Under the Mistletoe Mishap (Christmas Tree, PA #3)

Chapter 1

Lucy

This is the nicest party I’ve ever been to.

I look around in awe. The ballroom has been transformed into an amazing, magical Christmas wonderland. Tinsel drapes from every inch of the ceiling, and it catches the lights and throws reflections all over.

I am in awe.

Of course, it probably doesn’t take much, considering that I grew up in Christmas Tree, Pennsylvania, which is a tiny town in northeastern PA, and most people from my town have never been to a party like this.

But billionaire Samuel Barrage is throwing this, in what I know to be his brother’s mansion, even though most of the town thinks he owns it.

I know the truth, because I’m best friends with his little sister, Allison.

Allison spends more time in Christmas Tree than either one of her brothers, and despite the fact that I’m best friends with her, I hardly ever see either one of them.

The few times I’ve seen Samuel, he’s been taciturn and quiet. The tall, dark, and handsome kind of guy, with that brooding look that seems to drive women mad and be irresistible.

Not to me. I want a guy who talks. More like Daniel, his younger brother.

Except, I saw Daniel just a few minutes ago, and he had Amber Rogers tucked up against him, and they looked adorable together. Amber is a sweetheart. Everyone in Christmas Tree knows her, and if she and Daniel are together, I’m over the moon for her.

That’s just me. I’m typically happy and bubbly, and I’m feeling a little out of place because the only person I know here other than Amber is Allison, but she texted me that she was going to be late and that I should go ahead and go without her.

I pull my phone out of my purse and check. No more messages.

I’m here because she didn’t want to be here by herself. The party is mostly for Samuel’s business associates, although they’re throwing an even bigger bash later this season for the entire town. I don’t think anyone in town is going to miss that for anything. Surprisingly, they hired me to coordinate things. I already work at my parents’ Christmas shop, one of several Christmas shops in town, making tiny houses that are very popular with the tourists who come, and we have a thriving online business. But I love planning weddings and parties on the side, and Allison knows that. She convinced her brother to hire me.

Allison promised to be here with me. But she still hasn’t texted anything more than she was going to be late and I should go on in without her.

I pull my phone out and text her back.

Are you okay?

Allison is usually very dependable, and she most definitely wouldn’t not be here without good reason. I just don’t know what it is.

Honestly, I’m starting to get worried about her.

I’m clutching my phone in my hands. People, smiling and talking, crowd all around me, and I’m feeling like I’m having a bit of an out-of-body experience. The lights are glowing, the room is magical, I can smell delicious food and hear laughter and conversation, and yet... I feel alone.

Maybe this is the way everyone feels at these things, or maybe it’s because I’m a small-town girl, or maybe it’s because I don’t know anyone. Possibly a combination of all three.

I’m just about to pull my phone up and text Allison again when a tall, dark man catches my eye.

Samuel. Alice’s brother and the host of this evening.

He’s not talking to anyone and not smiling either. In fact, he looks annoyed.

How terrible to have that expression on your face constantly, to have it be your natural expression. How awful to spend every day in a state of grumpy irritation. And how terrible to have to work with someone like that all the time.

The irony that I’m working for that man does not escape me, but it’s only for a holiday party. It’s not like I have to show up every day and put up with someone being so grouchy.

I lose him in the crowd, and I realize my eyes were tracking him despite the fact that I definitely have zero interest in the man.

Even as I think that, I’m still trying to catch a glimpse of him and hardly notice when my phone starts to ring.

I look at it and immediately feel relief. It’s Allison.

I suppose it’s probably rude to talk on my phone in the middle of all these people, so I put it to my ear, all the while looking around trying to find a doorway where I can step out for a moment. This place is so immense that I’ve lost my sense of direction, and I’m not even sure which way to go to escape.

“Hello?” I say, relieved that I’m finally going to find out what’s going on with Allison.

“Lucy, I’m here!” Allison says, sounding breathless.

I look around. “Where?”

“Just start walking straight, I’m by the doorway.” I start walking, expecting her to tell me I’m going in the wrong direction, but she doesn’t. “That’s right. I’m so sorry I was late. A tree had fallen over the road, and these back roads are so confusing, I wasn’t sure which way to go to get around it. Thankfully, someone came with a chainsaw and got it off.”

“Wow,” I say, wanting to tease her about being rescued by a lumberjack, but I don’t. I’m still looking for her, and then my eyes land on her standing over in the corner by the doorway. It’s not the doorway I came in, but maybe it goes to a kitchen? I’m not sure.

I’m hurrying, not really paying attention to the people around me, and three things happen at once.

The first is that Allison says, “You’re here. That’s great. I wanted to introduce you to Samuel.”

The second is that a voice comes over the intercom, greeting the guests and saying they had a few announcements to make.

But the third is probably the worst. I’m cheerful, happy, easygoing, and can pretty much get along with anyone. But I’m also rather clumsy. Someone steps right in front of me. I manage to slow down my mad charge to my friend enough to skirt around them, but I lose my balance and fall headfirst into the man standing beside Allison.