Mistletoe Mischief (Love and Laughter) Read online

“Oh, him.” Amanda chuckled. “That’s because I told him I felt you had a headache coming on. It was the only excuse I could think of to get away from him.”

  Josh scowled. “Get away from him?”

  “Yes. He was trying to cosmically connect with me.”

  “He was, was he?” Josh’s expression darkened. “Well, he can forget that.” He stopped at a red light and locked gazes with her. “If anyone is going to cosmically connect with you, it’s going to be me.”

  His strong, possessive tone and the expression in his dark eyes warmed Amanda from head to toe. Then he swiveled his head to face the front. “After all, you are my elf.”

  Right, thought Amanda. The elf you hired. For a second there she’d thought he might be a little jealous. “What did you think of Charmaine’s boyfriend?” she asked after a moment.

  Josh gave her a puzzled look. “Boyfriend? You mean Charmaine’s dating one of those guys?”

  “Well, yes, she is.”

  Josh looked totally flummoxed by that. “Which one?”

  “Russell.”

  “Oh?” He blinked. “Which one was Russell? The one with Saturn tattooed on his cheek, or the one with the diamond in his left nostril?”

  “I think it was the diamond.”

  “Oh.” He scowled. “Well, I don’t like it. I don’t think Charmaine should be dating a forty-year-old guy who doesn’t have a decent job.”

  Amanda stared at him. “How do you know so much about him?”

  “I asked him,” said Josh. “There wasn’t anything else to talk about and I was getting tired of staring at that pyramid so I asked him how old he was and what he did for a living just to pass the time.” He smiled fleetingly. “It’s a great way to start a conversation.”

  “That’s...true, I suppose,” Amanda agreed, making a valiant attempt not to laugh.

  “It wasn’t a great conversation,” Josh continued. “He said he thought gainful employment was for people who couldn’t find contentment in their universe! It took me half the night to figure out that meant he doesn’t have a job.” He lowered his brow. “Of course, I shouldn’t be all that surprised. Charmaine always attracts losers.”

  “Really?” Amanda said, surprised that he remembered.

  “Uh-huh. Even when we were kids, I was always having to scare them off.” He chuckled. “And you wouldn’t believe some of the things I had to do.” He was silent for a moment. When he looked over at her, his eyes glinted with mischief. “You know, Amanda. I think I’ve just thought up the perfect present for Charmaine.”

  Amanda eyed him suspiciously. “If it’s got anything to do with wiring up her house so it talks to her dates, you can forget it.” She paused. “Although I must admit, it would be extremely personal.”

  “YOU HAVE GOT TO DO something about this apartment,” Josh complained a few days later.

  He sat in her kitchen, his feet propped up on one of her chairs, and shook his head at the stacks of papers and boxes in the living room. “There isn’t room to swing a cat, much less an elf.”

  “I know,” said Amanda. “But it will soon be over.” It would, too. There was just over a week before Christmas. Josh was picking her up to go to his mother’s open house, and had come early so they could go through a status report.

  “I hope I’m going to be ready on time.” He stretched back and closed his eyes. “Okay. Let’s go through this gift list.”

  Amanda obediently began reading from her notes. “We’ve got the Halsone for Mimi, fishing tackle for Reg, and a red toothbrush holder for your aunt Judith.” She hesitated. “Are you sure your aunt Judith wants a toothbrush holder?”

  “Uh-huh,” Josh said without opening his eyes. “I broke hers when I was six. I think it’s time I replaced it. But maybe we could get her some photograph albums, as well. She needs some new ones.”

  Amanda studied him. “How do you know?”

  “I was over there the other day to set the time on her VCR and we were looking at some photographs.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m telling you, Amanda, as soon as my prototype circuitry is in production, I’m going to install a voice-activated VCR in Judith’s place. She doesn’t have one clue how to do it.” He gestured at the list. “Go on.”

  “Okay. You’re giving Marilla an A-12 Pneumatic Door Activator—whatever that is.”

