The Magic of Mistletoe by Cathy McDavid

Author:Cathy McDavid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sweet Christmas Romance
Publisher: Cathy McDavid
Published: 2020-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

THIS TIME SIENNA DIDN’T ASK, she demanded, “Who was that?”

“My mother-in-law.” Mitch’s expression still unreadable. “Former mother-in-law.”

“Oh.”

“She blames me for Deena’s death.”

Sienna had heard this before from her boss. Still, the words struck her hard.

Just minutes ago, Mitch had been flirting with her, kissing her, asking her out on a date. Now, he was acting as if he couldn’t wait to get out here all because of his former mother-in-law’s silent judgment.

Blinking back tears — okay, yes, his reaction hurt her — she started toward the pen and Cody — only to come to a grinding halt when the young girl Cody was talking to exclaimed loudly, “You have funny ears,” and burst into giggles.

Her poor, sweet son’s bright smile died and his gaze dropped to the ground.

Sienna heart constricted into a tight knot, for Cody and for what had transpired between her and Mitch. So much for her receiving the best of Christmas gifts.

“Sienna. Wait.”

Ignoring Mitch, she skirted around the pen. Right now, her son needed her. That trumped anything and everything.

He followed after her. “Look, I screwed up.”

“I get it,” she replied through gritted teeth. “You were embarrassed to be seen with me.”

“That’s not true. I swear. Seeing her...I was taken by surprise.”

“Really?” She let her tone convey her opinion of his lame excuse.

Reaching Cody, she pulled him into a fierce embrace. For once, he didn’t object to her mothering. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s go home.”

“I need to clean up the poop.”

“It’s all right. Mr. Lunsford can—”

He twisted away from her and retrieved the scoop shovel, wearing his stubborn streak like a banner. “I promised.”

“Okay.”

She let him be. Clearly, he needed to deal with his hurt in his own way.

Mitch materialized beside her. “Let me explain.”

“Don’t bother. It’s not as if there’s anything between us.”

The mask he’d been wearing slipped away, and she glimpsed flashes of pain and regret in his eyes. “There could be. I’d like there to be. It’s just that... Maybe this was too soon.”

“Maybe it was.”

“If you knew what happened—”

“I do know,” she said. “Your story is still being gossiped about today. Believe me, my boss was more than eager to recount every tragic detail about the couple who used to own my house.”

“I led you on. I was wrong.”

Sienna became aware they were being watched and lowered her voice. “Not sure you led me on. We’re not in a relationship. But you shouldn’t have started something you had no intention of finishing. That wasn’t fair to me”

“You have a right to be angry,” he admitted.

It was then she realized she’d overreacted. Hadn’t she been warning herself repeatedly she wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship? That helping her son recover from his terrible ordeal and adjusting to his new school were her priorities?

One little kiss didn’t change that. In most certainly shouldn’t change that.

“Now I’m sorry,” she said.

“Sienna.”

“Like you said, you’re still grappling with your grief and guilt and not ready to date. And, frankly, neither am I. The timing’s not good for either of us.

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