A Sing-ular Tradition; Part Three by Margo Hoornstra

A Sing-ular Tradition

Part Three  

A few times Derrick had walked into Kenzie’s office on his daily mail run and caught her wearing a wistful expression as she either gazed straight ahead or contemplated the ceiling. More often than not when he came through the doorway, she was too busy to even look up at him. With her head down and full attention focused on whatever task was at hand in front of her, she’d mumble a distracted thank you and that was it.

Though he always meant to talk to her, asking ‘what’s wrong?’ wasn’t the best way to open a conversation with someone you’d only just met. But, she wasn’t bent over a paper strewn desk now. At this moment, she was focused totally on him.

Dude, quit staring at her and use your advantage. He winced in response to the devil perched on his shoulder. Don’t rush me. I got this.

“How did you wind up in the sunshine state? Even though you hale from the north, you’re a little young to be a snowbird.”

“A job offer I couldn’t turn down arrived at just the right time. I needed to get away from things in my old life for a while.”

“What kind of things? Problems?”

The wistfulness returned to those big blue eyes as her gaze strayed away from him. His heart stuttered at the idea maybe he’d gone and destroyed their light-hearted mood. Caused her to call up old and maybe unpleasant memories.

“I was engaged. Briefly. Until I discovered my so-called fiancé was still married to someone else.”

“That had to hurt.”

“All I could think was how could he do that? To me was one thing, but to his wife? Not to mention the two innocent little girls I found out they had together.”

“I can relate. It’s been a pretty tough year for me too.”

“Why’s that?” Lowering her eyes, she took a hasty sip of punch. “It’s okay if you’d rather not say.”

“No. I don’t mind.” That she seemed to care enough to want to know spurred him on to share something he hadn’t told anyone around here. “I spent six seasons playing minor league baseball. As a pitcher.”

“That would explain your arm strength.” Eyes wide as if she’d just surprised herself, she took a breath. “Sorry.” As pink dotted her cheeks, she gave a little head shake, looked away then back at him. “Go on.”

“I was so confident my arm would take me to the big show and million dollar endorsement contracts. When that didn’t happen and I was unexpectedly cut from the team, I had no other life skills to fall back on.”

“One heck of a wake-up call, I’m guessing.”

“You have no idea.” He picked up their empty glasses and the napkin and tossed them into a nearby trashcan. “Then my wife left me for a teammate of mine. One of the guys who did make it to the big leagues with the million dollar perks.”

“Oh, Derrick, I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah. Thanks. Luckily we had no kids.”

“Even so, you’re no stranger to heartache.” She slid her hand over to cover his. “Like me.”

“So there you have it.” He immediately flipped his palm up in acceptance then twined his fingers with hers.  “More stuff we have in common.”

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas drifted over the patio. Deciding to go solo, Derrick picked up on the lyrics in a clear voice, mimicking as best he could the slow crooning style of Frank Sinatra’s velvety tenor.

When he came to the parts about troubles being gone, and the advice to lighten your heart, he leaned closer to Kenzie and lowered his voice for emphasis.

She rewarded him with a huge smile at the finish. “More instructions I need to pay attention to, I suppose.”

“Yes, you do.” His fingers tightened around hers.

“I’ll try.” Her wistfulness may have come back, but the sadness in her eyes was nowhere to be found. “I’m glad I came tonight, Derrick. If only for us to have a chance to get to know each other better.”

“My sentiments exactly.”

“Hey, Everyone. Santa will be here soon.” An unknown voice made the announcement before a raucous rendition of Here Comes Santa Claus erupted between them.

Derrick glanced toward the noise then back at her. “Shall we go inside? This is the point, or so I’ve been told, where they pass out little gag gift presents and we can all go home.”

“Go home.” The smallest hint of sadness was evident in her tone.

“I can tell you’re still a little homesick.”

She gave a half smile and nod. “Both my parents are back in Michigan. My two brothers and younger sister live nearby. The family should all be gathering at Mom and Dad’s tomorrow early to be together.”

Sympathy for her being away from the family she obviously loved tugged at his heart, and he had an overpowering urge to take her in his arms and make all the sadness in her life go away. Figuratively pitch every bad thing that had ever happened to her into some virtual trash heap somewhere. So he could fill the void with happiness and whatever else he had to offer.

“My last name is Winters, by the way.” He didn’t bother to release her hand as they stood. “If that helps to make you feel a little less homesick.”

“Actually I think it does.”

As they walked side by side, putting his arm around her waist seemed like the most natural thing in the world to do.

She glanced up at him and smiled, then slid her arm into place around him. “Merry Christmas, Derrick.”

“Merry Christmas, Kenzie. With many more to come.”

“For both of us, many more.”

Relishing the sound of their shared promises, he opened the door and ushered her in front of him then happened to look up. “Wait just a minute.”

“For what?”

Just inside the entrance he stopped then put both hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “We’ve come so far, wouldn’t want to break with tradition now.”

Brow furrowed in question, after a hasty glance upward, her frown cleared. A second sprig of Mistletoe hung above them. Eyes sparkling, she met his gaze and grinned. “No. We certainly wouldn’t want to do that.”

Those words coincided with both arms she brought to rest around his neck.

