Page 36 of A Real Man for Christmas

Janet peered down her nose at Isla. “Hello.”

Isla bounced on her toes and grabbed Janet’s hand, pumping it with enthusiasm. “Hi, Janet! So nice to meet you. We’re all so excited that Lindsay is marrying Troy.”

“Yes.” Janet yanked her hand away and pushed up her glasses which had tilted under Isla’s friendly assault. She turned her back on us and took a drink from her coffee cup.

Isla’s eyes flicked to me, and I could tell exactly what was going on behind their sparkly depths. She was planning to try and break through Janet’s crispy outer shell and make Janet like her. Or she was going to do backflips trying. I smiled at her. “Good luck,” I mouthed.

Isla sidled closer to Janet. “So how do you like New York? You’re from Atlanta like us, too, right?”

Janet raised her chin. “Yes, I’m from Atlanta. As for New York, I resent it deeply.” She stared down at her cup before taking another sip.

Isla’s smile slipped. “Oh, really? Interesting. What makes you say that?”

“Lindsay.” Janet’s gaze slapped me and skittered off. “Her sister,” she said as she faced Isla, clarifying Lindsay’s relationship like Isla would forget who my sister was. “She’s the one who has forced all of us to leave our homes at Christmas to come here just so she can have her pretentious New York wedding.” She gave Isla an appraising glance. “You must resent her as well.”

Isla bit down on her lip. “Well, uh, I live here already so I don’t need to resent her. I’m here on purpose.”

Janet nodded slowly as if some bit of information had been confirmed for her. Her fixed gaze on Isla became creepy. “I thought there was something off about you,” she said at last.

Isla’s eyes blazed, and I stepped between them. “Hey, Isla, did you see Tanner’s window display today? Look! Isn’t it great?”

Isla tore her eyes from Janet and looked at the window. “What’s he selling? Snowman suits?”

I turned back to the window and frowned, studying it. “No. It’s a winter scene—trees, the snowman, the hills in the background. I think it’s meant to be festive.”

Isla moved her head in a noncommittal, side-to-side wiggle. “I guess. That snowman suit isn’t exactly flattering though.”

“That’s what I said,” Janet put in, looking excited for the first time probably ever.

“No, you didn’t,” I leaned past Isla to say. “You asked if he was snowman-shaped under the costume.”

Isla’s eyebrows went up. “Oooh! Is he?”

“What? No!” My head reared back, and I gave her a stern look. “You know that. You saw him before with the exercise system.”

She shrugged. “Yeah, I know. It’s just disappointing.”

“Disappointing that my boyfriend doesn’t have Frosty’s body? Gee, thanks.”

“Frostyisattractive,” Janet said.

Isla nodded excitedly. “Totally. It’s the hat. Frosty really pulls it off. Most people can’t.”

I rolled my eyes. “I can’t believe you two.”

Isla grabbed my arm. “Wait! Did you just sayboyfriend? So did things go well on the date last night?” Her eyebrows went up and down so suggestively they could’ve been dancing the polka.

My smile bubbled up from the inside. “Very well. We kissed.”

Isla squealed. “It’s about time!”

Janet scowled at us. “You kissedhim?” She threw a thumb in Tanner’s direction. “He looks like a mannequin.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I know. We’ve covered that.” I turned back to Isla.

“I’m just glad you’re finally moving past Josh.” Isla bit her lip. “Even though he looks a lot like Josh.”

I frowned. I was sick and tired of Josh.

---