Beyond the Mistletoe: A Christmas Romance (Beyond Love Book 7)

by Karice Bolton

  I let out the breath I’d swallowed without my knowledge and sat back down with Derek doing the same.

  “Did you know they were going to come here?” I asked.

  Derek shrugged and his gaze connected with Gabby’s.

  “I’ve found a clue,” Brandy said, lifting up something I couldn’t see clearly.

  Gabby stared at what Brandy held in her hands as the cast rushed over.

  “What is it?” one of them asked.

  “It’s a dog collar. It’s Bodie’s dog collar,” Brandy almost whispered. “With blood on it.”

  “Well, Bodie has absolutely zero chance of pulling a trigger,” I muttered. I had no idea who all was in on this tonight, but the show was impressive.

  “But what if the owner pulled the trigger?” the bartender inquired, taking the collar and bringing it over.

  “That’s not Bodie’s collar,” I said, actually quite relieved. I didn’t like the idea of him being pulled into this production.

  A scream came from behind a velvet curtain, and all our eyes darted to the woman who threw the drapes to the side. She was one of the dance-hall girls.

  “I’ve found the murderer,” the dance-hall girl yelled.

  “Who is it?” Gabby questioned.

  “You’ll never be able to prove it,” a man shouted.

  “Dad,” Gabby hollered, jumping up from her table. “How could you?”

  Gabby’s dad opened his arms, and she ran into his embrace, melting my heart.

  “Surprise,” Carla shouted, hugging her stepdaughter.

  “I can’t believe you two planned all this,” she said, wiping away tears as Jason walked out from behind them.

  “Jason planned the whole thing with the cast and crew,” Carla informed Gabby. “And there were a couple of moments I was worried we wouldn’t make it up the mountain for the big reveal.”

  “Now the trick will be making it off the mountain,” Gabby’s dad grumbled.

  Gabby’s excitement to have her family at the lodge was contagious. I’d only met her parents a few times, but each time was a joy.

  “So were you in on it?” I asked Derek, as our dinners were served.

  “Only partially.”

  “I bet you’re freezing with the water down your front.”

  “Even if I am freezing, I don’t want to miss a second.”

  “Of what?”

  “Of being with you.”

  I grabbed the table to stay anchored on this planet and glanced at my filet mignon.

  “Was that too much?” he laughed.

  I shook my head, delight filling me.

  “Not at all. I could get used to it.”

  But I knew better.

  The music changed abruptly from western to Christmas Time is Here, but I felt immediately relaxed in Derek’s presence, and there was no logical explanation for it. There was something natural between us, but maybe that was because there was no pressure.

  “Charlie Brown,” Derek said, taking a sip of his beer. “Something about good old Charlie to make the holidays.”

  I took a bite of filet, and it melted in my mouth.

  “Can’t beat Schroeder tickling the keys,” I chuckled. “This is always such a sweet song.”

  “So you know your Charlie Brown.”

  “How could I get this old and not know the ins and outs,” I teased.

  “You’d be surprised how many people have no idea who Schroeder is or Linus.”

  “I’m shocked.”

  Derek smiled, and I saw a flicker of boyish amusement behind his gaze.

  “I’m actually quite versed in all things pop culture. I grew up with Strawberry Shortcake, My Little Pony, and Cabbage Patch Kids. The first editions.” I grinned.

  “Garbage Pail Kids were a passion of mine.” He took a bite of steak, and I couldn’t believe the ease of the conversation. This was so unlike my online dating fiascoes.

  “Are you into the holidays?” I asked. “Beyond Charlie?”

  “I’m looking forward to being with family over Christmas. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the same state as them.”

  “That’ll be nice. I’m sure they’re looking forward to it. Where are you headed?”

  Derek nodded and wiped his mouth with a napkin and nodded. “Montana, and my mom is most definitely looking forward to my return. How about you?”