Her response was so swift, and couldn’t have been more perfect. Derrick smiled briefly as he closed his lips over hers. It wasn’t long before he was lost in the sweet and thorough enjoyment of a warm and inviting mouth.

This was the absolute last time he kissed anyone else under the mistletoe.

For good reason. No other kiss for the rest of his life could possibly surpass the wonder of this one.

 

 

For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my WEBSITE

Come back tomorrow and enjoy the first installment of All The Right Moves by Jannine Gallant.

Short Doesn’t Mean Easy by Alison Henderson

I'm currently working on edits for my holiday short story collection SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS TALES, to be released this fall. I was inspired by the annual holiday short stories some of the authors of The Roses of Prose have written for the blog the past three years. I'd never written a short story before we began our tradition, and it's been so much fun I wanted to expand on it by writing my own collection of ten stories.

Ten short stories--less than 50K words. Easy peasy for a writer used to producing full-length novels, right? Let me tell you, I'm exhausted. The creative well was down to the last dregs by the final story. My critique partners can vouch for that. 

Here's why:

1. Each short story is just that--a complete story. It needs a beginning, a middle, and an end. Because our ROP Christmas stories span multiple days, I learned to structure my stories in three parts, one for each of three days. Those became the beginning, middle, and end. For this collection, I had to come up with ten separate and complete plots.
2. Because I'm a plotter, I needed to work out and write down what was going to happen in each of the three acts before I began. After the first couple of stories, I tried winging it and it was a disaster. It might seem like a waste of precious time to write a synopsis for a short story, but I learned that without one I froze up or muddled around, wasting even more time.
3. Characters are just as important in a short story--maybe even more so because there isn't enough room for an elaborate plot. Since the characters carry the story, I began each new story by writing character descriptions. They didn't have to be as detailed as the ones I write before I begin a novel, but I had to have them. That meant ten heroes and heroines, along with assorted secondary characters, who needed names, personalities, hopes, and problems.
4. Each story in this collection is set in a fictional small town in a different state from coast to coast, from Maine to California. I needed to create ten settings in places I knew well enough to make the setting an integral part of the story. I've traveled quite a bit, but this was a challenge. 
5. And lastly, a story doesn't flow for me until I have a title I'm happy with. I've never been able to write without a title, or even with something I consider a working title. I have a fairly easy time coming up with titles, but ten separate titles in a few short months taxed my creativity.

It hasn't been as simple as I expected, but at the end of this process, I'm happy to say I've learned a great deal about writing short. Some of the lessons will also apply to my longer books. If you haven't written a short story, I recommend it. Just don't expect it to be easy.

Alison

www.alisonhenderson.com

Merrily Suited Part Three by Donna Michaels

 

Merrily Suited

Part Three

by Donna Michaels

Talk…

Yeah, Lauren would get right on that once her heart dislodged from her throat and her voice returned. She was lucky she even remembered how to breathe with the gorgeous cowboy standing so close that his wonderful, spicy, ocean scent teased her senses.

Trent smiled and gently tugged her hair. “You can’t keep running from this, Lauren.”

She managed to clear her throat and tip her chin. “From what?”

“Us,” he replied. “And what happened when we kissed.”

Oh, that. Yes, she could.

His smiled deepened to reveal those dang, sexy dimples—the ones that made her knees weak. “No, you can’t,” he said as if reading her mind. “And you can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy our kiss.”

She grew up in a disciplined household and learned at an early age to bury her wants and needs in order to achieve success. This was no different.

The elevator opened to her floor. Grabbing Trent’s hand, she freed her hair before releasing him. “I did enjoy the kiss. Very much. But I love working for you and your brothers and will not jeopardize it by mixing work with pleasure. I’m sorry. I hope you understand.”

Without waiting for a reply, she exited the elevator and was relieved when he didn’t follow. It wouldn’t have taken much persuasion on his part to make her change her mind. Her heart sat like a piece of crushed lead in her chest as she let herself into her room.

Why did Trent have to be one of her bosses? She really wanted to pursue the crazy feelings he induced. But she just couldn’t bear to put herself out there only to end up like Sandy.

The vibrating of the cell phone in her pocket signaled an incoming call seconds before the ringing filled her room. Apprehension tightened the muscles in her neck. God, she hoped it wasn’t Trent. Walking away from him had been the hardest thing she’d ever done.

Glancing at the caller ID, she smiled. Sandy. She flopped on her back on the bed. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself. How’s your weekend with Trent?”

She stiffened. “It’s not like that.”

“Too bad. It should be.”

Lauren sat up and blinked. “What?”

“You heard me. The two of you have been making googly-eyes at each other for years. I thought for sure, once you were alone this weekend, you know, the sparks would fly, clothes would fall, to all a good night.”

“I…” She wanted to set her friend straight and tell her she was wrong.

But Sandy was not exactly wrong, so there was no setting straight.

“Uh oh. Something happened. What is it? Spill.”

Again, the urge to deny was strong. Lauren had even gone so far as to shake her head, but the words wouldn’t form. Instead, she sighed and did as told. “We kissed under the mistletoe.”

“Sweet!”

“No, it wasn’t sweet. I mean, it was, but…darn it, Sandy. I don’t want to be attracted to him. I don’t want to like his kisses, or enjoy the feel of his arms around me.” Or get lost in his scent; Want his embrace to go on forever.

