. “It’s definitely a break. Not normality, thank goodness.” She stood, then held out a hand. “Shall we have tea and cake, then go make that snowman?”
Ruby got up and dropped another kiss on Fran’s lips. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter 20
Ruby snappedon the light at the back of the barn. A bright yellow hue drenched the nearest part of the field. The Christmas trees stood in lines, spaced out liberally.
“If you want to build a snowman, the only way to do it is in a field full of Christmas trees. We can use this field, as this isn’t open to the public this year. Your last snowman was built in your garden, right?”
“Most of us don’t have a farm, so yes.” Fran shivered, then smashed her gloved hands together, taking in the scene. “This is pretty epic, though. A Christmas tree forest. Even for this hard-hearted Christmas avoider, you can’t get a better location. Or smell.” Fran took a lungful of the pine air.
Ruby walked up to the nearest tree. “See the tag on the bottom? The trees are colour-coded so my family know how old they are, which to leave, and which to chop.” She shook some branches and the tree danced side to side. “Most households want six-foot trees in the run-up to Christmas, but hotels, holiday parks and restaurants always need them taller and earlier. Plus, larger trees are needed for photoshoots from September onwards, too. Mistletoe Farm grows them to demand.”
Fran gave a nod. “Makes sense. I never thought Christmas trees were needed until December.”
“Most people don’t. The first half of the year is spent planting, hand-pruning, shaping and fertilising. The second half is all about getting the trees to businesses, then getting the farm ready for the Christmas onslaught. It’s a year-round business.” Ruby patted the tree fondly.
“You never thought about going into it?”
Ruby shook her head. “I love being around it, especially at Christmas. People are always happy when they’re buying a tree. It’s impossible not to be. Plus, it’s in my blood. But so is music. Dad, Mum and Scott have it covered, so Victoria and I can do our own thing.”
“I love how important family is here. My parents have always been my rock. Perhaps I need to be around more for them, too.”
“Mistletoe has a way of putting things in perspective.” Ruby stared at Fran. Wrapped up in her new gear, she was still sexy. Ruby wanted to kiss her again. But the snowman came first.
“You’re not wrong.” Fran stared right back, then pointed at the quad bikes lined up outside the barn. “What do you use those for?”
“To zip around the fields, and to transport the trees after they’re chopped down. And for looking cool to women, of course.”
Fran grinned. “Wear a check shirt and I’m surprised you don’t have lesbians queueing up. I’d love to have a go some time.”
“It can be arranged.” Ruby shivered. She could think of ways of heating up.
Fran blew out a frozen breath. “I know this is idyllic, but it’s still a little cold. Can we start our snowman?”
Ruby crinkled her forehead. “I need a little more romance from you, city girl.”
Fran laughed. “Real life is never quite as romantic as the vision in your head. Like having sex on a beach. Great in theory. In practice, sand in your foof.”
Ruby shook her head, trying to get the image of a naked Fran on the beach out of her mind. “Foof? Really?”
“What do you call it?”
