Mistletoe mischief, p.1
Mistletoe Mischief, page 1
Mistletoe Mischief
SHADOW OPS TEAM
Makenna Jameison
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 by Makenna Jameison
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
Table of Contents
About this Book
Author’s Note
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Books by Makenna Jameison
About the Author
About this Book
HE RUNS COVERT OPS. She’s planning a secret mission of her own...
Jett Hutchinson is busy tracking down a mole at the Department of Defense. His fiancée Anna Dubois is trying to pull off her own covert op—a surprise wedding days before Christmas. The one person who doesn’t know about her plans? The groom.
As the big day draws near, Jett is scrambling to discover the traitor. When Anna can’t be found, he’s ready to call in the team. The last place he expects Anna to be is in their own backyard—in a white wedding gown.
Can both their missions go off without a hitch?
Warning: This is a sexy novella. Don’t click if you hate sizzling romance, gruff alpha males, grumpy-sunshine couples, or former soldiers on a black ops team.
Author’s Note
MISTLETOE MISCHIEF comes after Sam in the Shadow Ops Team timeline. It can be read as a standalone. Want to know how Jett and Anna’s story began? Start with Jett.
In the world I’ve created, this series takes place before Alpha SEALs Coronado. If you want to read about Jett’s brother Slate, one-click SEAL’s Command.
Chapter 1
SHADOW OPS TEAM LEADER Jett Hutchinson strode across the parking lot of Shadow Security, the chilly winter air biting into him. His early meeting in the city had gone well, but he was eager to get back to the office and see his fiancée. It was hard to believe it had been more than a year since he’d first met Anna Dubois at a swanky bar in Manhattan. He’d bought her drinks and dinner and then taken her back to his place in upstate New York for the weekend. She’d come home with him the night they met and essentially never left. After a whirlwind courtship, he’d proposed. Now they had a new baby and a wedding to plan, plus she was pregnant. Again. Jett never had been able to keep his hands off his tempting better half, and Anna always loved to tease and entice him.
He smiled, shaking his head.
Life was damn perfect.
“Good morning,” his receptionist Clara said as he swiped his badge and moved into the lobby, the cold air disappearing behind him as the heavy doors swung shut. There was a big wreath hanging on the wall behind the receptionist’s desk, and there was a large Christmas tree with white lights in the corner. Anna’s doing. He’d never seen much reason to decorate the office in prior years.
“Good morning, Clara,” Jett said smoothly, striding over to the front desk.
“How’d the meeting go?” she asked.
“Fast-paced and furious, just like always. The Feds keep us on our toes. We’ve got multiple things coming down the pipeline, but I trust you and Anna will be able to keep us organized.”
“It’s nice to have her back,” Clara said.
Jett’s lips quirked. “I tried to convince Anna to continue her maternity leave indefinitely, but you know my fiancée—strong-willed like me,” he said with a low chuckle. “Our compromise was that she works part-time for now.”
“I think she misses your little guy more than she wants to admit when she’s here,” Clara said. “Brody is adorable. I heard her trying to convince the nanny to bring him for a visit to headquarters the other day,” she confessed. “It must be hard to leave him.”
“I suspected as much. You know Anna, though. She always wants to do things her way. Since you’re manning the phones for Shadow Security and keeping everything up here organized, I’ll probably have to look into getting more administrative help on the Shadow Ops Team side. How was your weekend?” he asked, changing subjects.
“Good,” Clara said. “We picked out a Christmas tree—a real one this year. The pine needles are driving me crazy, but Eloise loves it. She has Ford wrapped around her finger. She’s convinced him to put lights up on the roof so Santa and his reindeer can find us.” Clara shook her head, smiling. “Eloise is going to have us busy nonstop getting ready for Christmas.”
“I kept the boss busy this weekend,” Anna teased as she walked in, winking at the quiet receptionist, who immediately looked flustered. Anna’s blonde hair swished around her, and her blue eyes twinkled in amusement.
Jett squeezed Anna’s waist in warning as he pulled her close, loving the way her slender arms wrapped around his neck and full breasts pressed against his chest. Her sweet scent surrounded him as he murmured hello. Anna was anything but shy—outspoken, impulsive, and headstrong were more accurate descriptions. She was a handful, and he was crazy in love with her. It was somewhat surprising given that Jett was a man who hadn’t previously believed much in relationships. He was busy running his own security company and didn’t have time for frivolous things or clingy women. Anna was as independent as they come, a perfect match for him. She’d shaken his world around like one of those snow globes that were so popular around the holidays. He didn’t know which way was up sometimes with Anna, but he wouldn’t change a second of it.
He kissed her gently, loving the feel of his lips pressed against hers, then extricated himself from her arms, clasping her hand instead. “Don’t mind Anna,” he said dryly.
“No one minds me,” Anna assured him. “I bring some much-needed life to the office,” she added with a wink.
“Well, there’s certainly never a dull moment with you around,” Clara said generously.
