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  Chapter One

  rouble was coming to Christmas. At least that’s what

  deputy Jill Flaherty’s gut told her. And over the past two

  months, she’d learned to trust that warning weight in her

  stomach. She looked up from her computer screen when

  the door to the station opened and immediately revised

  the thought. Trouble was already here.

  Two older men, who bore a striking resemblance to

  Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in Grumpy Old Men,

  held open the door, letting in a blast of cold, late-

  November air. Ted and Fred were Nell McBride’s best

  friends. Well, they had been up until Nell announced her

  engagement to Calder Dane three weeks earlier. Ted and

  Fred had been visiting the station almost daily to file

  complaints in hopes of breaking up the elderly couple.

  Today they’d brought reinforcements: Stella Wright and

  Evelyn Tate. The wind swirled Stella’s long, bottle-black

  hair around her face and practically pushed the diminu-

  tive Evelyn through the door.

  While the foursome stomped snow from their winter boots on the mat, Sheriff Gage McBride exited his office.

  Spying his great-aunt’s best friends, Jill’s boss released a

  muffled groan and backtracked, shutting his office door.

  It sounded like he locked it. Smart man. Jill wished she could do the same. Instead she glanced at the dispatcher’s

  desk and caught Suze’s eye. Jill nodded at the foursome

  and mouthed, I’m busy.

  Suze mouthed, Me too, and motioned Fred, Ted,

  Stella, and Evelyn to Jill’s desk before going back to

  her computer. Jill should have known better than to ex-

  pect help from Suze today. It was Man Candy Monday

  on Facebook. Jill forced a smile for Nell’s best friends.

  It was either that or get sent back to sensitivity train-

  ing at the nursing home. In May Jill’s dealings with the

  over-seventy crowd had gotten her into hot water with

  her boss. She also needed the seniors’ votes in her bid

  for sheriff next spring.

  “What can I do for you folks today?” She directed her

  question at Fred, who was undoubtedly the ringleader.

  “Commit Nell. She’s lost her marbles,” Fred in-

  formed her. Ted, Stella, and Evelyn nodded at his as-

  sessment.

  Jill held back a sigh and gestured to the two chairs in

  front of her desk. “Sit down, Stella and Evelyn. Fred and

  Ted, grab two chairs and join us.”

  It was time they settled this once and for all. Not only

  were they driving Jill crazy, they were hurting Nell’s feel-

  ings. Jill had seen the disappointment on Nell’s face when

  her best friends refused to attend her engagement party

  last week.

  Once they were seated, Jill said, “First off, I can’t

  commit Nell. Even if she needed to be, that would be up to her family. Namely her nephew, who happens to

  be a doctor. So why don’t you tell me what the real

  problem is?”

  “I told you, she’s lost her marbles,” Fred grumbled,

  crossing his arms.

  This time Jill didn’t bother holding back a sigh. “No,

  she hasn’t. Nell’s—”

  Fred interrupted her. “She’s acting like a teenager. She

  was all over Calder, making out with him right there for

  everyone to—”

  Okay, so if that was true and the couple were in pub-

  lic, there might be a case for a lewd conduct charge, or

  at least a warning. Since Nell had been a big fan of the

  Fifty Shades books, Jill was a little nervous to discover what the couple had been up to and where. “On Main

  Street?”

  “No, not on Main Street. At Nell’s house. They were

  decorating a Christmas tree and making out under the

  mistletoe.”

  Jill gave the older man a pointed look. “And you saw

  this how? Before you answer, remember there are laws

  against peeping Toms.”

  “I’m not a peeping Tom. They were doing it right in

  the front window.”

  Evelyn gasped and covered her mouth, while Stella

  said, “Shameful. It’s worse than I thought. You said they

  were just kissing.”

  Fred frowned. “They were. What did you think they

  were doing?”

  “Having S. E. X.” Ted spelled out the word for his best

  friend, causing Evelyn to gasp again and Jill’s colleague

  Ray to saunter over. The tall, lanky deputy parked his butt on the desk in front of her and grinned around his candy

  cane.

  Jill held up a hand to stop any further discussion of

  seniors and sex. “If that’s the only reason you think that

  Nell’s—”

  “Oh no, dear, that’s not the worst of it,” Evelyn said.

  “Nell isn’t entering the holiday contest for best decorated

  house.” The older woman looked more shocked by that

  than the news her best friend might be having sex.

  Given how competitive Nell was about the annual con-

  test, Jill had to admit it was somewhat surprising that she

  didn’t plan to take part this year.

  “No, Evelyn, the worst of it is that Nell’s handed

  over the reins of the Parade of Lights. She’s organized

  the parade for forty years. Forty, Jill. Forty years,”

  Stella’s voice rose on each word until she was practi-

  cally yelling.

  Ted winced and lifted his hand to his hearing aid.

