Phyllis Marie Campbell » It Must Have Been The Mistletoe

IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE MISTLETOE in the MISTLETOE MAGIC ANTHOLOGY

December, 2005 - Available in ebook and print formats

Justin Monroe’s soon-to-be father-in-law wants him dead, but will wait until after the wedding. Running scared, Justin leaves before the wedding rehearsal and heads to his best friend’s cabin in the Colorado mountains to hide - but more importantly, to think about his arranged marriage. When he’s half-way to the cabin, he finds a stow-away in the back of his jeep … one with beautiful long legs, a shapely figure and bedroom eyes. It’s too dangerous to take her back to town, but it’s too dangerous to keep such a lovely woman with him.

When Brooke Cavanaugh wakes from taking too many prescription pills for her migraine, she’s motified when realizing she’s climbed into the wrong vehicle. The man is not only good looking, but she feels an attraction to him. As a terrible snowstorm covers the mountain, she earnestly tries to remember the reason why she’s leery of men. Hadn’t her experience with her former boyfried taught her anything? But Justin’s personality is refreshing and she finds herself relaxing and wanting to trust him.

As the two spend time together, they help each other overcome their problems. And while hanging Christmas decorations, Justin lets the mistletoe do the seducing…

Reviews

5-Hearts! IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE MISTLETOE is a story that will pull at your heart strings and leave you with a feel good feeling inside. The characters of Brooke and Justin really make this book worth the read. Both have had a rough time, but Brooke has been through a bit more and the scene when Justin hears her story, allows the reader to practically feel their emotions. The two were like a couple experiencing love for the very first time. Ms. Campbell writes a moving story that sticks in your head long after it is read. I couldn’t put the story down. The quality of her writing amazes me and this Christmas tale is no exception. ~~The Romance Studio

4-Stars! Phyllis Campbell’s it Must Have Been the Mistletoe is the tale of a runaway groom. Justin Monroe overhears a plot to “get rid” of him after his marriage, by his fiancé’s powerful but unethical father. Therefore, Justin abandons everyone at the rehearsal dinner and plans to hide away at his friend’s secluded cabin until the coast is clear. There are a couple of problems however, there is a beautiful woman asleep in the back of his jeep and they are stranded by a snow storm. ~~eCataromance Reviews

RECOMMENDED READ!! Just in time for Christmas, MISTLETOE MAGIC. If you don’t have much time between the shopping and the baking, here’s three short stories to get you in the mood. In the mood for what, you ask? Christmas, girls, Christmas. Get your mind off the gingerbread man! And, of course, Phyllis Campbell is one of my favorite e-book authors and she does a great job with It Must Have Been the Mistletoe. It’s another fun story about a fellow named Justin running away from his wedding only to find a lovely lady asleep in the back of his jeep. Of course, he doesn’t discover her until he’s way up into the mountains and the couple must spend enough time together to fall in love. It’s a fun story and I enjoyed it tremendously. ~~ Romance Readers At Heart

Excerpt

“Get the hell out of here, Justin. Now!” Justin Monroe’s best man, Brad, shoved his black leather jacket and a set of keys at him. “I’ll watch your back. Now get out of here before you make the worst mistake of your life.”

Justin shook his head. “You don’t know Robin’s father like I do. He’ll find me.”

Brad’s lips thinned as he ran his fingers through his blond hair. He dug into his pants pocket and withdrew a small key chain. “Stay at my cabin. It’s stocked. Nobody will find you there.”

Justin nodded as he grabbed the key and rushed out the door. He hurried down the hallway of the church, his heartbeat hammering out of control. Voices carrying through the corridor made him stop into an empty room to take cover. Flattening against a wall, he held his breath.

Heavy footsteps came near then faded as they passed down the hallway. Whoever it was took quick steps toward the back of the building to join the energetic crowd awaiting the wedding rehearsal. Once silence settled over the hall, he sighed and peered around the panel. Empty.

Swift and sure of his getaway, he hurried to the nearest exit and crept out of the church. The icy December wind whipped around his body, making him grateful he’d brought his leather jacket with him.

Heavy gray clouds had gathered over the city. He slid his arms through his jacket and pulled the collar tighter around his neck. Looked as if he wouldn’t make it to the mountain hideaway before white heavy flakes blanketed the ground.

He surveyed the vehicle-laden lot and spotted his Jaguar sandwiched between two trucks that had parked too close for him to get inside. His heart sank. He wouldn’t be getting out of there anytime soon.

