Mistletoe Mischief (11 page)

Authors: Stacey Joy Netzel

“Earth to Mark.” Eric waved a hand in front of his face before checking out what’d captured his attention.

Mark snapped his gaze back to his brother. “What?”

Eric gave him a knowing grin after Janelle moved out of sight. “I asked if you heard anything on that resort property?”

“The family accepted my counter offer and I close on Monday.”

“Congratulations.” Eric slapped him on the back and shook his hand. “I’m happy you’ll be hanging around—not to mention the jobs and tourist dollars will be great for the local economy.”

“I know. And as soon as I deal with some animal rights nutcase the aunt had living with her, I can get started on the renovations. You going to be ready to do some work with me after the New Year, little brother?”

“Of course, but why didn’t you let the owners deal with this person before closing?”

“I didn’t want to risk them getting a better offer. Besides, the estate lawyer assures me it’s not that complicated. He plans to hand deliver the old bat an eviction notice on Tuesday, and fourteen days later, I’ll be free to move in.”

“Old bat?” Eric frowned. “That seems a little callus. It’ll be Christmas Eve.”

Mark steeled himself against the guilt that attempted to flare up. “Yeah, that was uncalled for, but she knew this was coming, so it’s not my fault she didn’t take the time to relocate her little menagerie. The family has been more than patient in the six months since the aunt died and the property was tied up in probate, but they say she refuses to listen to reason.”

“Did you even meet her when you went out to look at the place last month?”

“I met some of the animals—that was more than enough.”

Enough to put him right back in the hospital after his unit had been hit by the last roadside bomb in Iraq this past summer. He hadn’t been injured, but the haunted eyes of his men still woke him up at night. One or two of the animals in the barn had regarded him with that same look in their eyes, and the two Husky dogs roaming the yard had viewed him with particular suspicion, giving him the willies with their clear, light blue eyes.

The woman definitely had to go.

“I think you should meet her,” Eric stated.

“Mind your own business,” Mark shot back with a flash of annoyance.

His brother’s brows rose in surprise, but before he could say anything, his name rang out above the noise.

“Eric!”

Marissa Riley, his brother’s new wife as of October, hurried over from the direction of the Snow Queen float.
Thank, God
. The last thing he wanted to do was explain to Eric why he couldn’t have those soul-wounded animals hanging around on his property.

“Jim and Jill Newel are stuck home with the flu,” Marissa said, her tone bordering on panic. “We need someone to take Jim’s place.”

Eric held up his hands and shook his head with a frown. “No way.”

“Come on, hon, you know the girls would get a kick out of having you up there with them. And you’re close enough to Jim’s size that you’ll fit in his costume.”

Eric hesitated.

“Please?” Marissa gave a smile that Mark suspected made his brother do just about anything for her.

Sure enough, Eric’s stern expression softened, and he sighed with resignation.
Sucker.
Mark didn’t bother to hide his amusement.

“Are you filling in for Jill?” Eric asked.

Marissa scoffed. “Right—like I could fit into her dress with this baby stomach.” She patted her still-slim figure hidden under her winter coat. “Not to mention, she’s six inches shorter than me.”

“Hey, I know, how about Mark?” Eric suggested with a sudden grin.

Mark opened his mouth to protest, but Marissa had already started back to the float. She called over her shoulder, “I don’t care who does it, but please hurry. Janelle’s changing into the Queen’s dress right now, and Derek is going to drive her wagon.”

Eric lifted an eyebrow in silent question toward Mark.

Saying
no
wasn’t so automatic after the mention of Janelle’s name. Mark shrugged with feigned nonchalance. Riding on the float with the little elf would give him a chance to talk to her again.

“Yeah, sure, why not? I don’t mind helping out.”

“Good man.” Eric’s deep chuckle made Mark cast a suspicious glance over his shoulder, but Eric had already turned his back. Mark couldn’t tell if his brother laughed at him, or something one of the guys said. He shook off the thought and continued to the float.

