“Declan, I never thought you’d ever ask me a question I’d want to say ‘yes’ to.” I laughed, hugging the man who had only ever been like a brother to me. Now, to be my brother in law.
“To baby bro and Pia. May they be as happy as a pig in—” Declan started the first toast before a piercing squeal and then siren sounded from the kitchen.
The fire alarm!
“No, my turkey!” Mum called, racing down the other end of the house to try and save her Christmas dinner. Beth Reiss followed but by the time we all got there, the old oven had claimed yet another victim.
Burnt turkey and smoldering vegetables that were more charcoal than roasted.
“At least there’s more fruit punch, and beer.” Dad shrugged. “I’ve probably got a couple of kilos of sausages in the freezer. Won’t take long to set up the bar-b-que.” He looked to Declan and Kade, “Assuming you boys can give me a hand.”
“Actually, sir, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
Before he followed my father, Kade cupped my hands, staring into my eyes as if we had all the time in the world. By the time his lips found mine, I craved his taste, his touch, his everything.
While our mouths ravaged each other, our hands kept things surprisingly PG-rated. Out of deference to our parents, and because I knew that one touch and we’d both explode. Our lips on the other hand, had minds of their own and mine never wanted to let Kade go.
“I love you,” I mouthed as he pulled away to join my father.
“Hold that thought!” Kade winked, leaving me to be enveloped by our mothers.
I’d never had a Christmas day like it.
In the arms of the man I’d always loved.
Surrounded by my family who’d only ever wanted me to be happy and had been hoping I’d come home and find the love of my life waiting for me to realize—he’d been here all along. I hadn’t needed Sydney or online dating. I’d only needed to follow my heart.
My poor mother was never going to live down the embarrassment of destroying her Christmas lunch. Although, almost burning down the kitchen was going to be a story to rival Kade and my surprise engagement. Something to retell at every Country Women’s Association meeting for decades to come.
Still, in true Aussie country ingenuity, we made do.
Finding dad’s secret stores of sausages and a couple of legs of lamb in one of the old freezers, lunch was late, but no one went hungry.
We had Christmas cake, hazelnut torte and mum’s famous pavlova for entre. Balancing plates of what should have been dessert on our laps as we sat outside. Catching up on shared friends, family and town gossip.
Kade only let me leave his lap when he joined the other men, taking his place at my father’s side to look after the meat once it was ready to cook. Throwing a couple of cobs of corn in the embers to charcoal for snacks before they were able to rescue Christmas.
My mother’s beautifully decorated Christmas table remained unspoilt by spilt drinks and food as we spent a lazy Christmas day gathered in the sun around the bar-b-que. Beers in the boys’ hands and wine for us girls. It wasn’t a gender thing, just the way things were.
My family.
My life.
“Babe?” Kade pulled me away from the crowd. I followed him without question, through the house and back to the front verandah. Underneath the bottlebrush wreath.
We hadn’t been alone since he placed his ring on my finger. Surrounded by well wishing family who were full of advice and my sister who’d already found pages of fashion ideas. Mostly for her, but a couple of dresses I’d go back and look at later.
Today was about celebrating family, and Kade.
One crazy pact with my friends, and this is what happened. I’d found the man of my dreams, only a couple of kilometres away from where I’d grown up.
I trembled despite the summer heat. The by-play between Kade and my father hadn’t gone unnoticed. One of the problems of growing up together, was that daddy had also watched the Reiss boys get into the usual scraps and trouble. Graffiti sprayed on lambs. Tractors bogged where they shouldn’t have been driven. A bonfire that almost took out a lambing shed.
Luckily, there were no broken local female hearts or angry fathers attributed to Kade. Still, daddy would have wanted to have his fun making sure Kade knew I’d always remain daddy’s little girl.
“Babe?” Kade asked again, pulling me into his arms underneath the wreath. This time, there were no parents or family to censor our bodies touching. Hips in an ever so gentle grind. I didn’t need his kisses to feel his desire. Or hear his words to know his love.
“Yes, fiancé?” My new, favorite word.
“I realized I’d forgotten something important.”
“Which was?”
“I never actually said the words.”
My head dropped to the side as I thought back. The small box had been my real Christmas present, and Kade had told me it meant exactly what it seemed. The email from his lawyer had been clear. Even the whole discussion about him not wanting to know if I sold the ring or wore it.
But no, he’d never asked the question.
“Didn’t you want to ask the question until you knew what the answer would be?” I teased. My chin lifted to his, breathlessly waiting for the words I’d waited almost a lifetime to hear.
“Pia Morgan. I love you. I always have and want the rest of our lives to prove that I always will.”
He paused at the same time my heart stopped beating.
Waiting.
“Pia Morgan, will you marry me?”
If he didn’t need to use his words to become my fiancé, I didn’t need them to give my decision.
Instead, my lips found his and I kissed my yes.
I’m so glad you finished Her Christmas Romance Surprise.
While you’re here, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads or both!
Get the full set of Christmas Kisses today and enjoy JoJo, Abbie and Zara’s quest to beg, borrow, buy or steal a man for Christmas.
And no matter where you live or what your faith, may you and your family have a very Merry Christmas Kenna
Wait, there is more…
Who is Kenna Shaw Reed?
