Mistletoe Kisses

Chapter 1-2

Shannon let out a bark of laughter. “If that’s all it would take to solve the problem, I would. Unfortunately, I don’t think that would change Chris’s mind.”

“He believes this garbage?”

“It seems so.” She repeated her conversation with her now ex-boyfriend, leaving out certain terms that were sure to infuriate him, and Pat listened quietly.

“You don’t seem too upset.”

“Maybe I’m in shock, but his attitude tonight…. Sorry to dredge up old memories, but he reminded me a little of the bitch.”

“Nine years later, you still call her that.”

“If the name fits….”

“True enough. Will you be all right?”

“I think I’ll be okay once the dust settles.”

“If you need to get away for a while, you’re always welcome here, and we’d love to see you.”

The offer was very tempting, but she politely declined. She had the film deal—though production didn’t start until March if she decided to sign the contract; at the moment, she wanted to turn it down—and a couple of upcoming plays she was very interested in. Plus, Kevin had some contacts in the music business that were interested in her. Like her father and his father, music was in her soul, and while the stage and silver screen had a tantalizing pull, it was singing and songwriting that she wanted most.

Time. I need some time to think about all this.

“I’d really love to see you guys, too. And since Mom and Dad are headed out that way for Christmas… maybe I should come.”

“That would be wonderful. Think about it and let me know what you decide. I’ve gotta run. The Conners just arrived for cards.”

“Don’t have too much fun.”

“Not possible. I love you, Shannon.”

“I love you, too, Pat.”

She ended the call and turned to find Celeste standing in the doorway between the kitchen and living room, holding two plates of creamy, mouthwatering pasta and staring at her with a quizzical frown.

“Go ahead and say it,” Shannon said. “I can take it from you.”

“Say what?”

“That this kind of crap is what comes with even the tiniest bit of fame.”

Celeste shook her head and several strands of her lustrous dark hair tumbled loose from her sloppy ponytail. “That’s not at all what I was going to say. We’ve been friends for—what, seven years now?—since we were first paired up in that ridiculously tiny dorm room, which means I know you pretty well, right?”

“Better than anyone outside of my immediate family and Ty.”

“Remind me. What does Ty call you?”

“Shy Eyes.”

“Exactly. So—and don’t answer this right now—since this kind of crap is likely to become the norm if you continue down this path to fame and fortune, how badly do you want to keep acting and singing?”

Shannon took the plate and silverware Celeste handed her and sat on the window bench with her feet tucked under her. Her roommate sat in the armchair a few feet away.

“All right. I get it.” Shannon gestured at the tabloid lying beside her on the bench. “If that is what I’ll have to endure, maybe this isn’t the career for me. But you forget that I didn’t exactly like teaching, either.”

“I remember that you liked teaching well enough, and that you were good at it like your dad, but you were in a large school with too many students and a miniscule budget and the expectation that you could work miracles.”

Shannon growled. “What’s your point? That I should trade a career I usually enjoy and that pays pretty damned well for one that frustrates me and doesn’t pay squat?”

“My point is that maybe you should take a step back and let yourself have a good-old-fashioned mid-twenties identity crisis. Give yourself a few weeks or a couple months away from everything and take a look at what you want deep in your heart. Ask yourself if you want the acting and music enough to put up with the crap that comes with it.”

“Just because of one tabloid article.”

“An article that ended a three-year relationship with the decisiveness of a guillotine. And don’t tell me you aren’t thinking about taking a break. I heard the longing in your voice when you told Pat you wanted to visit for Christmas.”

“I can’t just drop everything and run away to Montana.”

“Says who? You have enough money saved to take at least a six-month sabbatical, the last show of your play is in six days, and if you’re worried about the movie deal, the producer is a good friend who I’m sure will give you other chances.” Celeste wiggled her eyebrows. “Maybe you could make nice with Ty while you’re there.”

Shannon rolled her eyes. “I can’t just up and leave, Celeste.”

“When was the last time you took a break? You’ve been going balls to the wall since you graduated from high school, missy, so maybe it’s time for a vacation. Listen to your heart before your mind has time to override it. What is it telling you?”

With a sigh, Shannon replied, “That a trip to Northstar right now sounds absolutely splendid.”

“I hear Shannon O’Neil is coming for a visit,” Heather remarked as Ty loped past where she sat on the top rail of the corral.

He spared her only a glance, afraid anything more would reveal how much the news intrigued him. She’d spoken rather loudly—certainly loud enough to be heard over the rhythmic thuds of his mount’s hooves—so he sincerely doubted she would think he hadn’t caught what she’d said. He liked Heather. With long, rich brown hair, confident blue eyes, a strong-featured face, and an athletic body, she was undeniably attractive. Even more than her physical beauty, Ty appreciated her quick wit and her unabashed readiness to speak her mind. At twenty-two—four years his junior—she had a surprising poise and self-assuredness. And yet, the mere mention of Pat O’Neil’s little sister had his heart tripping in his chest. Heather, with all her charms, couldn’t make it do that.