“Why not? Trent is one of the good guys. And believe me, they are few and far between. The two of you are perfect for each other. You're suited.”

“But he’s my boss.” There, she said it. “I don’t want to end up like y—” She stopped herself, but shouldn’t have bothered.

“Like me, you mean?” Sandy asked. “Oh, hun. Don’t let what happened to me with that jerk two years ago stop you from taking a chance on what could be the real deal with Trent.”

“But what if it isn’t?”

“What if it is?” Her friend countered. “Besides, I do not regret what happened.”

“You don’t?”

“No. Getting fired was the best thing that happened to me, because I met my fiancé at my next job.”

Fiancé?

Lauren inhaled. “You’re engaged?”

“Yes. That’s why I was calling. To tell you Paul proposed.”

“Oh, I’m so happy for you, Sandy. Congratulations. Paul’s a great guy.”

“Yes, he is, and he’s also my boss. Remember?”

She sank onto the bed and blinked. That’s right. Her friend had gotten a new job, and within a half a year, started to date her new boss.

“So, you see? It is possible to keep your job and have a relationship with Trent.”

If only…

“Promise me you’ll think about it.”

“I promise.” No way would she be able to think of anything else. 

***

The outdoor holiday gala was in full swing with vendor tents, food stands, face painting, and a visit from the big man himself. Seasonal music blared from speakers placed around the grounds, and families and people walked around with hot apple cider, hot chocolate and coffee, enjoying pumpkin rolls and pecan pie donated by the pretty chef from the Texas Pub up in Harland County.

Everyone was having a great time. Not Trent. Not really. He was going through the motions, even managed to paste a smile on his face as he helped people on and off the Santa-horse wagon while the driver remained on the buckboard seat. Everyone's happy faces and excited banter would normally warm his heart, but the darn thing didn’t seem to be working that day. It was kind of numb and reeling.

He’d foolishly thought once he got Lauren alone and away from the main store she would open up and admit her feelings. Dummy him. Her upbringing had kicked in and kicked him out.

“May I ride next?” A familiar, sweet voice asked from behind.

Lauren.

His pulse kicked into gear. Look at that. His numb heart sparked back to life. He’d seen her today, but hadn’t really talked one-on-one with the woman. What was the point? Even though her gaze had been friendly and smile warm, he didn’t want her to feel badgered, and the invisible bands squeezing his chest did not need more encouragement.

Keeping his smile in place, he turned to face her and blinked. Close up, her gaze was more than warm and friendly. A spark of interest lit those mesmerizing green depths. His heart jerked behind its invisible restraints, and then did something none of the happy people could manage to make it do—warmed at the blush creeping into her cheeks.

“Of course,” he answered, treading lightly, grabbing her hand to help her into the wagon.

Maybe the tightness in his chest prevented oxygen to his brain and he was seeing things he wanted to see.

“Good,” she replied, tugging on his hand when he made to release his hold. “Will you join me?”

His head reeled back. He hadn’t expected that question. He also wasn’t slow on the uptake. “Sure.” He quickly hoisted himself into the wagon and settled next to her on the bench.

As the driver made a clicking noise and urged the horse forward, she snuggled closer, causing his ears to ring and eyes to cross.

He cleared his throat and stared down at her. “Uh, Lauren, not that I’m not enjoying having you close, because I really do, but I’m a little confused. The last time we talked you said you didn’t want to mix business with pleasure.”

She tipped her head and stared up at him, that blush deepening along with her smile. “Let’s forget that talk. It never happened. I was stupid. Scared. Not thinking straight.”

“And now?”

“Now, I’m still stupid and scared, but I know what I want. I’ve thought about it all night.”

His heart rocked so hard in his chest he physically moved. “And what do you want, Lauren?”

“You, Trent,” she replied, heart in her eyes, stealing his breath which had already disappeared at the sweet sound of his name on her lips. “You were right. That kiss was amazing. And I think you’re amazing. I have for some time now.” She held up a hand when he opened his mouth to respond. “I meant it when I said I enjoyed working with you and your brothers. But, again, you were right. I can’t keep running from my feelings.”

Joy and happiness mixed to curve his lips into a grin he couldn’t hold back. “I don’t want to run from mine anymore either, Lauren. I know it’s a risk getting involved with a coworker, but it’s one I’m willing to take. You make me feel things no one has ever made me feel before. And I like it. A lot.”

“Yeah?” Her eyes were big and round and full of wonder.

Adorable.

“Yeah.”

A thousand watt smile lit her face. “Same goes,” she said, reaching up to cup his chin. “You’re definitely worth the risk.”

And as the Santa-horse wagon ride rolled on, Trent pressed his lips to Lauren’s, sealing a promising future his dad had set into motion nearly a decade ago.

~♥~

 Come back tomorrow for the start of another FREE Holiday story from Alison Henderson! The Rose of Prose will be posting free holiday stories using the same opening line all month long!

Don't forget my brand new release! HARLAND COUNTY CHRISTMAS is a prequel novella to my Amazon Best Selling Harland County Series! Read the first cowboy to fall...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3PON5G




I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Merrily Suited Part Two by Donna Michaels

Merrily Suited

Part Two

by Donna Michaels

“Your room okay?” Trent asked, stopping beside Lauren in the middle of the bustling lobby.

