Mistletoe Hero

You’re one of my favorite customers.”

“I don’t suppose that if I withheld my recommendation we’d get to keep you?”

He laughed at the possibility of Mindy Nelson, who couldn’t even kill a bug-he’d seen her catch them in jars to release outside-scheming to keep him from leaving. “No, I’m definitely going some time after the fall festival.” Wouldn’t it be nice to move over the winter and be settled before January? A new life in the new year. Perfect.

“I suppose I’m morally obligated,” she grumbled. “A man with a work ethic like yours deserves all the praise he can get. But I’m not happy about this!”

After a moment’s debate, he decided to press his luck. “Then would I be completely insensitive to ask you for your brother-in-law’s contact information? I’ve never really pictured myself living in Florida, but who knows? Maybe the Sunshine State would be the perfect place for me.”

“Maybe,” she said slowly. “I’ll call him this weekend and put in a good word for you. I can’t guarantee he’s hiring, but he has nothing to lose by talking to you.”

“Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. Have a good weekend, Mrs. Nelson.”

“You, too. Oh, and, Gabriel? Don’t you pay any mind to that Shane McIntyre. I know his mom, and he was a good kid, but always been something of a hothead. Anyone with half a brain can see Arianne’s not right for him, but I suppose he’ll just have to figure that out for himself. It’ll blow over.”

“I…Thanks,” he said lamely. He told himself he was used to being at the center of Mistletoe gossip, but maybe you never truly adjusted to being the center of other people’s conversations-the uncomfortable scrutiny, the half- truths.

He was hardly astonished to discover that news of last night’s argument was making the rounds, but he was pleasantly surprised to find someone had taken his side.

Chapter Eight

Gabe supposed the main problem with volunteers was that they were, by definition, not professionals. For a man who worked alone and knew the name and function of pretty much every power tool on the market, Saturday morning was a bit too chaotic. A couple dozen well-meaning people-many with children in tow-milled around with only a limited idea of what they should be doing.

Thankfully that lasted for only a short while before Quinn and Lilah herded everyone into the impromptu headquarters they’d set up in the town square gazebo. Even among the crush of bodies beneath the gazebo roof, Gabe was continuously aware of Arianne’s location. He could pick her voice out of the cacophony, could feel whenever she looked in his direction. He assiduously did not look in hers. She would say that he was avoiding her, accuse him of running away again in a more subtle form.

Damn straight he planned to avoid her! He was willing to build an entire pirate armada in return for Arianne not kissing him again. Because if she tried, he would succumb to temptation. He’d spent too many unguarded moments since Thursday night imagining the taste of her, the softness of her lips beneath his, her skin against his. He was reputed to be someone who gave in to baser instincts with no thought for consequences. If Arianne got too close, he’d end up proving his fabled lack of self-control.

In the center of the gazebo, Lilah and Quinn mapped out where everything would be-various midway games down Main Street, arts and crafts booths on the courthouse lawn, concessions scattered throughout, a large rock- climbing wall in the post-office parking lot.

A freckled boy sitting not far from Gabe leaned forward at the mention of the climbing wall. “I’m gonna do it this year!”

An older boy with similar features shoved the child’s shoulder. “You’ve been saying that for two years, Ben. Face it, you’re a big fraidy cat, scared of heights. You’re never gonna climb that wall.”

“I am, too, Toby!” But the youngster’s lower lip trembled.

Gabe sighed inwardly. Chin up, kid. Crying would only be taken as an additional sign of cowardice.

“Ben! Toby!” A woman with strawberry blond hair shushed them, and Lilah and Quinn began sending volunteers off with specific assignments. They’d restored order admirably well, and Gabe hoped he could get to work soon on erecting the plank platform, left more or less alone.

He hadn’t even reached the site Lilah had designated, the small gravel lot next to the library, before someone approached. Jack Allen. A sour taste rose in Gabe’s mouth. Jack worked as an administrator for the town of Mistletoe and was the younger brother of someone Gabe had beat to a near pulp in high school.

“Hey, Gabe,” Jack called.

He sounded a lot like his brother actually. Hey, Gabe.

As if it had been yesterday, Gabe could hear Duke Allen in his head.

Wait up.

Warily, Gabe’s sophomore self had turned, wondering if yet another person was about to insinuate that he was responsible for two deaths. Three, if one counted the mother he’d never known.

But Duke Allen had beamed at him. I know you’re taking a lot of flack, dude, but I’m on your side. Who wouldn’t have bagged Mrs. Templeton, given the chance? I gotta know, was she as hot in bed as I think?

The memory blurred after that, ending with the principal and vice principal separating them and the look of contempt in Jeremy Sloan’s eyes when he’d come to pick up his suspended son.

Gabe swallowed. “Jack.”

“Quinn said I should see you about the ladder?”

“What? Oh, the ladder. Yeah. Follow me to my truck.” Gabe had offered the use of his commercial-grade ladder, knowing it extended well beyond the ladders most people had at home.

“I couldn’t make the meeting the other night,” Jack said. “Zoning commission meeting ran late. But I wanted to add that I think the pirate ship idea is a nice touch. We appreciate your taking time out of your schedule to put it together so quickly.”

From someone else, the remark could have been snide, a pointed reminder that Gabe didn’t have much of a social schedule. But Jack was completely amiable. If he recalled Gabe’s regrettably lost temper in high school, he wasn’t holding a grudge.

When they reached the truck, Gabe said, “This ladder’s pretty heavy. Where are you headed with it?”

“Just around the corner, to Butler Street. We’re raising the big bingo tent and stringing up the speakers.”

The two of them carried the ladder together. Jack said that when he was done with it, he and someone else would bring it to Gabe, who would need it this afternoon.

Not five minutes later, Gabe was hailed again. This time by Tanner Waide. Gabe could guess what the man wanted to discuss. Arianne, what trouble have you got me into now? The idea of defending himself with the God’s honest truth-that she had made the move on him-was enticing, but he discounted it as ungallant. Besides, in his experience, people rarely believed that explanation.

“Tanner, what can I do for you?” he asked, slowing his gait but not stopping.

“I don’t need anything.” The man smiled, heightening his familial resemblance to Arianne. “Actually I came to say that if there’s anything you ever need…”

When Tanner broke off with a frown, Gabe found himself confused. “You mean, like assistance with the pirate ship?”

“Not exactly. Although I’d be happy to help.” Tanner rubbed his jaw. “This is more awkward than I’d intended, but I heard about the confrontation with Shane.”

Gabe sighed. Would Arianne’s brother believe him if he explained that he wasn’t looking for any trouble?

“I just want you to know we’ve got your back.”

“Excuse me?”

“David and me. If you want us to correct any misconceptions about how it went down. Or if you think Shane’s