Kristine Rolofson - Her Mistletoe Magic

“That’s Christmas Eve.”

“I know.”

“That’s big.”

“I’m aware of that. I hope the family doesn’t scare her off.”

“Nico, we’ll be on our best behavior.” She frowned. “I mean, we’ll do our best. Maybe ‘best behavior’ is a little optimistic. But for you to bring a woman to Christmas Eve? This is really big. How long have you known her?”

“Since I started work here. I see her almost every day at the lodge.” And I’ve been half in love with her since the first minute I saw her.

Nico thought it wise not to say that aloud.

“She’s why you wouldn’t let us fix you up. How long have you been, uh, dating her?”

“I’ve been, uh, dating her since last night.” He enjoyed the look of surprise on his sister’s face. “I told you, she fell in the kitchen at work and hurt her ankle. I brought her home to help her out. To take care of her.”

“And now we’re back where we started,” his sister said. “You’ve got it bad.”

“I do,” Nico admitted. “But it’s not mutual. Yet.”

“It will be,” Marie assured him, giving him a quick hug. “Just be your charming self. And ply her with chocolate. Women like that.”

“I don’t think it’s going to be that easy.”

“You’ve never failed at anything you set out to do.” She frowned. “Except when you tried out for football. That was pretty much a disaster.”

“I’ve put on some muscle since then.” But he would never be able to throw a ball fifty yards and actually hit a target.

“Don’t be too charming,” Marie warned. “That California stuff was ridiculous.” She gave him another hug. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Me, too.” He waved them off, watched Al lift his leg on his favorite holly bush and then turned back to the house.

He would romance Grace with food and attention. She was a very private person, but she’d let down her guard a little last night.

And she’d smiled at him when he’d brought her coffee.

That was a promising start to the day.

THE FUTURE BRIDE was the happiest person in the Wildwood event room, but Grace was the most pampered. She sat at a table close to the fireplace, her legs resting on the seat of another chair, her narrow skirt tucked primly over her knees. On one foot she wore a golden tan suede knee-high boot. On the other was the decidedly unfashionable walking boot, with one of Nico’s white athletic socks underneath it to keep her toes warm.

Nico Vitelli hovered over her, something that did not go unnoticed by the staff attending the Christmas brunch. Between Nico’s interesting behavior and the news of Noelle’s wedding, there was plenty for the employees of the lodge to discuss over coffee and plates piled high with food. Much to everyone’s delight, Nico had arranged a sumptuous buffet. Grace made sure the presents were piled underneath the Christmas tree and a member of the housekeeping staff had a fire burning in the fireplace.

Those who were working the morning shift took time out to have a cup of coffee and a bite of food, wish everyone a merry Christmas and open their gifts. Those on later shifts stayed longer to visit. Because the lodge was too busy in December to have a big Christmas party, the owners held an enormous outdoor party in June for the staff and their families. Grace had organized the Secret Santa brunch when she was hired at the lodge and it had quickly become a holiday tradition.

Thanks to Grace, the background music was a rousing New Orleans Christmas compilation. Patsy had agreed to hold off on Bing Crosby until after one o’clock, but only because Grace was on crutches and therefore an object of pity.

Patsy was bursting with questions, so the second Nico returned to the kitchen, she leaned closer. “Okay, tell me everything. What’s his house like? It’s the big white one about half a mile down the street, right? With the big porch?”

“I didn’t notice the porch, but the house is old and big and gorgeous.” She took a bite of a cinnamon roll. Just one bite wouldn’t hurt, would it?

“And where did you sleep? Did he make you dinner?”

“I slept in the guest room. He bought me candy. And made me breakfast. And served me coffee in bed.” She didn’t want to admit she’d enjoyed every minute. She didn’t want her friend to think she was crushing on the Hollywood chef. “By the way, why did you pack the granny gown instead of my pajamas?”

“In case you were in a cast. Can’t get pants on over a cast, you know.”

“I never thought of that.”

“You’ve never had a kid with a broken leg. I looked for something silk, with lace, but all you had were jogging pants and T-shirts.”

“I like silk and lace,” Grace sputtered. “But it’s winter. Silk and lace are stored with my summer things.”

Patsy sighed. “Of course they are.”

“How many calories do you think there are in one of these?” She held up a star-shaped sugar cookie frosted with pink-and-yellow icing.

“Zero. It’s Christmas. Calories don’t count. Were you surprised when you got Julie Barrett’s phone call?”

“I was thrilled.” Grace smiled. “It was absolutely perfect.”

“This is a nice turn of events.” Patsy took a bite of a star-shaped cookie. “Noelle deserves something good.”

“It’s going to be fun to put this together. This morning I showed her everything I had planned and she was thrilled with it all. She said she felt like she’d won the lottery. I left a message for Julie to tell her how kind that was.” Grace wriggled in her seat, trying to ease a cramp in her calf.

“What’s wrong?”

“The darn thing hurts more than I thought it would,” she admitted. “It’s just a simple sprain, but the doctor said it could be uncomfortable for quite a while.”

“I’m sorry,” Patsy said. “I know I’ve teased you about going home with Nico, but this really is a bad time to be limping around on crutches, even with Mr. Hollywood over there helping you out.” They both watched Nico laughing with two blushing housemaids. “But at least the wedding was all planned. And if you have a lot of running around to do, I can take care of it for you.”

“Thanks. I can put together the decorations while I’m sitting down. Noelle said she’d help in any way she can, but she has a lot of things to pull together in two days.”

“She told me she had the dress, though, so that’s one of the big things crossed off her list.”

They saw Noelle and her son enter the room. Josh whispered something to his mother and then made a beeline for the buffet table. Noelle approached Nico, who seemed to be taking the role of host seriously.

“He’s so darn cute. I’ve never seen a boy who eats so much, but then again, I raised a girl,” Patsy commented.

“Noelle says all of his friends are like that.” She wondered what it would be like to raise a son by herself. But now Noelle and Josh had Ted, and the Green Beret appeared to be the kind of man a boy could look up to. They watched as Nico and Noelle talked for a moment. He gave her a quick hug and then turned to Grace and smiled.

“Please tell me he cooked for you,” Patsy pleaded. “I have to know.”

“He did.” And now he was heading toward them.

“So you and George Clooney have something in common,” Patsy teased.

“Who would have guessed?’

Nico, carrying a cup of coffee, joined them at the table. His white chef’s jacket made him look terribly sexy, in a television star kind of way. He plopped into the empty chair next to Grace.

“Good morning, Patsy.” He looked at the open box in front of her. “What’d you get?”