She nodded, then headed for the exit with no intention of talking, stopping, or breathing, until she was outside and mistletoe free. Too dangerous. She scooted around a pack of incoming guests and pushed through the door into the cool winter’s night air…and underneath more mistletoe, haphazardly dotting the hotel’s grand, wrap-around porch.

It was a conspiracy. Everywhere she turned there was mistletoe. The urge to stomp her foot shook through her boot. This was not here when they’d first arrived.

“Excuse me, honey,” a little old lady called from down on the sidewalk, pushing her walker to the stairs. “Can you help me up?”

Before she could answer, Trent appeared and was at the lady’s side, escorting the beaming woman to the porch. Something inside Lauren’s chest cracked open as he gently placed the woman’s hand on her arm while he went back down for the walker. He was always helping, putting other’s first. It was one of the things that attracted her to him the most.

Dang it.

He needed to stop. Do something mean. Say something obnoxious.

Why did he have to keep being so sweet? Didn’t he know she was having a hard enough time talking herself out of liking him?

“Aw, what a sweetheart. You have yourself a good man, honey.” The woman grasped the walker with one fragile hand and patted Lauren’s arm with the other. “And I think it’s positively perfect you’re both standing under the mistletoe. Go ahead, young man. Do your duty. Kiss your pretty lady.”

Lauren’s heart shot for the stars, via her throat, where it lodged, pounding away her breath. No way was she going to turn to him. No way. But, she needn’t have worried. The handsome cowboy stepped to the smiling, older woman and dipped down to kiss her cheek.

“You young, whipper-snapper. Not me.” The woman giggled, pointing at Lauren. “Her. Go ahead. Don’t mind me. Kiss your girl.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, turning to face Lauren, dusty cowboy boots standing toe to toe with hers.

She knew this because it was safer to stare at the porch. Not his face. Definitely not his face.

“Lauren.” His voice was low and deliciously sexy.

He’d spoken her name for the first time. Ever.

Goose bumps raced down her arms. She had been right. Her name sounded darn good on his lips.

“Look at me.” Two big, strong, calloused hands cupped her face and gently tipped her head until she finally met his gaze. “You and I both know this has been a long time coming.”

More than a little shocked by the blatant admission he’d wanted to kiss her for awhile, she couldn’t stop her mouth from parting, or the soft ‘oh’ from leaving her lips.

Then all thoughts ceased, and everyone and everything faded from view as he slowly lowered his head.

Work didn’t matter.

Her bosses didn’t matter.

Sandy and her bad relationship didn’t matter.

Only the here and now, and the great smelling cowboy holding her close. Her pulse pounded out of control, growing louder and louder while her heart rocked hard in her chest. An unknown feeling fluttered in her belly while their breath mingled a second before their lips finally met.

Firm and warm, his mouth sent a tremor straight to her toes, and she reached out and slid her arms around his back to hold on since her knees where suddenly too weak to hold her weight. He smelled of the outdoors, and ocean breezes, and male. Very male.

Just like in his business practices, he was thorough, kissing her slow and deliberate, leaving her under no illusion that he indeed had wanted to kiss her for a long time.

When he finally lifted his head, he had her so mixed up she had no idea if they’d kiss for ten seconds or ten minutes. Time had ceased, along with her breathing.

And common sense.

She pulled out of the embrace, vaguely aware of the older lady smiling.

“It’s wonderful to see a nice, young couple fated to be together. Bless you both.” The woman nodded then pushed her walker toward the hotel door.

When Trent rushed forward to hold the door open for the lady, Lauren took advantage of his absence and raced down the steps, needing to put some distance between her and the hot cowboy. Gulping in air, she willed her brain cells to return to working order.

What the heck had she just done?

***

“What in the world did you do?”

Trent had no idea what his brother Cordell was talking about on the phone later that evening, and would’ve told him, if the idiot would’ve quieted down long enough to let him get a word in on their conversation.

“Why does Lauren want to come home?”

“What?” His heart dropped to his boots, and he stopped pacing in the executive office of their Texas City store. “She said that?”

“No, not exactly, but it was implied.”

“Define implied.”

“Indirectly. In a round-about way. To—”

“I know what implied means, you goof,” he interrupted his older brother, trying hard not to give into the frustration clawing his spine. “Did Lauren really call and ask to return home?” His chest hurt at the thought, and he rubbed the tight spot over his heart as if it would ease the ache.

“No,” Cord replied. “She called and asked if it was necessary for her to be down there since Trent was more than capable of handling things himself.” His brother used a girly tone to finish the sentence.

Trent wasn’t amused, but he was relieved. Lauren hadn’t specifically asked to go home. She wanted to bolt. Like she’d done from the porch. Running scared he could handle.

After he’d turned around from helping the nice older lady into the hotel, he’d hoped to get things out in the open with Lauren. Discuss the skirting-around-each-other tactics they’d both deployed over the last few years.

No more skirting.

And after that kiss, they definitely needed to clear the air.

Brew’s sweet lips may not have said the words, but he knew from her response to his kiss, and the way she’d melted into him, that she was more than a little attracted to him.

Which was great, since he was a darn sight more than a little attracted to her.

 “So?” Cord asked. “What did you do?”

It was now or never. He took the bull by the horns and spilled the truth. “I kissed her under the mistletoe.”