  Nell had handed over the organization of the Christ-

  mas parade to Chloe and Ty. Since the former soap star

  and Hollywood hairstylist were affectionately known

  around town as Diva One and Diva Two, that was worri-

  some on a whole other level. Which reminded Jill she had

  a meeting at the town hall in fifteen minutes to discuss

  the parade. She was the sheriff’s office representative.

  “All right, I understand why you’re worried about Nell.

  But she’s been in love with Calder since she was in high

  school, and now they have a second chance. Surely you

  can—”

  Fred cut her off with a derisive snort. “He broke her

  heart.”

  “Ripped it out of her chest and stomped on it,” Stella said with feeling.

  Evelyn nodded, at the same time turning earnest eyes

  on Jill. “I know how it must seem to you, dear. But we’re

  not trying to cause trouble. We’re trying to protect Nell.

  She’s been our best friend for sixty years, and she won’t

  listen to us. We need your help to stop her from making a

  terrible mistake.”

  “A horrible, dreadful mistake. She’s going to end up a

  nurse with a purse.” Stella added her two cents.

  “Calder’s in great shape for seventy-eight, Stella. I

  hardly think Nell—” Jill began.

  “Bad, real bad,” Ted said. Obviously he’d missed some

  of the conversation.

  Ray removed the candy cane from his mouth.

  “They’ve got a point. You should—”

  Afraid her colleague would make matters worse, Jill

  quickly intervened. “Head to the town hall for the meet-

  ing. You’re absolutely right, Ray. I can’t be late.” Ray

  frowned at her as she pushed back from her desk. “Look,

  if I thought there was something to worry about, I’d check

  into it for you, but there isn’t. Nell and Calder are in

  love. It’s a good thing. A great thing, really. And what the

  four of you should be doing, instead of trying to break

  them up, is support them. Nell’s always been there for

  all of you. She needs you to be there for her.” Just like

  the older woman had been there for Jill. She wished she

  could share with Nell’s best friends what had happened

  all those years ago, but that was Nell’s story to tell, not

  hers.

  Evelyn wrung her hands. “Maybe you’re right—”

  “It’ll be a cold day in hell before any of us give Nellie

  our blessing. If you won’t help us, we’ll find someone who will,” Fred said with a stubborn jut of his white-whiskered chin.

  Evelyn sent Jill an apologetic glance, then threw in

  with her friends and nodded.

  Proof that trouble had most definitely come to

  Christmas.

  Chapter Two

  y the time Jill made it to the town hall, the meeting

  had started. The wood-paneled room was more packed

  than usual. From where they stood beside a large projec-

  tion screen, Chloe and Ty sent her exasperated looks.

  Jill grimaced. “Sorry,” she said as she scanned the

  room for her fiancé, Sawyer Anderson. She spotted hi
m

  at the end of the conference table. He pulled out a chair

  and waggled his eyebrows while giving her a slow, sexy

  smile. One that promised trouble in a way that she was

  totally onboard with, just not in the middle of a town hall

  meeting.

  “Behave,” she warned out of the side of her mouth as

  she sat down and said a quick hello to her sister-in-law on

  her right, and to Nell and Calder, who were on Sawyer’s

  left.

  Sawyer ignored the warning and curved his hand

  around her neck beneath her brown leather jacket. He

  tugged her closer, kissing her temple before murmuring,

  “Missed waking up with you beside me, babe.”

  Jill missed their early morning routine of leisurely

  kisses and cuddles, too. She loved their house on the lake,

  but navigating the snow-covered back roads meant that

  she had to leave before the sun was up to get to work on

  time. She allowed herself a brief moment to absorb the

  feel of his warm lips against her skin and inhale his clean,

  outdoorsy scent, straightening abruptly when a couple of

  people cleared their throats.

  Heat rose to her cheeks as she glanced around the

  room. Grace met her gaze and grinned, nudging her head

  at Ty and Chloe.

  The throat clearers looked at Jill. “Do you mind if—”

  Chloe began, then narrowed her eyes at Nell and Calder.

  The couple had their heads together and were quietly

  laughing. Jill hoped Chloe didn’t ask them what they

  were giggling about, because Nell’s cheeks were a telling

  pink and Calder’s hand was under the table.

  Ty tapped a pointer against the screen. “Focus, people.

  We have a lot to cover.”

  Sawyer leaned into Jill, sliding a heavy hand up her

  thigh. “Nell and Calder are having fun, why can’t we?”

  She covered his hand with hers. “Because I’m here in

  an official capacity and have an image to uphold. They’re

  allowed to be giddy. They’re getting married soon.”

  He raised a dark blond eyebrow and thumbed her en-

  gagement ring. “So are we.”

  “One wedding at a time, okay?” Sawyer had been try-

  ing to nail her down to a date. Mr. Romance’s preference

  was Valentine’s Day. But with Jill’s campaign for sher-

  iff gearing up in the new year and then the election, she

  wanted to wait until next fall. Catching the look of disappointment on his handsome face, she filled him in on

  Fred, Ted, Evelyn, and Stella’s visit as Chloe and Ty

  passed around today’s agenda.

