Mistletoe Bachelors (3 page)

Madison closed her eyes and sunk deeper into the bubbles in her whirlpool tub in her hotel
room later that evening.
Ahhh
. The scent of Jasmine invigorated her senses, and the tension in
her shoulders melted away. The late night and early morning had been a bad combination, and
she planned to be in bed by eight o’clock. Her cell phone rang in the other room. The generic
ringtone, not one of the person-specific ones she’d applied. She ignored it.
Whoever it was, could
leave a message.
She reached outside of the tub and picked up her novel. She flipped the pages
with sudsy hands and readjusted her back against the plastic, water cushion.

The hotel room phone rang.
Who was that?
Few people knew where she was. Dropping the
book, she stood and reached for a towel.
The phone rang a third time.
“I’m coming,” she grumbled, sliding her feet into the terry cloth slippers.
She picked up the receiver on the fourth ring. “Hello?”
Dial tone.
“Argh.” She glared at the phone and slammed it back in place.
A loud knock rapped on her door, and she jumped. “Who is it?”
“Room service,” was the reply.
Must have the wrong room
.
Though room service did sound like a good idea
.
Maybe this
guy could take her order
. She swung the door open. “I didn’t order…” She stopped.
Cole stood in the hallway.
When was the last time she’d opened a door, and he wasn’t standing there?
The smell of Chinese food filled the hallway, and she didn’t have to ask what he carried in
the brown paper bag. A small artificial decorated Christmas tree sat propped against the
doorframe.
“What is that?” Madison hid herself behind the door.
“Dinner.” He wiggled the bag.
“I meant that.” She pointed to the tree, not letting him inside.
What was he doing here
anyway
? She hadn’t agreed to have dinner with him. Attractive men were full of assumptions
.
“A Christmas tree. I stole it from the lobby. I thought you might want to make your room a
bit festive.” He waited. “So, can I come in?”
Madison hesitated. She glanced at her towel.
Send him away
. Her stomach growled. “Yes to
the food—and you, I guess, but, no to the tree. Leave it in the hall.” Madison opened the door to
let him in.
Cole ignored her and carried the tree inside. He placed it in the corner of the suite before
setting the food on the desk, next to her open laptop.
Madison continued to shield herself with the hotel room door. “Close your eyes while I go to
the bathroom.”
“You know I have seen a woman in a towel before.” Cole gave her an amused look as he
opened the bag of food.
“I’m serious. Either close your eyes or leave.” His scrutinizing gaze made her uneasy.
Wearing a towel with her wet hair dripping down her back, she may as well be naked.
“How about I keep my back turned and unpack the food?” He continued removing the
cardboard boxes from the bag.
“Fine. But
do not
turn around.”
“You got it.” Cole laughed.
Madison shut the door and grabbed a pair of jeans and sweater from her open suitcase. She
dashed into the bathroom.
She re-entered a moment later.
Cole sat at the desk. “You writing a book or something?” His eyes were on her laptop
screen.
She sighed. She’d meant to close the open document. “Don’t read that.” She flicked the
laptop lid closed. Her cheeks flushed as she wondered how much he had read. “Haven’t you ever
heard of privacy?”
“It was open.” He shrugged. “It was good.” He smiled. “I especially liked the part about the
guy’s bulging biceps.”
He was making fun of her
. Worse, her writing
. “Should we eat?” The faster they got through
dinner, the faster she could resume her quiet evening of writing.
He handed her a box of beef and broccoli. “So, you’re not a fan of the city, and you’re a
Grinch. Have I got it right so far?” Cole looked out the window overlooking the city with a
cardboard box of rice in one hand and chopsticks in the other.
Madison sat cross-legged on her bed. “What makes you think I dislike the city?” Madison
