Page 54 of The Mistletoe Mix-up

Wren laughed. “I really missed you.”

“You’re the one who wanted to go traipsing around the country, catching bad guys in big cities and getting shot in inappropriate places.”

“Hey!” Wren was used to people cracking jokes about her injury, but it still stung sometimes. She’d done her job, and if she’d had all the information, it never would have happened. “It wasn’t my fault. I was chasing the other guy and had no idea he had a buddy.”

“Whatever,” Millie said, grinning sheepishly. “I just think you like to tell that story to get guys to look at your butt.”

“Girl, my butt is awesome,” Wren said, hopping up from the couch and turning around. “I don’t need an excuse to make them look.

“No, you don’t,” Millie said, smacking her butt. “But then again, why do you want them looking at it if they can’t have you?”

“They can have me for a good time, just not for a long time.”

Millie shook her head. “I would like to have somebody for more than just a good time.”

“What about the science teacher?” Wren asked, flopping down next to her again. “I thought things were going well.”

“He’s fine.” Wren’s eyebrows hiked at the lackluster response, and when Millie saw her expression, she added with more enthusiasm, “He’s nice, but I guess I figure, I’ve waited for so long. I don’t wanna settle. I want somebody I’m excited to see every day.”

“Then stop dating him and don’t settle.”

Millie made a face. “And the alternative is to sit at home alone, eating ice cream or drinking whiskey with my best friend?”

“You were doing that anyways while you’re dating the science guy.”

Millie brought her legs up on the couch and hugged her knees. “Because he is sick with a sinus infection and doing nose therapy.”

Wren waggled her eyebrows. “Do you wanna know what nose therapy is? I could show you a video.”

“No, you will not, because when I looked it up before, I almost threw up.” Millie shook her head. “Normally, I would just call things off, but he is a nice guy, and having a date for all of the Christmas festivities at school makes it a little less awkward.”

“Really?” Wren said skeptically. “’Cause it seems to me if you went to the school functions alone, you might be able to make the moves on a certain physical education teacher.”

Millie rolled her eyes. “Matt is never going to look at me like that.”

“And why not?”

“Because he’s had three years to notice me and hasn’t yet.”

“You also act like he’s your pal,” Wren argued, pointing at her, “and don’t put yourself out there.”

“What else am I supposed to do?” Millie asked.

“Show him that you’re interested and available?”

“And what about when I embarrass myself, and he rejects me hard-core, and I have to quit my job and move away?” Millie waved her hand in the air. “What advice would you give me then?”

“You know what I’m saying.” Wren scooted closer and put her arm around her shoulder, adding, “If you never take a chance, how are you gonna know? Frankly, I would rather know that I did everything in my power to get what I wanted than sit on my laurels and lament about how I wish things could be different.”

“So what you’re saying is you’re turning my advice around on me?”

“You caught that, did you?” Millie gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “You’re welcome!”

Chapter Sixteen

The Wolf’s Den was packed as usual on a Saturday night, and while Sam normally didn’t hit any bar on its busiest night, it turned out he actually did need a drink after his encounter with Wren. Sam was drinking straight Jack and considering how he’d gotten to this moment. Two weeks ago, he was a strapping, virile man who had women eating out of the palm of his hands, and now he was a dating pariah. On top of everything else, he thought he might want a relationship with the one woman he knew who wanted to remain single for the rest of her life. The irony was not lost on him.

Sam had his phone out, scrolling through dating profiles, when he remembered the blonde in the black nightie. He went looking for her, and although it took a few minutes, he recognized her picture and clicked on it.