“Merry Christmas Eve, girls!” Maude chirped. “I thought you might like some mulled wine to start off the festivities,” she added and stepped into the room without waiting for permission. She paused, glancing around with obvious delight. “Oh my, Darla’s done a wonderful job in here, hasn’t she?” Then her eyes drifted upward, catching sight of the mistletoe, and a knowing smile spread across her face as she looked between Mack and Holly.
Mack felt her face grow hot. “Thank you for the mulled wine,” she said quickly, hoping to change the subject. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”
“Oh, it’s my pleasure, dear.” Maude set the tray down on the small table. “I saw the lights were on, so I thought I’d best catch you before you’re off again. You two enjoy now.” With a final wink, she bustled out, leaving Mack and Holly alone once again.
An awkward silence fell over the room. The kiss still lingered between them, unspoken but impossible to ignore.
Mack cleared her throat, desperate to break the silence. “So,” she began, her voice coming out a bit higher than usual as she picked up one of the mugs. “About that romantic Christmas date we planned… Are you still up for it?”
“Of course. I just need to get changed.” Holly smiled shyly as she picked up her own mug and took a sip. “Ouch!” She winced and brought a hand to her mouth. “Don’t drink it yet. I just burned my lips.”
“Are you okay?” Mack asked.
“Yeah.” Holly chuckled. “I will be if you kiss them better.”
Mack set down her mug and stepped closer, her eyes locked on Holly’s lips. “Well, we can’t have you injured before our big date,” she murmured, her voice low and teasing. She leaned in, brushing her lips softly against Holly’s before claiming her mouth.
Mack moaned as Holly’s hand slid into her coat and underneath her sweater, teasing her skin and leaving a trail of fire everywhere she touched her.
Mack slid her hand down Holly’s side, resting on the curve of her hip. Holly arched into the touch, and a soft whimper escaped her throat.
Their kisses became more urgent, a slow burn igniting into a wildfire, and Mack’s senses went into overdrive. The tinny jingle of a tiny ornament falling from the curtain rod, the crinkle of Holly’s coat as it slid to the floor, the faint scent of cinnamon from the mulled wine mingling with Holly’s perfume—each detail etched itself into her memory.
She smiled into the kiss, overcome by the absurdity and the beauty of their situation. Holly must have felt it too, because she started giggling, the vibrations of her laughter adding a new, delightful dimension to their intimate embrace.
Mack silently thanked her lucky stars for Maude and her mistletoe, grateful for this unexpected bug in her holiday plans that had turned into the most delightful feature. As she pulled back, she saw Holly’s eyes were still closed, a contented smile playing on her lips. “Better?”
“Much better,” Holly whispered. Her eyes fluttered open, and her smile widened. “But maybe we should make sure. Just to be safe.” And with that, she pulled Mack in for another kiss, the mulled wine and their impending date momentarily forgotten.
Chapter 12
Holly
Holly sipped her mulled wine, savoring the warm spices as they danced across her tongue. The Mistletoe Diner buzzed with festive energy around her, but her focus remained on Mack, who sat across the table, phone in hand. The soft glow from the screen illuminated Mack’s face as she video-called her sister. She was wearing jeans and a black cashmere sweater and she looked so attractive Holly couldn’t keep her eyes off her.
Holly was still buzzing after their make-out session and all she could think of was that she wanted more. So much more. She’d called her parents earlier and could hardly concentrate on the conversation.
“Still no contractions?” Mack asked.
Holly listened intently, picking up the muffled voice on the other end confirming that labor hadn’t started yet. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt—part of her was selfishly glad that Mack was still here with her, even as she understood how important it was for Mack to be there for her sister’s big moment.
“How are you holding up, Mack?” the voice from the phone asked, louder this time. “It must be incredibly frustrating being stranded like this.”
Mack’s eyes flicked up, meeting Holly’s gaze. A small smile played at the corners of her mouth. “You know what? Being stranded isn’t so bad after all,” she replied, her tone light. “As long as the baby waits until I can get there, I’m doing just fine.”
Holly grinned sheepishly. The way Mack looked at her, with that mixture of mischief and affection, made her weak in every limb. It was hard to believe that just yesterday, they’d been strangers arguing at an airport. Now, here they were, sharing secret smiles in a kitschy diner, their legs tangled together underneath the table.
“Oh, really?” Mack’s sister’s voice held a note of curiosity. “Please explain because we were all feeling sorry for you.”
Mack’s grin widened. “Well, I’ve made a new friend. Want to meet her?” Without waiting for a response, Mack turned the phone around. “Mom, Dad, Sis—this is Holly. She’s stranded too and we’re about to have dinner together.”
Caught off guard, Holly quickly swallowed her mouthful of wine and waved at the screen. “Hi there,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t betray her nervousness. “It’s nice to meet you all.”
Three smiling faces peered back at her from the phone screen. Mack’s sister—heavily pregnant and glowing—sat in the center of a big white couch, flanked by an older couple Holly assumed were Mack’s parents. The family resemblance was striking; they all shared Mack’s warm, expressive eyes, but none of them had brightly colored hair or looked eccentric in any way.
“Holly!” Mack’s sister exclaimed. “So you’re the reason my sister isn’t chomping at the bit to get home. I’m Sarah, by the way. That’s Mom and Dad.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Holly,” Mack’s mother chimed in, her smile warm and welcoming. “I hope you’re both staying safe in that storm.”
