“Get out of this car before I drag you out.”
I flash Shelly a smile before climbing out of the car.
“I can’t help but be nervous. What if they don’t approve of me?”
“Does it matter?” Shelly wraps her arm around my shoulder and leads me toward the player entrance of the stadium. “Lucas loves you. Period. End of story. Besides, what’s not to like about you?”
I take that as a rhetorical question and don’t respond, lost in thought. Shelly and I got off to a rocky start, but since she’s discovered how much Lucas and I love each other, she’s softened toward me. As we get closer to the entrance, I notice my surroundings.
“Aren’t we supposed to be going up to the player box?” I question as she leads me past a sign pointing us toward the court.
“Lucas wants to see you before the game.” She gives me a reassuring smile as we continue down the corridor toward the court.
Once I step out of the tunnel, cheering erupts around me. I stop in my tracks, but Shelly leads me toward the center of the court.
“What’s going on, Shelly?” My voice trembles as I tug my hand back, attempting to break free.
“Just come with me, Misty. Lucas will be here in a few moments.”
I follow behind her blindly as the cheers get louder and louder, the closer I get to center court.
“Wait here.” Shelly gives me a quick hug before retreating.
A spotlight zeroes in on my shocked expression, projecting it onto the large video screen hanging above the court.
Just as I’m about to run for the nearest exit, I hear a motorcycle engine rev to my right. Spinning around, I spot a long red carpet rolled out with Lucas at the end. He is sitting on top of his motorcycle wearing a bright red Santa suit. “Here Comes Santa Claus” begins playing loudly as he rides his bike toward me, stopping a few feet short of where I’m standing.
He winks at me quickly as he climbs off his bike and takes a few steps, stopping right in front of me.
“Misty Claus, this past year with you has been the best of my life,” he says before dropping to one knee.
I gasp in surprise as I watch him pull a black box out of his pocket and flip the lid open, revealing my mother’s engagement ring. Tears stream down my face as he continues.
“Your dad promised to love your mom for the rest of their lives with this ring. I think it’s only fitting I do the same with you. Mistletoe Claus, will you marry me?”
Unable to respond to his question, I throw my arms around his neck, causing us both to tumble to the ground.
“I take that as a yes?” A quizzical look crosses his face before it’s replaced with a bright smile.
“Yes! A million times, yes!” I shout before crashing my lips to his.
“Let's give is up for the future Mr. And Mrs. Lucas Barnes!” someone announces over the loudspeaker, causing the crowd to cheer loudly.
We break apart quickly, remembering we have an audience for this momentous occasion.
I climb off Lucas and stand, hiding my face behind my hair.
“No sense in hiding, love. Everyone knows how much you love me,” Lucas whispers before softly kissing my forehead and grasping my hand, pulling me toward his bike. He gently lifts me onto the back, then swings his leg over to the other side and takes a seat.
“Hurry and get me out of here,” I mumble as I bury my face in his back.
“You’re going to have to wait for your next dose of Vitamin D until later. I still have a game to play,” he chuckles before easing the bike down the carpeted path and out of the arena.
Once he brings it to a stop, I climb off quickly.
“I told you I was never getting on the back of that thing.” I cross my arms over my chest, attempting to be angry with him.
“Unless it was worth your while,” he states before pulling me into his arms.
I turn my face up toward him. “What do you mean?”
“You said that you would get on the back of my bike if I made it worth your while. Isn’t marrying me beyond your wildest dreams?”
I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him gently. “Maybe.”
“I love you, Mistletoe Barnes.”
“It's still Claus,” I quip, not wanting to give in to him so easily.
“Not for much longer. Just wait until after the season is over.” Lucas leans down, giving me a soft kiss.
“Promises, promises,” I respond, finally giving in to the man I’m going to marry.
Our beginning wasn’t conventional, but the ending is as sweet as can be.
Who would have thought a kiss under the mistletoe could lead to everything I never knew I wanted?
Christmas of Love Collaboration
Other books releasing in the Christmas of Love collection are as follows and can be read as complete standalone stories in any order.
13 Nights of Christmas by Emily Rose
Coal For Kiera by E.M. Shue
Fabricated Christmas by Glenna Maynard
Finding Mistletoe by AJ Alexander
Finding Mrs. Claus by Leaona Luxx
Holiday Wishes by S.L. Sterling
Holly’s Knight by KL Donn
Merry & Bright by Mayra Statham
Secretly Sant by B.L. Olson
The Christmas Proposition by Mika Jolie
Wedding Bell Rock by Annelise Reynolds & Dawn Sullivan
Find all information about each book on the Alluring Write Productions website.
About the Author
AJ Alexander is a wannabe psychologist and author of steamy (borderline erotic) contemporary romances with happily ever afters that must be earned by her characters. She lives in the angst capital of the world, Seattle Washington with her own personal knight in shining camouflage and her two beautiful girls.
Want to read more insta-love romance with a twist? Check out all of my books on Amazon #FREE in Kindle Unlimited.
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