Page 16 of Santa's Mistletoe Playbook

For a moment, it was quiet on the other end. Then he erupted in anger. “Why are you calling me on my cousin’s phone?” The shock in his voice was animalistic.

“What? You mean—this guy is your cousin? Why haven’t you ever mentioned him?” She stared at Devin as he entered the room with a tray of steaming beverages.

“We’re enemies—rivals—we freaking hate each other!” Bryson nearly shouted into the phone. “What are you doing with him, Danica?”

“I—my—my car skidded into the ditch after I tried not to hit a moose. I couldn’t get it started, so I walked up the road, and then I lost my phone?—”

“More excuses? Yeah, right! Yet another tall tale from Danica Livengood,” he quipped sarcastically.

“Honest to God, Bryson, it’s true!”

How can I convince him of the truth? Why is he being so mean right now?

“Please come get me. We’ll have to get a tow truck for your mom’s car—” she started.

Devin interrupted. “Bryson? You mean Bryson Cooper, my flipping cousin?”

“Let me talk to that mother freaking jerk!” Bryson hollered into the phone. He evidently heard Devin.

Danica’s jaw dropped. Stunned by this weird situation, she handed the phone to Devin. “He wants to talk to you.”

Devin smiled into the phone. “Well, hello, Dr. Cooper. After all these years, another one of your pretty women winds up at my house.” He tapped the speaker and held up his phone.

“She’s mine! Keep your hands off of her!” Bryson’s voice erupted from the speaker.

“What’s the matter, Cousin? Still sensitive from the last two women I stole from you?” Devin flashed a million-dollar smile Danica figured to be his woman-stealing grin. She wondered how many women he’d lured with it.

Her hand flew to cover her mouth. She couldn’t believe her ill-fated luck to wind up at the home of Bryson’s detestedcousin. She remembered now. He’d talked about a guy who was his nemesis in high school and college. They’d competed with each other for everything, from sports to women. Bryson never mentioned the guy was his cousin.

Bryson’s voice barked from the speaker. “Same address?”

“Yep,” quipped Devin, then tapped the speaker off and handed Danica the phone.

“Are you coming right away?” she asked Bryson.

“Damn right. I’ll be there soon, so be ready to go. I freaking can’t believe this!” His words fractured her heart.

“Bryson, I’m so sorry?—”

“Save it, Danica. Don’t dig a deeper hole.” Bryson ended the call, and Danica returned the phone to Devin.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry for all this.”

“Hey, you didn’t know. What were the chances you’d come across my house in a blinding snowstorm?” Devin offered her a mug of tea. “So, you’re Bryson’s lovely girlfriend.” He nodded male approval.

“Yes, but chaos follows me around. It’s been one mess after another ever since we arrived in Alaska.” She forced back tears, not wanting to give Bryson’s adversary grist to use against him, cousin or not.

“Want to talk about it?” He sat on his ornate sofa.

“I don’t know you. That would be awkward.”

“Sometimes that’s the best way to figure things out. Kind of like talking to a shrink.” He fiddled with his tea bag.

Danica glanced at a large oil painting of a polar bear on one wall, then at a framed certificate over an oak rolltop desk. “So, what do you do?”

“I’m a shrink.”

“Oh.” She raised her brows and sipped her tea. “You’re a doctor too.”

---