Mistletoe Man: Hitching a Cowboy, #4

By Kate Kisset

A country music star gets a second chance with a lover from his past in this steamy Christmas cowboy romance.

When country star Robert David Montgomery inherits a dilapidated Napa Valley Christmas tree farm, he plans to sell it quickly and fly home to Montana, but a second chance with Monique, (the one that got away), throws a wrench in his plans. All rooms are booked for the holiday, and this growly cowboy and his guitar named Lola wind up staying at Monique's grandmother's bed and breakfast.
The magic of Christmas may be just what single parent Monique needs. Her daughter has this cowboy daddy wrapped around her finger. Monique could be Hitched to a Cowboy before New Year's Eve.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate Kisset
• Release date: Feb 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215935774

Kate Kisset

Former San Francisco radio disc jockey Kate Kisset is the author of Love In The Vineyards, a series of small-town contemporary romance novels set in California wine country.  Readers call her novels, sexy, sweet and refreshing, with complex characters and plots that serve up humor without holding back on heart. Kate divides her time between Northern and Southern California. Her stories feature strong heroes and heroines set in the small town, real-world vineyard settings found outside her front door.   When she's not writing, Kate's favorite job is being "The Mommy." She enjoys reading, binge watching Netflix and the Hallmark Channel, wine tastings, cooking, listening to music, and hiking with her loyal companion Luciana Parmigiana, her rescue-dog-editor. Where to find Kate Kisset: Kate Kisset ARC Readers Group:https://katekisset.typeform.com/to/dnsrMj

Book preview

Mistletoe Man

Hitching a Cowboy Series Book Four

––––––––

Kate Kisset

USA Today bestselling author Kate Kisset

Mistletoe Man Copyright © 2020 by Kate Kisset. 

All rights reserved. Copyright notice: All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Christmas Day

Playlist

Other Books by Kate Kisset

About Kate Kisset

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Chapter One

No need to help with the bags, Bobby David Montgomery said, after thanking his driver.

Have a safe flight, sir, and merry Christmas.

You too. Bobby grabbed his suitcase and guitar from the back seat of the town car. Money wasn’t an issue for him, but under usual circumstances he’d never ride in anything as flashy as this. But he hadn’t wanted to deal with the drive from Lonesome to Missoula International, not today.

Prologue

He didn’t feel like talking much either and kept his head down, hoping no one at the airport would recognize him.

The sparkling automatic glass doors opened. Bobby tightened his grip on his baggage and searched the gleaming terminal for the check-in counter. His boots clicked over the shiny tile floors as he took a place in line.

Canned Christmas music played throughout the stark space, but it didn’t change his mood. He sure didn’t feel happy, or holly jolly. In fact, the songs just made him sad.

There were too many happy couples at Christmas. Too many family gatherings, and hand-holding, and kisses, and cookies to eat. Too much joy, and too many reminders that he’d be spending another Christmas alone.

The melancholy funk he was in had started the minute he booked his flight to California. He wasn’t looking forward to dealing with the inheritance his Uncle Glenn had left him—owning a Christmas tree farm in the San Francisco Bay Area was the last thing he wanted.

Back when he was a kid, Bobby used to enjoy spending Christmas breaks in the Napa Valley with his family. But after his aunt and uncle died, Bobby and his parents, who all lived in Lonesome, had no reason to visit.

Well, maybe there was one reason, but he hadn’t seen or spoken to her in years.

Chapter Two

Monique Jacobson climbed another step above the rows of Santino cabernet vineyards, and reached out as far as she could without losing grip of the ladder. Stretching another half inch, her fingertips almost touched the statue’s gleaming metal nose. The renowned piece of art was installed strategically amid acres of award-winning grapevines, and could be seen for miles across Napa Valley.

At any time of the year, the beloved statue was a tourist destination, and the pressure was on for Monique to turn the giant, sparkling bunny into a reindeer at Christmas time.

Panic started to rush through her veins. The annual Santino Winery holiday party Monique was in charge of started in six hours.

"Is he ever going to turn into Rudolph, Mommy?" Adele’s voice chirped from below. With her pink cheeks glowing and her hair shimmering in the sun, her daughter looked like a cherub. 

"Of course he will. This big bunny always turns into Rudolph at Christmas. We can do anything we set our minds to baby. Just you watch."

Spotting the red plastic nose in a pile of sun fried grape leaves behind Adele, Monique turned away, cursing herself under her breath. Why didn’t she take the schnozzle with her up the ladder?

See it honey? Hanging on to the ladder tight enough to lose circulation in her left hand, Monique cautiously lifted her right, and pointed to the shiny red object below. It looked like a deflated soccer ball. It's behind you.

Adele scrunched her nose and circled. Perusing around her feet, she then lifted her head. Her eyes became huge and she took off running. I see it.

Good job. Monique encouraged, without daring to change her grip. Now hold on to it, and come closer.

Adele sucked in a deep breath, appearing to gather enough steam to make a beeline to the ladder. Monique yelled, No running. Don’t come too close sweetheart, or I might fall.

Adele craned her neck all the way back and squinted. How many giant steps should I take?

Five, honey. Monique held on to the ladder. I think five big-girl steps will do it.

Adele lifted her right leg and dramatically plunked it down on the dirt two feet in front of her and then brought her left leg up. One, she announced, touching down, and repeating the process. Two!

Monique hadn’t intended to take Adele to work with her, but had forgotten all about the preschool teacher holiday she’d circled on her calendar months ago.

With her favorite sitter booked, she wasn’t about to leave Adele with anyone she hadn’t thoroughly investigated. Thankfully her idea of turning a day of decorating the winery into a holiday outing with Adele seemed to be working.

Three! Adele shrieked.

A loud sputtering engine and blaring music caused Monique to turn in time to see the Napa Pines Christmas Tree Farm jalopy come barreling down the driveway.

From the elevated vantage point, she saw the tree she needed for the tasting room in the bed of the truck. Heaving a sigh of relief, she rotated back to Adele.

Four, Mommy! I’m getting close. . . Adele took another step. Five!

Perfect honey. Now stay right where you are and remember to never, ever, climb a ladder like this without my help.

And Daddy's? Adele asked, cradling the red nose.

Monique’s heart sank, knowing her former husband Jarod would never help his daughter with a ladder or anything else. Why must Adele always ask about that deadbeat?

Time after time Monique covered for Jarod’s negligence, hating to see Adele’s hopes smashed. They always were.

Jarod never showed up, kept any of his promises, or followed through with anything except getting her pregnant. The joy of being Adele’s mother made up for all her disappointment, but it didn’t ease any of her daughter’s pain.

Yes, and Daddy’s help too. Monique’s stomach roiled looking at Adele’s innocent expression.  Maybe this year, he’d finally see her for Christmas.

Do you think you can throw Rudolph’s nose up to me so we can turn this bunny into a reindeer? Monique carefully let go of the ladder with her right hand and leaned, stretching it out to Adele. Throw it now, honey. She held her breath.

Adele didn’t wait for further instruction and hurled the plastic nose into the air. Spinning, the snout missed Monique’s outstretched hand and continued its path of projection several feet over her head and to the right.

Rudolph’s schnozzle caught the light and sparkling in the sun, made its descent. Monique shifted her weight to grab it. Almost there.  She reached up and over, feeling the ladder sway and rock beneath her.

Mommy!

Quickly seizing the ladder with both hands, the sole of her boot slipped sideways on the metal step. Instead of regaining her balance, Monique skidded down one rung, and then another with her left foot and then another and another, until she found herself rappelling backward down the ladder, desperately grappling to hang on to whatever she could and praying for a soft landing.