Jennifer Snow - The Trouble with Mistletoe

“Hey, ladies. Glad to see you three finally got an evening out. Ava, I see Darren over at the pool tables. Who’s with the kids?” Luke asked.

“They’re spending the night at Grandma and Grandpa’s.” She pumped her fist in the air, which made them all laugh.

“Rachel,” he said, “you look beautiful as usual. Quite the pregnancy glow you have working for you.”

“Thanks, Luke.” Rachel turned a deep shade of crimson, but it was obvious the compliment had made her evening.

Traitors. All of them. Victoria watched in amusement as the three women chatted up her ex-fiancé. Squinting in the dim lighting, she took in his strong jawline and blue eyes reflecting the glow of the Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling.

“Hey, Luke. Quit flirting and get over here.” Jim Bishop waved from the pool table and held up a beer.

Luke nodded as he moved around the table. “Excuse me, ladies. I have some money to win.” He paused by Victoria’s chair and lowered his voice to say, “I thought you were tired. Does your mother know that you lie to her?”

Victoria stared at the glass in her hand. “I don’t know, Luke. Does your mother know you had dinner at our house?”

Luke cleared his throat as he unzipped his leather jacket. “Well, our mothers don’t need to know everything, now, do they?”

“Enjoy your pool game,” she said, dismissing him.

He glanced at her computer on the table in front of her. “You brought your laptop on a girls’ night?” he asked. “Real party girl. Enjoy your evening, ladies.” He raised a hand and sauntered off.

Victoria resisted the urge to turn and stick her tongue out to his back. “I think we need another round,” she said, draining the contents of her glass. She stood and had to grip the edge of the tall bar table for support against a dizzy spell.

“Not me. I just texted Nathan to let him know I’m on my way. Sorry, Victoria, I’m beat.” Rachel slipped into her coat.

“No problem. Get some rest.” It was almost eleven. In New York, the night would just be getting started. In Brookhollow’s local hot spot, only a few quiet tables remained other than the boys shooting pool. She should call it a night, as well. She had the perfect excuse now with Rachel leaving. Turning toward the pool tables, her eyes met Luke’s. She’d stay for one more drink with the girls. She had been a little rude.

“Okay. Be sure to stop by this week and we’ll catch up some more.” Rachel got up from the table, adjusting her purse strap on her shoulder.

Ava stood. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

“Another glass of wine?” Victoria raised an eyebrow.

Lisa and Ava hesitated. No doubt the gap between their lifestyles was perfectly clear to each of them.

“I’d love to see pictures of your children if you have them.” She really was interested in their lives; she just hated that it stirred an unprecedented yearning in her.

The other two agreed.

“Okay then, I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll save our table.” Lisa was already digging around in her purse for pictures.

“Sure,” Victoria said. As if that would be necessary. The place was dead.

Approaching the bar, she ignored the cat calls from the pool tables. “Hi, Melody. Can we get another round?”

“Sure, Vic. How’ve you been?” The bartender, Melody Myers, was another old high school acquaintance. With a yawn, she poured vodka into a shot glass and dumped the contents into a short glass, before reaching for a can of energy drink.

She looked older than her thirty-two years. The lines around her eyes and forehead were deep and she appeared to have aged more than the rest. With her thinning face and even a few streaks of gray in her light brown hair, it was hard to believe they were the same age and from the same graduating class. Having lost her husband in a car accident the year before, she was raising her twin seven-year-olds on her own.

“I’ve been good. Busy…”

“Yeah, I noticed the laptop.”

Victoria ignored the hint of judgment she thought she detected in the woman’s voice. “How about you?” she asked gently.

“Taking it day by day,” Melody answered honestly as she shook a shaker and poured Lisa’s fruity cocktail, then grabbed the bottle of house white wine to pour a glass for Ava. She placed the drinks on the bar.

Victoria nodded as she reached into her wallet. Melody’s incredible voice had once kept her very busy at weddings and funerals. Victoria had always assumed she’d take it further. It saddened her to think that Mel’ody’s life hadn’t turned out exactly how she’d planned. She hesitated before asking, “Do you still sing?”

Melody wiped down the bar and deposited the cash in the register. She tossed the change into the tip jar after Victoria refused to take it. “Well, I’m still a star at the church and with my kids every night. That’s enough for me.” But there was a note of longing in her voice.

Victoria noticed the pictures of the young boys behind her on the bar mirror. Cute kids.

Melody caught her staring and smiled. The effect softened her hardened features. “David and Joshua—twins. Must be something in the water around here. Be careful,” she warned, nodding toward Luke.

Victoria’s cheeks heated. “Thanks for the warning—” she indicated her drink “—I’ll be sure to stick to this.” And as far away from Luke Dawson as possible, which would be a challenge given the reason for her visit.

Luke lined up a shot for the eight ball. He lowered his gaze to sight down the pool stick. Beyond the green felt, he saw Victoria saunter back toward their table, drinks in hand. Dress pants and a formal sweater for the local watering hole. He suspected she hadn’t packed a single set of casual clothes in her no-doubt designer suitcase. But no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t fault her—she seemed to be living the life she’d always desired and he respected that. Drawing back, he let the pool cue slide between his fingers. The white ball spun toward its target, directing the other ball straight into the left-hand, corner pocket. “And that’s how it’s done.” He stood and grinned, as the other men booed.

Jim counted out the twenties in his hand. “Who invited you here tonight anyway?” he mumbled and turned to the group. “Come on, guys. One of us has to be able to take him.”

Darren shrugged. “He’s on fire tonight,” he said. “And I’ve already lost more to him than I’m going to tell my wife.” He drained his beer and stood.

“I heard that. I am just sitting over here,” Ava called from where she sat with Victoria and Lisa.

Darren grimaced. “Sorry, honey.” Joining their table, he wrapped an arm around his wife. “How about we head home and I’ll make it up to you?” he said, placing a kiss on her cheek.

Ava shot him a look. “Seriously? You just lost a lot of money and you’ve been drinking and you think you’re going to be romantic tonight?” She placed a hand over his face and pushed his puckered lips away, hiding her smile.

Luke joined them at the table. “How about it, Ava? Want to try winning back some of this guy’s money for him?”

Ava grunted. “Luke, do you remember the last time I played pool?”

“I do,” Melody called from the bar. “By the way, it’s going to cost three hundred dollars to fix that hole in the wall from the cue ball.” She pointed a finger.

“Shh…” Darren held a finger to his lips. “I can’t believe you reminded her.”

Ava glared at him.

“I hadn’t forgotten.” Melody shook her head and resumed filling the dishwasher with the dirty beer mugs and glasses. “And guys, this is last call.”

“At eleven-thirty?” Jim sat on the edge of Lisa’s stool. She shuffled over to make more room for her cousin.