Janelle faced away from him on the decorated wagon, wearing a white form-fitting dress that nipped in at her hips before billowing around her like a fluffy, glitter-encrusted cloud. Long, fitted sleeves with fur trim belled just above the wrist to cover her white gloves, and a jeweled, silver tiara sat atop her wild red curls.

Mark decided to cash in on Eric’s earlier joke. He clicked his heels together and snapped his hand up in a smart salute. “Major Riley, reporting for duty.”

Janelle spun around, and his smile died on his lips. As an elf with pointy ears, she was cute. As a Snow Queen in that shimmery creation, she was breathtakingly beautiful. While the top of the dress covered her throat, emphasizing her long, slender neck, the bodice outlined her curves to perfection. He forced his gaze upward.

Framed by those burgundy-red curls, her cheeks glowed from the chill of the winter air. Her mouth caught his attention and held it. White glitter lipstick made a stark contrast against her flushed face, accentuating a full bottom lip that beckoned him to jump aboard the float to press his mouth to hers. Sheer willpower raised his attention.

Their gazes locked for a timeless moment, and he swore the color in her face deepened.

“Uncle Mark!” Reese exclaimed.

Mark blinked and dropped his salute. His gaze took in his niece and her step-sister, Heather. “Hey, girls, wow...don’t you both look beautiful.”

They giggled and preened, showing off their dresses that were miniature copies of the one Janelle wore, with slight variations. Reese wore a gold crown of starred garland to compliment her black curls, and Heather’s garland was a shiny black, to offset her straight blond locks. Both girls wore thick, white faux-fur stoles around their shoulders to keep them warm. Standing next to Janelle, the three of them were picture-perfect, and Mark made the appropriate sounds of appreciation.

“Aren’t you marching with Daddy?” Reese asked.

“No, Princess, I’m all yours.” He gave her a wink before letting his gaze settle on Janelle once more. Anticipation sped up his pulse. “So, Your Majesty, am I your Prince, or what?”

At that moment, Marissa came around the back corner of the float. “Oh, good, you’re here. You can change in the van back there, but hurry—we start in five minutes.”

She thrust a bundle of multi-colored material into his arms and pointed behind the float. Mark resisted when she pushed him toward the van.

“What is this?” he asked with a frown.

“Your costume.”

He was a guy who had no interest in decorating and crap like that, but even
he
knew ‘rainbow’ didn’t match the Snow Queen and Ice Princesses in front of him. He located a hanger amidst the tangle of material and shook out the garment. A jangling noise started alarms ringing in his ears. Something plopped at his feet. Dread crept up his spine when a distant part of his brain recognized the tri-colored hat with fricken’ little bells on the end of each extended point.

He ran his gaze up a pair of multi-colored tights that looked like they might—
might
—fit Janelle, not a man who stood a full foot taller than her and weighed at least a hundred pounds more. Next came a short, rainbow-colored tattered skirt-looking layer, a long-sleeved black shirt and a neck collar thing that matched the skirt.

A fricken’ skirt
.

His gaze continued to rise until he stared at Janelle in disbelief. She lifted one gloved hand to cover a wide grin, even though her green eyes brimmed with laughter. “Or what, Major.”

~~~

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Mistletoe Mischief
, 2nd edition

ISBN: 978-1-939143-03-7

Mistletoe Magic
, Chapter 1

(previous publication: The Wild Rose Press 2009)

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

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Cover art: Laura Morrigan
www.lauramorrigan.com

About Stacey Joy Netzel

I fell in love with books at a young age, so for me the graduation to writing them was natural. An avid reader and fan of movies with a happily ever after, I am happy to call myself a full-time writer after 20 years as a travel agent. I write romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and the occasional paranormal short story just for fun.

I live in my native Wisconsin with my husband and three children, a couple horses and some barn cats. In my limited free time I enjoy gardening, canning, and visiting my parents in Northeastern Wisconsin (Up North) at the family cabin on the lake.

~~~

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