“You’re too much, Mel,” I laughed.
After Silas and I had spent the night getting acquainted with one another, he had made breakfast while I worked in the shop trying to piece together something for Melonie that would work in a pinch. From the way she was gushing over everything, I knew I had done a good job.
“I have to say, this is even better than what we had planned out.”
I wouldn’t go that far, but it was pretty amazing. Bright reds with lush greens made the perfect bouquet that popped off the bright white of her gown.
“She did amazing.”
Mel and I both turned to see Silas standing next to archway I had also hodge-podged together. “I’m pretty sure you’re biased,” I laughed.
A smile touched his lips, and he didn’t need to speak. I knew what he was thinking.
“Holy hell. That’s where you were last night,” Melonie exclaimed. “Your mom had said you had went to your bed early.”
“Well,” he chuckled, “I went to bed early, it just wasn’t my bed.”
Melonie threw her hands in the air. “It’s a Christmas miracle,” she cried.
I grabbed her and shook my head. “Bring it down a notch, girl. This is your day, not mine.”
She scoffed and bunched her dress in her hand so she could walk. While Melonie looked amazing, her full dress was a bit hard to walk in. “Oh please. You getting some is definitely something to celebrate.”
Melonie scuttered off down the hallway chattering about telling everyone.
“You sure you don’t want to stop her?” Silas asked.
I turned to look at him. “Do you want me to?” Was he having second thoughts? Did he not want anyone to know about us? Was this just a one-time thing? Had I read this all wrong?
“Ainsley,” he called.
My eyes focused on him. “Oh, my God.”
“Come here.”
I mindlessly walked to him and face-planted into his chest. “You don’t want this, do you?”
His body went solid under me, and he grabbed me by the shoulders. He pushed me back and looked down at me. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“You asked me if I wanted Melonie to tell everyone. That means you don’t want her to.”
“Where in the hell did you get that from? I just meant, did you want to be the one to tell people and not her?”
I blinked slowly. “Really?”
“Yeah, really. You know as soon as my mother finds out, everyone is going to know.”
“But I’m okay with that.”
He nodded his head. “Good, because from the chatter coming from the hallway, I would have to say our secret is out.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“You didn’t hear a word I said last night, did you?” he asked.
I had heard them, but I wasn’t sure if, in the light of day, he meant them. “I heard them, I guess a new day brings questions and doubts.”
“What questions?”
“How do we do this, Silas? I don’t want to leave, and you have a life in L.A.”
He shook his head. “Lee, I don’t think that’s a problem at all. You live here, and I plan on coming to visit a hell of a lot more. Plus, I’d love to show you L.A.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yes. I want to share everything with you, Ainsley, and that means L.A. too.”
“I’d really like that.”
“I figured you would,” he chuckled. “Although, I’m going to miss the hell out of you when we’re half way across the country from each other. I just got you back, and I’m not looking forward to the days where I can’t touch you.”
A smirk spread across my lips. “Have you ever heard of sexting?”
The End
About the Author
Winter Travers is a devoted wife, mother, and aunt turned author who was born and raised in Wisconsin. After a brief stint in South Carolina following her heart to chase the man who is now her hubby, they retreated back up North to the changing seasons, and to the place they now call home.
Winter spends her days writing happily ever afters, and her nights zipping around on her forklift at work. She also has an addiction to anything MC related, her dog Thunder, and Mexican food! (Tamales!)
Winter loves to stay connected with her readers. Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact her.
www.facebook.com/wintertravers
Twitter: @WinterTravers
Instagram: @WinterTravers
http://500145315.wix.com/wintertravers
Check out the Whole Scrooged Collaboration this holiday season.
Braxton
BSM Stoneking
When his parents die in a car crash just before Christmas, and the abusive orphanage he’s sent to grow up in kicks him out the day before Christmas Eve, Braxton Scrooge chooses to leave the one person who completes him, leaving her in tears on Christmas Day, to become a cold big-shot million-dollar business owner.
Forget the Ghost of Christmas Past. With a history like Braxton Scrooge’s, how could one ever enjoy the Christmas season?
Braxton regrets nothing—until his true love, Gemma, re-enters his life. Only the Ghost of Christmas Future can give him the reality check he needs to stop being such a vengeful scrooge—before he loses her forever.
When it comes to love, the real question to ask yourself is, how far are you willing to go to ensure your partner still feels your love even after you’ve left her side? Because the love Braxton and Gemma rekindle will turn out to be the most unconventional love you’ll ever find.
Brendan
Jennifer Domenico
I hate Christmas. Hate. I have my reasons, none of which I talk about. Ever. It suits me just fine to wallow in misery every year from late November to January. I just want to be left alone in my quiet home far away from the nonsense of the season.
Unfortunately, one of Santa’s elves just bought the unit next to mine, sprinkling her ridiculous festive spirit all over my perfectly insulated existence. But she can spread all the Christmas cheer she wants. It has no effect on me.
At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
Daxton
Julia Goda
Daxton McArthur is a successful but cold businessman. For reasons he never discusses, he has no time for the frivolities the Christmas season brings. A surly man normally, he turns it up a notch when Santa’s elves come out to play. This year, that personality flaw might cost him.
Instead of finding joy by helping a friend, Emersyn Moore finds herself bearing the brunt of Daxton McArthur’s disdain. Usually a good-natured person, Emersyn is pushed to the end of her patience by his scowls and sneers.
