Read Online Holiday Serenade, The by Ava Miles - Free Book Online

made her body want to sway and execute an arabesque.
    About fifty people mingled around the ballroom. Some she recognized, like the parents from Dustin’s indoor soccer team, whom Rhett had come to know by attending games. Others were harder to identify because of their holiday–themed attire. Like the snowman with the big carrot for a nose and a black top hat. Someone clearly had found an impressive costume online—Dare didn’t sell that kind of stuff.
    Rhett’s suggestion about costumes had raised her guard, so she’d chosen the least sexy outfit possible: Mrs. Claus, decked out in a curly white wig, silver spectacles, padding around the middle, and more blush than usual to create rosy cheeks.
    Her new trio of friends approached her as soon as they spotted her, making her smile. Peggy wasn’t used to having female friends, but she’d become close to her sister–in–law, Meredith, and Meredith’s sister, Jill. They always asked Abbie to hang out on girls’ nights, and sometimes she did. Whereas Peggy and Abbie played the “straight man” role, Meredith was pretty down to earth, while Jill had a wicked streak of humor and a larger–than–life personality that was sometimes reminiscent of Rhett. It was nice to have some new friends.
    Their costume choices perfectly captured their personalities. Abbie hadn’t wanted to talk about the party or what she was wearing, so they hadn’t traded notes beforehand. She studied Peggy’s outfit first—black pants and a shirt with a silver star on the pocket. It didn’t exactly scream Christmas.
    “What in the world are you supposed to be, Peggy?” she asked when they reached her.
    “The head security elf,” she totally deadpanned.
    Jill threw her arms up and twirled around. “Guess who I am.”
    Abbie let her eyes travel over the bright red Santa outfit, which was similar in style to hers save for the thick black handlebar mustache gracing Jill’s lip. “I almost don’t want to know.”
    She grabbed her pillow–stuffed belly and laughed in a big boom. “Snicker Claus, ‘cause I crack jokes. Wanna hear one?”
    “No,” Meredith said, stepping forward to give Abbie a hug. “You look lovely, Abbie. The perfect Mrs. Claus.”
    Meredith was dressed like a super hero, from the white leather pants to the sparkly white bustier and cape.
    “Your cape is fantastic,” Abbie commented, wanting to run her fingers over the white velvet. “What are you?”
    Meredith stuck out her hip playfully. “A Winter Goddess Badass, of course. I had to bring out the La Perla again. I used to wear La Perla every day to give myself a confidence boost, and it’s nice to reprise it every now and then.”
    Abbie wasn’t sure she wanted to know about her new friend’s lingerie.
    “Tanner likes the costume,” Meredith murmured, flicking her cape with her gloved hand.
    “Please,” Peggy pleaded. “Sister here.” Then she grabbed a piece of prosciutto–wrapped melon from a passing tray. “This seems more like summer food,” she concluded after taking a bite.
    And that was when Abbie took a better look at the hors d’oeurves. All of her favorites were making the rounds, from the fig–roasted beef tenderloin in tiny black bowls to the mounds of strawberries dipped in chocolate. Her breath hitched, and her wig started to itch.
    “He’s done this for me,” she whispered, even though he’d said this wasn’t her present. She wasn’t sure if she should be upset about it. The romantic part of her thought it was incredibly sweet.
    Peggy gave a snort. “Well, duh. Do you really think Cowboy–on–Crack would ever have come up with this shindig without romance on the mind? I mean, look at this place, Abbie.”
    Jill put an arm around her, bumping her with her fake girth. “It’s like a fairy tale.”
    Yeah, no poker babes in Santa’s helper outfits anywhere. Thank God.
    And then the crowd seemed to part, and her fairy tale prince appeared. He wore gray dress pants and a