Page 8 of Matchmaking Under the Mistletoe

“OH MY GOD!” Lizzie shrieks, and I pull my phone from my ear as she continues screaming. “I knew it! You were using your ‘I have a secret’ voice. Is he hot?”

I open my mouth to lie, but ultimately decide there’s no point. Plus, it’s been years since my sister and I got to sit and gossip about boys, and I want to soak up every moment I can with her after how distant I’ve been over the last few years.

“You wouldn’t even believe…” I admit, and I’m pretty sure my sister’s scream could call rabid dogs for miles.

“You sneaky bitch! I knew it. Tell me everything,” she says in delight, and I snicker at her enthusiasm.

“Well, I’ve told you pretty much everything I know, but he’s SO attractive. Huey hinted that he’s single on the ride over here. But he’s technically my boss now, so I’m certain nothing will be happening between us anytime soon. Plus, the ink on my divorce papers isn’t even dry yet. Three weeks ago, I was still worried about the guest list and place card designs for the Christmas auction that Allen always asks me to organize. I’m in no placeto be talking to any male. My life’s a big enough mess as it is,” I declare with finality, like I’m trying to convince myself as much as my sister.

She lets out a loud snort at the end of my statement, making it clear I didn’t convince her either. “Whatever, sis. You may have just officially left Allen this week, but you and I both know you’ve been alone in that marriage for years! When’s the last time he made you see stars?” Lizzie asks, and I squeak at her question.

“Oh my God, stop!” I say, too embarrassed to confess she’s right. I’m pretty sure Allen and I haven’t even kissed outside of his charity events in the last few years, never mind any of the other fun stuff.

“YES! I knew it! Haven’t you heard the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else? You should totally test that out with the sexy inn owner!”

“I don’t know, Liz. I just need to focus on putting my life back together. I don’t plan on seeing or sleeping with anyone anytime soon, especially not him. I’ve screwed up my life enough as it is!”

“Millie, what the hell do you mean?”

“Sis, I don’t know if you’ve realized but I’ve spent the last ten years married to someone who just threw me away. All my supposed ‘friends’ were just people Allen wanted me to be close with because it helped his business deals, and they certainly didn’t take my side in the divorce. I have no car, a small suitcase of clothes, and a stash of exactly two thousand dollars of emergency funds to survive off until the bank gets their shit worked out. Who knows how long that’ll take with the holidays coming up. I haven’t had a job in ten years. I realized yesterday that I don’t know who I am or what I want anymore, and it’s making me crazy! So the last thing on my mind is my boss, despite the fact that he looks like he belongs on the cover ofGQmagazine, okay?” I explode.

Once again, my sister lets me sit in silence for a minute before responding quietly. “I love you, sis, but you’ve got this all wrong. Yes, your ex-husband is a bastard, but as much as I want to kill him for hurting you, I’m not sad y’all aren’t together anymore. He didn’t realize it at the time, but he gave you a way out. I’ll be damned if you let that fucker take anything else from you. Why do you think I never called you a St. James? That asshole didn’t deserve the satisfaction of claiming your last name too after the way he treated you. So, if this new job is what’s gonna make you happy, go for it. Just don’t rule out an office hookup with this new boss, okay?”

I’m grateful Lizzie changed the subject at the end, because as she talked I could definitely feel the tears I’ve refused to let fall over the last month welling up in my eyes. As much as I can see what she’s saying, a part of me still feels more like a failure than ever, and I’m almost certain a random hookup isn’t going to change that.

We chat for a few more minutes about Lizzie’s plans for her first fashion show as I throw on a pair of black pants and an oversized cream sweater. Brian never mentioned a dress code, but even if he had, I have approximately eight outfits so this will have to do for today. All the clothes in my closet back in D.C. never really felt like me, so when I left, I only brought the things I liked. I place my phone on speaker so I can continue to listen to my sister’s monologue about a set she’s working on designing while I throw my hair into a messy bun and put on some makeup. Just as I’m finishing my lipstick, I glance down at the clock and realize it’s time to head downstairs for work.

“Hey, sis, sorry to cut this short, but I’ve gotta head downstairs. We’ll talk soon?”

“Of course! I want constant updates. See if you can snap a picture of your new boss so I know what we’re working with.”

“Lizzie!” I exclaim. “I will absolutely not be doing that, but okay. Love ya big.”

“Love you bigger, Mills. Have a good first day!” she yells before hanging up.

I make my way out of my room and down to the lobby, where Brian is sitting behind the front desk with the young girl who was there yesterday.

I have to admit I wasn’t sure what to expect when Huey mentioned an inn in a town this small. I’d half expected a rundown mom and pop roadside setup, but since I didn’t have any other options, I’d accepted it anyway, figuring I could make the most of whatever it was. But instead, I was blown away when we pulled up. Deer Valley Inn is beautiful. The exterior is white with black shutters on each window, and the inside is a mixture of modern and rustic styles with exposed ceiling beams and crisp white walls. On top of that, there are huge windows overlooking the small vineyard, and I notice that the fields are still covered with snow as it continues to fall.

“Oh my gosh! I thought for sure the snow would be gone by now. Have y’all ever had anything like this?” I ask as I get closer to my new boss.

“Nope. Definitely not in my lifetime at least. But anyway, did you get settled, Millie? I know you had quite the day yesterday,” Brian says, standing and stepping around the front desk.

“I did. My room was very nice, thank you, Mayor Jones,” I say with a timid smile.

Bridget lets out a titter of laughter at my use of his formal title. “Mayor Jones? Honey, we ain’t that formal around here. Call him Brian before his head gets any bigger than it already is. The damned people in this town like to treat him like he’s royalty or something. So what if he saved a puppy from a storm drain last year and volunteers with literally every organization in the city limits? Bet they won’t tell you about the time he convincedthe football team in high school to roll Miss Sally’s yard and blamed it on the baseball boys.”

We all burst out in laughter before Brian says, “Thanks for that, Bridget. I can always count on you to keep me humble. And for the record, I don’t know what on earth you’re talking about. But if I did, I’d say we both know Miss Sally deserved it. Anyway, by all means, Millie, please, call me Brian.”

As he reaches out to shake my hand, his elbow knocks a stack of papers from the front desk, sending them flying through the air and scattering them across the floor. “Oh, no! Here let me help you!” I say, bending down and beginning to pick them up.

“Millie, you don’t have to do that! It was my clumsy ass that knocked them off,” he says, blushing a little as he fumbles to collect the mess off the floor.

“Brian, are you sure you’re okay? What’s got you acting so jumpy today?” the woman beside him asks, grinning like she’s trying to hold in a giggle.

He straightens, and I hand him the stack of papers I grabbed before he gestures to the feisty woman glaring at him. “Millie, this is Bridget, my cousin. She runs everything here on the days that I have to work at City Hall. She’s also a bit of a pain in my ass, but if you need anything at all, she’s your girl. Bridget, this is Millie, our new event coordinator.”

I give the girl a warm smile before saying, “Hey, Bridget. It’s nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you.”

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