James returns with a tray, setting it on the table. “Who’s for coffee?”

Richard shudders. “Not for me James.”

“You can share mine,” offers Mitch, reaching for her teapot.

Richard scowls at the peppermint-scented steam.

James pours into a cup and saucer then offers it up. “Ryan?”

“Thank you, yes.” Ryan sips at the coffee then freezes, staring at the tablecloth. “Fuck me. Is this what he drinks?”

“’fraid so.”

He glares. “You could have warned me. It’s like fucking refrigerator coolant.”

Across the table, Mitch looks up to the mistletoe above the hearth. “Larry?”

“Yes?” He looks in the right general direction, but nothing registers in his expression.

Clueless…

She casts eyes upward again, this time definitely eye-pointing.

He shuffles in his seat. “Mitch, this isn't really...”

Mitch stands, placing herself squarely under the mistletoe, pats her lips with a forefinger. “I'm going to insist.”

Larry’s mouth works and a flush rises up his neck…

Way outside his comfort zone…

… nonetheless, he stands, loops an arm around the lovely woman and kisses her lightly on the lips…

she latches on like a limpet and

mouth over hers in a real

kisses… Rhett and

They had nothing.

watches them, his face

the table, I slip fingers into his. “It’s something special they have, isn’t

other hand, turning it over and over in his

misheard him.

me.” In his outstretched hand is the ring from Mitch’s cracker. “I’ll get

I swallow hard.

take it.” He offers

fallen.

get

think about

ring into my palm, curling my fingers around it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to

and cheerful. Gratefully, I turn to him. “Kirstie, what

*****

it sounds forced. “I don’t see any

with everything that happened, I don’t think…” But she’s cut short by Michael’s grin. Her

you would like to release your death-grip on Cara for five minutes, Michael and I will

Her forehead crinkles.

from all of us, Babe. Go put on some warm clothes. And boots

widen. “My

scarf and gloves and a warm

“But Cara…”

“I’ll take her,” she says. She grins too, impishly. “It will be

“Aren’t you coming?”

“I would prefer

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