  “My parents and sister are making the trek this year. They live on the other side of the state so I usually make the drive their way. How long are you going to be in Montana?”

  “I’m actually moving there.”

  I held in a sigh of unexpected disappointment. Of course he was moving to Montana. That was why I was still single after all these years. My luck in the dating department was nonexistent.

  “Oh, wow. That’s a change,” I said, bringing my gaze to his. I really didn’t have to worry about the “what ifs” and “afters” so maybe this was the best possible scenario.

  “It’ll be a big change that’s for sure.”

  “You’re not sure about it?” I asked.

  “Life is an adventure.”

  “Especially if you move to Montana.”

  “You’ve been?”

  “A few times. I’ve camped in Yellowstone.”

  “Really? You don’t strike me as the camping type.”

  I smiled and nodded. “I’m pretty much game for most things.”

  “So are you into Christmas?”

  “I used to be.” Now was not the moment to bring up a divorce. That much I’d learned. “I’m trying to get back in the spirit. It used to be my favorite time of year, but I’ve been kind of out of the holiday spirit lately. I hope to jump start it before they come for Christmas. I’ve got my tree up, at least, but I’d love to string some Christmas lights outside before they arrive.” He looked absolutely fascinated, which made no sense.

  “Put on a good, old-fashioned Christmas movie, and I’m right there.” He smiled. “Always gets me in the holiday spirit…something like White Christmas or It’s a Wonderful Life.”

  “True.” I felt a sense of longing for the feelings that used to drip from me during the holidays. I’d prided myself in decorating, baking, and holding party after party. I loved wandering in the city, enjoying the window displays and Christmas lights. And then I stopped. I just stopped participating. I wanted that feeling back again.

  “So would you be interested in an after-dinner drink in the lounge?” he asked, bringing me out of my trip down memory lane.

  I swallowed my last bite of dinner and glanced around the restaurant noticing most everyone in their own little worlds. Gabby and Jason were sitting at the table with her parents, Aaron, and Brandy, talking excitedly about the wedding, while Mason and Tori sat tucked away in a corner nuzzling one another and laughing. Lily and Ayden were nowhere to be found.

  “I’d love that.” I hadn’t actually peeked inside the other lounge tucked behind the lobby.

  “Do you mind if I change and swing by your room?”

  “So you are cold.” I grinned.

  “Mildly.”

  “That would be wonderful and would give me time to let Bodie outside.”

  We stood up, and I gave a wave to Gabby, who looked intrigued by the turn of events, and I grinned.

  Derek wrapped his arm around my waist, and I was certain the world wobbled on its axis as he led me to the elevators. He pushed the button for the floor beneath mine. My mind raced with possibilities. Would I be up for the challenge? Could I just let myself have fun?

  The elevator stopped at Derek’s floor and his arm fell away from my waist, but not before he brushed his soft lips along my cheek.

  “Your room number?” he asked.

  “315.”

  “See you in ten or fifteen.”

  I nodded, unable to take my eyes off him as he walked into the hallway, and my imagination ran wild.

  The elevator dumped me off on the third floor and I nearly floated to my room. Insert
ing the key card, I pushed open the door and gasped at what I found inside.

  This chiwoodle was determined to be my one and only.

  Chapter Eight

  Bodie sat in front of the television triumphantly chewing on the remote control while moaning and grunting blasted from the set.

  Bodie had ordered porn.

  “Bodie, no. Drop it,” I ordered as the images filled the screen.

  He ran under the bed with the remote, and I stopped to get a look at the television. Two scantily clad female elves were in a woodshop—probably Santa’s woodshop—pounding away on a wooden train.

  Why were they moaning?

  “Bodie, come. Right now, Bodie. Get out here, right now.” I crawled on my hands and knees and saw Bodie out of reach, lying next to the wall. The remote was firmly clutched between his paws and teeth. “Bodie, leave it. Come.”

