That Mistletoe Moment Read Free Page A

soft buzz of conversation in the hallway long before she entered the room.
    â€œNoelle.” Her mother jumped up from her seat and came forward. “When did you get here?”
    â€œI found her sneaking in the kitchen door while I was getting some wine.” Nikki sat and shot Noelle a glare as she answered their mother’s question.
    â€œI didn’t sneak. It was just easier to come in the back door. Happy Thanksgiving.” Noelle kissed her mother’s cheek and then moved to do the same to her father. “Dad.”
    â€œGood to see you. Where’s George?” Her father knelt by the fireplace to poke at the log inside, sending sparks flittering up the chimney, before he closed the screen and stood again.
    â€œWhere is George? Isn’t he coming?” Aunt Anna asked as Noelle moved to her.
    â€œHe’s coming. He’s next door. He’ll be right here.” She bent low to kiss the older woman’s cheek. “Nice to see you again, Aunt Anna.”
    The scene was exactly as Nikki had predicted. Their great-grandfather was snoring softly in the easy chair in the corner of the room nearest the fireplace. And Great-Aunt Anna, their grandmother’s sister, was as nosy as ever.
    Nothing changed. Their father was spending his day completely absorbed in tending a fire that was burning just fine on its own, and their mother was spending the day trying to feed them more food than any human could eat.
    â€œNo ring yet?” Aunt Anna’s stare settled on Noelle’s bare left hand.
    She smiled at her aunt as she perched on the edge of a chair and wondered if there was more wine stashed somewhere. “No, not yet.”
    Aunt Anna scowled. “How long have you been dating?”
    â€œFive years next May.”
    The older woman let out a humph that spoke volumes.
    The sound was ripe enough with meaning that Noelle felt the need to defend her boyfriend and their relationship. “Actually, he’s doing really well in his job and he just moved into a great two-bedroom place, so I’m thinking it might be soon. Maybe even for Christmas or my birthday.”
    Their aunt’s penciled-on brows rose. “Really. Well then, I’ll look forward to seeing you again at Christmas. Maybe there will be a wedding to plan.”
    â€œMaybe. We’ll see.” Noelle smiled even though she’d already envisioned her dream wedding with George and no nosy old relative was going to muck up her plans.
    The sound of a masculine clearing of a throat had her spinning in her seat.
    â€œUm, hello, everyone.” George stood in the doorway looking a little paler than usual.
    â€œGeorge.” Back to tending the fire, her father nodded in his direction before leaning over to grab another log.
    â€œGeorge, how is your family? Did you all have a nice Thanksgiving?” her mother asked.
    â€œEveryone is well, thank you.” He was taller than Noelle and leaner than his two brothers. But like his siblings, he had blue eyes and sandy-colored hair, a few shades paler than Noelle’s own brown.
    With Noelle’s green eyes and George’s blue ones, she figured their children had a good chance of inheriting one or the other color. They’d have gorgeous babies. She knew it.
    Noelle stood and walked over to George where he hovered in the doorway.
    â€œHi.” She leaned in to give him a kiss on the lips, but he turned his head and her mouth landed on his cheek. “Do you want some wine?”
    He frowned down at the glass in her hand. “No, thank you.”
    â€œOkay.” Noelle took a sip from her own glass.
    George followed her motion before he glanced around the room. “So, I didn’t miss dessert, did I?”
    Her mother jumped up. “No. I was just about to get the pies on the table. Girls, do you want to help me?”
    â€œSure, Mom.” Nikki walked close and grabbed Noelle’s arm. “Come