Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge: New Holiday Romances to Benefit St. Jude Hospital
Page 12
“So will you come with me to Seattle?” he asked.
I made a face. “I have a ton of work to get back to.” Returning from vacation was always a nightmare—what with the hundreds of missed emails—and I hadn’t even had my vacation. “But you’re welcome to come visit me in LA. My condo has a pool.” I added that last bit to sweeten the deal, but I’m not sure it was necessary, because he agreed with alacrity before I even got the word pool out.
“And maybe then you’ll visit me in Seattle and fall in love with it and move there.”
“With Seattle?” I blinked. “Doesn’t it rain there?”
“Hardly ever.” He grinned so I knew he was lying. “Or you could fall in love with me and move there. Either would work. I’m flexible.”
“Mmm,” I murmured as I kissed him. “If memory serves, you are very flexible.”
We kissed. You know, to seal the deal. And also, because we enjoyed kissing.
When the staff started leaving, I nearly started crying. They left in fits and starts, and with each departure, I felt a swell of genuine love for each and every one of them. We had developed such a bond. How had that happened so quickly?
I actually teared up when Wren and Olivia took off.
When Coop’s team left, Mungo took Mason, because Coop would be coming with me to LA for a week and Mason didn’t like to fly—not even in private planes.
Before we took off as well, I did another check on the house and staff lodge, making sure everything was ready for whatever came next. Then Coop and I grabbed our luggage and loaded my rental car. It was such a domestic thing to do, it sent a shiver through me. Was I really ready for this kind of domesticity? Was I really ready to settle with one man?
And then, I had to laugh, because it wasn’t settling. It wasn’t settling at all.
As we stood by the car and stared at the beautiful lodge, all noble and silent and bathed in a sprinkling of snow, he put his arms around me and held me, and I realized what this really was.
It was my fairy tale.
And it had come true.
Would we make it this time?
If I had to guess, I’d say, damn straight we would.
Damn fricking straight.
Epilogue
Two Weeks Later
Coop woke me up with a big sloppy kiss on Sunday morning. After a week of staying together at my place, I’d come up to visit him in Seattle. I loved his big comfy bed and flannel sheets. Mostly, I liked the way he warmed them.
I knew by now to expect him to wake up early and bring me coffee when he got tired of being alone, so the big sloppy kiss was kind of a surprise, but it was nice.
Except his breath. His breath was terrible.
I was about to tell him to go and brush, when, from the doorway, he bellowed, “Mason, stop that.”
I opened my eyes to see a gaping maw right before my eyes. Big teeth. Lolling tongue. Really bad breath.
Egads.
“Get off the bed.” Coop hauled the great beast to the floor and sat down beside me with my coffee. I took it and sipped. Moaned. It was good.
And then, once my brain kicked in, “I can’t believe your dog just French kissed me.”
He grinned. “At least he likes you.”
I sighed and studied the Rottie. “I think he misses Lola.”
“Maybe I should get a Chihuahua.”
I made a face. “Not if I’m going to live here!” During the past week I’d pitched my ideas for expanded staff training to the Grimm brothers, the owners of Eden Inc., and they’d loved the idea. Since the trainings could take place anywhere, I suggested we set up headquarters in Seattle. They’d agreed.
So, yeah. I was moving.
To Seattle.
And I had a new job!
Before this, the thought would have horrified me. Leaving my home? My job? My world? No way. I was, to be frank, in one hell of a rut. I hadn’t been unhappy, but I sure as hell hadn’t been happy. I’d been with someone, but always felt alone. I’d been marking time, and that’s no way to live a life.
But now I had a reason to make a change.
Now I had Cooper.
We were definitely a thing. A thing that could really last.
Not to mention, the new position had a nicer paycheck…
During the week at my place, when I worked, he lounged around the pool. When I came home, he was there.
I’d never had someone to come home to before.
I liked it.
I liked it a lot.
I especially liked that the two of us chose to stay together.
When I chose him. Chose Seattle.
It wouldn’t be easy and I would have some large adjustments to make…
Most specifically, “No Chihuahua.”
“Okay,” he said with a sly grin. “We’ll see.”
This, I did not dignify with a response.
He leaned back on the pillow and looked at me. Just looked at me, until I said, “What?”
“I’m just happy, Vic.”
“I’m happy too.” Not trite in the least.
Wow. How’d that happen?
“I mean, we’re together again.” He lifted his arm and I cuddled in. “I can’t tell you how freaking…happy that makes me.”
“Me too.”
He held me for a long while. Just held me.
I reveled in every second.
Then he kissed me on the nose and asked, “So, Vic. What did you think about your blast from the past? Being back at Mistletoe? Being one of the shrubbery people again?”
