Full Contact Decorating

 Happy Holidays Everyone!

I'm sharing the start of my Christmas novella, Full Contact Decorating.  The novella will be available at all venues the week before Thanksgiving, but if any of you Romancing the Genre readers are interested in reading the full novella, email me at AuthorRobinWeaver@yahoo.com (or leave a comment) and I'll send you a free Kindle version.

Chapter One

Carol of the Bets

 

         A second chance. After a year of throwing soot in her face, Fate had tossed Katerina Snodgrass a sugarplum. Her man was back.

She stared at Tripp Anthony through the window of the Brew Mistress. After their high school graduation ceremony, she’d refused to move to Hollywood with him
. A mistake.

But one she could rectify. If she could make him want her again, and if she regained her title as the Christmas Tree champion, perhaps her life could get back on track. What on track meant exactly, she didn’t know, but things had to change. Last year needed to fade into history.

She believed she’d come through the fog as a better person and was attempting to be even better. Only being kinder-gentler-wiser seemed impossible when life kept trying to run her over with a reindeer.

The soap opera star ran a hand over his blond hair as he sipped his coffee—or latte, or whatever. The man was totally oblivious to her. And to her once-in-a lifetime epiphany.

Taking a deep breath, she hurried inside. “Tripp. Hi.”

“Katerina?” He looked her up and down, in a way that clearly negated those tabloid rumors about his sexuality. “You look…great.”

Had he lost his mind? She wore old jeans and an out-of-style sweater, a bright red one because her boss Suzette expected all Forrester Florals employees to wear Christmas colors. Worse, she’d gained fifteen pounds—another reason for the jeans. Her doctor was pleased with her weight, but now that she was a size four, most of her clothes didn’t fit.

No matter. No one would get a glimpse of her insecurity. Ever. Regardless of what her shrink said.

Ever true to her motto, never let ‘em see you ruffled, she flashed her best smile. “Thanks. You here for the annual play?”

He nodded. “Yeah. We’re doing The Christmas Cactus. I’m playing Fred.”

She blinked. “The Christmas Cactus? Is the Town Council okay with that? Merryvale has done A Christmas Carol for…well, years.” A new play meant Tripp would have to learn new lines. Would be tough to execute her get-him-back plan if he wasn’t available.

He shrugged. “The new mayor is trying to switch things up. Wants to distance himself from Mayor Snod… I’m so sorry, Kat. Didn’t mean to… I’m sorry.”

Everybody knew her father had lost the election, but had Tripp heard more? Blast dear old Dad and his late-life crises. After the votes were counted, her father skipped town, gobbling up her trust fund in the process. Katerina had gotten one text message:

I’m fine, baby girl. Call you soon.

That was six months ago.

Best to change the subject. “You must be happy to be back in Merryvale.”

Last year, Tripp returned to his hometown for the first time since high school. Merryvale had always loved him, but now that he was a big soap star, he was more popular than Santa Claus. In a town that lived for Christmas.

Instead of flashing his trademark smile, Tripp frowned. “It won’t be the same without Suzette.”

Suzette? Katerina’s internal twinkle lights dimmed. She could almost hate Suzette. Only she loved her too much. Suzette probably saved her life, but did Tripp have to dote on her too?

“She’s married now, Tripp.”

He flashed a sad little smile. “I know. Spence is a lucky guy.”

Great Marley’s ghost. Tripp acted as if he were a little in love with Suzette. He’d certainly spent a lot of time with her last Christmas.

Didn’t matter. Katerina Snodgrass would not wimp out because Mr. Hunk-alicious still had a little crush on her friend and employer. She’d crush that crush. Should be easy with Suze in New York, working as CFO in Spencer’s architectural firm.

“Mind if I sit?” she asked, taking a seat before he could make an excuse. “I was hoping you could help me.”

Tripp blinked. “Eh—”

“I need a third person for my decorating team,” she said, rushing her words.

Trip blinked again, the same gesture that made millions of Everyday Lives fans fantasize about starring with him in a sex tape. “You mean for the Christmas Tree Contest?”

No Genius, for the chili cook-off. Katerina instantly regretted her snarky thoughts. Hadn’t she vowed to be a nicer person? And she loved Tripp.

