Page 29 of The Mistletoe Makeover

“You liked my boots?”

“They look great. Youalwaysdo.” His voice drops off, and my brain stops on the words that shake me.You always do.

He drags his hand through his hair.“I just wish you wouldn’t always think the worst of me, Mia.”

My eyes drop to the ground. “I don’t think the worst...”

“Except when you do,” Jace adds, dropping my clothes on the bed.

He knows that from the first day we met, I’ve always second-guessed him. And it’s not his fault, either. It’s a hard lesson I’ve been fighting ever since my father left.

“You’re right,” I mumble, feeling so called out, my cheeks burn. “From now on, I won’t jump to conclusions.”

He nods once, before brushing past me, keeping his eyes just over my shoulder, like he’s avoiding looking at me in this shirt.

“You didn’t find a dryer?” I ask.

“No dryer,” he says, holding up my wet sweater and jeans. “And no Edith. I think she was taking a smoking break.”

“Or burying dead bodies,” I add.

His lips quirk, the tension between us broken by our mutual hatred for the Pine Paradise.

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to shower next and then head to bed.” His eyes graze over the single bed between us. “And I’ll sleep on the floor. You take the bed tonight.”

“Are you sure you’re okay on the floor?” I ask, sweeping a toe over the duct tape that’s holding it together.

“What other choice do we have?” he says, slamming the door to the bathroom.

My heart hammers in my chest.I can think of one.

After all, we’re not a couple, and there’s no chance that anything could happen between us.

Because after we leave, we’ll forget all about tonight. This shirt. His smell.

You always do.

EIGHT

Mia

Iclose my eyes and force myself to sleep, but right now, adrenaline is coursing through my veins. A famous music star is showering six feet from my bed.And humming Christmas songs.

I’m dying to tell someone. I roll over and fish my phone from my bag and text Jaz as I snuggle under the covers.I’m stuck in a snowstorm with Jace Knight.

It takes less than a second for her to respond.

Jaz:WHAT?! Where are you?

Mia:An awful motel. I’m talking horror-movie bad.

Jaz:Jace is IN your room?

Mia:There was only one room. He gave me the bed. This is so awkward.

Jaz:Do you know how many women would DIE to be in your place?

Right then, Jace comes out of the bathroom and I hide my phone under the covers so he doesn’t see that I’m texting.

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