That Mistletoe Moment Read Free

down the aisle in the opposite direction.
    Noelle pulled herself out of the daze the encounter had put her in. She didn’t have any time to waste.
    She headed for the cash register with what might be the last bag of cranberries in all of Connecticut. All thanks to the generosity of one kind stranger.

CHAPTER 2
    â€œN ice of you to come.” Nikki’s sarcasm was clear in her tone and her expression.
    Noelle scowled at her sister. “We couldn’t run out the moment we finished eating dinner. That would have been rude.”
    Besides, she’d enjoyed spending time with George’s parents and two brothers.
    â€œSure. First no cranberry sauce, and now you slide in right before dessert.”
    â€œI texted you about what happened with the cranberries.”
    â€œI know. I got the text. Doesn’t mean I was happy about it.”
    Noelle blew out a short breath. “I was pretty upset about it myself. Believe me.”
    â€œSo, how was it over there? Are Glen and Gordy still idiots?”
    Noelle cocked a brow at Nikki. “Be nice. They’re George’s brothers.”
    â€œDoesn’t mean they can’t be idiots.” Finally Nikki sighed beneath the weight of Noelle’s stare. “Fine. I’ll be nice. Now, hang up your coat and come inside. I’ve borne the burden of our crazy relatives alone long enough.”
    Noelle slipped her peacoat off her arms and hung it on one of the hooks just inside the back door as Nikki frowned.
    â€œWhere is George anyway?”
    â€œHe’ll be here in a minute. He just wanted to say good-bye to his brothers.”
    â€œAll right, good. That means we can drink. I’ll pour you one.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about? I could still drink if he was around. He wouldn’t stop me.”
    â€œOh, he wouldn’t stop you, but those passive-aggressive comments and glances of his are enough to make me want to guzzle straight out of the bottle. I swear, that man acts like he’s an eighty-year-old woman sometimes.”
    â€œStop.”
    â€œI’m serious. Aunt Anna is cooler than George.” Nikki kept her voice low, but Noelle still glanced at the doorway of the kitchen to make sure their aunt hadn’t overheard.
    â€œDon’t fill up my glass.” Noelle held up one hand as Nikki upended the bottle over a wineglass.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œI have my own car. I met George here.”
    Nikki cocked a brow. “Why didn’t he pick you up?”
    â€œDon’t know.” Noelle lifted one shoulder and figured it was safest to change the subject. “So, how’s it been here? Anything exciting happen?”
    â€œOh, Aunt Anna is in rare form today.” Nikki nodded toward her now-empty glass on the kitchen island. “I’ve had three glasses so far and it’s only five o’clock.”
    â€œWow.” Noelle raised a brow and eyed the lineup of bottles on the counter. Two were empty, and one was well on the way to being so as Nikki moved to refill her glass.
    Shaking her head, Nikki finally put down the bottle of red wine. “I swear to you, for Christmas I’m making up a fake boyfriend, just to get them all off my back.”
    â€œHow are you going to make up a fake boyfriend?”
    â€œThat’s the beauty of modern technology. I don’t even have to. There’s an app for that.”
    Noelle widened her eyes. “Really?”
    â€œI kid you not. The Build-A-Boyfriend app. I read about it online. One more comment from Aunt Anna and I’m signing up tomorrow. Or tonight if I’m not too drunk.” Nikki handed Noelle one glass and pressed the other to her lips. After swallowing a big sip of wine, she blew out a quick breath. “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go.”
    After downing a bracing swallow herself, Noelle followed her sister down the hallway toward the living room. The acoustics of the old house meant she heard the