Egads. What did I think? About all of it?
Herding my staff and sleeping in a crowded bunk for a week? Mason’s farts all night long?
“It was terrible,” I told him. “I loved every minute.”
Also by Sabrina York
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
James Patterson BookShots
Bedding the Highlander
Noble Passions Series
Friends and enemies tangle in the dark underbelly and High Tea Rooms of Regency London. Och, aye. And Scotland too!
Dark Fancy, Book 1
Dark Duke, Book 2
Brigand, Book 3
Defiant, Book 4
Folly, Book 5
Waterloo Heroes Series
Can Love Heal a Wounded Heart?
Tarnished Honor, Book 1
Call of the Wild Wind, Book 2
Untamed Highlanders Series
Hot Highlanders and Independent Lasses
Hannah and the Highlander, Book 1
Susana and the Scot, Book 2
Lana and the Laird, Book 3
Say Yes to the Scot Anthology
The Highlander Is All That, Book 4
What a Highlander’s Got to Do, Book 5
The Dundragon Time Travel Trilogy
Laird of Her Heart, Book 1
Her Hot Highlander Book 2 (Coming Soon)
His Highland Lass Book 3 (Coming Soon)
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Wired Series
Office Hijinks are seriously off limits. Seriously!
Adam’s Obsession, Book 1
Tristan’s Temptation, Book 2
Making Over Maris, Book 3
Stone Hard SEALs
Action Adventure Romance
Stone Hard SEALs (Action-Packed Military Romance Duet) Book 1 & 2
Guard Dog, Book 3
Herding Cat, Book 4
Hot Rod, Book 5
Gun Shy, Book 6
Whipped (Contemporary Romance)
Stripped Down Cowboys (And Prequel Novellas)
Come visit the Stud Ranch! Yee Haw.
Prequel Novellas
The Real McCoy Prequel Book 1
Come Hell or High Water Prequel Book 2
Protect and Serve Prequel Book 3
Novels
Stud For Hire, Book 1
Cowboy to Command, Book 2
Spurred On, Book 3
Tryst Island Series
&
nbsp; Steamy Contemporary Romance Series about friends & lovers
Rebound Book 1
Dragonfly Kisses Book 2
Smoking Holt Book 3
Heart of Ash Book 4
Devlin’s Dare Book 5
Parker’s Passion Book 6
Stand Alone Kickass Romance
Heartbreak on a Stick (Trope-tastic Contemporary Romance)
Pool Man (Sexy Vacation Debacle)
Fierce (One Night Stand Series, Decadent Publishing)
Snow Angels (Calendar Men Series, Publishing)
PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Wicked Enchantment
Trickery
COLLECTIONS & ANTHOLOGIES
Say Yes to the Scot (Historical Romance)
Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge (Contemporary Romance)
Dukes by the Dozen (Historical Romance)
Elite Metal/Action Adventure
Lithium’s Rescue—Elite Ghosts
Sterling’s Seduction—Elite Metal
Cesium’s Capture—Elite Elements
Something Completely Different?
As in Sabrina’s Evil Twin Writes a Space Opera?
The Viridian Convict, by Sam York
(Readers recommend reading the glossary first)
About the Author
Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous romances. She loves writing in all genres and sub-genres so her books range from sweet & snarky to scorching hot. And occasionally snarky and hot at the same time. Whatevs. You get the point. Thar be snark in them thar books! You have been warned.
Whether your jam is hot Highlanders; suave, urbane (and naughty) Dukes, scorching hot SEALs in action, sexy stripper Cowboys (at the Stud Ranch) or a hot, horny guy trapped for centuries in a magical lamp… Sabrina has something for you! Check out excerpts for all her books at SabrinaYork.Com.
Sabrina’s recent accolades include: 2018 Holt Medallion Winner, 2017 RITA Nominee for Susana and the Scot, and 2017 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Who knows? You might win a tiara. Represented by Nicole Rescinti with the Seymour Agency.
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Join Sabrina’s VIP newsletter list—and receive 2 free books to try her out—at Sabrinayork.com/gift. I promise, I only reach out when I have news you want to hear about a coming book or tiara giveaway. Please tell your friends. It is my solemn belief that everyone on this planet should have at least one tiara. I humbly do what little I can to contribute to that kind of utopia. Sigh. If only more people knew about my books and my tiara mission. Please do share the word. HELP SABRINA BLING THE WORLD! (Or at least my corner of it!)
Social Media Links & Connections
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Come and play!
