“Ignore this clown.” He bids his customers a merry Christmas before heading my way and slapping me over the back. “Look what the New York alley cat dragged into town. You swinging by on your way to warmer climates, I hope.”
“Nope.” I pull him in and pat him on the arm. Any time I’m hanging out with Nick, no matter how much time has elapsed, we pick up right where we left off. “I’m here to stay. One solid month. Tanner called a family meeting, and I’m game to see what it’s all about. I’ll be at my parents’ for dinner. Maybe they’ll spill the beans.”
“I’ll spill them,” a familiar husky voice calls from behind, and I startle for a moment as I find my brother staring back at me. Tanner has always been a slightly younger version of myself—by two years to be exact—same strong jaw, dark hair. His eyes don’t know the trick to smiling on their own, though. In fact, over the years, Tanner has perfected a scowl that he wears around the clock. It’s not a good look if you ask me. “So you’re here, huh?” He treks on over, no handshake, no hug, no surprise. “Mom and Dad went to Colorado Springs. They’ll be back in a few days.”
“Ah.” I nod as I give a quick glance to Nick. He’s well aware of the strangled tension between Tanner and me. Heck, he’s witnessed it firsthand for years. “So the suspense lives on.”
“Nope.” Tanner takes a breath that expands his chest twice its size, and a part of me wonders if he’s trying to intimidate me. “I’m not the type to keep someone hanging.” He narrows his eyes my way as if I should know what he’s harping about. “I’ve got the orchard on life support. But soon enough, Holiday Pies will be DOA. As soon as Mom and Dad get back, I’m going to break the news to them, and we’re going to close it out with our accountant.”
My stomach drops at the thought of losing something that’s been in our family for years. “There’s no way we’re doing that. Let me see the numbers. I’ll get a marketing team together, and we’ll try to breathe new life into it.”
Tanner shakes his head, a dull laugh dying in his chest. “You think you can just ride into town on your white horse, throw a marketing team at the business, and it’ll perk right back up? And what happens when you do your yearlong disappearing act once again? Look, Holiday Pies is over. It’s dead, and I’m out.” He pulls a hundred dollar bill out of his pocket and hands it over to Nick. “That should cover the tree.” He takes off for his beat-up old Chevy with the original cherry red paint job faded along with days gone by. It was my grandfather’s truck, and Tanner has babied that thing since he was a kid himself.
“You forgot your tree!” I shout over at him, and he turns around. I’m half-expecting him to flip me the bird, but instead, he glowers at me and I can’t figure out which is worse.
“Wasn’t for me.” He hops into his truck and speeds right out of the dirt lot.
Nick stuffs the bill into his front pocket. “It’s for the community center. Tanner—Holiday Orchards—donates the tree every year.”
I can’t help but frown in the direction of my brother’s dust. “He might just have a heart yet.”
No sooner does any remnant of my brother dissipate than a van with a giant cookie slapped on the side pulls in. The sign readsGingerbread Bakery and Caféand, sure enough, a bubbly blonde bounces out, along with an equally perky puppy.
“There’s my girl.” I head over and scoop Noel up into my arms.
“Geez.” Nick comes over and mock socks my arm. “For a second I thought you were talking about my sister. That would have been a friendship killer right there.” He gives Noel a quick scratch. “Of course, I’d have to kill you if you were.” He flashes a smile at his sister who looks as if she’s moved to kill us both.
“Neither of you is funny,” she quips before looking to her brother. “But I like your line of thinking.”
A bright red Mercedes careens into the lot, and the three of us jump to safety behind a Douglas fir tall enough to fill a two-story building.
A redhead gets out, wrapped in a crimson wool coat and long black boots that hug her legs all the way up to her thighs. Her lips are doused in the same bright color she’s sporting, and her eyes widen twice their size once she gets a look at me.
“Well, I’ll be—” She waves my way with her creamy white scarf. “Is that you, Graham Holiday?” She does her best to tiptoe over, and her boots have her slipping and sliding all the way here.
Nick catches her by the elbow, and she’s quick to bat him away.
“It’s been years since my eyes have had a carnal feast with you!” She lunges at me with open arms, and Noel growls and nips at her wrist. “Oh my God!” she howls so loud you’d think she lost an arm in the effort. “Put that beast down!” she cries and backs away as if noticing Noel for the first time. “Like, really, put it down, as in goodnight, sayonara, it’s time to take a dirt nap.”
“Sabrina Jarrett!” Missy is quick to cover Noel’s floppy ears with her hands. Then just as quickly as her temper flared, she takes Noel from me and forces a smile. “Now, maybe you don’t care for dogs of the canine kind, but I’m betting you have more than a hankering for the human variety and, believe you me, there is no dirtier dog than Graham Holiday.” She takes a moment to sneer my way. “Nick?” She does her best to blink innocently at her brother, but I know Missy far too well to realize there isn’t one innocent thing about her intentions. “You mind helping me see how Noel does with the reindeer?”
“You bet.”
Missy puts Noel down and holds onto the leash for the ride as Sabrina and I watch them speed toward the fun zone.
“No use in watching from afar.” I tick my head toward the corral filled with Santa’s motorcade. “I’m betting Noel steals the show from every creature Nick has tucked in this place. Can’t wait to see the smile on those kids’ faces.”
A wretched groan comes from her as she hooks her arm through mine. “Dogs and kids are right up there with insects and vermin. Why don’t you help me pick out a tree for my living room? I’m thinking a noble about twelve to fifteen feet.” She leans in close, her long lashes doing their best to bat their way into my good graces. “Like I say, go big”—she runs her hand up over my biceps—“and you are big—and then take them home.” She licks her lips with a promise, and it hits me. It was no coincidence that Missy showed up a second before Sabrina here ambled out of her fancy ride. I glance back to the corral and, sure enough, Missy’s eyes are feasted on the two of us. Nick is in the pen with Noel, and Missy couldn’t care less. She’s here for a show, and something tells me it’s this one. If Missy wants a show, I’ll make sure she gets one.
I wrap an arm around Sabrina and give Missy a little wave, and her mouth falls open. She gives an awkward flick of the fingers my way, and I can’t help but feel a smug sense of satisfaction. Something isn’t right, and I’m about to get to the bottom of it.
One thing is for sure.
Mistletoe Winters is most definitely up to no good.
