Page 2 of Mistletoe Kisses
I squirm, he blinks.
Mylo suddenly stands from the table and a little light returns to his faded gaze. As soon as his arms open up, I know he’s expecting a hug.
My heart skips and I feel a sensation I thought I had gotten over a longlongtime ago.
“Damn, Bug, I hardly recognized you.” His beard doesn’t hide the stretch of the smile forming on his lips. His fingers curl, beckoning me to come. He snorts at my mother when she scolds him for cursing.
Thankfully, the old nickname helps grind me back to reality. For a minute, I can stay in the present. The last thing I need to do is think about the past.
Coasting across the kitchen, I all but slide into his arms. This is meant to be nothing but a reconnecting hug. Yet, once I get my arms around him and my face finds his warm chest, I breathein that familiar pine smell. The same smell that I’ve always associated him with. At least there is one thing about him that hasn’t changed.
He wraps his arms fully around me and lifts me like he used to. Back then, I used to giggle and snort because of all the attention he’d given me. Now, I’m more panicked that I’m going to hurt him.
Much to my surprise, he has no issue lifting my feet from the ground. Doesn’t even break a sweat or groan or anything. No, he vibrates with a chuckle when I grunt out a soft curse myself.
My mother is old-fashioned, she’d wave her wooden spoon at me if she knew the colorful language I’ve grown accustomed to. Mylo knows it too, though, he doesn’t bring any attention my way.
Instead, he sets me back down, moves back to the table, and falls back down. Unaffected, I can’t say the same for myself.
My ears are hot, my cheeks too. I don’t want to think about how fast my poor heart is beating.
Spinning on my heel, I look for the one person missing. When I ask about my father, she snorts as she pulls out another pan of cooked gingerbread.
“He’s picking out the tree. You know how he is, always wanting the best one. I’m sure at the moment, he’s working on haggling the price with the poor salesman.” With a smile, she rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “You remember Sal? He’s still got that farm going after all these years.”
I don’t, but I nod anyway. Plucking at the hem of my sweater, I listen to her go on and on about Sal’s son, the one who is supposed to take over the farm once he hits retirement age. Even worse, she mentions how handsome he is. “He’s not too older than you, dear. Five years at best.”
I grimace when both of them look at me. “Uh, thanks. I think I’m good.”
Love and romance are not on my list of concerns at the moment. I haven’t had a boyfriend in years and I’m not worried about changing that any time soon. I need to get my life situated first. I also don’t need my mother to be the one trying to find my match.
“I left my stuff at the door, I should probably unpack. Is there a room free…?” I doubt my old room is still in the same condition as I left it and that much is confirmed when Mylo knowingly purses his lips. Is he seriously staying in my old room? Now I’m wondering how long he’s been stationed here for.
“Dad set something up for you in my hobby room. If we’d gotten a little more of a warning, we–”
I give her a smile and nod. “I appreciate it, thank you.” Can’t complain, not when she’s got a point.
If only everything in my life hadn’t hit the fan all at once.
Seeing Mylo opening his mouth, I don’t give him the time to start making offers to trade or anything. Instead, I spin on my heel and make a run for it.
Feeling a little dizzy, I don’t let the past sway me. I left my old feelings behind for a reason. My heart might be a little confused right now, but once the shock wears off, I’ll be right back to normal.
All those years ago, I loved my father’s best friend. Despite having a wife, my ignorance kept my hopes high. Once I saw their happiness up close, my heart cracked and shattered into a thousand pieces. The man I wanted to be ‘the one’ was no longer an option. I had to move on one way or another.
Finding a job far, far away had only been half of the reason I’d left without looking back. If it weren’t for Mylo, I wouldn’t have applied outside of the state to begin with.
I got over him, I did. Hell, I’ve even had a boyfriend from time to time, helping me forget about that damn smile of his. Ofcourse, no one came in comparison to making me feel the same sort of butterflies. No, not even close.
After all my efforts, I’m not going to cave into my old habits. I’ve grown up and matured, to say the least. There’s a line between us, one I won’t even consider crossing. I will not be known as a home wrecker. This town is too small for such a rumor to spread.
Breathing in deep, my head feels dizzy. There’s a lot of weight on my shoulders as is. I won’t let one little small bump in the road add another five pounds.
I’m going to be normal about this.
Maybe I’ll rekindle some old friendships while I’m here. Meet an old fling or two and catch up. Find whatever distraction I can.
Willing my heart to go along with my plan, I drag my luggage up a set of steps to hunt down whatever room my mother has transformed to do her hobbies in.