The Holiday Assist (The Peppermint Playbook #5)

Chapter 1

Juliet

The resort in Winterbrook is just as Christmassy and holiday-themed as the brochure promised it would be.

My heart leaps in anticipation; having grown up with a dad who walked out on us and a mom who doesn’t care for holidays means I never had the real Christmas experience.

My mom is the best with everything else—she comes to every single one of my games and she makes dinner from scratch most nights, even when we’re on the road with my team.

But when it comes to Christmas, she has no interest in the holiday.

Once I was a little older, my best friend’s family took me under their wing and we’d hang out together, but her family doesn’t really do Christmas either.

Her parents are both professors, and academia was always more important than holidays.

Family was everything, just not holidays.

But this year, it’ll be a real Christmas celebration. I’m not with my team; there won’t be any early morning drills unless I want to do them on my own. It’ll just be me, my best friend, and her younger brother.

And all the athletes who are here for this charity event.

“This is it,” my Uber driver says, stopping in front of a large white stone building that’s covered from top to bottom in Christmas decorations.

It looks like I’ve stepped into Santa’s palace at the North Pole, or what I’d imagine he’d live in.

You know, if he existed. There are turrets and lights and decorations in every direction.

The only way I can think to describe it is magical.

“Thanks,” I say. Climbing out, I notice that it’s lightly snowing—the flakes barely visible since it’s also sunny.

Even though I grew up in Colorado, I could never figure out how that works.

My driver grabs my duffel bag from the trunk as I pull out my phone and text Blair.

She texted me a few minutes ago, telling me that they were close and that Parker was driving the rest of the way after a stop down the canyon.

Me

Just got here. I’ll wait for you two if you’re close before I check in.

Blair

We’re like five minutes away, I think. We made it to Winterbrook and just need to find the resort.

Just look for all the minty things. This Mr. Mynt guy really takes his name seriously.

LOL. You must be in Christmas heaven.

I might be more excited if I didn’t have to do all the athlete things.

*eye roll emoji* It’s for the children, J. Think of the children. The reason people are coming is because they want to meet you.

I am not that famous.

I beg to differ. You were called up to be on the U.S. Olympic team. You call that not famous?

I frown. This is one of those topics that I prefer to keep off limits.

I may have been called up for the Olympic team, but I didn’t go to the Olympics.

Thinking of it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

How it all went down just left me feeling icky, which is why my manager suggested I be the one to come to The Mynt to Make a Difference charity event.

It’ll be good for my brand, she said. Mr. Mynt is the resort owner and just launched an athletic clothes brand, which is why he invited a bunch of athletes for his charity event to help raise money for his town of Winterbrook.

But I’m not exactly sure what the funds will be used for—possibly the athletic program for the kids in town, but I could be wrong.

I’m just happy I don’t have to spend Christmas alone and can leave the past year in the past. I’ve got to move on and be the best player I can be. This vacation is exactly what I need.

“Jules!” Someone calling my name pulls me out of my thoughts.

I turn to find Blair running toward me. Her arms fly around me.

We’ve been best friends since first grade, but we don’t see each other much these days.

She’s a fancy hotshot lawyer in Denver, and I play soccer for a professional team in DC and the national team.

We’re both busy, but every time we see each other in person or talk on the phone, it’s like no time at all has passed.

We’re just us again, falling right back into place.

“You made it!”

“I had to drive up to Loveland to pick up Parker, so that made the ride longer. I should have offered to pick you up from the airport.”

I shake my head, laughing as I give her one more squeeze before releasing her. “And add another hour to your trip? I don’t think so. The Uber was fine. My driver wasn’t chatty, but he played all the best Christmas songs, so it was great.”

She knows that I’m not much of a talker with strangers anyway. If we’re friends, I become a completely different person, unguarded and carefree. But around everyone else? I’m closed off and focused on soccer. It’s easier that way.

