Mistletoe and Magic Read Online Free Page B

heard you say you’d pick it up in a few days. I did call out to you, but you were already out of earshot, so I offered to deliver the tree.”
    “Well, Mr. Miller, that was very nice of you. Thank you so much. Now, come inside, it’s bitter cold out here.”
     
    ~~~
     
    “Nah,” he said, “I’m soaking wet and all covered in snow. I’ll only mess up your floors.” He could feel the excitement mounting inside his chest. Maybe he was making progress after all. But if he was going to win this hand, he had to play his cards right and curb his enthusiasm. She seemed friendlier than normal. Maybe the next time he asked, she’d accept his invitation to have coffee.
    “Oh, don’t be silly. I can wipe it up.” She watched him lean the tree against the house and rub his hands together to warm them up. “C’mon, I can see that you’re freezing.”
    “Thanks, but no. I really need to get back home. Dinner is waiting for me.”
    “Well, then wait a minute while I get you a tip.”
    He laughed. “Mallory, thank you, but no. Geez, I don’t want a tip.” He began to turn away.
    “I can make you a cup of hot chocolate,” she said obviously trying to entice him.
    “No. Honestly, I’m good. You have a good evening.” He waved his hand and walked back to his car certain handling her like this was going to pay off. A few seconds later when she called out to him, he was smiling because he knew she was watching him walk back to his car.
    “Be careful going home, AJ. You’re not used to driving on these icy roads.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said. When he heard her door shut, he wanted to release a loud whoop, but gave an internal one instead. No sense in ruining a good thing. Driving back to his aunt’s, he sang along with the radio, something he never did, but tonight had turned out better than he’d expected.
    Pulling into the driveway, AJ exited the car and removed the bungee cords securing the tree. Brushing the snow off the roof, he grabbed the trunk of the tree and pulled it down to lean against the side of the garage. He would have preferred to pull the car inside the garage, but with the snow accumulating as quickly as it was, the driveway was bound to need a second plowing. Planning for tomorrow, he turned the car around and backed it into the driveway so the car was facing out. That would give him more traction and a much better chance of being able to get out in the morning. AJ pushed on the remote to raise the garage door and carried the tree inside, snipped the mesh and inserted the trunk of the tree into a bucket of water he’d prepared ahead of time. Checking the branches, he flattened them with his hands to help the tree relax. Hearing his aunt milling around inside, he shut out the garage light and entered the warm house enjoying the feel of heat hitting his face, and the aroma of something freshly baked.
    “Where have you been?” his aunt asked.
    “I helped a friend out and now I’m here. How are you this evening?”
    “I’m okay. I baked your favorite pie, Arden.”
    “You did?” he said, pretending he hadn’t figured it out. “I wondered what that glorious smell was when I walked into the house. Thank you. When can I dig in?”
    “Now, you know I won’t allow you to have dessert before dinner.”
    “I remember, Auntie. Did you have your dinner yet?”
    “Nope. I waited for you.”
    “What are we having?”
    She ambled around the kitchen and pulled two plates from the cupboard.
    AJ lifted the lid off the pot on the stove and took a whiff. “Mmm, you made beef stew. Perfect for a cold night. Do we have biscuits too?”
    “In the oven. I left them in there to keep warm.”
    “What can I do to help?”
    “Get out of those wet clothes and pour us a glass of wine.”
    “I’m going to take a shower first. Is that okay?”
    “Absolutely. It’ll warm you up.”
     
    ~~~
     
    Exiting the shower, he toweled off feeling much better than he had the last hour. The warm water had managed