Step On Bride by Mallary Mitchell

Author:Mallary Mitchell [Mitchell, Mallary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Holiday Fiction, inspirational fiction, Clean and Wholesome, Religion and Spirituality, Christian fiction, Christmas romance, Inspirational Romance
ISBN: 9781522303619
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2021-10-20T00:00:00+00:00

5

Run Rudolph, Run

The French doors of the main kitchen opened to an outdoor covered space expertly designed for entertaining. A smooth countertop covered a stacked stone prep area that was embedded with stainless steel drawers opened to display all the ingredients for s’mores. Large carafes of what appeared to be hot chocolate and cider were waiting with mugs on a rough-hewn table.

The backyard was impeccable—as were all the yards and gardens in Pineville. It was a rule or something—but this was overly extravagant. Beyond the fire pit, just at the edge of the tiled patio, was a Christmas wonderland of inflatable characters and lights galore. Overdone for her taste. It was like attack of the inflatable lawn ornaments back there.

On second thought, “fire pit” was not an apt word. Neither was backyard. Marley felt as if she’d wandered into some outdoor paradise.

Tall nutcrackers seemingly stood as sentries around the border of their turf lawn guarding the inflatable sleigh with all nine reindeer. Rudolph, with a light-strobing red nose, stood poised at the front of the line. Giant boxes had been wrapped in weather-proof paper and were situated around a magnolia tree that twinkled with thousands of white lights. Muted Christmas tunes played over a speaker.

“Wow.” She murmured for Wyatt only.

“I know, overkill.” Wyatt muttered. “Mom saw something like this on TV, and she had to have it. However, it is nice until you get to the inflatables.”

“Yeah—” Marley gazed around with a smile giving him a sidelong glance. “Nice is an understatement. And the back forty…it’s so Christmassy.”

“My mother is obsessed with having the most, the best, the brightest yard. “

“But this is the backyard.” She shook her head just a bit. “Who sees this?”

He pointed to the course beyond his yard. “The golfers.”

“Oh.” Like that explained the wretched excess. A stiff breeze blew but thanks to Grandmother’s hairspray her hair remained intact. She shivered, and Wyatt draped her with his arm.

“She and Dad are really into the country club thing.”

“Oh, do they fox hunt, as well?” She joked with a fake snobby accent and glanced up. She’d expected a laugh.

“Only Dad.” Wyatt looked a little hurt.

She’d offended him. But this was Wyatt. And “this thing” between them was fake. “Where does he stable his horse?”

Now he bristled a little. “Go ahead, say what you’re thinking. Don’t stop there.” He turned to stare down into her eyes. “What? You think I don’t see that judge-y look on your face.”

“It’s not a look. And this”—she swept her hands wide— “It’s nice.” He had said it was overkill. Why was he mad that she agreed?

“Forget the wretched excess. Let’s go melt some marshmallows.”

“Wait, I have to know this. Do you have one of those thingies that makes the lights blink with the beat of Christmas music?”

Was that a growl?

~*~

Marley was doing it again. Making him feel guilty. So what if he didn’t have to worry about money? It didn’t mean he was a bad person. He worked hard. He didn’t flaunt the fact his family was wealthy.

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