A Kiss Under A Blue Christmas Moon
A Kiss Under A Blue Christmas Moon
(Daydreams & Dragonflies Rock ‘N Sweet Romance 4)
By USA Today Bestselling Author
Tamara Ferguson
Praise for Tamara Ferguson
#1 INTERNATIONAL &
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
TAMARA FERGUSON
8 Time Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards Medal Winner
Short Story Fiction, Romance Suspense, Fiction Intrigue & the Bronze, Silver & Gold Medal Winner for Military Fiction (2019, 2018, 2016, 2015)
2018 New Apple Solo Romance Medalist (Two Hearts Find Christmas)
2018 Top Shelf Finalist (Two Hearts Surrendered, Two Hearts Unbroken)
9 Time Independent Authors Network Book of the Year Finalist (2018, 2017, 2016)
Romance, Mystery, Women’s Fiction and Novellas
#13 Best Indie Book of 2017
(Two Hearts’ Christmas Wish)
2 Time Romance Reviews Reader’s Choice Award Winner
New Adult Romance & Anthology Romance (2016 & 2015)
New Apple Romance Selection for Literary Excellence (2016)
National Indie Excellence Awards Romance Finalist (2015)
4 Time Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner
About the Daydreams & Dragonflies Rock ‘N Sweet Romance Series & Other Books By Tamara~
Tamara creates stories that are so enchanting, they will make your heart stop-
Faridah Nassozi For Reader's Favorite
Tamara Ferguson has a deft hand when it comes to writing romance. She chooses her words and scenes carefully so that the reader never forgets that romance doesn't always come easy in the real world. Sometimes it may need a little help from a magical setting, a good friend, or an innocent child-
Ray Simmons for Readers’ Favorite
Wow. Just wow! How’s that for a review? Author Tamara Ferguson has done an absolutely wonderful job in creating characters that her readers will relate to, care about and continue to think of long after the novella is done, and if that isn’t the hallmark of a great author, I don’t know what is—
Tracy Slowiak for Readers' Favorite
Book Description
After moving with her father from Chicago to Crystal Rock, Wisconsin, student Mia Michaels is excited to be invited to participate at the local music camp during the summer. Overlooking her father’s lack of enthusiasm, Mia has been planning a future in music her entire life.
Despite a music scholarship offer, Noah Erikson will be enlisting in the Air Force to help support the grandparents who raised him. Blue Moon’s band leader, Noah’s been crazy about Mia since the moment he saw her, and when he serenades her at a magical beach concert with a song he wrote for her, they can’t fight their feelings any longer.
Few people know of Noah’s status as a scholar, including Mia’s father, who can’t see past the kid who wears an earring and rides a Harley. When Noah comes home on leave and agrees to meet Mia for a Christmas rendezvous at the romantic Mistletoe Lodge, Mia’s father sabotages their plans before Noah’s sent overseas to Iraq.
Six years after escaping her controlling father, choreographer Mia returns to Crystal Rock and discovers Lieutenant Noah Erikson has never stopped loving her. Can Noah break through Mia’s heart, or will it be another Blue Christmas without her?
To those of us who’ve never stopped reaching for the stars…
1
“Mia,” Bree said excitedly, elbowing her in the ribs. “Look who’s here. I told you, he can’t keep his eyes off you.”
Mia snorted, muttering under her breath, “Yeah, right. Like Noah Erikson would ever notice someone like me.”
“Like you? Geez,” Bree said dryly, her eyes moving over Mia from head to toe. “If only I had your kind of problems.”
Mia grinned, suddenly remembering her arrival in Crystal Rock last fall. After staring into the mirror and studying her dark brown hair and deep blue eyes, she’d wondered if there was something wrong with her because she was having so much trouble making friends.
Mia had been attending classes for a couple weeks during the first semester of her junior year, when Bree had approached, introducing herself. Realizing they had a lot in common, Bree and Mia had been best friends ever since.
When Bree had informed her it was because of her looks that the girls in the class didn’t want to be around her, Mia had never been so surprised. Supposedly, they considered her competition in the small town of Crystal Rock.
Mia glanced up from where she sat eating lunch at the table in the cafeteria, and caught Noah Erikson looking her way from where he stood in the food line. With raven black hair, a little longish around the collar, and chiseled features etched into a somewhat boyish face, he was so cute, she thought, for about the millionth time; even with a goatee on his chin. He was a little on the thin side, but Noah was probably about five foot ten, possibly a little taller.
Could Bree be right—had he really been checking her out? Mia had been running into him an awful lot during the past few months, both in and out of school.
The thought made her shiver. Noah was a senior, just about ready to graduate. She didn’t know much about him, except for the fact he wore an earring and drove a Harley, and most of the guys in her class considered it cool because he obviously had independence.
Mia sighed in resignation. What was she thinking? Even if he wanted to take her on a date, her dad would definitely not approve.