The doors to the basement opened before Jett could respond, and several members of the Shadow Ops Team strode in. “Boss, you’re back,” Luke Willard said as he came over. “We were downstairs doing some shooting at the range. How’d the meetings go?”
“Good,” Jett replied, watching as Sam Jackson and Gray Pierce walked over to join them. Aside from a gun range, the large headquarters complex had a full gym and armory, not to mention countless offices and conference rooms equipped with the latest IT and communications equipment. It was perfect for the men to train and be readily available for briefings, taking on new missions as they arose. “We’ll be meeting soon. There are several new things my contact at DOD had for us, one more pressing than the others.”
“Anything big?” Gray asked.
Jett’s eyes landed on him, and he subtly nodded. The men couldn’t discuss classified details in the lobby. Even though Jett trusted Anna and Clara, it was safer for them both if they didn’t know the specifics of any given operation. Besides, they didn’t have the clearances he and his men did. All their meetings were held behind closed doors in the secure section of the building. Nothing was left to chance, and they operated much as any of the government agencies did, although on his terms. Jett had left the military behind years ago, choosing how and when they operated.
“There’s always someone out there causing problems,” Luke said with a frown. “Can’t the bad guys stop working in December like the government?”
Jett barked out a laugh. “Those Feds don’t get much done at the end of the year, do they? Gotta burn through all the annual leave they accrue. We all know the military doesn’t operate that way, however. There are boots on the ground all over the world and countless situations being monitored.”
“Who’s causing problems this time?” Ford asked as he walked in carrying two large boxes of donuts, the chill of the winter air briefly whipping through the lobby. Jett raised his eyebrows. “I ran out to grab donuts on my lunch break,” Ford said with a flash of amusement in his eyes. He set them down on the front counter, glancing over at his wife, Clara. “The two pregnant ladies were craving something sweet.”
“You’re too good to us,” Anna said with a wink, pulling Jett with her over to the boxes as the others watched in amusement. “Thanks for running out to get them.”
“How are you feeling?” Ford asked.
Anna brushed a strand of her blonde hair back, beaming. “Much better now that my morning sickness has subsided. Let’s just hope it stays away for the rest of the pregnancy. I’m jealous of Clara,” she joked.
Clara’s gaze flicked toward them. “Somehow, I lucked out with having fairly easy pregnancies. I’m thankful, since Eloise is basically a nonstop ball of energy. You’d think kindergarten would tire her out, but I guess that was wishful thinking on my part.”
“I’ll take her to the indoor playground tonight,” Ford promised. “It gets dark so early, we can’t do much outside. That should tire her out some—maybe. The kid does have endless energy.”
“Aw, you’re the best bonus dad,” Anna said.
Jett watched as his fiancée snagged a pink frosted donut, taking a dainty bite. Her bracelets jangled with the movement, and his gaze caught on her pretty lips. She had on the pink lipstick he loved, and the hot pink nail polish on her fingertips was fe
Anna’s necklaces dangled between her breasts as she turned back toward him, and he’d noticed recently how they were even fuller now that she was pregnant again. Anna was barely showing yet, the tiny swell of her stomach the only thing giving away baby number two. Even that was for his eyes only, because you couldn’t detect it yet in the slim pants and cashmere sweater she wore. He enjoyed undressing her slowly each night and lavishing her with attention, his hands and mouth everywhere. Jett had learned early on that she was only too happy to be the object of his affections.
“You should try a donut, baby,” she said, taking another bite. Jett’s gaze moved from her pink lips to her eyes, seeing the amusement in them. Anna knew he could never resist her.
“Maybe later,” he murmured, his hand briefly running over her long, blonde hair. Anna was sexy and drop-dead gorgeous, but she made him laugh and feel lighter than he ever had during his military career and subsequent career at Shadow Security. The black ops team he ran was kept under wraps, but she knew the gist of what went on. He’d never involve her in the dangerous parts of their missions, but having her support was something he’d never take for granted. She was so organized and efficient at running things in an office, he’d even hired her at his company when she quit her high-stress job on Wall Street.
“These donuts are good,” Sam said, finishing off his. “Thanks for thinking of us, buddy,” he joked to Ford.
Ford was talking quietly with Clara but chuckled, nodding at his teammate. “Gotta keep the missus happy,” he joked.
“Pregnancy cravings are so weird,” Clara said. “I didn’t want anything sweet when I was pregnant with Eloise, but now it’s like I just can’t get enough.”
“Well, I for one appreciate them very much,” Sam said with a wink. “Next time I don’t feel like grabbing lunch, I’ll just get you ladies to send Ford out again. Let me know if you need ideas on what he should grab for us, all right?”
“Not a chance,” Ford muttered as the others laughed.
The rest of the men were polishing off their own donuts, and Jett nodded to the door. “Let’s move to the conference room for our briefing. I’ve got multiple updates to share, and time is pressing on one. We need to make haste.”
