Santa’s Mistletoe Playbook

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

DANICA

D anica Livengood’s heart bounced somersaults as the gate closed behind her and she pulled into the four-stall garage of her new fancy digs. She couldn’t wait to tell the love of her life about the surprise she had in store.

When she shut off the engine, her phone buzzed with her bestie’s caller ID. She tapped it. “Hey Krystal, you’re back from Hawaii?”

“I didn’t want to come home. You know how it is on the islands. You never want to leave.” Krystal sounded like she’d lost her last friend.

“I’m trying to talk Bryson into going to Kauai. I hear it’s fabulous.” Danica’s voice jiggled as she hauled herself from the driver’s seat, holding a pine-bough holiday wreath she’d purchased.

“Maybe he’ll propose? Moving in with him is a ginormous step toward the ‘M’ word.”

Danica tried not to get excited. So far, Bryson hadn’t mentioned marriage. Only that they should live together to see if they “clicked” as he put it.

“Did you meet anyone in Hawaii? Thought you’d come back with an engagement ring on your finger.” Danica held out her phone so her friend could see her as she moved to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

Krystal heaved a sigh. “I hooked up with a surfer guy who I swore was Jason Momoa’s twin. Didn’t work out, unfortunately.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll meet someone. Give it time.” Danica had lost count of how many times she’d said this to her bestie, who was obsessed with finding a soulmate. She took a pull on her water bottle and flipped her curly ponytail behind her.

“How many babies has Dr. Bryson delivered today?”

“Three so far, I think. But he isn’t home yet. He has to work late tonight. Everyone started heavy labor at the same time, and several required C-sections.” Danica squinted at her dark roots in the tiny image of the corner of her phone screen. “I need a trim and need to lighten my roots.”

“Yes, you do,” agreed Krystal. “How’s life in that elegant condo since you moved in?”

Danica blew out air, collapsing onto a stool next to the granite kitchen counter. “I keep forgetting the darn security code to get into this place. The people around here are kind of snobby.”

“Well, where did you expect a practicing obstetrician to live? Scottsdale is where the elite meet to eat,” Krystal said coyly.

Danica chuckled. “I’ll get used to it, eventually. It’s so much bigger than my one-bedroom hovel in Phoenix.”

“How’s the sex life with Bryson’s work schedule?” Krystal’s faucet turned on, and she rattled dishes.

Danica paused. “We haven’t been hooking up lately. He’s crazy busy at the hospital ever since finishing his residency. Babies wait for no one, and he’s always exhausted.”

“Get yourself to that Sweet Cherry sex store in Tempe. Buy some of that strappy, racy stuff. That’ll get his attention. Remember, guys are visual creatures.” Krystal prided herself on her man knowledge. As a guy magnet, she had her pick of the litter.

Danica brightened. “I put a deposit down on a vacation rental in Sedona for our Christmas vacation that starts next week. It has a wonderful view of the red rocks with the gorgeous sunsets. If Bryson doesn’t propose there, then something is definitely wrong. I plan to surprise him.”

“Load up on those strappy leather teddies, and he’ll pop the question big time.” Krystal dropped a dish, and the sound reverberated through the phone.

“I can’t wait to see his face when I pull up to that place.” Danica’s heart fluttered just thinking about it. “Gotta go. I’m making an enchilada casserole for dinner.”

“Okay, sweets. Love you,” said Krystal.

“Love you too.” Danica ended the call and got to work cooking, the aroma of spices filling the kitchen as she prepared dinner.

She recalled meeting Bryson Cooper two years ago in Tucson, where he attended med school at the University of Arizona. During a fraternity party with her sorority, his chocolate gaze had stolen her heart. He claimed love at first sight, and she’d melted.

Now that they were closing in on their second anniversary of dating, Danica figured the next logical step in their relationship was to get engaged.

After graduation, Bryson was offered a spot with an obstetrician team at the Phoenix hospital. Unfortunately, it ate up most of his waking time in the first year. Now, he was in his second year at the hospital, and his being gone so often strained their relationship.

Danica expected Bryson’s erratic schedule to improve once he built a reputation for delivering newborns. But as time wore on, she grew increasingly anxious about the future.

Her phone vibrated on the granite counter, and she tapped the speaker icon.

“Hello, my lovely,” said Bryson in a low tone. “I’m on my way home.”

“I missed you today. Dinner is waiting,” she purred into the phone.

“I have big news. Can’t wait to see you.” He ended the call before she could say, “Love you, too.”

Her pulse ticked up, anticipating his news. Hopefully, it will be a change in his busy work schedule. If so, that would be perfect for her Sedona getaway plans and the romantic vacay she hungered for. Her job as a massage therapist was nowhere near the stress of Bryson’s, as she set her own hours.

Danica hurried upstairs to do what Krystal had suggested and changed into her sexiest see-through baby doll nightie. Giddy with anticipation, she eagerly awaited the moment Dr. Bryson Cooper would walk through the front door.