Christmas is a special time. It was in church the year before I met my husband that I prayed to find the future father of my children—someone who would be my best friend and lover. Now, I’ve been married to the love of my life for more years than we can count. Together we are surviving three teenagers, two dogs, a cat and a bird. I wish I could say he was my first love, but there were a few false starts before he swept me off my feet.
I’ve always had the dream of writing “when I have time,” but when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it became obvious the future starts today.
They say, “write what you want to read,” so my first books were choose your own romances where women are at a cross-road in their life, and have two or three options for love. When one happily ever after is not enough, you get to choose your own!
All my books can be read stand-alone or in any order, but you will meet the same characters across my heartwarming Romance with Passion, steamy Passion without Rules and alpha-male heroes in Aussie Military Romance series.
I love hearing from you and writing the romances you want. Bringing complex and flawed characters to you in a way that allows us all to believe in a happily ever after. Love is complicated, and the best love stories are never easy. I hope you join me – and keep in touch.
What to read next?
All my books can be read in order or stand alone.
In each of my Christmas Kisses, one of four friends are willing to beg, borrow or buy a man for Christmas. Read them in order, or in any order. Or go straight to the Christmas Kisses Complete Series and get your exclusive epilogue.
Her Surprise Christmas Noel (Book 2: JoJo)
JoJo needed a date for Christmas. Noel needed to make up for his mistake. It was only supposed to be a fake date, but what if it becam
e real?
JoJo
When I wanted love to knock me off my feet, I didn’t mean for it to crash into me. Literally.
I’d wanted a fake Christmas romance. Someone to show off to my friends and family for the holidays. But I didn’t count on Noel Roberts.
Destroying my car and taking my breath away. Before driving me to distraction—on a two-day trip home for Christmas.
If only my brain could remind my heart that Noel Roberts is my fake boyfriend, and that the love I think we’ve found, isn’t real.
Noel
JoJo is the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met.
Unfortunately, I’m too much of a gentleman to leave a woman stranded and unable to get home for Christmas. Especially when I’m the reason.
By days we fight—a lot.
By nights we make up—a lot.
We might have to sell our fake romance as real. But I don’t think my heart got the message.
Unwrapping Her Christmas Gift (Book 3: Abbie)
Abbie thought it was too late to find a date for Christmas. Tristan didn’t expect to find a woman who could see past his act. But can one night together be enough to stop Abbie’s fear of repeating the past? Or can a man who makes his living unwrapping clothes from his body be the man to unwrap her heart?
Abbie
How on earth am I going to explain the sexy man in my bed? Especially since my family are expecting me to introduce a boyfriend at Christmas lunch.
I don’t have a boyfriend.
But last night, after Tristan shed his clothes on stage, I was ready to take a one-night risk.
He was supposed to remain my secret. Except Christmas plans have changed and lunch has been moved to my place. Even worse, now discovered, Tristan has decided to have fun playing the role of my fake boyfriend.
Only the longer we are fake, the more real it feels. At least, to me.
Tristan
I’d never believed in insta-love.
One night of magic and all my Christmas’ came true.
There is one thing surer than the sun will rise tomorrow.
Unless her sister ruins everything, I’ll be unwrapping Abbie for more than Christmas.
Her Surprise Christmas Kiss (Book 4: Zara)
Vince
I know, it’s going to take a Christmas miracle to prove to Zara I deserve a second chance. Luckily, Christmas Eve is the time for miracles, and I’ve got all night to make up for lost time. One Christmas church service for each of the five we’ve missed. But if Zara is taking home someone for Christmas, has it all been too little and too late?
Zara
It’s not that I hate Christmas.
I love counting down the last twelve days. I love the peace, goodwill and the promise of a new year. Reading the Christmas cards with handwritten letters. A story, if you will, of the year past.
But, for five years I’ve avoided going home.
Our last merry Christmas was the last day before she-who-shall-be-forever-nameless gave my fiancé the ultimatum.
He chose her.
I don’t hate Christmas. I hate the memories of that one Christmas.
Five years on and I still love him. But it will take more than making me laugh to win back my trust.
Aussie Military Romance series
After all they do to protect and serve, these Australian heroes deserve a happily ever after. And they have the bodies and the means to defend the women they love from enemies foreign and domestic. You won’t be able to resist men who fight hard and love harder with these four military romances with a side of suspense. Check out Avenge Her today.
Passion Without Rules
Catch up with the bad boys you didn’t want to resist from the Choose Your Own Romance series. Take him home to find his last chance at love. No choices, only steam. Who is Erebus and Random Fantasies out now.
Romance with Passion
The good men from the Choose Your Own Romance series deserve their own happily ever after. No choices to make. Only inspiring, heartfelt, romantic passion.
Choose Your Own Romance
When one happily ever after is not enough, choose your own. Read them as stand alone or as a series.
Get your FREE introduction to Choose Your Own Romance
When Catherine can’t decide between the three sexy men in her life, it’s up to you to choose for her. See how fun it is to be in control of the story. Curl up with The Bad Kitty today.
Table of Contents
Christmas KissesBook 1: Pia
Wait, there is more…
Her Christmas Romance Surprise Page 10