“I’m glad it wasn’t too terrible. Parker was grumpy the entire time, then when we got to the canyon to get up here, he got all clammy. It was super weird,” she says.

“Maybe he just doesn’t like driving in the mountains?” I ask.

She grins, the smile reaching her eyes. “I’m pretty sure the closer we got, the more he realized that he’s spending this break not stuck in his office at the school, and instead somewhere he’ll have to be around people.

He told me he packed three novels. Three.

No way is he holing himself up in the room with a book.

We’re here for you, and I’ve been looking at that itinerary you sent over. It’s going to be a busy week.”

I take a deep breath. I wasn’t even the one talking, but I’m out of breath.

This is one of the things I love about Blair: she moves at one hundred miles an hour, non-stop.

Parker’s speed is probably closer to mine, but I’m not about to tell my best friend that.

And I’m not going to tell her that I’ve got a thick fantasy novel tucked in the bottom of my duffel bag.

“All I really want is peppermint hot chocolate and some Christmas carols and maybe a sleigh ride.”

Her eyes light up. “That’s something the resort offers! Later this week.”

“Fabulous. And I’m glad you two made it.”

“We would have made it sooner if Parker weren’t such a rule follower and hadn’t driven exactly the speed limit. Plus, he got all weird, but I’m not going to let my little brother spend another holiday cooped up in his office prepping for another semester.”

“I heard that,” a deep male voice says from our right.

I don’t recognize it. How long has it been since I last saw Parker?

Five years? Six? Usually, when I’m able to come to Colorado, I only hang out with Blair.

The last time I saw him was probably when I was home for Christmas one year in college and he was still in high school.

As I turn to face the voice—whom I can only assume is Parker, all grown up—I have to stop myself from openly gawking.

Long gone is the lanky teenage boy that I remember.

The man standing before me—because he’s all man now—has legs for days and thick thighs like he works out at least semi-regularly, and unfortunately for me, thighs are my ultimate weakness.

His form-fitting pants do nothing to hide his glorious muscles.

He’s in a loose tan cardigan and he’s got those slutty little glasses like Jonathan Bailey had in that one movie.

Parker James has glasses. Ones that make him look like a hot professor I want to skip class for and make out with instead. My best friend’s brother is hot.

Gorgeous.

Sexy.

Okay, Juliet, that’s enough attractive adjectives. You have to stop thinking about how absolutely kissable this man looks and say something.

“Hey, Jules,” he says, beating me to it.

My name on his lips does something weird to my belly.

It flips like he’s just said the sexiest thing in the world.

Deep and rumbling. I want to bottle it up and make it my ringtone.

But that would be weird, super weird, considering he’s my best friend’s brother.

And the last thing I need right now is a boyfriend.

Okay. I need to calm my brain down right now. It’s been years since I was attracted to someone that wasn’t my ex; that’s all this is. Parker is the first attractive guy I’ve seen in a while, and my body and brain are having a completely normal reaction. But I still need to shut it down.

“Hey,” I say, hoping my voice sounds normal. Neither Blair nor Parker looks at me weirdly, so I think I’m good. “Good to see you—it’s been what? Five years?”

“Six,” he says, the tips of his ears turning pink. “Not that I’m keeping track.” He clears his throat. “Should we get checked in or should I just carry all of Blair’s luggage for the rest of the day?”

I move into action. “We can check in. Then I’ve got to go to the Mynt Mingle and Jingle and after that is a VIP meet and greet. I think you two can come to the Mingle and Jingle, but I think you need a ticket for the meet-and-greet.”

Blair falls into step behind me, leaving Parker with her bags in the middle of the lobby.

I pull my own suitcase behind me. “It’s gonna be fine,” she says.

“I booked us a couples’ massage in two days.

It wasn’t included in your package, and I know we aren’t a couple, but I also know you—you’ll need something to reset you in the middle of all this. ”

“Thank you,” I say, already feeling a little less apprehensive about the week. With Blair by my side, I know I can do this.