  “It’s an automatic sensor so their cats can open the window themselves,” Josh explained. “Marilla was so worried that her cats weren’t going to be able to let themselves out while she was at work. With this, they should be able to do it themselves—assuming I can get it tuned to the correct ‘meow.’”

  “It sounds...perfect,” Amanda said. She returned to reading her list. “Shelby’s getting the computer equipment, but we don’t have anything for Gordon. I...”

  “Yeah, we do,” Josh said. “I was out at the university to see Shelby and she mentioned Gordon is into building model boats.” He opened one eye. “I don’t know if that’s personal, but...”

  “It’ll be fine,” Amanda assured him. “You had lunch with Shelby?”

  “Uh-huh. I had to go to the university to check up on the equipment out there. She showed me around.” He grinned. “I still don’t understand what she teaches, but at least now I know where she does it. Go on.”

  “We’ve got a tie for your uncle Frank. And a pasta maker...”

  “A pasta maker?” Josh’s eyes widened. “We’re not giving my mother a pasta maker. I...”

  “I know,” said Amanda. “I thought we’d give it to Alaina.”

  Josh grinned. “Perfect.”

  Amanda referred back to her notes. “I think that’s about it. We still don’t have anything for your mother yet, but I did find a crystal moon pendant for Charmaine.”

  “I think my idea was much better.” Josh stroked his finger across his bottom lip. “You know, Amanda, I really don’t like the idea of her dating weird men with tattoos on their cheek.”

  “Don’t you?” Amanda watched his finger, then dragged her gaze back to her notes. She must have a serious problem if a man’s finger turned her on.

  Josh didn’t seem to be suffering from the same problem. “What I’d really like to get her is a decent man with a decent job. Every time I think of that Russell character I get cold shivers.”

  “Do you?” said Amanda. Every time she thought of him she got hot shivers—for an entirely different reason.

  “You know who she should meet? She should meet Wendell.”

  “Wendell?” Amanda echoed absently.

  “Wendell Philmore. He’s one of the techs who works for me. He’s a little peculiar, too—but he’s not a bad guy. He’s certainly much better than that Russell character. At least he’s got a job in this universe.”

  Amanda gaped at him. “Are you actually thinking of setting up your own sister with somebody?”

  “Why not?” said Josh. “Everyone does it to me. Besides, who knows? Maybe Charmaine and Wendell will cosmically connect.”

  It was possible, and Amanda was thrilled he was this interested in his sister’s life. “Maybe they will.”

  “Good. Why don’t you arrange it?”

  “Arrange what?”

  “Having them over,” Josh prompted. “That’s how everyone always sets me up.”

  “Having them over,” Amanda repeated slowly. “You mean, to your place?”

  “Uh-huh. Oh, and don’t just have them. We might as well have everyone we don’t have a present for. That way we can quiz them without having to go anywhere. Be sure to include my mother—she hasn’t seen my place for a while.” He tapped his fingers on his thigh, obviously taken with the idea. “Oh, and we might as well ask my other sisters, too. From the way they talk, I sometimes wonder if they have any idea about what I do.”

  “They don’t, but...”

  “They can see it at my place. I’ve got most of my prototype equipment there. Oh, I think Uncle Reg would be interested in that, as well, so we should ask him, too.” He looked ov
er at Amanda. “You can do this, can’t you?”

  “Well...uh...I suppose, but...”

  “Good,” said Josh. “How about tomorrow?”

  9

  JOSH WAS IN the process of packing up his things when Mable came into his office. “I know,” she said before he could say anything. “You’re leaving early.”

  “Uh-huh,” he said. “I have to get right home. There’s something wrong with my microwave.” He liked the way that sounded. He’d often been around when other men had been summoned home to fix some emergency. They’d always rolled their eyes and looked exasperated, but they’d looked a little pleased, as well. Josh had never understood why, but now he did. He liked the feeling that someone not connected with work needed his help.

  Mable looked down at the phone, then back at him. “Your microwave phoned you?” She shook her head. “This high-tech stuff is getting so it’s beyond me.”