Standing stalk still, he waited to see if Cord was going to go ballistic over the fact he’d put the moves on the sweet girl his brothers had always considered their little sister.

“’Bout dang time. Don’t tell me you did that wrong. Do you need pointers?”

He blew out a breath. “No, I didn’t do it wrong. And you can keep your pointers” Trent smiled, despite his frustration. “What do you mean, ‘bout dang time?”

“Did I stutter? It means, about dang time the two of you stop circling like vultures and admit you like one another. Sam and I are getting right tired. It was amusing at first, but after two years it gets old. Fast.” Cord paused, then his tone grew serious. “We love Lauren like a sister, Trent, you know that, but she’s a darn good worker, too. I hope you didn’t screw things up, or cost us one heck of a manager.”

“I haven’t.” He hoped.

“You better make it right.”

“I will. Don’t worry,” he reassured before hanging up, a plan already forming in his head.

Just the fact that Lauren had wanted to leave proved her feelings for him were strong. He knew she didn’t want to jeopardize her job. So he was going to prove to her she could have her job and him.

***

Lauren avoided Trent most of the night, using work as an excuse. There were still a lot of little last minute things to do to get ready for the holiday gala the next day. She helped the workers stuff stockings for the children with donations from local companies, sometimes working right next to Trent. His gaze kept straying to her, she could feel it willing her to glance up. But she couldn’t. Wouldn’t. He’d want to talk about the kiss. The kiss that was incredible and still had her lips tingling.

Yeah, not going to happen.

Two hours later, she breathed a sigh of relief as the hotel elevator doors opened. The stockings were stuffed, and even though Trent had ushered everyone back to the hotel for pizza and beer in appreciation of a job well done, she had managed to avoid being alone with the man.

And being under more mistletoe with him.

A small triumph, despite knowing she would’ve enjoyed every bit of another kiss. But that was how it had to be. So she ate, drank, socialized, and was relieved to say her goodnights and head up to her room.

Only one more day to go.

She punched the button to her floor in the empty elevator, then bit back a few choice words when Trent stepped on before the doors closed.

Sealing them inside.

Alone.

Dang it.

“I’m glad I caught you,” he said, facing her, standing close enough to twist a piece of her hair around his finger, gaze warm and interested. “We need to talk.”

~♥~

 

Come back tomorrow for the conclusion!

And if you're in the holiday reading spirit, don't forget about my brand new release!!! HARLAND COUNTY CHRISTMAS is a prequel novella to my Amazon Best Selling Harland County Series! Read the first cowboy to fall...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3PON5G

 

Merrily Suited Part One by Donna Michaels

Merrily Suited

Part One

by Donna Michaels

She'd never seen a Santa suit used in quite that way.

On a horse…pulling a red wagon decorated to resemble a sleigh with green garland, twinkling white lights, and silver bells. Because that was normal. Lauren Brewster smiled. It was for her bosses. Her three handsome bosses who owned a chain of feed stores throughout southern Texas. 

       The free Santa-horse wagon rides the guys started today were a big hit with the customers. A brilliant idea from three equally brilliant brothers. Born with good looks and brains, the Callahan boys also inherited their father’s sense of business and keen knowledge of their customer’s needs. It was never a dull moment at the store, and she enjoyed her job.

Hired right out of high school seven years ago by their late father, Lauren was lucky to work for the fun, smart, sexy cowboys. Her extended family. Brothers. Well, two of them. The third one, the middle one…not so much. Six-foot-one with powerful shoulders, dark brown hair, quiver-inducing chocolate brown eyes—milk chocolate, her favorite—Trent Callahan elicited absolutely no sisterly feelings from her whatsoever. Nada. Zilch.

He was hot.

She was sunk.

Especially now. They were both single. At the same time. Something that had never happened in all the years she’d known the charismatic man. And the fact she was accompanying him to Texas City for two nights to help oversee the big, outdoor, holiday charity bash the store sponsored every year was going to test her resolve.

And confirm her stupidity.

Spending two days in close proximity to the irresistible cowboy without his brothers around…yeah, not smart.

Inhaling, she parked in her usual spot behind Callahan Feed, and blew out the breath. Everything was going to be fine. Just fine. She’d managed not to act on her attraction to Trent for years now. This weekend would be no different.

Feeling better, she got out of the car as the handsome cowboy lumbered from the back door of the main building, worn jeans sitting low on his lean hips, black T-shirt stretched across the drool-worthy broad shoulders and muscled pecs not so hidden beneath an opened green and black flannel shirt.

“Hey, Brew.” He smiled, revealing dimples capable of reducing grown women into giggling schoolgirls.

She ought to know.

Her heart rocked hard in her chest then fluttered back into place. “Hi, Cal,” she replied in kind, using a variant of his surname.

Not once had either of them ever called each other by their first name. An unspoken rule. A smart one because, given her attraction to the cowboy, saying his first name aloud made it personal, and hearing her name on his lips would surely do her in.

“Ready for this weekend?”

No. Not really. “Yep.” She lied through her smile. Reigning in her feelings was crucial to the success of their trip—and her future—if she wanted to continue managing their main store. And she did. Very much.

“Good,” he replied, taking the initiative to grab her suitcase from the back seat, gaze sparkling with life as he straightened and shut the car door. “Because we’re going to have a memorable time. Trust me.”

