Read Mistletoe Match-Up (Romancing Wisconsin #3) for Free Online Page A

entrance.
      Derek stood just inside the door, a large square present in his hands. Those monarch butterflies that should’ve migrated south back in September woke up in her stomach. Boy, he looked different today in a brown leather jacket, rust-colored shirt, faded jeans, and tan work boots. With his blond hair casually combed to the side and slightly windblown, and a single day’s growth of light whiskers on his jaw, the rugged look hit her senses as effectively as the formal tux. Maybe even more so.
    Their gazes collided when he finished his own appraisal of her red cashmere sweater, low-rise jeans, and bare feet. One corner of Derek’s mouth quirked up. The warmth in his brown eyes brought a flush to her face and propelled her heart rate into the danger zone.
    “Hi,” he said.
    Good lord, one word should not sound so sexy.
    “Hi.” When images of their kiss rolled by in vivid Technicolor, she switched her focus to the package in his hands. “You got me a present?”
    He grinned. “Um…not really. I found this when I unloaded the wedding gifts at the lodge. Since Heather’s name is on the tag, I figured you’d need it today.”
    “Oh. Of course.” She took it from him with an embarrassed smile. Now she recognized the wrapping paper—frolicking cartoon figures of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, too. “The girls opened their presents from Santa earlier, and we’re going to exchange gifts in a little while. I didn’t realize this one was missing. Thanks.”
    “Sure.” He stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets.
    “How has your Christmas been?”
    “Good. Yours?”
    “Good.” Okay, awkward conversation can stop any time now.
    He half turned and jerked his thumb toward the door. “I see you got your car.”
    “Eric pulled me out this morning.”
    “You need new tires.”
    “I know.” She just couldn’t afford them.
    “They’re calling for more snow this week,” he warned.
    “Six to nine inches on Tuesday.”
    Her defensive tone made him shake his head. She spun the package in her hands and did her best to avoid staring at his mouth. He smiled and ran a hand through his hair. “Okay, then. I’ll let you get back to your family—”
    “You should come in for a while,” Lisa offered quickly, not wanting him to leave just yet. She motioned toward the living room where loud, cheerful voices competed with each other. Derek shifted and hunched his shoulders with a look of uncertainty.
    “Mark and Janelle are here,” she added. “They’re your family, too.”
    “I’ll see them at dinner later. I don’t want to intrude.”
    Then it hit her. He wasn’t being thoughtful; he just didn’t want to stay. She cursed her own stupidity for hoping he’d want to spend time with her, and turned the gift some more. “Okay. Well, thanks again. And Merry Christmas.”
    Derek reached behind him for the door as Eric walked past on his way to the kitchen. “You two going stand in the doorway all day?”
    “I was just—”
    Janelle brushed past Eric. “Hey, Cuz—Merry Christmas!”
    Lisa stepped back. Then she quickly shifted when she remembered Eric took tradition to extreme and every doorway sported green leaves of entrapment. While her body said one thing, she didn’t want a repeat performance of last night in front of her entire family. In the light of day, it was pretty evident Derek didn’t either.
    Janelle had Derek’s coat off and pushed him further into the house before he could get a word in edgewise. He met Lisa’s gaze with a smile of resignation. “I guess I’m staying for a while.”
    Traitorous pleasure negated the rational of her mind over Derek’s reluctant demeanor. She shrugged. “Since you delivered the present, it is only fitting you’re here to watch Heather open it.”
    Reese and Heather pounced on Derek the moment he appeared in the living room. While they gave him a rundown of all their new toys, Lisa walked over to place the package with the rest of the presents under the