Page 34 of Mistletoe Bargain with the Billionaire

But first, Ihearher.

“When asked of my first kiss

I must admit it was pure bliss…”

Oh, shit. It’s Carol. Singing the song.

Beautiful on stage with her dazzling dress, golden hair like a halo under the spotlight, she has the most angelic voice imaginable. My fellow guests are busy watching the newlyweds dance but I can’t take my eyes off her. I’m enraptured, mesmerized.

“Friends to lovers, what might’ve been

If only we’d been old enough then…”

Wait. This sounds kind of like…us.

I keep listening, taking serious note of the lyrics. A first kiss under the mistletoe, the boy who moved away soon after. Oh my God. Could it be?

“I’m so grateful she agreed,” Grams says, joining me as I sit here slack-jawed. “She really is talented. It’s a shame she’s not had much success so far.”

“It’s a crime,” I mutter. And, it is.

“I wasn’t sure what to think when you told me you were bringing Carol Wilder home with you. But I see it now.”

Turning my eyes away from Carol, I look at my grandmother. “See what, Grams?”

“That she’s the girl for you, Nicholas. Maybe she always was.”

The single guy inside of me, the one who only arranged this to please his beloved grandmother, starts to panic. Isn’t this too quick? A month ago, we hadn’t seen each other in thirteen years and now, after less than a week together, it feels like everything has changed. I wasn’t looking for something serious. Is it the holidays in Whistler and amazing sex influencing my emotions?

But that guy doesn’t stand a chance against my heart. It doesn’t think that’s the case. It thinks Grams may be right. It thinks that maybe I’m… falling in love.

“Excuse me, Grams,” I say as the song is ending.

I make my way towards the stage. Carols is glowing in response to everyone's applause. She should be. I hate that man tainted her creation for her. It’s a beautiful gift she has, to write music and lyrics, to spread joy in that simple but meaningful way.

When she spots me, her glow dims. It’s subtle but it’s there. Some of the happiness has slipped off her face. Because of me?

“Hey,” she says quietly once the crowd around her has parted.

“Hey. You were amazing up there.”

“Thanks, I never thought I’d enjoy singing it again.” She looks down at her shoes.

“Carol?”

I’m interrupted by the DJ who has taken over the microphone again. “Next up, we have our lovely bride and her brother…”

Shit. I promised Marley. Our flaky father isn’t here so I’m the one who’s going to dance with her. “Please, wait for me. I want to dance with you next,” I beg Carol.

She nods jerkily and moves away from me. My heart aches at the thought that I may have thoughtlessly wounded her.

But, when ‘Rapper’s Delight’ by The Sugarhill Gang begins to play, that gorgeous grin spreads across her face and she’s soon giggling along with the other guests as my big sister and I begin to dance…atrociously.

???

I’m relishing the smell of apples while holding Carol close for our dance but she remains stiff in my arms. “Maybe I could be a wedding singer.”

“You could be anything you want to be, honey.” I try to pull her closer but she resists, turning her face away.

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