Miss Mistletoe Read Online Free Page A

absolute wonder that no one seemed to notice the thundering of Cece’s heart as she looked from the last, tiny white berry, to Finn, and back. They were almost there. If no one else stepped up in the next fifteen seconds, then her plan might work.
    Richard and Finn were saying something to each other, laughing as they slipped through the crowd toward her. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Cece stepped to her right, finally positioning herself beneath the mistletoe. She desperately tried to act as though she had no idea that the festive greenery was suspended above her, an earthly halo that would make her dreams come true.
    “Well, look who it is,” Finn said, smiling at her as he and Richard came to a stop in front of her. “How different to see you in your Christmas finery, and not the light muslins of summer.”
    Cece smiled, allowing herself to be lost in the deep green of his eyes. “Good evening, Finn—I mean, Mr. Edgerton. You are looking well this evening.” She imagined that she could make out his woodsy scent among the cinnamon, nutmeg, and spirits flavoring the air.
    He leaned the slightest bit forward, his eyes flitting down her frame and back up again. “Not nearly so well as you, Cece.”
    The hair on the back of her exposed neck stood on end, and she scarcely dared to breathe. This was it. He would lean in now, he would kiss her, and the taste of his lips would flavor hers for eternity, as she would never let anything touch them again.
    “Thank you,” she responded, her throat so tight the words were barely above a whisper. She unconsciously licked her lips, glad that the beeswax balm she’d stolen from Evie had made them soft and supple despite the punishing weather they were having.
    “Well, look at that,” Richard said, pointing above Cece’s head. “You’re under the mistletoe, little cousin.”
    The heat that swept Cece’s cheeks was swift and searing. Leave it to her cousin to get to get to the point of the matter
.
Cece looked up and gave a nervous little laugh. “I am, aren’t I?”
    Her eyes flitted to Finn, but she was so nervous she couldn’t even meet his eyes. Instead, she let her gaze fall to somewhere in the vicinity of Richard’s shoulder while she lifted her cheek slightly, like an offering to the gods.
    Richard chuckled. “Well, never let it be said that we Moores don’t appreciate tradition.”
    What? What did he mean by . . .
    Her eyes went wide as she realized what he was about to do. No—
Finn
was supposed to kiss her, not Richard! But before she could muster any sort of response, her cousin pecked her upturned cheek, exactly as a brother or father might. She stood frozen in horror as he reached up, plucked the very last berry from the mistletoe, and held it aloft. “Last of the kisses, my friends.”
    There was a smattering of applause from those nearby, all completely oblivious to her devastation. Richard smiled at her and turned to leave, and Finn followed suit. No, this couldn’t be happening! This was supposed to be her moment, the one she had waited hours, days, perhaps even years for.
    As Finn took a step away, she saw the moment for what it was: her absolute last chance. If she didn’t give him a reason to think of her as a grown woman, then he would walk away and forget her for the girl she was.
    Without thinking, she lurched forward, not even knowing what she was about to do. Her hand closed around his wrist and he stopped at once, turning with his brow knitted in question.
    She didn’t pause, didn’t consider any of the thousands of repercussions the moment, played out in front of a whole room full of people, could bring. Instead, she sucked in a breath, raised on her toes, and pressed her lips to his.

    Fresh mortification welled up within her, and it was all she could do to open her eyes and face the object of her childhood
tendre
and her current regret. He was watching her, his green eyes cool and steady. Still, no matter how she tried to remain