***

 Trent Callahan was a patient man; in both his professional and personal life. By no means a slacker, he didn’t believe in procrastination, but there were times in his twenty-nine years when waiting proved smart, and the resulting reward, priceless.

Like now.

He glanced sideways at his silent passenger. A curtain of silky, golden brown hair obscured a face he knew to be beautiful with high cheekbones, mesmerizing green eyes, and full lips always ready with a smile. Except for today. No smile. No friendly chit-chat. Nothing. In fact, the woman who’d worked for the company since graduating high school, the one who’d touched his heart and didn't know it, was unusually quiet, and hugging the door as if he carried the plague.

“Everything all right, Brew?”

She turned to him and blinked. “Yeah, why?”

“You’re getting awfully comfortable with that door.”

Color crept into her delicate face, turning her eyes a deep, emerald, which never failed to take his breath. “I-I’m just sitting.”

He grinned. “Yeah, far away, as if I bite.”

Lord have mercy, her gaze dropped to his mouth and lingered, tempting, teasing, trying to pull the rest of the air from his lungs and force him to reveal his feelings, the ones he’d hidden for awhile now. Feelings he hadn’t recognized as more than friendship until they’d danced at a company Christmas party two years ago. The connection, the chemistry, had zinged through him with an unexpected wave of energy and heat he hadn’t been able to forget, or find with anyone else.

Not for lack of trying. He’d been in a relationship at the time, but when it had ended, Lauren had already started to see some college professor, and Trent had remained tight-lipped about his attraction.

Until now.

He was single.

She was single.

The time had come to test their chemistry and this trip was the perfect opportunity.

“How about we listen to some music?” He flipped on the radio and a jolly holiday tune filled the cab.

She smiled and settled back in her seat, not so close to the door, relief easing the tightness from her full lips. “Oh, I love this one,” she said, and began to sing along with Alan Jackson.

Sweet and warm, her voice surrounded him like a soft blanket, tugging a grin onto his lips, making him happy to be in her presence. He was always happy around her, but should he try to take that a step further? A relationship was risky, very risky. Lauren was a fantastic asset to the company.

Handpicked by his late father. She loved Callahan Feed as much as he and his brothers, Sam and Cordell. The last thing he wanted was to jeopardize their working relationship. But, the attraction was already getting in the way of work…for both of them, as his siblings had taken delight in pointing it out at their recent monthly meeting, all because he’d handed them October’s spreadsheet instead of November’s.

How his brothers had connected the mistake to his feelings for Lauren was still a mystery, but they were correct. She’d breezed into his office to hand him the day’s receipts, smelling of fresh apples with a hint of vanilla. He must’ve clicked on the wrong file to print when he’d leaned closer to her hair and inhaled deep, because, yeah, he was that far gone.

So, here he was on his way to the Gulf to do something about it. Trent just hoped to God he wasn’t misreading Lauren’s blushes and lingering glances. He’d hate to be in the off-kilter vortex on his own, or worse. Make the woman uncomfortable enough to quit. His father would roll over in his grave, and his brothers would skin him alive.

***

       She knew it. Lauren knew going to Texas City with Trent—alone—was a bad idea. It was a small miracle she hadn’t made more of an idiot of herself during the short drive down to the Gulf earlier that day. But the handsome man had a powerful presence. All consuming. His broad shoulders and solid frame evaporated space in the cab as rapidly as his warm gaze had zapped her brain cells. And what was with his friendly open expression? Darn thing sucked her in, upping her temperature and pulse. She had to cling to the door in order to keep from scooting over to him. The sexy cowboy was like a magnet, and she was a piece of trembling sheet metal.

A weak-kneed idiot.

Exiting the hotel elevator on her way to meet her boss in a lobby decorated in red and green for the holidays, she silently commended herself for having the foresight to book their stay weeks in advance. The place was nearly sold out, and if they’d had to share a room, she would’ve caved to the man’s charm in an instant.

That would’ve been bad.

Sandy bad. Lauren was determined not to end up like her friend Sandy. The poor woman had gotten involved with her boss, and seven months later, was single and unemployed.

Not her. No way.

She weaved through a throng of people waiting in line to check in and passed a group of carolers happily singing in the corner by a brightly decorated, ten foot Christmas tree. Their beautiful voices helped sooth her frazzled nerves, but she nearly stopped dead when she caught sight of Trent pushing from the far wall, staring straight at her, lazy smile tugging his lips. Her heart kicked her ribs then did that flutter in her chest thing.

Why did he have to be so dang good-looking? And why did she have to have this type of reaction to the man? Her pulse never leapt for his brothers. Why him? Was there a cure?

She needed a cure. Pronto.

And a miracle.

Her fluttering heart dropped to her feet when her gaze encountered a bigger problem.

Hanging in the doorway—a doorway they had to pass—sat a huge sprig of mistletoe. Not good. Lauren glanced at the other door. More mistletoe. She hadn’t noticed the twigs when they’d check in, but she couldn’t miss them now.

She was trapped. No matter which door she exited with the cowboy, they’d walk underneath the holiday’s excuse-to-kiss decoration.

Maybe he won’t notice.

~ ~♥~ ~

 Come back tomorrow for Part Two!