He turned toward Anna, leaning down as his hand landed at her waist. “I’ll see you tonight, sweetness.” His thumb rubbed against the soft cashmere, and Jett didn’t miss the way she shivered slightly at his touch.
She rose up to her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “I’m heading home to baby soon. You know your son was up screaming all night,” she added unnecessarily.
“He’s a night owl like his parents,” Jett quipped. “And how could I forget? I had big plans for us last night that would’ve worked better with a sleeping baby.”
“I asked the nanny to stay tonight,” she said with a sly smile. “Hope that’s not a problem. I could use some uninterrupted...sleep.”
Heat rose within him as she pressed even closer. “Sounds perfect,” he said, his voice husky. He kissed her once more but then turned, heading toward the doors leading to the secure section of the building. As much as he’d love to remain right here with his fiancée, or better yet, take her home and straight to bed, the team had work to do.
“HE WORKS TOO HARD,” Anna said as the rest of the men filed out. The lobby felt quieter without all the masculine energy in the space. Sometimes that group of alpha males felt like it sucked up all the air in the room. They were all intense and protective, used to being in charge, and Anna loved when Jett turned all that gruff masculinity on her.
She moved behind the desk, grabbing the stack of folders she’d set there earlier.
“I guess you have to work hard if you run your own company,” Clara pointed out. “He’s not exactly the hands-off type.”
“For real. I mean, he can never keep his hands off of me,” Anna joked. Her gaze flicked over, and she saw the quiet receptionist blushing. “Oh, come on. I know Ford is the same way with you. The man is smitten. He rushed out just to get donuts for you on his lunch break.”
Clara smiled. “That was sweet. He’s really overprotective now with my being pregnant. I swear he doesn’t want me to lift a finger at home. I had to remind him that I was alone and pregnant with Eloise when her father was pretty much absent. Of course, that just makes Ford all the angrier. He likes to take care of people.”
“Especially his wife,” Anna teased. “Mr. and Mrs. Ford Anderson does have a nice ring to it. Speaking of rings, Jett and I have been engaged for a year. I told him I wanted to wait until I had the baby before planning our wedding, and then bam! Pregnant again.”
“That must have been such a total shock for you.”
“A shock, yes, but we’re over-the-moon excited.” Anna set the stack of folders back down, moving closer to Clara. “I mean, we weren’t preventing it exactly, I just didn’t think it would happen that soon. I always wanted a houseful of kids, so it’ll just happen sooner rather than later. I had the best idea the other night though. Jett thinks I want to wait another entire year for our wedding now that I’m pregnant again. I mean, that’s what I said all along, right? No wedding dress with a baby bump.” Her hands ran over her flat stomach. There was the barest hint of a swell, but Anna knew only she and Jett noticed it. “I’m feeling pretty good now with the morning sickness gone. I want to surprise Jett with a wedding.”
“What?”
“Yep,” Anna said with a grin. “He’s always doing things for me—buying me gifts, bringing home flowers. How shocked would Jett be if he showed up in our backyard to his own wedding?”
“Wait—he’ll come not knowing he’s the groom?”
“Yes,” Anna insisted, laughing. “I’ll get the guys to distract him with something important or tell him we have plans that night. He’ll be in a suit, I’ll be in a wedding dress, and we’ll get married right there in front of all our family and friends. I’ll plan everything so he doesn’t need to worry about it. Seriously, the man is stressed out enough half the time running all their missions. I know he wants to make it official, especially now that we have a child. Why wait any longer to marry the man I love?”
Clara smiled, tears forming in her eyes. “Shoot. I forgot about these darn pregnancy hormones.” She shook her head, trying to get control of her emotions. “If anyone could pull it off, it would be you. But when would you have the wedding?”
“Before Christmas,” Anna said.
“That’s only a few weeks away,” Clara said in disbelief.
“It is, which means I’ll have my work cut out for me. It’ll be worth it to see the expression on his face. I’ll go dress shopping, buy some sexy lingerie for my wedding night. Shoot, maybe Lena can book the honeymoon for me,” she said, referring to Jett’s assistant. “But I’ll plan the food, music, bartender—everything. I know it’s last-minute notice, but hopefully most people can come. When I send out invitations, I’ll tell everyone to text me their response. He’d notice if I suddenly got a slew of RSVPs in the mail.”
“Only you, Anna,” Clara said. “I suspect he’ll know you’re up to something anyway.”
Anna lifted a shoulder, smiling. “Yes and no. While he may realize something is going on, Jett will just assume it’s a Christmas gift. I did decorate for the holidays,” she said, glancing across the lobby. “A surprise wedding isn’t even a possibility in his mind.”
“Well, you got me there. I figured you’d book some fancy place in Manhattan and pull out all the stops, maybe go dress shopping at one of those boutiques you always see on TV.”
“The TV shows where the bride chooses her dress?” Anna asked with a laugh. “That would be fun. We’ll keep the ceremony and reception relatively small—family, close friends. I need to call his brother.”
