Melodies and Mistletoe (Christmas in the City Book 3)

by Kasey Stockton

  “You can’t let yourself think about that. It’s dangerous. You can either give it a shot or give up.”

  But giving up didn’t really feel like an option, either. Hailey opened her phone to the video and hit play, leaning her head against the back of the sofa and closing her eyes. She was a woman of her word, and she’d told Ryan she would listen again for the positives. So, she did. And the longer the video went on, the more she realized that both Ryan and Nikki made good points.

  She would be an idiot to turn this down. Even if most of the room could detect her untrained voice, if there was a chance that one person would like her enough to overlook it, she should try.

  Sitting up, Hailey closed out of YouTube before the video ended and opened a new message box. She typed in the number Ryan had written on the back of his card then sent him a message.

  Hailey: Okay, I will graciously accept your offer on the condition that Amber can find someone else to watch Kendra that night.

  The three little dots showed up right away to indicate that he was typing, and her hands shook, her heart pounding. What would Amber think of this? She’d only said a few days ago that she didn’t want to lose Hailey to a music career.

  But Hailey’s answer held true. It would take a major offer from a label to get her to leave Kendra.

  Her phone buzzed.

  Ryan: Deal.

  Ryan: Amber can figure something out.

  Hailey: You should let me work that out with my boss myself.

  Ryan: Cut a guy some slack here. I’m just trying to help.

  She felt duly chastised. He wasn’t wrong. He’d done a lot for her.

  Hailey: Sorry. Thank you.

  Ryan: You’re so unbelievably welcome.

  Hailey: A little humility wouldn’t hurt, you know.

  Ryan: I have to go. The woman I’m meeting with is giving me nasty looks.

  Hailey chuckled. She could picture Amber’s irritation perfectly.

  She turned to Nikki. “Hey, you got any plans on New Year’s Eve?”

  “Just catering some swanky uptown party. Why?”

  “Want to take the night off and babysit Kendra? You’ll make like three times as much as you do catering.”

  “You only make twice as much as me.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking I could pay you extra to make it worth it.”

  Nikki rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to. I’d love to babysit. I’ve always wanted free rein in the Martinezes’ loft. Wait!” She gasped, scooting closer on the couch. “Did you take the gig?”

  Hailey couldn’t temper her smile. “Yeah.”

  Nikki squealed, throwing her arms around her friend. “You’re going to be famous!”

  Ryan set the phone on the table, unable to curb his smile.

  “Why do you look so happy?” Amber asked, her eyebrows drawn in confusion. Her eyes brightened. “Is it a girl?”

  “No. Well, yeah, but not the way you think. Hailey just agreed to play Sound’s anniversary party.”

  “Hailey? You mean my Hailey?”

  “Have you heard her sing?” Ryan asked, leaning back in his seat. “She’s good, Amber. Like really good.”

  Amber didn’t look pleased. Her eyebrows pulled together, her mouth pinching into a line. “Why would you do this to me? Do you realize how much we rely on her?”

  Ryan paused, leaning away from the table. Of course they relied on their nanny, but they must care about her and her success more than that. His sister wasn’t a monster.

  “You know she’s been with Kendra since she was a baby, right?” Amber’s voice grew more serious. “Kenny doesn’t even know what life is like without Hailey in it.”

  “She’ll probably never have to know life without Hailey in it. I can’t really see that woman walking away and never looking back. But you know Hailey won’t be your nanny forever, right?”

  Amber narrowed her eyes. “Why? Maybe she will. You don’t know how well we pay that girl. She will never leave us for another job.”

  “But she might for a career.” Ryan knew Hailey was going places. He’d sensed it in his bones the moment he’d heard her sing. He had a gift for sniffing out talent. It’s what had gotten him a job with Remmy Records to begin with.

  Luis stepped into the room, his dark hair disheveled and his suit coat unbuttoned. He set a brown leather briefcase on the table and scrubbed a hand over his eyes. “Why is December the busiest time of the year?” He glanced up and seemed to notice Ryan for the first time. “Oh, hey man.”

