Page 26 of Christmas in Mistletoe
A jolt of feeling hit Fran in the chest and melted through her veins, until it landed heavily in her stomach. She took in Ruby’s rosy cheeks and her sparkling emerald eyes, before dropping to her lips. They were oval, glossy and inviting. If she pushed herself up, she could press her lips to Ruby’s. Fran bet they tasted divine.
But then she blinked. What the hell was she thinking? She shook herself internally, ground her teeth together and flicked her gaze away. To anywhere but Ruby’s face.
Ruby might be beautiful, talented and lying on top of her, but kissing Ruby wasnevergoing to happen.It couldn’t. They’d only just got back on an even keel.
Plus, Ruby was the enemy.
A singer.
Only, with her full weight on top of Fran and a hungry look in her eye, Ruby didn’t feel like Fran’s enemy. Plus, was Ruby’s gaze lingering on Fran’s lips, too?
It was all far too confusing for this early on a Saturday morning.
“You know that falling over is conceding, right?” As Ruby tried to get up, she leaned in that little bit closer to get her balance right. As she did, her mouth stopped inches from Fran’s.
Something flickered on Ruby’s face.
Something Fran couldn’t quite work out.
Was it the same thing still flickering inside Fran? She closed her eyes and hoped it would make her brain quit working overtime.
Ruby took a deep breath and pushed herself up. Then she held out a hand.
Fran took it, then a zap of heat fizzed up her arm. She ignored it, along with the slight shake in her body. Instead, she hauled herself up and brushed herself down. The cold wasn’t bothering her anymore. Not now her internal flame was firing on all cylinders.
Ruby nodded towards the van, avoiding Fran’s gaze. “Shall we get the food to the hungry hordes?”
Chapter 11
“What about this one?”Dad stood in the Christmas tree barn, next to the tree of his choice. He grabbed one of the branches and rested it above his eye, then wiggled it up and down. “Does it look good on me?”
Pop laughed. “Like you were made for each other.” He turned to Fran. “What do you think?”
Fran was really trying not to roll her eyes. She wasn’t too old to be embarrassed by her parents. “It’s green and looks like a tree. If you like it, get it.”
Dad shook his head. “Where did we go wrong, Dale? We raised a loving, caring, creative daughter, and then she ran off to London and came back impervious to Christmas or Christmas trees.” He put both hands to his chest, then doubled over. “It’s like a dagger to our gay hearts.”
Pop pouted. “I agree with your dad. A Christmas tree is not just a tree. It’s a family member. A choice. It’s a feeling.”
Fran widened her eyes. “Have you two been drinking?”
“Nope. We just spent yesterday shovelling snow with Scott, and he schooled us. Plus, we live in Mistletoe now. You have to love Christmas and everything about it.” Dad stood straight, and put his arm around the tree. “So, I ask again. Me and Clarice the Christmas tree. Love match, or not?”
Fran couldn’t help laughing. Her parents were so much more playful since moving here. She liked it. She wasn’t going to stand in their way. “Definite love match.”
Dad gave her a grin, Pop put his arm around her, and together they carried the tree over to the checkout, currently staffed by Mary. The back barn that housed the trees was a mass of activity, showing the Tree Contest and Treasure Hunt had worked their magic. When Fran looked left, Eric was chatting to a family about their tree. Over towards the back, Paul patted a particularly statuesque variety: the Peter Crouch of trees. Fran scanned the rest of the area, but she couldn’t spot Ruby.
Fran was heading back to London tomorrow. By train, as her car still wasn’t ready, and the garage couldn’t say when it would be.
Fran would never admit it out loud, but she was sad to be leaving. This weekend had been a case study in community and team spirit, something London was severely lacking. Yes, Mistletoe didn’t even have a pub or a restaurant, but it had heart and it had soul. You couldn’t buy that.
It also had Ruby, who Fran had woken up thinking about this morning. Who had kept jumping to the front of her mind when her dads made her breakfast, and chattered excitedly about their festive plans. Fran had made the decision not to come home this Christmas. To stay in London and catch up on work. However, now she’d immersed herself in Mistletoe, she was beginning to question her logic. Was work the most important thing? Her dads didn’t seem to think so, even though they were being understanding. They always were.
Ruby certainly didn’t think work came first.
Fran wanted to find her to say goodbye. To tell Ruby she was starting to thaw towards Christmas, and towards her. However, she was still having trouble processing that in her own mind. She glanced around the barn one more time. Still no Ruby.
“Hello, lovely neighbours!” Mary took the tree from Dad like it weighed nothing. She gave it a forceful shake, and some pine needles fell to the floor. “The classic Norway spruce, good choice. It’s already been through the tree shaker to get rid of any creepy-crawlies, but I like to give it one last go.” Mary grinned, then heaved the tree into the netting machine.