  Bodie stopped chewing and switched to licking as I wiggled under the bed, praying I wouldn’t find anything else under here besides my dog.

  “Give me that right now. What’s gotten into you?” My arm reached for Bodie and the remote, but he shot out from under the bed with the remote clenched in his teeth.

  The moaning from the television changed from a duet to a quartet, and I shuddered to think what was becoming of poor Santa. I wriggled out from under the bed and dusted myself off as Bodie darted to the bathroom. Despite my better judgment, I peeked at the television and the Christmas party had definitely grown.

  Ugh.

  “Bodie, give me that. Right now.” I cornered Bodie in the marble shower, and he dropped the remote as if he’d never had an interest in the piece of plastic in the first place.

  I picked it up and flashed Bodie a dirty look as he curled up on the bathmat and let out a deep breath, exhausted from the chase. Most of the buttons were punctured and very few of them lit up any longer.

  Great.

  “When we get home, you are in so much trouble,” I muttered, walking past him back into the living room just as Santa began shouting ho-ho-ho.

  “Of all the things you decide to order?” I shouted at Bodie.

  Pointing the remote at the television, I kept pressing the power button off, but Bodie had done too good of a job on it so I switched to moving the channels up and down.

  Nothing.

  I grunted in frustration as Santa began bouncing both elves on his lap while Mrs. Claus looked on. This was the lowest of the low.

  “This certainly wasn’t what I meant when I was talking about the Christmas classics.” Derek’s voice burned into the back of my head. “But I guess it works.”

  Absolutely mortified, I turned around to see Derek grinning at me as I held the remote. I just kept shaking my head in horror as Derek laughed.

  “I let myself in when you didn’t answer. The door was propped open so I assumed—” His gaze caught something on the television that made him speechless, which made me afraid to turn around.

  “Please make it stop.” I shoved the remote in his hands.

  Derek’s laughter filled the room, and I sat on the couch completely defeated by my chiwoodle.

  “I had no idea they made Christmas porn,” Derek said, tossing the remote on the coffee table and walking over to the television to turn it off manually.

  Why hadn’t I thought of turning the television off like that? I obviously wasn’t good under pressure.

  “Learn something new every single day,” I said with a sigh, bringing my eyes to meet his.

  “I bet that cost a fortune.” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “We could have gotten into the Christmas spirit a lot cheaper.”

  I slapped my forehead and groaned. “That hadn’t even occurred to me.”

  “Well, when you’re in the mood, sometimes money is no object,” he teased.

  “I didn’t order that.”

  “Sure you didn’t. Are you trying to tell me housekeeping provided that as part of the turn-down service because I didn’t get that in my room.”

  “Bodie ordered it.”

  Derek’s brow arched. “You do realize you have to confirm something like that several times before it’s actually ordered.”

  “And how would you know that?” This time it was my turn to raise a brow.

  He shrugged. “Just a hunch.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Just a hunch?”

  “I told you I’m into the classics. Real classics. You won’t find me anywhere near Miracle on 69th Street or whatever not-so-creative play on titles they’ve come up with.”

  “You don’t think that’s actually a movie, do you?” I asked.

  “Beats me, but I wouldn’t want to find out.”

  “Now I’m just creeped out.”

  “Sure you are,” he said chuckling.

  “I am. I had nothing to do with that.”

  Derek took a seat next to me on the couch and as much as I didn’t want to admit it, hearing the elves on the television made me hyper-aware of everything going on between us. The thought of Derek producing those sounds in me made me blush, and hoped I could be that lucky.

  “So where is the man of the hour?” Derek asked.

  “He’s sleeping in the bathroom very peacefully. I actually still need to take him potty.”

  “I can do that while you call the front desk and try to get that charge wiped off your bill,” Derek offered. “Unless, you want to save the movie for later.” He stood up and laughed his way to the bathroom.

  I walked over to the phone and dialed the front desk while Derek got Bodie all ready for the outdoors. Derek played with Bodie and teased him for his choice in movies as they wandered out the door, and I began my appeal to wipe my slate clean.

