Page 44 of Dancing in Lake Mistletoe

I open the front door to the house, and Josie and I step aside as he hoists the netted tree onto his shoulder and carries it up the steps and into the living room.

“The stand is over there.” He nods toward the hearth, and I hurry past him to grab the green metal contraption.

“Where do you want it?” I ask.

“In the corner by the window,” he instructs.

I place it about six feet from the wall. He carefully sets the tree into the stand, and I help him hold it in place while he tightens the clamps. Once the tree is secure, he backs up, and the three of us stare up at the massive grand fir, the top of which brushes against the ceiling.

“What do you think?” he asks, glancing down at his daughter.

“It’s perfect,” she exclaims.

“I think so too.”

Removing a knife from his pocket, he flicks it open and uses the blade to cut through the thread of the net. The boughs of the tree fall in a cascade of deep green, filling the entire space.

“You girls ready to tackle the decorations?” he asks.

Josie raises a finger in the air. “First, we need food. Then, we have to change into Christmas pajamas and make hot cocoa. Then, we decorate,” she declares.

His eyes go to me. “You heard her.”

“I did, but I don’t have Christmas pajamas,” I tell them.

Josie prances down the hall to her bedroom and returns with a bag that readsMrs. Claus’s Boutique—a name I recognize from Sun Valley Resort. She proudly presents it to me.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“It’s a present for me and you. Daddy said we have to open it together,” she explains.

“He did?” I say, eyeing him as I take a seat on the couch in front of her.

I open the top of the bag, and Josie reaches inside and pulls the red tissue paper out to reveal what’s inside. A set ofThe Nutcrackerpajamas, one in her size and one in mine.

Josie squeals with excitement. “We’ll match! Come on, Mindi. Let’s change.”

Tears prick the back of my eyes as I look from the soft holiday lounge set to Dutch.

“Go ahead. You can borrow a pair of my socks,” he says.

I stand and let Josie lead me by the hand to his bedroom, where she digs a pair of thick white socks from one of his drawers for me. We change quickly, and when we return to the living room, Dutch has his phone to his ear. He ends the call and takes us in.

“What do you think?” I ask as we do a little twirl for him.

“I think you guys look super beautiful and super comfy. I’m going to go change and get comfortable too. Before the pizza gets here.”

He disappears, and when he returns, he’s wearing a pair of red lounge pants and a fitted white T-shirt. My mouth waters at the sight of his tousled hair and sexy smile.

Damn.

Josie turns the television on, and when the pizza arrives, we dive in while we watch a holiday classic—How the Grinch Stole Christmas!After eating, Josie and I make cocoa while Dutch goes to the garage to fetch the bins full of ornaments, lights, and other decor before the three of us set to trimming the tree. And I can’t remember having more fun as we adorn it with shiny baubles, sentimental ornaments made with Josie’s tiny handprints, candy canes, and silvery tinsel.

“Whoa, you’re wearing more tinsel than the tree. All we need to do is place a star on top of your head, and Santa’s gonna try to leave presents under you this year,” Dutch says as he pulls a glistening strand from my hair.

“Don’t forget the mistletoe, Daddy!” Josie cries from her spot on the carpet, where she’s filling in the empty bottom branches.

He reaches into one of the containers and pulls out a sprig of faux mistletoe, a velvet ribbon laced through one of its leaves. He walks to the hallway entrance and hangs it from a hook. Then, he reaches for me and tugs me under it.

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