  “My microwave didn’t phone me, although that’s a great idea,” Josh explained. “Amanda phoned me. She’s trying to get the microwave to work, but when she tries to turn it on, the oven cuts in.”

  “Amanda’s at your place?”

  “Uh-huh.” The image of her in his place gave him a pleasant thrill. “We’re having a few people over tonight.” He liked saying that, too. It was exactly the sort of thing a couple did—have people over to their place. He was looking forward to it, too. He wanted to show his family what he did, and he was eager to see their reaction.

  Mable’s eyes widened considerably. “You?”

  “Yeah, me.” He frowned. “I wanted to do it last night, but Amanda insisted she needed more than one day’s notice to organize it. She gets funny about things like that sometimes.”

  “How...peculiar.” Mable eyed him suspiciously. “It’s not a Christmas party, is it?”

  “Not really,” he said, although now that she’d mentioned it, it was sort of a Christmas party. “I guess you could say we’re having a few people over under the umbrella of a Christmas theme.”

  “Good heavens,” Mable said faintly. “Is there...uh...going to be singing?”

  “There better not be,” Josh said.

  “Good,” Mable said. “At least I know one thing hasn’t changed.”

  JOSH HAD A CONDO in an upscale area of Calgary. He’d chosen it because of the location, had it professionally decorated, professionally cleaned, and, apart from sleeping there, he spent less than ten hours a week in the place. When he wasn’t in it, he’d be hard-pressed to describe what his apartment looked like.

  However, when he let himself in at six o’clock, he knew immediately that it didn’t usually look or smell like this.

  He noticed the scent as soon as he stepped inside—a Christmassy mixture of pine intermingled with delicious food odors wafting from the kitchen. “Amanda?” he called.

  Amanda came out of the kitchen. She stopped in the doorway and stared at him with obvious surprise. “Oh,” she said. “I didn’t expect you to be here this early.”

  Josh took one look at her and felt as if he’d just been hit in the solar plexus. She had on another one of her bright red dresses, her short blond hair curled damply around her ears, her face was flushed and she wasn’t wearing any shoes. She looked sweet, and sexy, and desirable. Just seeing her looking like that, in his place, was an incredible turn-on.

  “You didn’t have to rush home just because I couldn’t get the microwave to work,” Amanda continued. “I could have coped for a little while.”

  Josh cleared his throat. “I...uh...thought I’d better,” he explained. He kicked off his boots and hung his coat in the closet. “Besides, I was planning on coming home anyway to give you a hand.”

  “Really?” She smiled and her eyes sparkled with appreciation. “Well, that was very nice of you.”

  “Very nice” wasn’t a good description for him right now, Josh thought. “Decidedly lustful” was. He gave his head a shake to clear it and took a look around, not all that surprised to see a fully decorated Christmas tree in one corner of the living room. There was a fire in the fireplace, the furniture had been polished to a shine, and everything looked clean and fresh and homey. “Not that it looks like you need a hand.”

  “Just with the oven,” said Amanda. “And it is working. It just won’t...mind its own business.” She furrowed her brow. “I just hope I haven’t broken something. I’m not used to working with such smart appliances.”

  “You can’t break anything,” Josh assured her. He put an arm across her shoulders, getting another rush from touching her. “Let’s take a look.”

  Amanda stood beside him as he checked the sensitivity circuitry on the microwave. Her scent surrounded him, making it difficult for him to concentrate, so it took him longer than it should have to make the adjustments. “Now I know why there aren’t a lot of elves in high-tech industries,” he said as he turned to face her.

  She tilted up her head, looking puzzled. “Why?”

  “It’s too distracting.” He took a step toward her. “Dim lights,” he said. The lights dimmed. The microwave didn’t come on.

  “I think you fixed it,” said Amanda, and she looked impressed.

  “It’s because of the prototype circuit board,” Josh said. “I had to improvise here. When the new houses are built, they’ll have things set up properly. Then we won’t have these sorts of problems.”

