Have Yourself a Merry Little Romance

It's Christmas, and I should be full of cheer, but I'm having a hard time mustering the holiday spirit. That was always Grams' role. She loved Christmas so much that she talked my parents into naming me Noelle. Yeah, Noelle Furst. Picture the boys in elementary school having a heyday with my name. But I didn't care. I knew Gram picked it for me, and I wore it proudly. When Grams passed two years ago, she left me this house. I'm a lot of things, but a handywoman isn't one of them. And there's a ton of work to be done.

Getting stuck in an old cabin is not my idea of a great winter vacation. Getting stuck with Carson makes me wonder what I did to end up on Santa's naughty list. My friend Noelle talked me into going on a group vacation with our friends. Then she sprung the news that her boyfriend is joining us... with his friends. I've met these guys. You know that ape man on the insurance commercials? Gage, Mitch, and Carson make that missing link look sophisticated.

I'm not saying Gage Lockett is the actual Grinch… but if someone in town woke up tomorrow to find all the candy canes missing, my money's on him. The man glares at twinkle lights like they personally insulted his mother. So when he accidentally reads my holiday bucket list—complete with "Kiss under the mistletoe" and "Make snow angels"—I hatch a plan. I thought he'd toss it in the trash where joy goes to die. Surprisingly, he decides to tag along.