took a bite from her fork. Chopsticks were a waste of time. She was starving.
“When you fell asleep on the ferry, you kept mumbling about how you hate the city.” He
popped a chicken ball into his mouth.
Madison’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t talk in my sleep.”
Cole nodded. “How would you know? You’re asleep.”
How
would
she know?
It had been three years since she’d shared a bed with a man. She
shook her head and let out a deep breath. “Fine, maybe I do.”
“So, why?” Cole paused, chopsticks poised in mid-air. He looked at her expectantly.
“Why what?”
Cole rolled his eyes. “Why do you hate Manhattan?”
Madison shrugged. “I just prefer the quiet pace of Staten Island.” The city life used to appeal
to her. The hustle and bustle, the crowds, the noise—they were all part of the city’s charm, but
now she liked her peaceful, work-filled life on the Island.
“Okay, I’ll buy that. So what’s with the hate on you have for Christmas? Didn’t get what
you wanted from Santa last year?” He handed her a box of rice and took the beef and broccoli.
She studied the contents in the cardboard box, refusing to meet his gaze. Discussing the
many reasons why the season made her depressed was off limits. She took a mouthful of rice and
avoided his intense, curious gaze.
“I mean, I’ve seen your office. Not a Christmas decoration or holiday card…unlike the rest
of the office, which looks like a group of elves on Prozac broke in and let loose.” He laughed.
That elf would be Samantha. Madison sighed. “Christmas is…fine. I’m just way too busy to
worry about decorating my office.”
“I see.” Cole drummed his fingers on the table. “Then why didn’t you want to take this
assignment if you wouldn’t be celebrating Christmas anyway?”
Madison cringed. This guy had a gift for getting under her skin
.
“What makes you think I
didn’t want this assignment?” Had her feelings been that obvious? She hoped Damian hadn’t
noticed. She bit her lip.
“You went pale when Damian presented the bachelor line-up.” Cole set the beef
and
broccoli aside.
He was too observant for her liking. If he wanted her to like him, he wasn’t helping his
cause. “I did not.”
“You did.” He nodded. “And you kept toying with that pendant you wear around your neck.
A nervous habit of yours?” He stood and looked out the window overlooking the street.
She glared at his back and touched the script
M
on the white gold chain hanging around her
neck. “So, I have an annoying habit. You’re reading too much into it.” Appetite gone, she folded
the lid on the cardboard box.
“So, you’re excited about the assignment?” His tone suggested he didn’t believe her.
She didn’t care. She didn’t owe him an explanation about why this was the worse
assignment she could have been given. She didn’t even know him, and she planned to keep it
that way. “Yes.”
“But not about traveling with me?”
Damn, he was insightful
. “Look, I’m sure you’re delightful,”
and sexy as hell
, “but I like my
alone time, my down time at the end of the day.” Away from these unwanted advances of a
handsome heartbreaker.
“And you think I’m going to interfere?”
Madison cocked her head to the side. “You’re in my hotel room uninvited.”
Did he need
reminding? He’d barged in here, disturbing her relaxing bath and plans to work on her
manuscript.
Cole stood and grabbed two fortune cookies from the desk. He tossed one to her and headed
for the door.
She caught the cookie in one hand. “Where are you going?” She bit her lip and closed her
eyes.
Who cares, he’s leaving
.
“I’m leaving you alone. For now. But I’m warning you—I’m a cool guy. By the end of this
trip you’re going to want to spend time with me and I may not let you.” He smiled and opened
the door.
“I doubt it.” Madison joined him at the door, her hands on her hips.
Cole chuckled. “Don’t forget to water the tree,” he called as he unlocked his room door and
disappeared inside.