She attempted a demure smile. Although she’d never done demure in her life.

Tripp smiled, showing off perfect teeth and oozing Hollywood sexiness. “Can’t.”

“Okay that… What?” Ouch.

“Don’t go all Katerina on me.” He smiled again, this one almost playful—a quality he hadn’t possessed when they’d dated in high school. “I’d like to help, but I can’t. I’m a judge.”

Ouch canceled. “Hmmm.” She attempted her most seductive expression, one that never failed. “Does sitting with me mean you’re cavorting with the enemy?”

Tripp laughed.

Good. She’d amused him. That was a start.

“You’re not an enemy, Pumpkin,” he said, stirring his cappuccino. “Just can’t have people thinking I’m open to bribes.”

Poor man had no idea about the bribe assault she planned to launch. Her objective: make him forget all about one Suzette Forrester. In less than a week.

“I’d never dream of bribing you, Tripp Anthony, but I am planning to make my homemade duck à l’orange tonight. One could hardly consider duck a bribe.”

The smile faded from his Hollywood gorgeous face. “Eh, sorry, Kat, but I probably need to get my head together before I climb back on the dating horse.”

Well, Figgie pudding. Tripp must really have it bad for Suzette if he turned down duck à l ‘orange. Still, she’d never met a man she couldn’t entice.

Although, she’d never had a man she could keep either. Not that she’d wanted to keep anyone before.

Perhaps she needed to change her strategy. “Hold on there, cowboy. I wasn’t asking you out. You know I can’t eat an entire duck by myself. Just wanted to share my food with an old friend.” She held her breath.

Tripp frowned. Had she made her situation worse?

“I’m sorry, I thought...” He ran a hand over his tawny hair. “Took me a long time to get over us the last time, Kat. I can’t go through that again.”

Hell, the man wasn’t giving her much to work with. “I hoped we could be friends now, Tripp. With Suzette gone, I could use a pal. I heard she helped you with your script last year. I’ll be glad to read with you if that helps. Like we did with your literature homework. You seem to memorize better when I read to you.”

He studied her, almost as if he was trying to get inside her head. Tripp had changed, too. The old Tripp never looked beneath the surface. “Friends, huh?”

She nodded.

He seemed hesitant. Even that expression looked good on him. Of course, anything would look good on Tripp Anthony. His tongue-tying handsomeness made him a megastar, even if only a megastar in the soap opera world.

“I didn’t know you and Suzette were friends. I thought…”

Of course, he wouldn’t know. She hadn’t seen Tripp since Suzette came to her rescue that dreary day at last year’s Christmas Tree Contest. “You know she decorated my tree for me, right? And I’m managing Forrester Florals now. I consider her one of my best friends.”

“No kidding?” All traces of unsure vanished. “I heard about the tree, but I thought…”

 “Thought what?” Had Suzette told him something else? Something Katerina wasn’t ready to share?

“I thought Suzette was just being Suzette.” He flashed a goofy grin.

“You mean fixing things just because they need fixing?” Suzette was the best at that.

“No.” Tripp grimaced. You’d think Mother Teresa had been insulted. “Well, yes, sort of.” He pulled his wallet out of his leather jacket and pulled out some bills.

Was he leaving? Just like that?

Uh-oh. Katerina couldn’t let him go now. Only what should she do?

If the lovesick Tripp wanted a Suzette-type, she could be that. At least until she got back in his good graces—or got him into her bed. Then, he’d be hers and she could be herself—whoever the hell she was.

She placed a hand on his forearm. “I am trying to be more like Suzette. You know, show my friends I care.” That was mostly true. Santa help her. The perky Suzette had gotten under Katerina’s skin, too. With kindness, no less. And Katerina did want to be nicer. Not Suzette syrupy, but nice in her own way. “Give me a chance to prove I’m your friend, Tripp. Come to dinner. Around seven?” Holy Scrooge. Had that pathetic plea come from her lips?

Tripp twisted his mouth to one side, a gesture she’d hated during their dating days. Now, the expression was kind of cute. “Just friends?”

Incense, frankincense, and myrrh. The things a girl had to do. “Just friends,” she replied, resisting the urge to cross her fingers behind her back.

End of Exerpt

The Original Merryvale Novella