Festive Trees and Mistletoe (Hope Valley Christmas #3)

Chapter 1

PETE

New Year’s Eve one year ago . . .

“I see things worked out for you two then.”

Jerry grins back at me, hand resting on Reed’s thigh. “Yeah, they have.”

They’re sat with Sean and Vic, also looking sickeningly loved up. “That’s great.” I can’t hide the wistfulness in my tone. I’ve known both Sean and Jerry a long time and I’m happy for them. For all of them.

Can’t help being a little jealous, though.

This isn’t the first New Year’s Eve I’ve spent alone, watching other people get their happy-ever-after. Wish I could say it’s going to be the last, but I’m starting to think maybe that’s not in the cards for me.

Laughter sounds all around me and I give myself a mental shake.

Come on, Pete, it’s New Year’s, for fuck’s sake.

People are happy.

No one needs my miserable self bringing the mood down, so when I spot my sister at the other end of the bar, I head over to her.

“Hey.” She slides a pint over to me as I slot in beside her. “Saw you talking to the happy couple, thought you might need a pick-me-up.”

Like she read my mind.

I give her a gentle nudge. “I’m not that bad.” I take the drink, though.

“I know.” She nudges me back. “And it’ll be your turn soon.”

“Hmm.” Not sure I share her enthusiasm, but it’s still nice to hear. I catch sight of her boyfriend walking over, and a glance at the clock tells me the countdown is about to start. Time to make myself scarce for the next five minutes.

“Hey.” I gesture behind me to the doors. “I’m gonna go get some fresh air.”

She gives my arm a squeeze. “Okay. But don’t stay out there too long; it’s bloody cold tonight.”

“I won’t.” Just until all the kissing’s stopped.

Wow. I really am a miserable arsehole tonight.

“Ten!”

The noise follows me as I step outside, slowly muted as the pub door swings closed behind me.

And fuck me, Sadie was right. It’s fucking freezing out here.

Still not going back in. Not yet.

I do pull on my hat and gloves, though, because I’m not stupid.

The countdown continues inside, the noise getting louder with each number. I sigh, my breath fogging in the cold night air. There’s a picnic table outside the front of the pub, and I take a seat on the bench, leaning back to look up at the sky.

It’s a beautiful night, clear enough to see the stars.

Charnwell’s far enough from the city to have little light pollution.

I’ve lived around here my whole life. I love the people and the area. But I reckon I need to start looking further afield if I’m ever going to find someone to spend a night like this with.

I’m startled by the door to the pub opening, allowing loud cheers to escape from inside.

I turn to see who’s come out and almost swallow my tongue.

Even bundled up in an enormous parka, I can tell he’s hot. Dark eyes widen as if he’s been caught off guard, eyebrows rising to his hairline. “Oh. I didn’t realise anyone else would be out here.”

He’s also someone I’ve never seen before, which happens so fucking rarely around here it takes me a minute to get over my surprise. He starts to frown, so I smile quickly and gesture to the bench beside me. “I’m willing to share if you are.”

“Why the fuck not?” He grins back at me, stepping closer, and the twinkling lights from the enormous Christmas tree outside illuminate his features.

Brown eyes crinkle at the corners, full lips stretched wide in a smile that remains as he takes a seat next to me, then immediately shivers. “Shit, it’s cold.”

I laugh because he’s not wrong. I nudge him and nod towards the pub. “Why did you leave a perfectly warm and toasty pub then?”

He cocks an eyebrow. “Why did you?”

Touché.

I’m about to laugh it off, give him some bullshit excuse, because he doesn’t know me and I bet the last thing he wants is to listen to me moaning.

But I’m feeling a little vulnerable tonight.

And when I meet his dark, curious gaze, the truth slips out easily.

“I didn’t fancy being the sole single guy in a room full of couples at midnight on New Year’s Eve. ”

I expect him to politely make his excuses and head back inside. I wouldn’t blame him. But what he does is laugh.

