Christmas, Mistletoe and Us

By Maggie Anderson

Payton Hamilton can't believe that Brendan Peterson could be so rude at Christmastime...

With Christmas day being tomorrow, Payton is in search of some last minute gifts for her family. And after being
jostled for space in the cram-packed elevator, escalator, and queues, a handsome businessman pushes in front of her as she reaches the counter, after waiting in line for more than ten minutes. The nerve of some people!

CHRISTMAS MORNING
On arriving home to spend the holidays with her family, Payton is surprised to learn that her brother, Patrick, has invited one of his work colleagues to spend the day with them. At first she suspects he might be her brother's new beau, but is assured he is not. So who is this mysterious guest?

A Christmas romance with a Happily Ever After... and a twist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Luna Books, Australia
• Release date: Sep 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223828198

Book preview

One

Payton Hamilton hurried along the walkway to the elevator bank calling for someone inside to hold the door. Just as she reached it, a guy in a dark brown overcoat dashed into the packed glass lift and the doors slid closed in front of her. What the...? She scowled at her reflection in the polished metal doors, turned on her heel and walked over to the next elevator, which had stopped on the top floor of the Manhattan Mall and descended slowly. It was Christmas Eve and everywhere was bustling with last minute shoppers. Giving a heavy sigh, she thought about the fellow who had taken her spot in the lift. Dark wavy hair, cut short, gray eyes, and a handsome face. But no manners!

When the elevator finally arrived, Payton was jostled by people clambering off and onto it, and by the time she was ready to step inside there was no room left. What happened to the Christmas spirit? she thought, and gave another heavy sigh. Leaving the elevator bank, Payton wandered through the ground floor level of the complex, browsing the store windows as she made her way to the escalators, which were just as busy.

She had finished most of her shopping, but still had a couple of last minute gifts to buy, and as she worked all day, this was the only time she could get it done. The stores would be closing early, being Christmas Eve, and she needed to hurry to find what she needed.

Heading to the perfume counter, she tested a few samples, unsure if her mom would like the fragrance, but, in the end, decided to purchase the JLo brand, which had a nice floral scent. She was almost done. What to buy for her dad? Cologne? Cigars? He liked the odd cigar, although he was difficult to buy for because he always said he had everything he needed. Perhaps she could buy him a nice, casual button down shirt. She knew his size so it would be easy to pick something.

Payton headed for the escalator going down into JC Payton’s. After skimming through the shirts, she found one she thought her dad would like, but decided to call her mom on facetime to ask her opinion. Hey, Mom, can I get your advice on a shirt for dad? She held up the light blue and white check shirt. What do you think?

I think he’ll love it, her mom said.

Great. I’ll go and purchase it now. Thanks, Mom. Love you.

Love you, too, honey.

As she stood in line gazing around at the twinkling lights and other Christmas decorations, she was grateful to be done and would be on her way home in no time. When the customer ahead of her stepped away from the counter, the same man that had taken her spot in the elevator dashed in front of her.

He gave her a gorgeous smile and said, Sorry, I’m in a hurry.

Payton scowled at him. That doesn’t give you the right to be rude. I’ve been waiting in line for almost ten minutes. What makes you think you can jump the queue like this?

I have somewhere I have to be in fifteen minutes. I really need to get this and go.

Payton opened her mouth to reply but before she could, the guy turned away from her and made his purchase, rushing over to the escalator and out of the store in quick time.

Of all the nerve, Payton said as she stepped up to the counter.

Sorry about that. People seem to have forgotten what Christmas is all about, the saleswoman said.

Yes, they have. She smiled. But you don’t have to apologize, it wasn’t your fault.

***

Once back in her small apartment, decorated for the holidays, Payton kicked off her shoes, shrugged out of her wool jacket, hanging it on the coat rail by the door, then crossed the living room to the dining table and set her purchases down. She would shower, change into her pajamas and robe then get to work on wrapping the last two gifts.

Her parents lived twenty minutes from her so the drive over the next morning for breakfast would be relatively quick. She couldn’t wait to spend time with her family. Her brother Patrick would have already flown in from Los Angeles and be there when she arrived Christmas morning. A warm sensation of happiness spread through Payton as she put the finishing touches to the gifts for her mom and dad.

It was time for a Christmas movie.

What could she watch?

Payton grabbed a cup from the overhead cupboard and a carton of eggnog from the refrigerator and snuggled up on the sofa, with a red and green throw blanket over her, to settle in to watch something with a holiday feel. The Hallmark Channel always had a wonderful selection of Christmas movies so she pressed the button on the remote and scrolled through to find something she’d like.

The guy she’d ran into twice in the mall popped into her mind and a scowl formed on her pretty face. No. She was not going to allow someone who obviously didn’t have the Christmas spirit ruin the holiday for her. She loved Christmas too much to let that happen.

Two

Payton was up bright and early Christmas morning so she could take the gifts down to her car in the basement parking lot and load them into the trunk before heading over to her parents’ house. She couldn’t wait to see her brother. He’d been living in Los Angeles for the past two years and, because of his business getting off the ground, hadn’t been able to make it home for the holidays. She loved her big brother, Patrick, with all her heart and was grateful to be able to spend some quality time with him before he had to head back. Being the CEO of a new company meant he had to be on deck at all times until the business took off, which they all hoped it would.

The drive took a little longer than expected, due to the heavy snow fall and a collision at one of the intersections on her route. It had only been minor and had been cleaned up and moved on within twenty minutes or so, so she was soon on her way again.

When she pulled into the drive, the front door opened and her brother came out to greet her, wrapping her in a tight, warm hug. Hey, sis, it’s good to see you.

She smiled up at him. It’s good to see you, too. Want to help me inside with these gifts?

Sure. He held out his arms. "Just