Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses: A feel good Christmas romance novel by Jenny Hale Read Free Book Online Page B

both towering trees done in the ballroom. Each one had two thousand white twinkle lights and shiny silver and winter-blue ornaments to bring out the blue in the rug. She’d added silver tree skirts and then covered them completely with the silver faux presents she’d wrapped. Dangling from shimmery silver ribbons that the groundsmen had helped her pin to the massive ceiling near each of the windows were the sprigs of mistletoe, one hanging just over the grand piano, the tails of the bow cascading like tiny, velvet waterfalls, their reflection just beautiful on the surface of the piano’s bench.
    The fireplace was draped in spruce greenery and more white lights, a blue and silver bow with long tails holding it up at either corner. She’d placed silver stocking hangers perfectly centered along the front of the fireplace and from them, dangled cream-colored stockings with silver beading.
    Abbey sat down on the floor cross-legged and pulled out her sketchpad. She turned around to view the trees she’d just decorated. With the warmth from the fire on her back, she peered up at the gorgeous trees, like bookends on either side of the windows. They’d already filled the room with so much character, their white lights glimmering against the window panes as the snow came down outside. Suddenly, inspiration was hitting her from every direction, and Abbey began to sketch out the room, her pencil moving as fast as it could go, her ideas bumping into one another on their way out.
    She was going to make several seating areas in this room, each one angled so that everyone could feel the warmth from that gorgeous fireplace. Each group of chairs would have a small table in the center, allowing people to set down their drinks, talk, play cards, whatever they wanted. She imagined silver vases of Christmas greenery—tall shoots of holly branches with red berries. Above the mantle, she envisioned a colossal antique mirror with a thick silver frame. Her hands were sketching as fast as they could go, the side of her hand black from the lead of her drawing pencil.
    “How’s it going?” she heard from across the room and jumped, her concentration interrupted. Nick was standing in the doorway, his eyes moving up one of the Christmas trees. Then, he looked at Abbey, and she caught him stealing a glance at her sock feet before making eye contact. She tucked her feet under her self-consciously. He should be happy she wasn’t wearing her shoes on the nice rug. He walked over to her and peered down at her sketchpad. “You’ve been busy,” he said, his voice contemplating and careful.
    “When I get ideas, I just run with them.”
    “Clearly,” he said. His face showed no indication of his thoughts and it was driving her crazy. “You’re keeping the piano, yes?”
    “Yes. Is that okay?”
    “It’s fine.” His gaze fluttered up to the mistletoe and then back to her. “Do you play piano at all?” he asked.
    “A little.”
    With that answer, he cocked his head to the side slightly with interest. “Show me.”
    A swell of unease tickled her skin at his request. She was only facilitating conversation. She didn’t really play. She’d learned a few songs at her friend’s house when she was in high school. Now he’d put her on the spot.
    Nick walked over and stood next to the piano. He was waiting for her to play something. Her empty stomach filled with nerves. Then, she got herself together. What did it matter if he thought she wasn’t good at the piano? She was there to decorate his house, not entertain him. She padded over on her sock feet and sat down on the bench, crisscrossing her legs.
    “You don’t need the pedals?” he asked.
    “Not for this song,” she said with a nervous grin. Then, she banged out “Chopsticks” on the keys. She was the best at this song because she’d practiced it enough to be fast, and it generally sounded like the actual song, which was more than she could say for her other options.
    Abbey turned