Read The 6'1" Grinch for Free Online

managing to blurt out that Hollie and Noel were meant for each other—perfect opposites.
    â€œBe that way,” Hollie sniffed, patting her riotous curls. “And here I was going to tell you how much I liked your new haircut.”
    â€œDo you? It’s a gum cut.” Sarah carried the bowl of salad to the table.
    â€œGum cut?” Hollie added the plate of fragrant cheese sandwiches she’d grilled to a golden brown.
    â€œYour sugarpie crawled into my bed when she had a bad dream last night and somehow her bubble gum got into my hair. So voilà, short haircut. I have to admit it’s a lot easier to take care of than long hair. I don’t know why I didn’t try it sooner, since I’m always so pressed for time now.”
    â€œIt makes you look like Demi Moore in Ghost. “
    â€œThen I’m keeping it.”
    â€œCall the grinch and Elena while I get plates, napkins and some chips,” Hollie said, not wanting to face Noel after Sarah’s inept efforts at matchmaking. Hollie thought her own attempts had been at least semi- subtle.
    Sugarpie hadn’t helped by reminding her that Noel did indeed look like the handsome prince.
    Even she didn’t believe there was a fairy godmother in existence who could turn Noel into a fun date. Even if Sarah did insist Hollie was a princess, intent on always getting things her way.
    She had a plan: find a home for Noel fast, find a car for herself with her tidy commission, end of story. No magic slippers; no fancy ball; no handsome, brooding prince.
    Now, that was what she called a happy ending.
    N OEL LOOKED DOWN at the little princess who’d climbed up on his lap when he’d settled on the sofa after inserting the Cinderella tape in the VCR.
    She seemed really comfortable, cuddling against him as she watched the fairy tale.
    To his surprise, he felt really comfortable, as well.
    Next thing he knew he’d be believing in fairy tales.
    And happy holidays.
    And happy endings.
    He’d have to guard against that.
    He’d especially have to guard against the foxy real estate agent starring in his fantasies. What was it about Hollie Winslow that tripped his switches? It was more than the body that wouldn’t quit and the mind that eschewed logic in favor of magic.
    Meanwhile, back at the North Pole…
    S ANTA SAT BACK in the recliner with his red stockinged feet up on the footrest. His tummy was stacked with women’s magazines. The ones he’d found in Claudia’s bathroom. If he was lucky, he might find the spa his wife had gone off to featured in one of them. She might have circled the name, giving herself away.
    He hadn’t had any luck yet finding the Christmas cookies she’d hidden. He’d looked and looked, even searching in the elves’ quarters. They claimed not to have seen them. The reindeer shed hadn’t turned up any cookies, either. He’d probably just imagined the crumbs on Rudolph’s nose. Claudia wouldn’t have fed his chocolate crinkles to the reindeer because she was miffed at him for ignoring her, would she?
    He turned the page of the magazine he was holding and reached for the remote control, searching for the hockey game as he settled for some nonfat crackers he’d unearthed in the kitchen pantry.
    Bah, humbug.

Chapter 3
3
    December 18
    â€œS O WHAT HAPPENED to Mr. Smith?” Noel asked the following afternoon on their way to see the house he was interested in after Hollie had finally found the key in another purse of hers, not Elena’s.
    â€œThere’s no Mr. Smith. Never has been. Sarah adopted Elena as a single woman.”
    â€œAnd you think Elena needs a father? She seems happy, if not a little spoiled, to me.”
    â€œHaving grown up in orphanages and foster homes, I guess I will always think having two parents is the way it should be.”
    â€œHow’d you happen to grow up in orphanages?” Noel’s voice changed to a