Mistletoe & Molly

By Matilda Martel

This year, Travis and Molly finally come home for Christmas.
Travis Ford ALWAYS loved his neighbor Molly Gunther. From grade school to high school, she was his goddess. But he was the shy, nerdy geek and she was the brainy bombshell homecoming queen. But at a Christmas party during Senior Year, they shared a moment under the mistletoe that blew both their socks off. After that, they were inseparable- madly in love and crazy in lust.
Until high school graduation sent Molly chasing her dreams in New York and Travis following his father’s expectations.
Twelve years have passed. Twelve years of carefully calculated distance to avoid the past. And now, for the first time they’re both home for Christmas.
Still in love. Still stubborn. Can they pick of the pieces, fight for love and chase new dreams together?
This second chance holiday romance, is sweet and steamy, with two soul mates, no cheating and a guaranteed happy ending for everyone!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matilda Martel
• Release date: Sep 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005858445

Matilda Martel

Matilda loves many things---her husband, dachshunds, cats, the two terrible Chihuahuas who live with her, Paris, New York, a few select friends and family, Nutella, books, lots and lots of books, and writing sweet, steamy romance for nerdy girls-- because that's who I am.If you like your romances steamy but sweet. Sexy, but on the shorter side. With smart and sassy heroines who fall for soulful Alphas- then you might like my books.I write A LOT of OMYW, cause that's just my bag. But no matter what kind of story it is, my ladies are always adored and my endings are always HEA.Please head to my blog: www.matildamartel.com, to learn what's in the final stages and will be coming out soon!Want a free Ebook? Join my mailing list to get my monthly newsletter at : www.matildamartel.com/mailinglist/

Book preview

One

Travis

M ay I take that? A chipper voice startles me. My eyes flare open and I jerk forward in my seat. It’s the flight attendant. She points at my empty glass and smiles.  

I hand it to her, annoyed she interrupted my favorite daydream. Can I get another?  

She tilts her head with an air of sympathy and a dash of condescension. I’m sorry, sir. We’re landing in twenty minutes. She wrinkles her nose and waves her hand. It’s a gesture meant to make me place the tray table back in the armrest but she looks like she’s pointing at the floor. 

What? I’m giving her a hard time. She’s pissing me off. Her attitude pisses me off. This holiday pisses me off. 

The tray, sir. We’re landing. She smiles and darts off. It’s one benefit of sitting in first class. The attendants can’t give you too much grief. If I was in coach, she would have snapped. But up here, she grits her teeth and smiles. 

I’m a jerk. Sue me. I feel like shit.

With a deep breath, I fight like hell to clear my thoughts. I need to focus. These next few days won’t be easy. Or maybe they will. Who the fuck knows? I don’t know what I’m doing in this seat. I don’t know how I got into these clothes. The last few days have been a blur. How the hell did my mother talk me into coming home? Stretching my legs, the lights below catch my eye. They said we’re close. What am I looking at?  Is that Dallas? Why are we flying so low? 

For god’s sake, calm the shit down. 

I haven’t been home in eight years.  No birthdays. No holidays. No weddings or funerals. A week after I graduated from college, I packed my things and moved to Philadelphia. It’s so different, but different is good. I needed a change. There was nothing keeping me here. It’s stupid, but part of me thought if I was closer in proximity, we’d eventually find our way back to one another.  

Sounds reasonable. Philadelphia and Manhattan are just a hop, skip and a jump away. What the hell was I thinking?

The wheels come down and the squeaky noise churns the acid dripping into my gut. I scramble for an antacid and stare at the airport below the wing. We’re fucking landing. 

It’s not the state. I don’t have a problem with Texas. I was born and raised in Austin.  Graduated from the University of Texas. I’m a proud Longhorn. But... never mind. It’s a long story. If I think about it now, I’ll lose my fucking mind. You see, I didn’t want to leave and then I did. I would have left earlier, if my father hadn’t guilted me into attending his alma mater. I shouldn’t say that. There’s nothing to regret. I’d always wanted to go. She’s the only reason I wanted to leave. I would have gone anywhere with Molly. 

Fuck... I hate saying her name.

It’s a shame my Dad didn’t live long enough to see me finish. 

I’ve had a good run. You don’t know how much work goes into eight years of carefully calculated evasion. When I miss my mother, I fly her to Philly. For a woman previously terrified of flying, she’s been great about making the trip. But this year, she asked me to come home.  

At least for Christmas, Trav. Come home for Christmas. 

How could I say no?

Her baby sister, my Aunt Rachel, lost her husband six months ago. She and Mom are tight. There’s no way she’d leave her alone for the holiday. I tried to get out of it. I came up with a thousand excuses. I’d fly her up after the New Year. We see each other all the time. What’s one Christmas? But when sniffles followed sighs, and those spiraled into a voice of sad resignation, I gave in.  

Besides, I turn thirty next month and eventually I need to face my demons. That’s what my piece of shit shrink says. I don’t mean that. He’s okay. But it’s been a few years and I’m not any better than I was when I started going. I realize I have my part to do, but come on, three damn years and zilch. I think I might be worse. Just medicate me, already! 

With a jolt, we slam