Read Online Mistletoe Magic by Melissa McClone - Free Book Online

 
     
     
    Mistletoe Magic

     
    On December
twenty-fourth, a rousing rendition of “Deck the Halls” played on
iPod speakers in the living room. Caitlin Butler hummed along to
the merry tune, waiting for Jay and Jen Patterson and their
children, Justin and Jasmine, to finish packing and leave on
vacation. Going away for the holiday hadn’t stopped them from
decorating the house. No space was left un-decked.
    Inside or
out.
    Not that Santa
needed to stop by here tonight. Jolly Old St. Nicholas would
deliver the kids’ gifts to their grandparents’ house in Idaho,
rather than slide down the chimney in Montana. Unless he wanted to
leave something for Caitlin. The idea of waking up to a stocking
full of goodies and a mysterious present under the tree brought a
smile to her face.
    But she knew
better than to believe.
    Still, she
rubbed her thumbs over her fingertips, her excitement growing over
housesitting for friends. She loved this old house, full of
character and charm and within walking distance of Marietta’s Main
Street. She’d babysat the kids many times, but she’d never spent
the night.
    Now she had
the place to herself. Well, almost.
    Her heart beat
with anticipation.
    Spending a
week in this house would be like winning the blackout jackpot at
the St. James monthly Friday night bingo. Much more festive than
spending winter break in her above-a-garage studio apartment on the
wrong side of town. Bet the sink never backed up and all stove
burners worked in this house.
    Warmth settled in the center of her chest. She glanced around
the living room, with its wide slipcovered chairs for reading with
the kids, knick-knacks, photographs, and a wood painted sign that
read: Life takes you to unexpected places.
Love brings you home.
    Jay and Jen
Patterson had created a home.
    Something
Caitlin missed since her parents moved away. She’d dated, but still
hadn’t found anyone to bring her home.
    Someday…
    Not today.
    Anything she
lacked would be filled with the holiday spirit, something
overflowing here.
    The scents of
pine and cinnamon lingered in the air. Red plush stockings hung
from the white brick fireplace’s wood mantel covered with boughs,
holly, white candles, and miniature teddy bears wearing Santa hats.
A beautiful, six-foot-tall tree filled one corner of the living
room. Cranberry and popcorn garland was strung around the branches.
Ornaments hung by strands of twine. Twinkling white lights reminded
her of tiny stars.
    Caitlin
sighed. She couldn’t wait to read and watch movies and enjoy time
off. Relaxing, doing what she loved, sounded like the perfect way
to spend this week.
    Justin, a
student in the preschool class she taught, ran into the living room
like a bull out of a rodeo chute. He wore a red and black plaid
shirt, elastic waistband jeans and black cowboy boots. Formal
attire around these parts. Eyes wide, he skidded to a stop in front
of her. “Miss Caitlin. You’re here.”
    “ I am.” She ruffled his curly brown hair. “It’s almost time for
you to go to your grandparents’ house. I’m going to stay here and
watch yours.”
    “ And feed Butler.”
    “ Yes, I’ll take good care of your fish.”
    Justin marched
around the room clapping his hands. “Almost time for Santa. Santa.
Santa.”
    Jay stood
under the archway to the living room, a blue parka in hand and a
smile on his face. “Santa knows where to find you, buddy. Time to
put on your coat so we can get to Nana and Papa’s house before
dinnertime.”
    Justin stuck
out his arm. “Nana always has candy.”
    “ Yes, she does. But she’s baking a ham tonight.” Jay helped his
son into the jacket. He looked at Caitlin. “Like the
tree?”
    “ Love it.” The three-foot tall, bought-on-clearance fiber-optic
tree that changed colors was in the trunk of her car. She hadn’t
wanted to wake up on Christmas morning without one. The two
presents she’d bought herself—a novel featuring a hot cowboy hero
by her favorite romance