Page 23 of Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane

“Gianna!” Leo squealed, startling me. My little brother leaped onto my waist, wrapping his legs tightly around my own as Sam and I walked toward the stage where a crowd was gathering.

“Have you seen the lawyer?” he asked, his voice muffled in my jacket.

“Not yet,” I said, looking to the left and right as I passed the Whispering Wicks Candles, Cozy Covers, and Glass Works stands.

“New sweater?” Sam asked, touching one of the sleeves tied around my waist.

I pulled the fabric down a bit more. “Something like that.”

Sam hung back to talk to Isaiah and his dad, Pastor Aaron, as Leo and I kept moving forward. “So where is he?”

Leo dropped his feet but took my pinkie finger with his, our secret handshake. “There,” he said, pointing with his free hand toward the stage. “Marco said he brought his son, too.”

I followed his gaze, and my stomach bottomed out.

Talking intently to Mayor Moore was a tall man who definitely looked the part of a fancy lawyer, stern-faced and dressed in a designer suit, shiny shoes, and long dress coat.

And standing next to him was none other than James, the hot guy who saw my festive underwear less than an hour ago.

“Son of a nutcracker.”

Chapter Seven

“You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason, you’re behaving like the best friend.”

—The Holiday

The microphone at center stage made a screeching sound of feedback as Mayor Moore cleared his throat. “Happy Holly Days, everyone!” Those people in the room who weren’t already moving toward the stage stopped what they were doing to lock in.

“I’d like to introduce you to Travis Bailey, the lawyer appointed by the court to oversee Mr. Paxton’s affairs, specifically our Market. Mr. Bailey’s father was Mr. Paxton’s lawyer for many years before he passed, isn’t that right?” Mayor Moore gestured to the imposing figure beside him, who gave all of us the smallest of nods. “And this is his son, James,” Mayor Moore added.

James beamed and waved. “Hi there!” he called warmly.

How in the world were those two related? It was like looking at the real-life version of Scrooge and his jolly nephew.

Except I didn’t recall anyone in that story almost flashing said nephew.

Mayor Moore smiled at James and then turned back to us. “I was just suggesting our guests—”

“Trespassers!” Nico and Marco coughed into their fists loudly.

Mayor Moore shot a quick warning glare at my cousins—ha, as if that would ever stop them—before he continued. “Our guests should take a tour of the town before Travis assesses the property.” Mayor Moore put a hand above his eyes and scanned the crowd. “Ah! Phineas! You know so much about our town, how about guiding our new friends—”

“How about her?” James interrupted, pointing, shockingly enough, at me.

Wait.

Seriously?

The entire room spun around, my name floating through the air in whispers.

“Me?” I asked, my voice cracking.

Nice one, G.

“Yes, you.” James grinned. “I bet Gianna knows everything there is to know about this town.”

I mean, yes, but—