It’s a little sad and a lot wry.

“Totally fucking with you on that.” He lets out the biggest sigh, resting his elbows on the picnic table and leaning back to look at the sky. “As beautiful as it is out here, freezing my arse off and sober and fucking alone is not how I planned to spend New Year’s Eve.”

Curiosity pushes everything else into the background as I turn to face him. “Oh?”

It’s none of my business, but he can’t dangle a carrot like that and expect me not to bite.

I also want to tell him he’s not alone now, but a total stranger probably doesn’t count.

“Want to talk about it?” I add when he doesn’t answer, obviously not wanting to talk about it, but I can’t help myself.

His story is clearly a lot more interesting than mine.

The silence stretches and I’m about to suggest we go back inside before we freeze when he sighs again, his whole body sagging as he exhales.

“Not much to say. My boyfriend broke up with me this morning and left me here alone.” He shrugs like it’s nothing, but there’s an edge to his voice that suggests there’s a whole fucking lot to say.

And also, what the fuck? “What do you mean, he left you here?”

He gives me a pointed look, like I’m an idiot. “He drove.”

“And then just expected you to find your own way home?”

He shrugs again. “Pretty much.”

What an absolute wanker.

“To be fair, he did try to get me to leave with him, but I told him I’d rather cover my bollocks in honey and let the bees have at them.”

I’m torn between laughing and grimacing.

“Sorry.” His smile this time is small but genuine. “Probably not the image you wanted.” He waves a hand before I can answer. “Anyway, it’s fine. My mate’s picking me up in the morning on his way back. I was angry and upset, but not stupid enough to send my ride away without a backup plan.”

Fair enough.

I hold out my hand to him. “I’m Pete, by the way. I figure we should at least know each other’s names after all that.”

“Charlie.” He shivers again as his fingers close around my gloved ones. His bare fucking fingers.

“Jesus, come here.” I’m moving before I even register it, taking both his hands in mine and rubbing them vigorously. “No wonder you’re shivering.” I stop to pull the spare pair of gloves from my pocket and tug them onto his hands. “There, is that better?”

When he doesn’t say anything, I glance up to find him watching me, eyes wide. Fuck. “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

“No.” He shakes his head quickly. “It is better. Thank you.” He flexes his fingers, and the smile he sends my way this time hits me low in my belly. It’s warm and a little bit shy. “Pretty sure my fingers were about to drop off.”

I want to reach for his hands again or, better yet, wrap my arm around him to warm him up, but I manage to keep my hands to myself this time. “Can’t have that,” I mutter, voice surprisingly rough.

It’s probably the cold, but the pink on his cheeks seems to darken a bit.

The door to the pub bursts open, startling us both, and Sadie pops her head out. “There you are! Thought you’d fucked off home.”

“Nope. Still here.”

I see the exact moment she realises I’m not alone.

She smirks at me, then instead of going back inside like I want her to, she steps closer and lets the door swing shut. “Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Sadie. Pete’s sister.” She sends him a wide, welcoming smile.

I groan on the inside.

“Charlie.” He smiles back at her while managing to look confused too.

This is not what you think it is, sis.

I can’t say that out loud, though.

“We just met,” I say instead, hoping to derail anything else that might embarrass us all. “Charlie came out for some fresh air too.”

Her gaze darts between the two of us, but thankfully, she seems to get what I’m trying to tell her. “Well, it’s certainly fresh. More like fucking freezing,” she adds under her breath, and Charlie laughs.

“Yeah, I didn’t realise how cold it’d be when I came out here.” He rubs his hands together, drawing attention to his gloves, and Sadie’s eyes narrow and then widen.

Arse.

Not surprising that she recognises the gloves I gave him, considering she bought them for me. They have little Christmas trees on them. She thought it was funny, considering what we do for a living. As if I don’t see enough of those fuckers this time of year.