  “In your line of work?” Ryan asked. “Probably because people need support in order to face their family.”

  “You have no idea,” Luis said, shooting them a brief smile. “But I don’t discuss my patients.”

  Which had always been a disappointment to Ryan, since his brother-in-law was the psychiatrist for some pretty high-powered people, evidently.

  “How about your daughter?” Bitterness dripped from Amber’s tone. “Will you discuss that? Because Ryan is trying to steal her nanny.”

  Luis’s eyebrows shot up. “You have a kid we don’t know about, Ryan?”

  “All I did was offer her a chance to play for Sound’s anniversary party and now Amber’s freaking out.” His eye caught on the small fake Christmas tree at the end of the table covered in plastic bugs, and he itched to pull out his phone and text her again. But he had nothing important to say. He just had a strong desire to speak to her. “You can find someone else to watch Kendra that night though, right?”

  Luis shrugged. “Maybe my sister can take her.”

  “Your sister?” Amber shook her head. “I’d prefer someone sober, but thanks for the idea. Hailey can figure it out. She’s already agreed to work, so if she wants the time off then she’ll have to get a replacement.”

  “Someone we trust,” Luis said.

  Amber looked more and more annoyed. “If we’re finished going over numbers then I’m calling it a night.” Her chair legs scraped against the marble floor. She closed her laptop and carried it from the room.

  “Don’t mind her. She just doesn’t like change.” Luis didn’t bother following his wife. “It’s not like you’ll actually take the nanny from us. It’s just one night.”

  Ryan knew this about his sister, but he disagreed with Luis. There was a chance this would take their nanny, and Amber knew it as well if her reaction was any indication. “Have you heard her sing before?”

  “No, but I don’t see her much.” Luis seemed untroubled by this fact. “Kendra adores her though, so I think she’s doing her job well enough.”

  Oh, he had no idea. Ryan stood. “I better get going.”

  Luis rose and reached to shake his hand. “It’s good to see you, man. How’s the adjustment back to New York going?”

  “I miss the warmer winter in LA, but it’s good to be home.”

  “If you ever want to chat about the change, just let me know. I can put you in direct touch with my secretary.”

  Ryan nodded, holding back his amusement until he reached the elevator. Luis wasn’t one to hand out free advice. He was a professional, and a go-getter. There was a reason he could afford an apartment overlooking Central Park.

  His old family money was one of those reasons, of course, but his success had something to do with it, too.

  Ryan’s apartment didn’t look over the park, but he had a pretty decent view of New York at night, and he wasn’t complaining about the location. Then again, his ambitions had never been as high as his sister’s or her husband’s. Ryan just wanted to do something that made him happy, that filled in the space in his chest that loomed empty and hollow.

  He’d followed his father’s footsteps in business working for Sound until the opportunity to work for Remmy Records had taken him out to LA, but as much as he enjoyed the production side of music and rubbing shoulders with artists and producers he’d long admired, it never quite filled his missing pieces. He hadn’t yet reached satisfaction.

  And the trouble was,
he still didn’t know what he was missing.

  Chapter Eight

  Ryan wanted to throw something. All that stress, effort, and worrying about being prepared in time for the meeting, and Bradshaw had to go and push the meeting back. By two weeks. Ryan read the email again, sipping at his glass of water before setting it back on his kitchen table.

  I’m heading out of town for the holidays, so we need to reschedule. If January 2nd works for you then send a message to my secretary, and she’ll get it on my calendar. Merry Christmas Biermans.

  The little note at the end was an annoying touch. If Bradshaw knew he had holiday plans, why had they scheduled the meeting for the week before Christmas? Ryan closed out the screen and shut his computer. He sent a text to Amber to make sure she’d seen the email and picked up Sergeant’s leash.

  “If we don’t have to be at the office for a meeting, we’re going for a run.”

  Sergeant barked back like he was in full support of this plan.

