Page 40 of The Mistletoe Makeover

“Well, it’s not working,” he says.

“Listen, just because your ex is here doesn’t mean we’ll run into her. This is a popular place.”

“You don’t know how unlucky I am.”

“It’s not about luck,” I reassure him.

He grunts, but doesn’t comment.

As the driver pulls next to the barn, Jace is the first to hop out of the sleigh. The relief on his face is obvious.

“Never again,” he mutters. His eyes skirt the perimeter, like he’s checking for her. “Are you ready to head back?”

“Jace, stop worrying. We shouldn’t leave early because of one person. We’ll probably walk around the rest of the day without seeing her.”

A blonde woman rounds the corner of the barn and halts when she sees him. “Jace?”

I’d recognize Jace’s ex anywhere. Besides being a superstar country singer, she’s also gorgeous.

I glance from her to Jace and watch the color drain from his face. His body immediately stiffens, like he doesn’t know what to do with his arms.

Ava brushes a wisp of bleach-blonde hair behind her ear and gives a shy smile, highlighting her perfect cheekbones, bright blue eyes, and button nose. It’s no wonder Jace fell for this woman. She’s like a living, breathing Barbie. When she and Jace were a couple, they were hailed as a powerhouse duo, two superstars who only bolstered each other’s country star fandom. LikeJLo and Ben. Harry and Meghan. Beyonce and Jay-Z.

From what Mom told me, Ava started dating someone soon after their breakup and reported to the press that “she’d never been so happy.”

“I told you I was unlucky,” he mutters under his breath before looking at his ex with a guarded expression. “What are you doing here?”

She turns to the guy next to her, an equally stunning man dressed in mirrored aviator sunglasses and a silver ski coat that’s so reflective I can almost see my face in it.

“I’ve never visited this town before,” Ava says. “Benedict wanted to show it to me.”

Benedict? What kind of name is that?I nearly choke with laughter but pass it off as a cough. Jace elbows me in the ribs and shoots me a look. Benedict is strangely silent. There’s an obvious showdown going on between him and Jace.

“Well, enjoy your visit,” Jace says in a wooden voice, indicating he’s done with this conversation.

Ava’s eyes fall on me. “Who’s your friend?”

I glance at Jace, unsure how to answer. Should I admit I work for him? Or does that make him seem more pathetic because he doesn’t have a date?

“This is Mia,” Jace answers, then fiddles with his gloves, like he’s unsure what else to say. Judging by his silence, he wants to leave as quickly as possible.

“Oh,” Ava says, waiting for more. She’s trying to figure out what our relationship is. But Jace’s obvious silence is making this encounter even more awkward.

I panic, unable to stand this any longer. If Jace won’t do something about her, then I will. Because he deserves so much better than her judgement.

I jut my chin out. “I’m Jace’s girlfriend.”

Ava’s smile drops, before her eyes flick to Jace’s. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” I grab his arm and pull myself into him like I’m totally comfortable with no personal space between us. Every muscle in Jace’s body stiffens as he turns his head to me in shock. I refuse to meet his eyes, afraid of what I’ll see there.

“We just started dating,” I say, then drop my voice. “No one knows. It’s a big secret.”

“Until now,” she says.

“I guess the secret’s out!” I let out a bubbly laugh that sounds nothing like me. I just hope Ava buys it.

I wrap my arms around Jace’s middle and force myself under his arm. I’d never noticed before, but Jace’s abs are like rocks, and it’s startling.

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