Today is release day!!! I have a brand new cowboy holiday release today! HARLAND COUNTY CHRISTMAS is a prequel novella to my Amazon Best Selling Harland County Series! Read the first cowboy to fall...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3PON5G

The First Cowboy to Fall by Donna Michaels

 

Happy November, everyone! Using this month’s theme topics, my post about my upcoming Christmas release (available for preorder) could actually ‘fall’ into a few of the categories.

 

 

 

Fall into Winter:

HARLAND COUNTY CHRISTMAS takes place from the end of August to December, spanning through fall into winter.

Blurb

Accounting major Jen has one more year to earn her Masters before she graduates and moves out of Harland County to find a corporate job and maybe a good-looking businessman to boot. Cowboys were handsome and fun, but they didn’t stick. Neither did ranch hands. Experience has taught her they come and go, and some took a piece of her heart with them. Well, no more handsome, sexy, cowboys. She wanted a stay around, stable, lifetime type of guy.

Then she returns to the family ranch after a ‘hurrah to summer’ weekend with friends to discover Brock, the hot, one-night stand she’d given herself permission to enjoy, is the new ranch hand. And dang it, she’s just as drawn to his sexy grin, gorgeous green eyes and quiet strength. As the summer ends, classes resume, and the holidays near, the handsome, alpha cowboy has her rethinking her future. So does the unborn baby she’s carrying. Maybe sticking around Harland County isn’t so bad—if she could get Brock to stay, and break out of the ‘leave Jen and move on to another ranch’ mold. 

Fall Overboard:

Set in Texas, this novella has my hero Brock Kincaid falling ‘overboard’ into a sea of debt his grandmother incurred from his late brother’s illness.  He did not plan to fall ‘over-his-head’ in love with the heroine. But, that’s just how I like to roll. 

After the Delaneys left, he helped Jen carry the tea and glasses into the house and had to fight the urge to touch the woman. She’d been beautiful, and sweet, and caring, and he just wanted to soak it all in. Jennifer Dalton was a breath of fresh air he hadn’t realized he’d desperately needed.

He set the glasses in the sink and turned to find her watching him by the center island, appreciation swimming in her eyes.

“Thank you.”

He reeled back. “For what?”

 “For being so nice to the Delaneys.” She set the pitcher on the butcher block counter and smiled. “Some people have trouble.”

“I know,” he agreed, completely floored by her insight. “I had a younger brother with special needs, and believe me, I’m well aware of the narrow-mindedness of the human race.”

Frowning, she stepped close to touch his arm, her fingers warm, and soft, and reassuring. “Where people mean?”

“Some were downright rude, others were very nice. Like you.” He cupped her face and stared into her fathomless eyes. Those gorgeous, sapphire eyes. “Cody would’ve liked you.”

Smiling, tears spilled down her face. “I’m glad.”

His heart cracked open. He was falling. Sunk. So far over the damn edge he couldn’t find a foothold. Pulling her close, he brought his mouth down on hers, tasting and drinking in her sweet essence. This is what he’d needed. This was what had haunted him for weeks now. Her hot, sweet taste, bold tongue, warm curves. She moaned and burrowed closer, slipping her hands under his shirt, touching, stroking him everywhere as he returned the favor. 

Fall from Grace:

My heroine Jen Dalton never intended to fall from grace but her anxiety over her deployed cousin, raised as her brother, coupled with a margarita or three, add in a sexy, kind, concerned stranger, and they equal her first ever one-night stand.

Jen’s insides twisted into a tight knot at the mention of her cousin. He grew up at Shadow Rock, and was more like a brother than cousin. She loved Kade just as much as Kevin, and now he was in harm’s way.

Again.

The horse-whisperer had joined the Texas Army National Guard before he’d graduated high school, and eleven years later, he was still in. This was his third deployment, and with each one, she worried more, slept less, and admittedly wasn’t handling this one well. Always glued to the TV for updates. Days.

Nights.

Registering for classes had even been tough, especially with the mention of casualties in battle on the news. How the heck was she supposed to concentrate after hearing that? She’d managed, barely, then allowed her roommate and friends to persuade her to join them for a much needed ‘summer hurrah’ last weekend.  But, even at the laidback gulf resort, her gaze had been glued to the TV above the outdoor bar.

Until he sat down next to her.

Not her type. Hair a little darker than Sonny’s, smoldering green eyes, strong jaw covered in five-o’clock shadow, which were all actually pretty great, really great. The guy was gorgeous. It was the T-shirt, Levis and Stetson she didn’t like. He was a cowboy.

She swore off cowboys. And ranch hands. And any guy with anything to do with the rodeo circuit.

Especially clowns.  No clowns. They were just…wrong.

But he wasn’t. No. The stranger was a little bit of all right, and by morning, he was no longer a stranger. About the only thing they hadn’t shared were names. He’d called her sapphire and she’d called him cowboy, but once they’d gotten a room, they hadn’t done much talking.

HARLAND COUNTY CHRISTMAS
Prequel Novella

Releases Dec. 1^st and is available for PreOrder  now!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3PON5G

**Need VOTES! I have 2 books nominated in BTS Magazine's Red Carpet Book Awards/Reader's Choice 2014 in the Romance Category!!**

If you've read HER UNIFORM COWBOY or HER FOREVER COWBOY and feel one deserves a vote, I'd sure appreciate the support! And if you like them both, but aren't sure which to pick, then I'd like to ask you to please vote for HER UNIFORM COWBOY to give the National Guard some recognition. Thank you!!

