A Mistletoe Christmas: Santa's Mistletoe Mistake / A Merry Little Wedding / Mistletoe Magic. Carla Cassidy

when she called at ten o’clock the morning after the skating party. “I figured the girls could play for a little while and you and I can enjoy lunch before the snow moves in tomorrow.”

      “We’d love to come. What can I bring?” Melody welcomed the opportunity to spend some time away from her continuous thoughts of Jake Hanson.

      “Nothing. Don’t expect anything fancy. I’ve got homemade chicken-noodle soup and sandwich fixings.”

      “Sounds perfect to me,” Melody replied. With plans made for eleven-thirty, she hung up the phone and told Libby about the lunch date.

      “Awesome,” Libby exclaimed. “Today if we play dolls again, then it’s time for the prince to propose to the princess and then we’ll have a wedding.”

      “Sounds like serious happily ever after,” Melody replied.

      “It is. I’ve got to go get my princess doll ready to go.” She raced back to her bedroom, where Melody knew she’d sort through her fashion doll items until she found a wedding dress and shoes and everything a princess would need for a magical wedding.

      Melody sat at the kitchen table with a fresh cup of coffee before her and stared out in the distance, where she could see Jake’s place.

      Had she snuggled a little too close to him last night? Talked too much? Too little? Had the silence that she’d felt was so comfortable actually been uncomfortable for him?

      What surprised her most was the pang that shot through her as she tried to figure out what had happened. Was he truly being neighborly, and she had just misread him?

      With frustration she got up and moved to the chair that placed her back to the window. She and Libby had had a wonderful time with Jake over the past week, and he’d made the lead up to their first Christmas here in Mistletoe wonderful.

      Despite her overwhelming and fast feelings for him, she shouldn’t have expected any more from him. But that didn’t halt the shard of pain that pierced her heart, letting her know she’d gotten too close, allowed him to get too deep into her heart.

      By the time she and Libby left the house to head to Laura’s place, Melody had forced thoughts of her neighbor right out of her mind. Besides, it was difficult to concentrate on anything as Libby chattered about the wedding of the holiday between the prince and the princess.

      Melody parked in Laura’s driveway, and Libby was out of the car with her doll carrying case clutched tight against her chest before Melody could unfasten her seat belt.

      Megan greeted them at the front door. She and Libby squealed and exchanged girlfriend hugs and then quickly disappeared down the hallway to Megan’s room.

      Thankfully, Laura greeted Melody slightly less enthusiastically. She raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes. “It’s the wedding of the century, don’t you know?”

      Melody laughed and followed her friend into the kitchen, where the table was set for two and the scent of chicken soup filled the air. “I thought we’d let them play while we enjoyed our lunch, and then I’ll feed them and they can pretend chicken-noodle soup and sandwiches were on the menu at the wedding reception.” Laura gestured her into a chair.

      “Sounds perfect to me,” Melody replied. “I saw you on the ice last night at the pond. You and Jack skate well together.”

      “Thanks. And I noticed you didn’t move your butt from your bench all night.” Melody pulled a tray of cold cuts from the refrigerator and placed it and a loaf of bread on the table, then went back to get two bowls of the yummy-scented soup.

      “Of course, I don’t blame you,” she continued, sitting across from Melody. “If I had a handsome hunk like Jake cuddled under my blanket, I wouldn’t have been inclined to move, either.”

      “It’s not like that,” Melody replied as warmth filled her cheeks.

      “What do you mean? The two of you looked quite cozy last night, and from what I’ve heard, the three of you have been spending a lot of time together.”

      Melody should have known she wouldn’t get through this lunch without talking about Jake. She had a feeling she and the handsome cowboy had definitely been fodder for the local gossip mill for the past several days.

      “We had a nice few days together, but that’s all there was to it. After last night I doubt that we’ll be hanging out together anymore.”

      “What happened last night?” Laura asked.