Page 13 of The Mistletoe Makeover

“He’s not wrong,” she says. “A Christmas concert is an easy solution for you. How can anyone imagine you’re a Scrooge if you’re crooning about snuggling by the fire?”

I let out an unexpected guffaw. “I don’t sing about snuggling. I sing about partying. Have you listened to my music?”

She shifts uncomfortably. “I listened to one or two songs.”

“One? In that case, you probably don’t know that I’mnot that type. I prefer breakup ballads.”

“Well, breakup ballads don’t really work after the year you’ve had,” she says. “Your fans want to hear about falling in love at Christmas.”

“Have you been talking to my manager?” I ask, annoyed. “I don’t write sappy songs.”

“Then what do you listen to at Christmas?” She tilts her head.

I shrug. “I don’t really listen to the fluff they play on the radio. I’m more likely to choose Christmas carols with soaring violins and piano.”

She studies me, like I’m a puzzle she can’t figure out. “But you’re a country rock singer.”

“It’s not what I perform. But there’s a familiarity with those old songs. Every time I hear them, it’s like stepping into my grandparents’ church.”

She points at me. “That’s your concert. You do the familiar songs, but you do them your way. And then sprinkle in a few new ones.”

I shake my head. “Nobody is going to go for a country rock singer doing Christmas carols.”

“I disagree,” she says. “People want what’s traditional at Christmas. And by doing a mix of carols and your own songs, you’ll win them over. Easy, right?”

“Hardly.” I run my hand across the back of my neck. “But I’m still not sure my team can pull it off.”

“What do you need help with?”

“Everything.” I feel like I’m being swept away by a current I can’t control.Man, she’s persuasive.And for some reason, I don’t hate it. “I need someone to pull together the logistics. My manager will help remotely. And I’ll make sure the band is ready.”

She nods and thinks for a second. “What about your assistant? Is this something I could help with for this concert?”

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I thought you were already the event planner for the festival?”

“I am.” She leans back in her chair as she looks at her spreadsheet. “If I can bring in a few friends to help me, then I can do both. And I’ll have insider info on the festival, so it will be easy to coordinate.”

“And more money, right?” I give her a pointed look.

“I didn’t ask you to pay me,” she shoots back.

“But money doesn’t hurt.”

“Look, I quit my event planning business a year ago, and I’m trying to figure out what to do next. So yeah, I’m kind of desperate for work.” She looks at the door, making sure the committee isn’t listening. “If you must know, I help my mom with her bills. But I know I’m good at what I do. Even though we got off on the wrong foot, I hope you won’t hold it against me. I’m here for work, but also because I want to help my mom preserve this town’s history... for the future of Maplewood.”

“So you love the Mistletoe Festival?”

“Not at all,” she says, then notices my surprise. “Christmas has never been the most wonderful time of year for me, honestly.” Then she glances away like she’s uncomfortable.

“That’s something we have in common,” I say, leaning back in my chair. Christmas is not a happy holiday for me either. Ava and I broke up around the holidays, and the association was automatic.

“Then maybe we both need this Christmas to be different,” I say. “Even if that means we have to put up with each other.”

Her eyes flick toward me, and I can feel the doubt rolling off her.

It’s going to be hard to change Mia’s mind about me after the airport incident. But doing something for the town of Maplewood is the first thing that’s felt right. Because it’s no longer about me.

Even if this doesn’t fix my career, it gives me something to focus on. An event that’s more than fame or money. And if it helps Maplewood, this could be the legacy I leave. No matter how much Mia dislikes me, I can’t let her interfere with the concert.

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