“She’s supposed to be here tonight,” she added on his next pass.

Shannon in Northstar again, Ty thought. Looks like Christmas is coming early this year.

Though he talked to her every week, he hadn’t seen her since he’d given in to impulse and kissed her under the mistletoe. He’d started a fire with that kiss and had not yet found a way to put it out. Neither of them had spoken of it after he’d apologized to her boyfriend for his trespass, and though he was fairly certain she’d felt the spark, time and distance made him doubt. She had been out only once since to spend a long weekend with her brother and his family last summer, but Ty had been in Bozeman at a competition, so he hadn’t yet had an opportunity to see if the kiss was a fluke or if there was something more between them. The blue ribbon he’d won hadn’t come close to making up for missing her visit, but his family and their small ranch and horse-training operation had benefited from the substantial boost his reputation had received as a result.

If Shannon was coming to Northstar….

“She might be here already.”

Ty frowned and, with his hands resting on his thighs, lifted his left leg away from his horse’s barrel while pressing his right closer. The piebald mare pivoted to the left. She stopped immediately and walked toward Heather when he squeezed gently with both legs. He was genuinely impressed with the young mare, all the more because the man he’d bought her from had claimed she was “untrainable.” Quite the opposite, Ty now knew, more glad than ever that he’d obeyed the compulsion to buy her. She was one of the most eager and willing horses he’d ever had the pleasure to work with.

“Whoa,” he murmured as he relaxed both legs and sat straighter. She stopped before the command died on his lips, further pleasing him. He leaned forward over her neck, stroking his hands over her thick winter coat and scratching vigorously along her mane. “Good girl, Holly.”

“You amaze me, Ty. My dad’s damned good with horses, and yours is even more so, but you are truly gifted. She loves this.”

Ty nodded his thanks, then tilted his head and studied his girlfriend with narrowed eyes. “What’s on your mind, Heather? For a woman who rivals my mother in the department of bluntness, you’re being awfully cryptic.”

“Cryptic? How am I being—”

“There’s a reason you mentioned Shannon. What is it?”

Heather brushed her fingertips over Holly’s velvety nose for a moment before she answered. “I think it’s time we call it quits. Dating, I mean. I know you want to start settling down, maybe think about starting a family, and… I’m just not ready for that yet.”

Ty ducked his gaze for a moment, though he wasn’t surprised. “What brought this on?”

“Mostly the way you’ve been acting around your sister and her brood. When I heard Shannon’s on her way, something clicked. I know you love her, Ty, and I may regret this in a few years because you’re a great guy, but you may have a chance to start something with her, and I don’t want to be the one to screw that up.”

Unable to meet the confidence in her eyes, Ty turned his gaze east toward the tall granite peaks of the Northstar Mountains. They were blocked from his view by the forest-crowned ridge sheltering the bowl in which the corrals, barns, and lower pasture sat, and he wished he could see them. This late in the afternoon with the cool shadows lengthening, they would be bathed in sharp golden light.

“Shannon has a boyfriend,” he said.

“You’re not going to try to talk me out of this?”

It almost—almost—sounded like she wanted him to. “Is there any point in trying?”

“No,” she answered. “As to Shannon, I’m pretty sure she had a boyfriend.”

“What makes you think that’s changed?” He returned his attention to her.

“Oh please, Ty. She’s never come out here without at least two months’ notice. I heard Aelissm say this morning that she just up and decided to visit only a week or so ago. Right as her acting career is set to rocket into the stratosphere. Does that sound like everything is still all sunshine and rainbows to you?”

Ty didn’t dare hope Heather was right. Shannon had complained more than once that Chris seemed to be taking his sweet time moving their relationship in a more lasting direction, but the man would have to be dense to let go of a woman like Shannon. Hell, Ty was probably a fool for letting Heather slip away without a fight, but she—like Shannon—was much like the horses he trained; the best results always came when they wanted to work with him. Unlike horses, however, women were not nearly so easily won over. It had taken little more than sugary treats, some sweet-talking, and patience to get Holly to follow him around like a faithful shadow.

“Are you okay?” Heather asked.

“I…. Yeah. I guess so. I mean, we aren’t—weren’t—all that serious, anyhow.”

“Right. Barely more than friends with benefits. Although, there is one benefit I still want.”

“And that is?”

“I still want you to teach me all your training tricks. That is, if it wouldn’t be too awkward….”

Ty smiled. “I can’t make any promises about the awkward part, but I’m glad you want to keep learning. I might be looking for some extra help before too much longer, and so far, you’re my best hope.”

“Ah gee, thanks, Ty. Need me to help with anything else tonight?”

“No, I can manage.”

“All right. Hey. Thanks for not making a big deal about this.”