  Running was a good idea. It would vent all of Ryan’s extra irritation. And maybe they could run past the Corner Bakery in time to see his favorite niece and her nanny grabbing breakfast. He had been such an idiot to comment on the health factor of the cronuts before. Kendra was a kid, and Ryan highly doubted that Hailey filled her with sugar every single morning before sending her to school.

  This belief was confirmed when he hung around the bakery, ordering his sandwich and eating it outside with Sergeant, with no sign of Hailey or Kendra.

  He was tempted to run past the school but pulled his phone out instead. He wasn’t planning on stalking Hailey and Kendra. He just wished he could see them.

  But how did he ask if they were out walking around without sounding like a stalker? He changed his tactic.

  Ryan: Do you have a demo tape?

  Hailey: No, but I have a demo CD and a digital copy. I live in the twenty-first century.

  He chuckled. Okay, so clearly he hadn’t meant a legitimate cassette tape. He started back toward his apartment, typing as he kept Sergeant on a short leash.

  Ryan: Will you send it to me?

  Hailey: That depends on what you’re planning to do with it.

  He just wanted to hear her voice again…but that explanation would make him sound like a creep. He could be a professional.

  Ryan: I want to get an idea of your range and abilities. No pressure. I promise not to distribute it.

  Hailey: You’re welcome to distribute it if it lands me a record deal.

  Ryan: Noted.

  Hailey: I have to run home and start some wassail after I drop Kendra off. I’ll send it over then.

  Ryan stopped on the sidewalk and glanced behind him. But, no, he was too far away now for an accidental bump into her. He should have just walked by the school.

  Ryan: Any cronuts today?

  Hailey: No, actually. We were going to go on the way to school, but then this tiny voice in my head reminded me that it was too much sugar in the morning. So I got her an ice cream instead.

  Ryan laughed. She was joking. Right? Of course she was. She had to be.

  Ryan: Very funny.

  Hailey: In all seriousness, thank you for offering this gig to me. You didn’t have to do that, and I really do appreciate it. Even if I’m terrified.

  Ryan reached his building and started up the stairs, letting Sergeant climb ahead of him. His pulse thrummed, pounding in his ears, and he ran the last set of stairs, eager to sit down and give his phone proper attention. He wanted to reply with nonchalance but not flippancy. Punching in the key code on his front door, he let himself inside and unclipped Sergeant’s leash.

  The last time he’d put this much thought into texting a woman was over two years ago. And that inter-office romance had only lasted eight months. It would’ve been much shorter, too, if he’d just had the gumption to end things. But when dating within the workplace, it was important not to ruffle too many feathers. Speaking of, he really should text Carter to make sure the guy was going to survive the meeting with Sarah. But first, he needed to respond to Hailey.

  Ryan: You’re welcome. And I get why you’re stressed, but you don’t have to worry. You’re going to do great.

  The three little dots never showed up, so he sent another text.

  Ryan: Also, what on earth is wassail?

  Hailey: You’re joking, right?

  Ryan sent a GIF of a man looking awkward and stepping back, disappearing behind a tree.

  Hailey: It’s Christmas in a cup. Like hot apple cider but with a citrus tang. You boil it on your stove or in a crockpot, and it makes your entire home smell like the holidays.

  Ryan: It sounds like I’ve been missing out.

  Hailey: You have. I’ll send you my grandma’s recipe.

  Ryan imagined himself stewing apple cider over the stove and laughed. The idea of Hailey doing it, however, was charming.

  Tossing Sergeant a treat from the countertop jar, Ryan went to shower. He needed a long, hot steam and a reminder that Hailey wasn’t into him like that. She couldn’t have been clearer, and he would do good to remember it.

  Hailey dropped the cinnamon sticks into her crockpot and stirred the mixture, leaning down to sniff it. She didn’t know why she did that. It wouldn’t smell great until it had had time to simmer. Which was fine, since she’d be out of the apartment until later that night. She only wanted a little something to make her apartment feel like home during the holidays, since she wouldn’t be going home to her parent’s house in Connecticut until Christmas Eve, and that was still a week away. She checked the time on the stove. Shoot; she needed to hurry. She had to get back to the Martinezes’ house to do Kendra’s laundry. At least when she got home from work her apartment would smell absolutely divine.

