The Homespun Holiday by Sarah O'Rourke Read Free Book Online

sister.”
    “You thought about inviting me to
join you and Paisley?  At your home?  For Christmas?” he asked, repeating her
earlier statement as though he was unable to believe it.
    “Of course,” Millie replied,
nodding quickly.  “I just assumed you wouldn’t say yes.  You’ve said no to
everybody else.  Why would we be any different?”
    “Neither you or Paisley
qualifies as everybody else, Mills.”
    Captivated by the swirling color in
his eyes, Millie swallowed.  “Oh,” she breathed weakly.  “I just thought… I
mean I assumed…”
    “Don’t ever assume with me, Mills. 
Just ask.  I’m an honest man; I’ll offer you a truthful answer.  And I very
much would have enjoyed being a part of Christmas with you and Paisley.  Is the
invitation still open?”
    Slightly overwhelmed by the
obviously honest declaration, Millicent’s breath caught.  “You’re serious?  I’m
not being punked or something, am I?” she asked, looking around the parking lot
as if expecting to see reality show television cameras appearing from nowhere.
    “I don’t know what that even
means.  Believe me, I’m as surprised as you are that I feel this way.  But I
enjoy your company and Paisley is a hoot.  So, yeah, Nugget and I would have
enjoyed being a part of your holiday celebration.  In fact, I think since I’m
being forced into Christmas with my family thanks to a helpful shove from you,
that you should agree to celebrate with us, too.  Maybe Christmas Eve at my
place with your family and Christmas Day morning at yours.  That sounds fair to
me.”
    “Are you sure you haven’t fallen
and hit your head?” Millie asked, reaching up to grip his dimpled chin and turn
his face from side to side as she searched for a lump.
    Wrapping his hand around her dainty
wrist as her cool fingers pressed against his chin, Mack chuckled.  “I’m in my
right mind.  Trust me, this isn’t a purely altruistic move on my part.  I might
have a slightly ulterior motive.”
    “And that is?”
    “I love my family, but both my
mother and sister can be nosier than a police detective at a crime scene.  It
never hurts to have a buffer present.  If they start asking me a lot of
personal questions, I can always use you as a human shield.  In fact, I think
it’s your duty to do this for me.  Without your little postcard, none of this
would be happening.”
    “Are you blackmailing me, Doc?” she
asked on a laugh, one eyebrow arching.  “Because I’ve got it on good authority
that friends do not blackmail friends.”
    “Fine.  What about a favor, huh? 
Friends do favors for each other all the time, don’t they?” Mack volleyed
smoothly, studying her.  “How about you do me this favor, Millicent? 
You won’t deny me that, will you?  Especially since you’re the one that got me
into this predicament.”
    “No, I suppose not.  I’d be happy
to spend the holidays with you and your family.”
    “Same here,” he admitted softly. 
“Now, how do you feel about you and Paisley helping me decorate my place
tomorrow?  It’s Saturday.  We both have the day off unless one of my patients
decides to go into labor, and since nobody is that close to delivery yet, I
think we’re pretty clear there.   My family expects to fly into Paradise and
find my home a completely undecorated mess.  I’d love to knock my sister down a
peg or two and surprise her with a perfectly designed Winter Wonderland. 
Really, this is the least you could do,” he grumbled when Millie didn’t make a
peep.  “Let me remind you once more that this shit is all your fault.”
    “Such a sweet talker.”  Millie
sighed dramatically and batted her eyelashes demurely.  “You sure know how to
charm a girl.”
    “My ex-wife used to say the same
thing,” he reminisced.
    “ You were married ? 
For real?  To a woman?”  Millie gaped in stunned disbelief, unable to imagine
this male as a part of a couple.  Sure, she’d had her fantasies