Voting is open until midnight November 21st!

http://btsemag.com/redcarpet/2014_ReadersChoice_Romance.html

Thanks for reading,

~Donna

One Fateful Christmas by Laura Breck

Chapter Three

Bailey shrugged. “It’s a warm night. I’d like to sit on the beach for a while.”

Nick throttled back and they drifted for a minute as he stared out into the Gulf of Mexico. “Yeah. Okay.” He pushed the throttle and turned the boat to run along the thick mangrove trees that lined the shore. On the west side of the island, he turned on his searchlight and aimed it at the trees.

“There it is!” She pointed to the glow strip of plastic wrapped around a thin limb. “How could that still be there?” Surely after six years, it would have blown away or disintegrated. She turned to Nick.

His lips were pressed tightly together. He was keeping something from her. He shrugged as he turned into the opening between two land points covered in tall vegetation. Pulling the boat into the narrow opening, they both had to duck mangrove branches. They reached the tiny bay and Nick steered toward the white sand of the beach that surprisingly hadn’t overgrown with vegetation.

Could he have come back here? Kept the beach cleared? “Wait, did you—“

“Hold on.” He turned the boat sharply and jumped out, splashing into the salty water to tie up the boat in the mangrove roots. “Grab the blanket.”

She pulled it out of its dry cubby, tucked it under her arm, and sat on the bow, her legs hanging over the edge.

He reached up just as he’d done hundreds of times before. She slid down into his arms and let him carry her to the sand. He jiggled her a couple times as he walked. “You’ve gained weight.”

She laughed. He’d said that to her every time he’d carried her. “Actually, I’ve lost about fifteen pounds.” A research job that left her too busy to eat and had her standing for ten hours a day had taken its toll.

He set her down and cupped her cheek. “Are you happy there, Bailey?” His eyes held true concern.

Was she happy? She swallowed the constriction that threatened tears. “I’m doing what I wanted to do since I was a child. It’s rewarding.”

His gaze locked with hers. “Your parents tell me there are hospitals in Florida that do the same thing you’re doing.”

She stepped back. This was all too sudden, too unexpected. The blanket fell to the sand.

Nick picked it up and shook it, then laid it flat on the place they’d once declared their perfect piece of real estate. After staring at the spot for a minute, he shoved his hands in his back pockets and walked to the edge of the beach. It was what he did when he was thinking, and there was no rushing him through the process.

Bailey slid her feet out of her shoes and dug her toes into the fine sand. It tickled between her toes and massaged her tired arches. She tipped her head back, looking for her favorite constellations.

“I came here.” His voice reached her even though he stared out over the water.

She waited.

“I came and cleared the beach.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “I kept our spot the same, Bailey.”

Her breath stalled and heat churned from her heart out through her bloodstream. What was he saying?

Turning back toward the water, his shoulders slumped. “I waited for you.”

Moisture flooded her eyes as air pumped in and out of her lungs. “What do you mean?”

“I dated.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Even brought a couple girls here.” He pulled his hands from his pocket, fisted them, and looked up at the sky. “They weren’t you. No one came close.”

Moisture trickled down her cheeks. To have a man love you that much, for that long, to wait for you... “I dated too, Nick.” He had to know her history, that she’d been with other men, just as he’d been with other women. “No one serious, but I did try to replace you.” The words were out before she could think through what she wanted him to glean from them.

She walked toward him. She would let her heart speak for her, and push aside all reservations, worriesm and logistics. She would permit herself to say what she should have said six years ago. She stopped a yard behind him. “I was wrong to let you go.” He’d been her whole universe. “I should have tried to make it work.”

His head dropped forward. “I couldn’t keep you here. I had nothing to offer.”

Her heart thudded. He’d grown so much in the years they were apart. He never would have admitted that six years ago. He had his life together now, and she had achieved her goal. Maybe this was their time to make their future.

She took those last three steps, slid her hands over his ribs and across his stomach and pulled herself against his back to say the words she might not be able to say to his face. “I love you, Nick. I haven’t stopped loving you all these years.”

He tensed.

Had she said the wrong thing? Had she misunderstood what he was trying to tell her?

In a heartbeat, he turned in her arms and pulled her tight against him. His hands slid up her back to lace into her hair. He held her still, staring intently into her eyes. “Do you mean that, Bailey? Really mean those words?”

“Yes, Nick, I do.” Relief poured through her. It erased all regret and reserve. “I love you, and I want to try again. I want to do everything I can to make this work.” Even if it meant she would have to leave her job and live with her parents until she could find another.

“We’ve changed, you know.” He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the blanket. “It might take some time to get to know each other again.” He laid her on the blanket and stretched out next to her, his arm across her body posessively.

She pressed her fingertip to his lips. “This is all we need right now, Nick.” She tugged off his hat and grabbed his hair the way she’d done a thousand times before. Pulling him closer, she kissed him. “Just us. Right here.” The last place she’d ever expected to spend Christmas.

The End

Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the story.

Laura

~Smart Women ~Sexy Men ~Seductive Romance
LauraBreck.com