Blame It On The Mistletoe

under it, they'll have a happy, healthy life. An unmarried woman who doesn't get kissed under it is doomed to remain single for an entire year. So, once we find it, you are to ensure my baby sister's happiness for another year, got it?'

Sean grinned when Derek winked at him. “Got it.'

They walked in silence for several long minutes, stopping occasionally to look up at a cluster of trees before moving forward again. Most of Macy's brothers were a few hundred feet ahead of them, only Derek chose to remain behind with him.

He looked at the youngest of the guys, noticing he looked the most like Macy. He was taller than her, of course, but had the same fair skin and blonde hair. He was also the most friendly. Maybe it was his age. Greg looked to be the oldest. He was a few years over forty, at least, with Derek somewhere in his twenties. He wasn't sure, but he thought Macy was somewhere around twenty-three. He frowned as he thought it. Shouldn't he know her exact age? Any good boyfriend would. He hoped they didn't ask him. He'd hate to get it wrong. One wrong word in front of her brothers and their little scam would be over.

Sean stopped when Derek did and raised an eyebrow when Derek stood grinning at him. “What?'

'What are you thinking about?'

'Nothing in particular. Why?'

Derek laughed. “Because I've said your name three times and you never blinked.'

'Sorry,” Sean said. “I was thinking about Macy, actually.'

'What about her?'

He shrugged. “Just, things.'

'Things that include maybe making an honest woman out of her?'

Sean gasped and choked. He coughed while trying to clear his throat. When he knew he'd be able to talk, he looked up. All five guys were staring at him. Greg, the oldest brother, who Sean realized held the gun, grinned down at him.

'Yes. What are your intentions with Macy?'

They were looking at him expectantly and he didn't have the foggiest clue what to say. Why didn't he think of this ahead of time? He should have known they'd grill him about his and Macy's relationship eventually.

'Are you in love with her?” Steven asked. “If you're living together, I'll assume you are.'

An onslaught of questions bombarded him immediately. Every one of Macy's brothers jumped in with both feet, each of their questions running together with the next.

'Why have you not ever found the time to come meet us before now?… Is her family not important to you?… Are you going to marry her?… You're not just using her, are you?… Aren't you a little old for her?… I haven't seen you touch her since you got here.'

Sean stared at them wide eyed, finally holding up his hands to stop the onslaught of questions. When they did, he took a deep, calming breath and shook his head. “One at a time. My brain only works so fast.'

'All right. Answer mine first,” Matt said.

'And that was?'

'Are you going to marry her?'

Sean felt his palms begin to sweat immediately. Of all the questions he'd heard, that was the one he didn't want to have to answer. “Well actually,” he cleared his throat, looking into the faces of Macy's brothers and said the first thing that popped into his head. “I do have plans to ask her.'

'When?'

'Uh… soon.'

Matt grinned. “Soon? As in now? Is that why you came up with her this year? Are you going to pop the question to my baby sister for Christmas?'

Normally, Sean considered himself a smart man but as he looked into the expectant faces of Macy's brothers he realized he was truly an idiot. How did he get out of this lie? And why in the hell did he even open his mouth? Think man and think fast. He faked a sad smile when an idea came to him. “Well, unfortunately, I left it at home. The ring, I mean. I was going to ask her here, in front of her family, but without the ring, its kind of pointless. I'll just wait and do it at New Years now.” He was pleased with himself now and immediately asked for the next question.

Chapter 4

Macy looked up when she heard the 4-wheelers pulling in to the yard. She sighed in relief at the sound. The guys had been gone all day. Lunch had come and gone hours ago and as she helped with supper she couldn't help but get anxious. She could only imagine what her brother's put Sean through. She should have warned him but surely he saw it coming?

When the front door opened and the guys entered the house, shaking the snow off their coats and making a general ruckus, she stood on tiptoe and looked for Sean. He dragged in the rear and to her surprise he was smiling.

The noise level in the house magnified to deafening levels as everyone tried to speak at once. When Greg held up his hand, the room grew quiet.

Macy watched him expectantly, as did everyone else, and when he grinned and held up a large clump of mistletoe, laughter spilled across the room. “Where's my wife at?'

Gwen pushed her way through the crowd, leaning up on her tiptoes to accept Greg's kiss. When they broke apart at last, laughter and cheers echoed off the walls. The mistletoe was hung as it was every year and everyone rushed to make sure they all had a turn under it.

Everyone but her.

She left the room, walking back to the kitchen. The table was set and the food laid out, waiting for everyone to gather in the dining room. Macy grabbed the washcloth and wiped the already spotless cabinets while the commotion in the other room grew. She heard her mother squeal, her laughter contagious, and she smiled while listening. Their silly little Christmas ritual was one of the many highlights of coming home for the holidays and every year she'd sat and watched until every last person in the room was kissed.

Everyone but her.

She sighed and dropped the cloth, turning her head when she heard someone behind her. Sean was standing in the doorway. “Let me guess,” she said. “They sent you in here for me?'

'For a blonde, you're rather smart.'

'Hey,” she said, laughing. “No dumb blonde jokes from you. I get enough of those as it is.'

He grinned and crossed the room, stopping once he reached her and turned, leaning back against the counter. “You should have told me your brothers were going to grill me on their little hunting expedition.'

'You're a doctor. I assumed you were smart enough to figure that one out on your own.'

'I'm a vet,” he said. “Not a brain surgeon.'

She grinned. “So, what did you tell them?'

'That you're a wildcat in the sack and loved bondage games.'

'What!'

He laughed and glanced to the door before he reached out, hooking his arm around her waist and pulling her flush against him. His free hand slid into her hair and he lowered his head. “Don't move,” he whispered in her ear. “We're being watched.'

Her back stiffened and she wondered who was spying. She'd bet money on one of her brothers but her mother wasn't out of the question either. Thoughts of who the unidentified spy might be vanished when she realized that for the first time in three years, she was exactly where she'd fantasized being on numerous occasions. She was pressed against Sean's body, his breath teasing her cheek and she closed her eyes to savor the sensation.

His lips brushed the side of her face, lingering for long moments before skimming her jaw. His scent was drugging and she inhaled deeply to take in as much of it as she could. When he kissed the edge of her mouth, she looked up. He was staring down at her and she could feel his breath on her face. One tiny move and she would know how his lips tasted.