Madison shifted in the passenger seat of Cole’s truck, admiring the beautiful homes in the
suburban neighborhood, twenty minutes from the city. The properties in this part of Manhattan
ranged in the multi-million
dollar range and housed some of New York’s finest. Scott
Thompson, bachelor number one was no exception. A commercial real estate broker, the fortytwo year old enjoyed a lucrative lifestyle.

Cole pulled into the long circular driveway, and Madison gasped at the manicured garden
veiled in snow. The three-story house had arching peaks at both ends of the rooftop and was
painted a deep burgundy color, with dark wood accents and trim. A dream home in a picturesque
winter setting with enormous Oak trees, which had long ago lost their leaves and now wore a
draping of snow and ice, lined edges of the property. A family of snowmen, in full costume of
hats, scarves and mittens decorated the lawn.

Cute family
. Madison liked Scott Thompson already.
A hardworking father, who still made
time for his two daughters
. She jotted a few notes in her notebook.
Cole shut off the truck and turned to face her. “I’ll set up out here and take some exterior
shots first, I’ll meet you inside.” He jumped from the truck and tossed his camera bag over one
shoulder.
Madison nodded. She gathered her purse and notebook and climbed out of the truck.
“Madison Grey? Come on in.” Scott opened the front door as she approached. He waved to
Cole. “Just let yourself in when you’re done.”
“Hello.” Madison smiled. Scott didn’t look a day over thirty, with his sandy blond hair and
hazel eyes. He was taller than she’d expected. Six foot two inches, she would guess. “Mr.
Thompson, a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for inviting us into your home.” She extended a
hand.
“Please call me, Scott.” He led the way into the living room.
“You have a fantastic home, Scott.” Madison admired the spiral staircase leading to the
upper levels of the home.
“It’s a bit extravagant for me. My wife picked it out. She loved the staircase and the open
foyer and the big yard for the girls.” Scott’s gaze landed on a photo of a beautiful woman in a
flowing blue sundress sitting on a swing in their yard.
“She was beautiful.” Madison smiled at the picture. Melissa Thompson had passed away
two years before, after a six-year battle with cancer.
“She was incredible. You know, you think over time, it would get easier, but this time of
year…” Scott gave a sad smile.
“I can’t imagine how hard a loss like that must be.” Madison surveyed the other framed
family photos on the fireplace.
“I’d be lost without the girls. Here they come.”
The sound of giggling filled the foyer as the two young girls raced into the living room.
Emma and Amelia Thompson looked like him but had their mother’s dark hair and blue
eyes. The combination was striking.
“Girls, come meet Madison. She’s going to be hanging out with us for a few days.” Scott
waved them over to join him on the couch.
“Are you the new nanny?” the youngest, Emma asked from her hiding spot behind her
father’s leg.
“No she’s writing a story about us, aren’t you?” Amelia said.
“Yes, I am. If that’s okay with you girls?” Madison sat in an armchair across from the girls.
Amelia nodded. “Sure. Emma likes to have her picture taken.”
“So do you.” The other little girl pouted, folding her arms across her tiny frame.
Madison laughed. “Cole is outside taking pictures, but he will be in soon.”
Cole entered the living room. He rubbed his red hands together for warmth.
“Uncle Cole!” Emma ran and jumped into Cole’s arms.
He caught her and spun her around the living room. The action was so natural. Madison
swallowed a lump in her throat. An unexpected reaction to the sight.
“You’re their uncle?”
He hadn’t mentioned he knew any of the bachelors
. She shot him a
quizzical look.
He nodded and shrugged, tickling Emma.
The little girl squealed in delight.
“Cole is Melissa’s brother, my brother-in-law.” Scott shook Cole’s hand and slapped him on
the back. “He’s the only reason we agreed to do this. Good to see you.”
Madison watched the familiar exchange between the two, and her eyes drifted back to the
photograph of Melissa. The two could be twins.
Scott took Emma from him and set her back on the floor.
“Dad, now that Uncle Cole is here, can we eat the cookies we baked?” Amelia tugged on her
father’s shirt.
“It’s only nine o’clock in the morning. Isn’t that too early for cookies?” Scott smiled at his
daughter.
Amelia looked disappointment.
“It’s never too early for a cookie.” Cole winked at Scott. He turned to Madison. “You eat
cookies for breakfast all the time don’t you?”
Amelia’s eyes were hopeful as she looked between the adults.
“All the time.” Madison nodded and smiled.
Scott shrugged and shook his head. “Okay then. I guess I’ve been outvoted. Let’s go into the
kitchen.” He led the way.
Emma trailed behind and slid her hand into Madison’s. She gestured for her to come closer.
Madison bent lower. “Yeah?”
“I’ve already eaten three.” The little girl giggled.

Madison’s arms ached under the weight of the nine-foot pine tree box as she danced from
one foot to the other outside the local children’s hospital. Every year the Thompson family set up
a Christmas tree for the children too sick to go home for the holidays. She blew the tassel from
her elf hat out of her eyes and waited for the automatic door to open. This assignment was
already turning out to be more
hands on
than she’d anticipated.
So much for just observing.
She
caught a glimpse of herself in the glass door as they entered and sighed. Samantha would be
proud. The green velvet elf hat the Thompson family insisted she wear looked ridiculous. No one
had taken her protests seriously, and she’d even been forced to wear the matching hat. The
ligaments in her forearm felt like they were about to tear, and her fingers were slipping from the
corner of the box. She wondered how she’d gotten stuck carrying this heavy thing anyhow.
Where was Cole?
She hadn’t seen him since they arrived in the parking lot. “Are we planning to
put this down soon?” She called over the top of the box to Scott.