  “Oh,” Amanda said. Her tongue flicked across her bottom lip. “Are you going to move into one of those new homes?”

  Josh seldom gave one second of thought to where he lived now, much less where he might live in the future, and right now he didn’t care, as long as she was going to be in the kitchen. “I might,” he said.

  “Oh,” she said again.

  Her gaze met his. Her eyes were a deeper shade of green than he’d seen them before, the blush on her cheeks a darker pink, and her breathing was faster than normal. Was that a reaction to him being so close? Josh’s own breathing rate increased at the idea that it was. He toyed with the idea of pressing his lips against the smooth skin of. her throat to see what her reaction would be to that. However, before he could do it, Amanda took a wary step backward. “We’ve got less than an hour before people start arriving,” she said briskly. “If you’re going to take a shower, you should probably do it now.”

  Maybe she’d like to join him. Josh considered inviting her, but something in her eyes told him now was not a good time. “Good idea,” he said instead.

  He wandered up the stairs and into the bathroom. Amanda’s shampoo and perfume and hair-dryer were lying on the counter. The towels from her shower were damp, and held a lingering scent of her. The idea of her standing totally naked in his shower was even more arousing than her bare feet. Too bad his shower wasn’t a smart appliance. He’d like to know what it had to say about her naked body. No, actually, he’d rather find out for himself.

  There was no doubt about it. He wanted to do something with his Christmas elf that had nothing to do with business arrangements...or Christmas.

  A BUSINESS FUNCTION, Amanda reminded herself as she studied the buffet. This was a business function; she was catering a business function and Josh Larkland was nothing more than her employer at a business function.

  But when Josh came padding into the dining room a few minutes later, the term “business function” fled from her brain, along with almost everything else. He was wearing a pair of brown pants, his pale yellow shirt was unbuttoned and he was clutching his socks in his right hand. The man even had sexy toes, not to mention the great wide, muscular chest that went with everything else that was great about him. “This looks terrific,” he approved as he surveyed the food. “Did you do it all?”

  Clean men, Amanda was thinking. There’s something so appealing about a clean man. In all honesty, though, she’d probably find Josh appealing if he were covered with mud.

  She grinned at the image and ordered her brain to clear. “Just me, the caterers, the cleaners and almost everyone
else in the city. You know, Josh, the next time you plan a party, you should do it with more than forty-eight hours’ notice. It would be a lot easier—and a lot cheaper.”

  “I don’t plan on having another party,” he said. “I don’t even think I planned this party.” That familiar puzzled look crept over his face. “As a matter of fact, I didn’t even realize it was a party until Mable told me. I thought we were just having a few people over.”

  Only Josh would be that clued out. “When it’s your entire family, it’s a party! The amazing thing is that they’re almost all coming, too, in spite of the short notice. Mimi canceled tickets to the theater, Francine and Wally are missing Wally’s office party, and Charmaine is forgoing the New Moon Avizandum so she could come.”

  “Great. We want Charmaine here so she can meet Wendell. Maybe she’ll cosmically connect with him and forget the other bozos.” He studied the buffet table. “The good news is, there is enough food here for a few hundred people—and I know for sure none of it has anything to do with fish.” He gave Amanda a warning look. “It doesn’t, does it?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Good thing.” He turned to face her. “Now, what can I do to help? It has to be something technical. I’m no good with knives, cutting things up, setting things out, cooking things or cleaning things up.” He smiled his slow, sexy smile. “But I’ve got lots of talent in other areas.”

  Did he mean what she thought he meant? Probably not. “Good,” she said. “Then how about demonstrating them by putting on some music? The stereo refuses to listen to me.”

  Josh leaned against the wall while he pulled on his socks. “That’s because the stereo is not modified for voice input yet. All you have to do is press the On button.”

  “I never thought of that,” Amanda said, smiling. As Josh walked around with a loose, easy, yet sexy stride, she kept reminding herself that this party was business, strictly business. But it was near impossible to keep her mind on business when Josh was tantalizingly near, so she fled into the kitchen.