  Things could only go up from here.

  I’d just hung up the phone as Bodie led Derek back into the hotel room.

  “Who’s walking who?” I asked, unfastening the leash from Bodie’s collar.

  “I’m starting to believe your story about Bodie. There was a golden retriever downstairs that he wouldn’t take his eyes off.”

  “Are you serious?”

  Derek nodded. “The owners looked quite concerned.”

  Bodie hopped onto the couch and made himself at home.

  “So did you get everything cleared up?” Derek asked. The glint in his eyes was hard to resist, and it wasn’t like he’d even attempted to kiss me, but there was something about him that made me wish he had.

  “The movie had been on for fifteen minutes, and the lodge’s policy states they can’t refund after ten minutes on that style of movie.”

  “You’re kidding. I wonder who the lucky person was to average out the timing on that one.” He shook his head, and his eyes locked on mine.

  “Just ew,” I laughed. “But after much pleading and confessing to the remote being destroyed, they took it off the bill and charged me for the remote instead. I’d much rather have that on my record.”

  “Still up for a drink?” he asked.

  I nodded, and he glanced around the room. “I don’t see anything else he can get into while we’re gone.”

  “I’m not getting my hopes up.”

  This weekend was about fun, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit my mind wandered to the what-if scenario. But maybe that was my problem. I always wondered about the “what-ifs” rather than allow myself to enjoy the moment.

  Starting now, I would enjoy the moment. I slipped my hand into Derek’s, and he clutched it as we rode the elevator down to the lobby. The current running between us was electric, and I wanted more. And the only way I was going to experience more was if I let myself be free.

  We walked through the lobby and found a small table next to the window in the bar. Another stone fireplace warmed the small space, and I glanced out the window at the blustery conditions outside. The blanket of snow mounded on the ground sparkled from the lodge’s lights, and I was grateful to be inside.

  “It’s brutally cold out there,” Derek said, catching my admiration of the white stuff.
<
br />   “Thanks for braving it for Bodie.”

  “Anytime. The guy’s got loads of personality. Besides, I actually love being in the snow.

  “I love everything about the snow.”

  “I do too. It’s like nature’s way of muffling the outside world and insulating us from all the evils and worries. It gives us that one moment of peace.”

  I was in awe of his explanation and agreed.

  “It does. I always love that muted sound when everything’s coated with snow. It’s like walking around with earmuffs on. You’ll be getting a lot of it in Montana.” I smiled.

  “They’ve already got three feet on the ground.”

  “I just might have to come and visit.” The words popped out before I could take them back.

  “I would like that. I’ll be working a lot.”

  “Oh. I didn’t mean to invite myself. I’m sure—” I cut him off.

  “And would love a reason for a break,” he continued, catching my glance.

  I smiled, thankful he was so gracious.

  “What will you be doing over there?” I asked. “Are you opening a gym?”

  I honestly knew very little about Derek other than he’d been a fighter and trained Ayden, and I’d only gathered that information by happenstance.

  “Training was purely a favor to Ayden.” He grinned and shook his head. “And I learned my lesson on that one. My plan is to finish up one of my screenplays.”

  “You’re a screenwriter?” I asked, completely surprised.

  “You could say that.” A roguish grin spread across his lips, and I sensed him relax.

  “Interesting.”

  “It can be, but most of the time it’s finding original ways to procrastinate and argue with my agent.” He dropped his gaze as if he’d said too much.

  “I can’t imagine you being very argumentative.”

  Looking extremely uncomfortable, he let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair.

  “So have you been in the business long?” I asked. I didn’t want to come right out and ask if I’d know his work, but I was curious.

  “Long enough to be skeptical and want to live just about anywhere other than Los Angeles.” He furrowed his brow and ran his fingers through his hair as if this line of questioning had suddenly turned troublesome.