Mistletoe Bachelors Read Free

He loosened his borrowed tie and
unbuttoned his shirt as he waited in line. He hated wearing a tie. He didn’t know how those
corporate guys, like his brother-in-law, wore one every day.
    His cell phone rang, and he reached into his pocket. Women’s World Quarterly flashed on
the display screen. She missed him already ? He grinned and cocked his head to the side as he
accepted the call. “Hello?”
    “Cole Harris?”
The voice was not Madison’s.
“That’s me.” He covered the receiver as he reached the counter. A pretty, petite redhead
waited to take his order.
    Her smile was coy, as she twirled a piece of hair around her finger. “What can I get started
for you?”
“A gingerbread latte please.” He said with a wink, reaching into his back pocket for his
wallet.
The young barista blushed and dashed off to make the latte.
Cole turned his attention back to the call.
“Mr. Harris, this is Ashley from Women’s World. We have your travel itinerary confirmed.
We can email you a copy if that’s more convenient,” she paused before adding, “or you could
stop by…”
Cole smiled. The young receptionist had flirted with him twice that day. She was cute.
Maybe he’d bring her a latte. Maybe convince her to help him with something—like Madison’s
address.
He gestured to the barista. “Make that two…to go.” Then into the phone, “I’ll stop by to
pick it up.”
“Great.” The girl purred. “See you soon, Mr. Harris.”
Cole disconnected the call and paid for the lattes, tossing the change into the tip jar on the
counter. “Thanks.” He waved as he left the store.
The girl smiled and tossed her red curls over her shoulder as she turned her attention to the
next customer in line.
Outside, Cole shivered and brought one of the steaming cups to his lips. Red lipstick on the
side caught his attention. “Britney-475-5693”. He grinned. If only they were all that easy.

Chapter Two
    “Madison, that’s your fourth cosmopolitan in an hour, you may want to—never mind.”
Samantha said, as a waiter arrived with two more drinks for Madison.
Mulhalley’s Pub , the popular after work grill and pub had become their favorite Friday night
girls spot. Tonight was Tuesday, and Madison never drank during the week.
Madison drained the contents of the glass in her hand and reached for another.
Samantha moved it out of reach. “Just start from the beginning, and tell me what happened.
It can’t be that bad.”
Madison refused to talk about her new assignment all afternoon, locking herself in her office
under a pile of work. She’d emailed Samantha to meet her at Mulhalley’s after work, skipping
their usual Tuesday night yoga class.
“Come on, Madison. Did you not receive the writing assignment?” A worried expression
crossed Samantha’s face. She leaned forward, across the table in the booth, to be heard above the
noise in the pub.
Loud Christmas music played from a speaker above their heads. Jeez, Christmas music
already? It was only the first of December. The festivities seemed to start earlier every year.
Madison frowned. “Oh, I got the assignment.” She nodded.
“That’s great—isn’t it?” Confusion spread across Samantha’s petite features. “This is what
you wanted, right?”
Madison nodded, and then shook her head. Her shoulders sagged as she took another sip of
her cosmopolitan. She wanted a writing assignment, just not this one.
“Yes? No? I’m confused. Madison what’s wrong?” Exasperation filled Samantha’s voice.
She couldn’t leave her friend in suspense any longer. She took a deep breath. “Cole Harris
for one thing.” She slumped forward in her seat. “He’s so arrogant, and he thinks that sexy smile
of his can get him anything he wants.”
“Besides the obvious fact that it can. What does Cole Harris’s smile have to do with your
assignment?” Samantha picked up her wine glass and took a sip.
“It’s a travel assignment interviewing five of New