Panic tightened his chest as he glanced around the field of cars once more, this time looking for his best friend’s Jeep. Brad had arrived at the church late that morning, so there was a good chance he’d parked on the street.

Lady Luck seemed to be on his side as he spotted the red Jeep Cherokee parked alone. He glanced over his shoulder. Nobody followed him, but he needed to hurry to make sure they didn’t.

As he reached the Jeep, the first frigid blade of snow stabbed his cheek. Cursing the weather, he climbed in and slammed the door. Keeping a keen eye on the church’s front double doors, he groped under the seat for the key. Not there. Damn.

His mind drifted back to his wilder days when he could hot-wire a car in less than a minute, but before the memory broadened, keys already in the ignition brushed against his hand.

Whew. You’re one lucky man, Monroe.

He started the Jeep and took off, switching his focus between the street and the rearview mirror until he reached the freeway. Nobody followed, and hopefully his friend had been right when assuming they would guess where to find him once all hell broke loose at the church.

Justin glanced at the clock on the cd player and swiped his fingers through his hair. He heaved a sigh. Within five minutes, everyone would know, especially the people who wanted him dead.

Letting out a mock laugh, he shook his head. I must be nuts. Yet a death threat was no laughing matter.

Most men dreamed of having Robin Kennedy to claim as their own. Although he’d been with her for two years, he didn’t really know her. She acted as if she just wanted to be friends…until she discovered who his father was–and especially how much was in his bank account. His meddlesome mother couldn’t wait to join the two families, also.

Each mile closer to his destination, the tightness around his chest slipped, and with each jolt from the rough, slippery climb up the snow-covered road, he breathed a little easier. He hadn’t thought about what he’d do once he settled himself at the cabin. How long could he stay there before someone discovered his hideout? Then where would he go? He couldn’t run forever. But Brad promised him he’d collect the information needed to get Mr. Kennedy and the hit-man arrested. Hopefully, that wouldn’t take too long. He had a multi-billion dollar company to run.

Pulling from his thoughts, he stopped at a gas station to pick up food before he made the trek up the snow-covered mountain, not sure how much Brad had stocked at the cabin. By the time he left the store, the storm had arrived in full-blown fury. He switched the Jeep into four-wheel-drive and began to climb the snow-packed roads. At least he could anticipate his weekend alone in the cabin. The relaxation and solitude were dearly needed, but he wouldn’t be able to unwind until he figured out how to save his hide.

His thoughts ground to a halt when an unexpected sound whispered through the vehicle. He switched his gaze to the cd player. No, it hadn’t come from there. Strange as it seemed, it could have been a sigh.

He shook his head, dismissing the improbable noise, but within seconds he heard it again. It came from the back seat. He glanced behind him. A brown blanket covered the lumpy seat.

Then the blanket moved.

Cursing, he maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road and stopped. He turned in his seat, reached out and touched the blanket. From beneath came another sigh.

“What the hell?”

He jumped out of the Jeep and yanked opened the back door. The fierce wind blew the snow against him, so he climbed in the back seat and shut the door.

Whipping the blanket away, he stared in disbelief. Sleeping and curled on her side was a petite woman with waves of raven hair cascading down the middle of her back. A fur-lined jacket wrapped around her shoulders, and a black leather miniskirt stretched tight around her hips. Black nylons and heels encased slender, shapely legs and small feet. Curious, he ran his gaze up and down her curvy form.

The woman sighed again and rolled to her back, stretching her legs on the seat until they brushed against him. Her delicate face possessed high cheekbones, full lashes and heart-shaped lips. Damn. He didn’t need this right now. And why in the hell was she in Brad’s Jeep? His friend was happily married.

He pushed the thought from his mind and concentrated on the more pressing matter of what to do with her. Darkness was nearly upon them. Traveling back down the slick mountain roads to return her to civilization was out of the question, especially if someone noticed him and informed Robin’s father. The storm was already too fierce. Yet, he didn’t want to take her with him to the cabin. He needed time alone to re-evaluate his life and to think of a way to save his life.

The woman sighed again and fluttered her eyes. Justin shoved out of the backseat, threw himself behind the wheel, and slammed the door. He turned and glanced over the seat. The noise pulled the woman out of her sleep and her eyes came fully open. As he waited for her to attain full consciousness, he mumbled a curse at Lady Luck for messing up his weekend.