  Nikki tore into the kitchen, grabbing her water bottle from the counter and filling it up with the fridge’s water dispenser.

  “What are you working today?” Hailey asked, gathering the orange peels and empty apple juice containers to throw away.

  “We’ve got a company lunch at the Marriott and an employee holiday party in Chelsea.”

  “Isn’t that a lot for one day?”

  “Yeah, but it’s the holidays.” Nikki shrugged, tightening the cap on her water bottle. “All this extra work will pay for that course I wanted to take on macarons.”

  “Oh yes, please take that course. And then practice a lot.”

  Nikki put on her coat. “Maybe you can bring Kendra by next week and we can make those Santa graham cracker things we used to make with your mom when we were kids.”

  “The ones with the coconut beards? That’s not a bad idea. I’ll run it by her.”

  Nikki smirked. “You think a six-year-old is going to refuse frosting and M&Ms?”

  Hailey bumped Nikki with her shoulder. “No. And I think it’ll help Amber and Luis feel more comfortable if we get you two together before you babysit.”

  Nikki looked stung. “I’ve been around Kendra before.”

  “I know this, and Kendra knows this, but her parents probably don’t remember.”

  Nikki grabbed her small backpack purse and strung it over her shoulder. “Keep me posted on Ryan Says. I want to hear any developments.”

  Like how he had been texting her that morning for a demo? Oops; she’d almost forgotten to send it. She waved goodbye to Nikki, wiped down the sticky counter, then went to email her demo to Ryan.

  His sudden interest was almost alarming. Good thing she’d shut him down already. It was already hard enough to be around the guy without letting any feelings get in the way. He was on a whole different level than she was. Lowering herself onto the chair at her desk, she considered her green sweater and jeans, her plain brown waves, and nondescript green eyes.

  Ryan was designer suits and a razor-sharp jawline. Hailey was oversized sweaters and a round little nose. Whatever fantasies skated through her mind when she thought of the man were inappropriate and unsafe for her mental state.

  She found the
file, attached it to an email, and sent it off to the address she’d gotten from Ryan’s business card.

  Three songs. She’d sent him two covers and an original to show her range and style. Hopefully, it was enough to make him feel like he had made the right choice in asking her to sing for his company party.

  Chapter Nine

  The only thing in the Martinezes’ living room that spoke of Christmas was the enormous fake, snow-tipped Christmas tree and the pre-lit garland over the hearth strewn with silver ribbon. Their home was the epitome of simple and tasteful, but it lacked the magic of handprint ornaments and the smell of home-baked gingerbread men and a crockpot of wassail on the counter.

  Hailey pulled her knees up on the couch, balancing the notepad on her legs. She tapped the pen against her lips, reviewing the song list she’d already practiced. It had been three days since she sent Ryan her demo, and he’d had nothing but good feedback for her. Such strong approval, in fact, that she’d started to wonder if she was being pranked. Could anyone like her voice that much?

  Either way, everything was falling into place except the song list. Her column of practiced, comfortable, appropriate songs was short. Like, four songs short. And the column headed with Ideas was ridiculously empty. But nothing was coming to her.

  “Hey, Kendra,” she said, gathering the girl’s attention from the rug where she sat surrounded by her fuzzy little stuffed bugs and butterflies. Remnants of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches they’d eaten for lunch stained her cheeks. “What’s your favorite Christmas song?”

  “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Or maybe Jingle Bells.”

  Well, Jingle Bells was too Christmassy for a New Year’s Eve party, and Hailey didn’t know if she could sing about hippos at such a swanky event. Maybe if she mellowed it out enough. “Do you think your mom and dad will like hearing that song at their fancy party?”

  Kendra nodded seriously. “Of course. Who doesn’t love that song?”