A Mistletoe Christmas: Santa's Mistletoe Mistake / A Merry Little Wedding / Mistletoe Magic

She blew out a breath of sheer frustration. Why was it every time she anticipated that he was about to kiss her, she saw the backside of him running out her door?

Maybe he didn’t feel the sparks. Maybe he really was just a lonely cowboy passing the painful Christmas season with his neighbor and her daughter.

CHAPTER FIVE (#ulink_1212a4c7-a648-5ff0-871d-580accc0c355)

JAKE WAS BEGINNING to feel as if he suffered from some sort of mental illness. Last night he’d desperately wanted to kiss Melody, and he’d known by the smolder of her eyes that she’d wanted him to kiss her.

What had held him back? Guilt? Fear? Maybe a little bit of both. His feelings for Melody and Libby had spiraled out of his control in such a brief period of time, and yet he felt as if he’d known Melody for months.

He awoke to the sun shining brightly despite the forecast for a wintry storm in the next forty-eight hours. He was in the process of stacking wood for the fireplace on the front porch when an old red pickup truck pulled into his driveway.

Bill Johnson owned the ranch next to his on the opposite side from Melody. Bill was in his early seventies and a widower like Jake. He occasionally stopped by just to jaw about local happenings, but it had been a while since he’d visited.

“I see you’re getting ready for the storm,” Bill said when he’d climbed out of the driver seat.

“From what the forecast is saying, it’s supposed to move through fairly quickly, but you can’t always trust what the weathermen tell you. Coffee?”

“I wouldn’t mind a cup if you’ve got it.”

Jake smiled at the older man. “You should know after all these years that most mornings I’ve got it.” He took off his gloves and motioned for Bob to follow him inside.

Bob sat at the kitchen table and Jake filled two cups with coffee and then joined him. For the next few minutes the two men talked cattle and crops and everything that had to do with ranching.

“Although you wouldn’t know it by looking around here, I’ve heard a little gossip that you’re in the Christmas spirit again,” Bob said when they’d exhausted the ranch talk.

“I don’t know about that. I’ve just been showing Melody Martin and her daughter around town. It’s their first Christmas here in Mistletoe.”

Bob lifted his cup to his mouth and eyed Jake over the rim. He took a drink and then lowered his cup. “If I were a good-looking young man like you I’d be doing more than just showing that pretty lady and her cute kid around town.”

“Did you come over here to give me a lesson in romance?” Jake asked drily.

“No, but I did come over to remind you that this afternoon is the day I open up my pond area for the annual ice-skating party. As I recall, there was a time when you cut a fine figure on the ice.”

“I haven’t skated in years.” Not since Stacy’s death. His skates had been packed away along with all the Christmas decorations they’d owned and stored in boxes in the barn. He’d intended to donate it all to a local charity but had never actually gotten around to it.

“I wasn’t thinking so much about you. I thought maybe you’d like to bring Melody and her girl out, enjoy the festivities for the afternoon.”

“I’ll think about it,” Jake replied. He couldn’t help but think how much fun Libby would have. Bob always went all out for his yearly skating parties. There were blow-up Santas and giant reindeer, bushes decorated with the ever-present mistletoe and hot cocoa for the children and Mistletoe Toddies for the adults.

“I’d like to see you out there again.” Bob took another drink of his coffee. “In fact, you’d be doing me a favor if you come.”

“How’s that?” Jake asked dubiously.

“You know there are always more kids than adults out there, and I’ve got my hands full. If you come and bring Melody and her daughter then that makes two more adults and only one more kid.” Bob looked at him innocently.

Jake narrowed his eyes as he stared at the man who had brought him meals after Stacy’s death, who had sat with him for hours without speaking, just being there as the worst of Jake’s pain had peaked.

“Are you trying to do some sort of matchmaking?” Jake asked.

Bob grinned and raised one of his gray eyebrows. “From the gossip I’ve heard, the match has already been made. I just stopped by to remind you about the skating party this afternoon, that’s all.” He finished his coffee and stood. “And now I’d better get back to my place. I’ve still got plenty to do before this wingding happens.”

Jake walked with him back outside and to his truck. Bob stopped at the door and turned to look at Jake. “So can I expect you all at my place later?”

Jake shoved his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to do around here.”

Bob stared at him for a long moment. “Don’t close yourself off anymore, Jake. You’ve grieved long enough. Stacy wouldn’t want you to live the rest of your life all alone.”

Jake nodded to acknowledge Bob’s words. Intellectually he knew that, but emotionally he wasn’t sure he was there yet. “Thanks for stopping by, Bob,” he finally replied as Bob got back into his truck. “You’ve been a good neighbor, a good friend.”

“That’s been easy. You’re a good man, Jake. You’ve just been lost for the past couple of years. I see a new spark in you, and if Melody and her daughter have put it there, then you should grab on to it.” Bob started his truck and pulled away.

Jake stared after him until the vehicle disappeared from view. He returned to stacking the firewood next to the front door and tried not to think about Bob’s yearly ice-skating party, tried desperately not to think about Melody and Libby.

He’d spent the first couple of years after Stacy’s death thinking only of her, and then he’d reached a place where he’d tried desperately not to think of her or any other woman. Now he was fighting Melody and Libby filling his every thought.

Were they baking cookies this morning? Filling their kitchen with the sweet homey scent of sugar and cinnamon? Or had they gone into town to continue to explore the charm of a Christmas-bedecked, mistletoe-laden little town?

At noon he moved to the window that gave him a view of Melody’s house, half hoping her car wouldn’t be parked in front of the garage, indicating that she was home.

It was there, and before he realized what he was doing his cell phone was in his hand. She answered on the second ring, her voice warm and with that musical lilt of life.

“Melody, it’s me.”

“Hi, Jake. I was just thinking about you.”

“Oh?” Warmth suffused him. When was the last time any woman had entertained any thoughts of him at all? “Good thoughts, I hope.”

“Great thoughts,” she replied. “I was thinking about our dinner last night and how much I enjoyed it.”

“I enjoyed it, too. Do you and Libby ice-skate?”

“Libby used to skate a little, but it’s been a long time. She’s probably quite rusty. Why? What’s up?”

He told her about the yearly skating event at Bob’s pond. “I thought maybe the two of you would enjoy the circus and might be interested in going with me.”

“Do you skate?” she asked.

“I used to cut a great figure eight on the ice, but like Libby, I’m probably rusty.”

“I don’t skate, but we’d love to go, and I’ll cheerlead from the sidelines.”

Arrangements were made for him to pick them up around three, and when he hung up he headed out to the barn to find his old ice skates.

He didn’t think about Stacy as he pulled down box after box of Christmas decorations in the hunt for the skates. He didn’t even think about Melody and Libby. He didn’t want to dwell in the past any longer, but he was also reluctant to look toward any future.

* * *

JAKE PULLED UP in front of the house at precisely three. It had been a busy couple of hours for Melody as she realized Libby’s skates were too small, requiring a fast trip into town to get a new pair.