Page 51 of Just Add Mistletoe

Malcom’s mouth moved over hers, slow and deliberate, like he wasn’t in any hurry. Like this wasn’t a rushed or impulsive decision. Like kissing her had been planned and very much on purpose. She wrapped her arms about his neck and seemed to fit perfectly against his torso. She tangled her fingers into his hair, and he responded by angling his mouth and taking their kiss deeper. One of his hands cradled her neck, and the other hand anchored her hips against his.

The kissing heated up, and she knew it could easily combust. Which meant she had to ease back. She moved her hands to his shoulders and put a half inch space between their bodies.

She felt his sigh. Was he regretting it already?

He lifted his head, his eyes dark pools, and his fingers a light touch on her jaw. “Should I apologize?” he asked in a raspy tone.

“Only if you think kissing me was a mistake,” she whispered.

“It wasn’t a mistake, but I know that you don’t want to date anyone.” His gaze was warm, teasing, but also hopeful.

The look in his eyes made her entire body flood with her own hope. “Well, maybe I’ll change my mind if you decide to stick around.”

His other hand left her hip and trailed up her back in a slow caress. “You’re giving me a pretty good reason to stay.”

She had to kiss him for saying that, so she did.

Malcom smiled against her lips. “Trying to bribe me?”

“Maybe,” she murmured.

MALCOM HAD BEEN SCREENING A lot of calls all morning, but when the phone number for the mayor of Everly Falls, Alice Sanders, popped up, he had to answer.

“Malcom,” she said, diving right in. “What’s happening with your company’s bankruptcy? Please tell me the condominium project isn’t going to grind to a halt.”

Malcom couldn’t react for a moment.Bankruptcy?Was that how Bronson was going to try getting out of his mess? He crossed the small office space of the trailer and sank onto the desk chair.

“Are you there, Malcom?” Mayor Sanders’s voice came through the phone.

“Yes, I’m here,” he said. “Sorry, Mayor, I don’t know what to say. I dissolved myself from the partnership yesterday. From everything I was told, the project would continue without me.”

“You’re the reason we agreed to the project in the first place,” the mayor said, her voice growing sharper. “And now . . . I don’t know what to say. Only that we’re not letting a construction site go fallow while your company is in bankruptcy hearings. This is a lawsuit that’s waiting to happen.”

Malcom didn’t correct her on calling it his company. His mind raced as he tried to think of other solutions. The only one that would solve everything was for another company to buy out Bronson from the project. But any other company probably had a booked-out schedule. “I understand about the lawsuit,” he told the mayor. “Look, if it were up to me, my former company wouldfinish the project. I even offered to contract as the construction manager until it’s finished, but my lawyer advised against it.”

“Isn’t your partner your brother?” the mayor asked in a softer tone.

“Yes,” Malcom said. “Although it turns out that wasn’t in my favor, and there were some . . . things that I couldn’t work with, so I withdrew. I didn’t want it to affect Everly Falls, but I really had no choice.”

“What things?” she asked.

“Personal things that turned into company issues,” he said, not willing to go down the path of confiding in her. Only Lori knew the full details. “Look, can I call you at the end of the day? I want to do some due diligence and see if I can come up with a solution.”

“I hope you can,” the mayor said. “My entire office is up in arms, and it won’t take long for the news to reach the rest of the town.”

“I understand.” Malcom hung up, the ideas forming in his head faster than he could weigh each one. What if . . .? He rubbed his forehead. It would be a leap. A major commitment. A huge investment.

Drawing in a breath, he picked up his phone again and sent Austin a text:I’m on my way.

Fifteen minutes later, he was sitting across from Austin Hayes in a corner booth of the diner. His dark brown eyes studied Malcom as they waited for their order to arrive.

“What’s the update?” Austin asked.

Malcom had given him the bare minimum in a previous phone call. “I just found out that Bronson filed for bankruptcy and the condominium project is at an indefinite stall.”

Austin visibly winced. “The townspeople will be furious.”

“Yeah . . .” Malcom conceded. “Mayor Sanders already called me. She’s threatening a lawsuit. I wouldn’t be surprised if she sued me in addition to my brother’s company.”

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