  Sawyer grimaced and rubbed his stubbled jaw. “I prob-

  ably should have told you they paid Calder a visit the

  other day at the plant.”

  Sawyer had teamed up with Calder to bring his sport

  drink, Gold Rush, to market. They were refurbishing

  Calder’s plant to bottle the drink. Jill picked up the

  agenda and held it in front of her face, indicating that

  Sawyer do the same. “Did they threaten him?”

  The corner of his mouth quirked. “Does challenging

  him to a duel count?”

  Before she could answer, the papers were whipped

  from their hands. “Would you two like to share what

  you’re whispering about over here? You’re delaying the

  meeting,” Ty snapped.

  Chloe walked to the far end of the table and took Madi-

  son’s gavel from her, banging it on the table. “Meeting is

  called to order.”

  “Ah, Chloe, that’s my job. I’m the mayor,” Madison said.

  “Didn’t Easton tell Gage? You’re not seeking another

  term so I’ve decided to run.”

  “I’m going to be her right-hand man,” Ty announced.

  Jill groaned. She loved Ty and Chloe, but if she won

  her bid for sheriff and Chloe won hers for mayor, Jill

  would have to deal with them in an official capacity on

  a weekly basis. Knowing the two of them as well as she

  did, it would probably be hourly.

  As though Sawyer read her mind, he chuckled. “You

  can handle them. Besides, I have your back.”

  “Thanks.” She glanced at her sister-in-law, who was twisting her wedding ring. “What’s wrong?”

  Grace leaned in and whispered, “Skye’s thinking of

  running, too.”

  Sawyer must have heard because he laughed out loud.

  “Sounds like you’re going to be busy keeping the peace,

  Deputy Flaherty, soon-to-be Anderson.”

  “I won’t be Anderson anytime soon if—”

  The lights went out, and the words “out with the old

  and in with the new” appeared on the screen.

  “Are they talking about me?” Nell asked.

  “We know change is hard, Nell. But the parade needed

  a facelift,” Chloe said from where she now stood beside

  the screen. “It’s going to be totes fab; just you wait and

  see. Ty.” She nodded at her partner, who was working the

  projector.

  Jill stared at the images that filled the screen. It looked

  like a Disney parade. But if she wasn’t mistaken, the peo-

  ple in costume were . . .

  “That’s right, each and every one of you is in the pa-

  rade. We’re incorporating Nell’s romance series into this

  year’s theme—Happy Ever After. Each book will have its

  own float. And before you ask, yes, local businesses, the

  nursing home, and sports teams will be involved as well.”

  “Chloe, the parade is only two weeks away. There’s no

  way—” Madison began.

  “Don’t worry, Beau and his crew are building the floats

  as we speak. All you have to do is show up for the dress

  rehearsals.”

  When everyone began talking at once, Ty ran over

  and grabbed Madison’s gavel and hammered the table.

  “Save your questions until after the meeting. You haven’t

  heard the most exciting part.” He laid down the gavel and placed his hands over his heart. “Nell and Calder—”

  Chloe cut him off. “Ty, it was my idea. I should be the

  one to tell them.”

  He frowned, moving his hands to his hips. “No, I was

  the one who suggested the perfect way to end the parade

  was with their wedding.”

  “What?” Calder and Nell said at almost the same time.

  They were having a quiet wedding on New Year’s Eve

  with family and close friends.

  Chloe glared at Ty, then turned to Calder and Nell. “I

  know you were thinking of something small, but it just

  won’t do. We’re going to give you the fabulous wedding

  you deserve, and the whole town will be on hand to help

  you celebrate. You’re the ultimate happy ending. It fits

  perfectly with this year’s theme.”

  All Jill could think was Nightmare at Christmas.

  “But I’m Santa. I’ll be on the float,” Calder reminded

  Chloe, his cheeks flushed a rosy red.

  “Yes, and so will Nell. She’s Mrs. Claus.” Chloe made

  a ta-da gesture with her hands.

  Jill wished Easton was here to rein in his bride-to-be.

  He was the only one who could make her see reason.

  “We found you the most fabulous vintage Mrs. Claus

  costume, Nell. Look.” Ty pointed to the screen. “Once

  the parade reaches the town square, you’ll get off and

  be married beside the Christmas tree. Main Street will

  be dark except for the lights from the lanterns we’ll be

  providing everyone. And once you’re pronounced man

  and wife, you’ll light the tree.” He clapped. “It’s going

  to be magical.”

  At the sound of an incoming text coming from Jill’s

  jacket, Chloe gave her the stink eye. “I can’t help it, I’m on duty,” Jill grumbled as she retrieved her phone.

  Suze had sent her a screenshot of Calder and Nell’s

  wedding announcement in the online version of the

  town’s local newspaper, the Christmas Chronicle. Two

  minutes ago an anonymous commenter had posted: Nell

  McBride and Calder Dane will not be married. The wed-

  ding is canceled.

  Chapter Three