“You’reEllie’sbrother?” With a raised brow and a tip back on his heels, the man surveyed Arran anew, as if measuring him. “The fancy fella who’ll be working with Luke for the next few months?”
“Y... yes.” He drew out the word even more slowly than before.Fancyfellow?
“Well, why didn’t you say so from the start? Luke told us we ought to set you right if we saw you.”
Set him right? What could that mean? Especially from a brother-in-law? “Actually, I was hoping to get directions to Luke’s house, if you could... set me right with those.”
“Sure thing.” The man raised a brow, a mischievous twinkle lighting his pale eyes. “But first, we’re gonna give you a Mount Airy welcome.”
Arran had no time to ponder further because the man called to the room. “Hey, y’all!” The voices hushed, faces turned toward the bar.
“This here is Ellie Edgewood’s brother, and he’s in need of a warm Mount Airy welcome.”
An eruption of voices rose in response, as men and women alike raised their glasses in salute.
“First things first, Ellie’s brother.” The man leaned back against the bar. “Let’s introduce those royal tastebuds of yours to the best brewthis mountain’s got to give. That is, if you think you’re man enough to handle it.”
The glint in the bartender’s eye inspired a rise of caution in Arran’s stomach, but he shrugged it off. Though he’d rarely taken whiskey over the past month in an attempt to start cleaning up his life, Arran knew how to hold it.
And what better way to show the locals he meant to enjoy their comradery? “My home is known for some of the best brew around. You’ll have to work hard to impress me.”
“Oh, not to worry, Ellie’s brother.” The glint deepened in the man’s eyes. “We’re more than ready to meet the challenge. In fact, this stuff may knock you right off that royal seat of yours.”
***
“Sure.”
A single word propelled Charlotte Edgewood from her comfortable, introverted role as behind-the-scenes support person into the lead coordinator for The Mistletoe Wish program.
And as the word slipped from her lips, she shuddered in shock.
She wasnota leader. How was she supposed to manage something as large as the annual Christmas fundraiser?
“I can’t thank you enough.” Lori Paxton sent an unadulterated look of appreciation as she placed a protective palm over her extended abdomen. Her gaze traveled down Charlie and back up. “And I know it’s not your usual choice, but I’m sure you’ll... figure out how to manage everything. And the Christmas Gala too.”
Charlie’s face went cold as she cast a look down at her work-worn jeans and faded T-shirt.
The Christmas Gala?
She gave her ball cap a tug, just to look a little less like the tomboy she was, and a powdering of dust hit the floor. She bit back a whimper.
I can’t do this.
Did she even own a pair of heels? And she’d never worn an evening gown.
“With the babies due any day, there’s no way I can participate, let alone coordinate.”
Charlie forced her lips into a smile.
Hopefully.
“But... but do you think maybe Diane would be the better option? I mean, she’s been more involved at the party and hosting level than me.”
Was that Charlie’s own voice? All wobbly and breathless?
What had compelled her to volunteer in the first place? She was acarpenter! Not a presenter!
Her gaze dropped to Lori’s middle, and her shoulders drooped.However,someoneneeded to help. But Charlie was the worst qualifiedsomeonefor the job.