“I should probably head back inside,” Charlie says after a too-long silence. He stands, straightening his clothes and wincing. “I think that bench is a bit damp.”

Probably.

He brushes the back of his jeans where his coat didn’t quite cover, and I can’t help but follow the movement because he’s practically stood in front of me.

It’s a nice arse.

Firm.

Round.

And not any of my business.

I snap my gaze up as Sadie speaks.

“Don’t leave on my account. I only popped out to check on Pete. I’m going back in now that I know he’s not out here wallowing in self-pity.”

Thanks, sis.

She laughs as I give her the finger.

“Nice meeting you, Charlie. Hope to see you around.”

“Um, nice to meet you too, but I’ll be leaving in the morning.”

Oh.

I’ve only just met him, but disappointment settles in my gut at the reminder that he’s not staying. Sadie glances between the two of us again before reaching for the door.

“Well, maybe we’ll see you back here again sometime.”

“Yeah,” he says, glancing around. “Maybe.”

When the door closes behind her, I stand too. “You want to join me for a drink?” I gesture to the pub. “It should’ve calmed down a bit in there by now.”

He draws his bottom lip between his teeth, considering, and I’m starting to think it’s a yes until his shoulders sag and he sighs. “Thanks, but I think I’m just going to go to bed. Seb’s picking me up just after eight tomorrow, and I don’t want to feel like shit for the drive home.”

I want to ask where home is, but I don’t. As nice as this little distraction has been, we’re still strangers, and that seems too personal, especially when Charlie looks like he’s done with whatever this is.

“Oh,” he says, lifting his hands. “I should give you—”

“Keep them.” I wrap my hands around his, stilling him. “I’ve got plenty more.”

I’ve got about two inches on him height-wise, and he looks up at me, that same warm smile directed my way.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He tugs his hands back and laughs when I startle, forgetting I still had ahold of them.

“Sorry.” I shove my hands in my pockets.

“Well.” He toes the ground, kicking a stray stone. “I’m gonna head up to my room.” He aims his thumb over his shoulder. “It was good to meet you, Pete.”

“You too.” I debate saying more. Fuck it. It’s not like I’ll ever see him again. “You made a shitty night not so shitty.”

He laughs again, his smile lighting up his whole face. “Same.” Moving too quickly for me to react, he leans up and kisses my cheek. “Bye, Pete.”

“Bye.”

My skin burns where he kissed me, or that’s how it feels, anyway. I reach up and touch my cheek. I wish it’d been my mouth instead.

For fuck’s sake, he only broke up with his boyfriend this morning.

I can’t leave it there though.

“Charlie?” I call, waiting until he glances back over his shoulder. “Your boyfriend’s a fucking idiot. Anyone would be lucky to spend New Year’s Eve with you.”

Looking at him now, once again lit by the muted glow of the tree lights, I can’t imagine anything better.

“Thank you.” He gives me one last breathtaking smile and then heads inside, instantly swallowed up by the crowd.

I feel oddly sad to see him go, considering I didn’t know he existed half an hour ago, but something tells me Charlie’s the type of guy who leaves an impression.

If only he didn’t live miles away.

Well, I’m assuming he does, since I never asked.

I sigh, wishing we’d had more time.

The wind picks up, cold and sharp, reminding me I’ve been out here too long.

I should go inside too. I’m starting to feel the cold even through the thick layers of my coat.

I don’t want to though. Chatting with Charlie, however brief, has been the highlight of my New Year’s Eve, and I don’t want to ruin that by going back inside and being jealous of my friends all over again.

That’s not who I am or who I want to be.

It has also reaffirmed what I’d already been thinking. I need to meet new people, preferably ones who aren’t just passing through. And that’s not going to happen if I don’t make it happen.

I shoot Sadie a text, letting her know I’m leaving. Alone, I tell her when she inevitably asks.

Tomorrow will be better.

New year.

New start.