When he’s stranded in the middle of a snowstorm, she feels obligated to take him in. It is Christmas Eve, after all.
What happens when two worlds collide and they’re not as different as they thought? Will the light Emersyn's smile promises be enough to bring Dax back to life, or will he run, forever hiding in the darkness of his past mistakes?
Grayson
Regina Frame
Grayson Decker is a man with many titles. New York's Man of the Year. New York's Most Eligible Bachelor, but when he meets the feisty Aubree Lane, he earns the title of Scrooge. When Grayson's parents push him to marry and even force to assist in finding the perfect wife, Grayson takes matters into his own hands.
Aubree Lane is a college drop out, working part-time in a coffee shop, desperate to make ends meet, but finds herself in danger of eviction from her run-down apartment in a sketchy neighborhood. When Grayson Decker sets his sights on her, he makes her an offer she can't refuse or is it the other way around? When he offers her $50K to be his fake fiancée for three weeks, she throws a wrench into his plan. She'll go along with his idea, but it will cost him $100K and Christmas Dinner with her family.
When their agreement ends, will he be able to let her go? Will she refuse to stay?
Luke
CP Smith
If Luke
Knight could change anything about his life, it would be the day his nephew died. Filled with guilt, Luke lived a lonely existence. Until the day an angel crashed into his truck... and struck his heart.
Anna Stubbs knew one thing without question: God has a reason for everything. Her optimism and faith shine from within, and no matter how hard Luke tries, he can’t ignore it.
When life throws an unexpected curveball, both Luke and Anna will need to reach deep inside themselves this holiday season, and learn to have faith that God is in control and duck slippers truly are a man’s undoing.
Michael
FG Adams
Do holiday wishes really come true?
For kindergarten teacher, Holly Mary Edwards, she’s banking on a miracle when the man of her dreams returns from duty abroad.
Decorated army doctor, Michael Barnes, is not ready to face the holiday season after his fiancé leaves him for another man. Michael is convinced it’s time to put happiness in a tight little box and ship it back to the North Pole.
He wasn't expecting Holly. And when the sexy Holly-jolly nymph takes it upon herself to divest him of his Mr. Scrooged attitude, she'll do anything to bring him into the jingle bell jolly.
Silas
Winter Travers
Silas Warlack doesn't have time for anything other than running a multi-million dollar business thousands of miles away from his hometown. He especially doesn’t have time for frivolous things like the holidays and family. Too bad his mother doesn’t understand that.
Ainsley Crowne finally has everything she ever dreamed of in her life—amazing friends and a successful flower shop all in her hometown. But a blast from the past blowing back into town and her best friend’s wedding just before Christmas remind her of the one thing missing in her life: Love.
Will Ainsley and Silas realize what they had was once in a lifetime or will they be too stubborn and let the holiday miracle in their midst pass them by?
Travis
Tracie Douglas
Travis Malone is a grinch, and he’s damn proud of it. If he never sees another twinkle light or smells a fresh batch of Christmas cookies in his life, he’ll die a happy man.
Olivia Wilder needs to make this Christmas the most memorable for her daughter. It’s their first holiday in their new life.
When Liv moves in next door, Travis learns how fast the Christmas spirit can seep into his world, and he struggles to ignore the growing attraction he feels for the single mom. But when he declares war, Liv is determined to win, even if it means getting the whole neighborhood involved.
Will Travis’ Ghost of Christmas Past destroy any chance at joy during the holiday season? Or will Olivia be able to give him the Christmas miracle he didn’t know he was looking for?
Zaiden
Mayra Statham
World-famous fashion photographer, Zaiden Klausen, is a jerk of a boss. That’s why, after two years, I quit four days before Christmas. But then he makes me an offer I can’t refuse.
What’s the worst thing that can happen?
Michele Henlin is the best makeup artist he has ever worked with. When she quits unexpectedly, he finds himself begging a woman for the first time in his life.
One more photoshoot. That’s all he wants from her.
Until a nightmare of what a future without her in his life would be kicks him into high gear to convince her he isn’t the scrooged-up man she thinks he is.
Zane
Jessika Klide
Zane Lockhart is a coldhearted, selfish Las Vegas cop who hates Christmas and proudly owns the nickname, Sergeant Scrooge. Refusing to celebrate it in any way except the bellowing of "Bah Humbug," he insists it’s just another day.
While on patrol with his new partner, a K9 cop named, Bruce Wayne aka Batman, he has a chance encounter with a hot chick and sets up a midnight date with her. Off-duty and ready to score a hookup, the two are getting acquainted, when a robbery occurs and Zane comes face to face with a past full of scars, and a present full of secrets.
This Christmas discover that real heroes are born not made, that love is truly magical, that "Bah Humbug" can be weaponized, and a future full of sorrow can be rescued.
Check out the Devil’s Knights Series
Loving Lo: Devil’s Knights Series Book 1
Finding love again was never in Meg's plans. One eventful morning at the dollar store changes her life forever.
Can she let Lo in her life without losing herself again? Or will she walk away from the one true thing that could make her happy?
Finding Cyn: Devil’s Knights Series Book 2
Beaten and broken down by the man who was supposed to be her happy ending, Cyn’s lost and alone, with no happy ending in sight.
Can Rigid break through Cyn’s walls, showing her she is more than her shattered past, or will her demons consume her before Rigid can find her?
Gravel’s Road: Devil’s Knights Series Novella Book 3
Ethel had her happily ever after. It may have ended too soon, but it was more than some people got. After Gravel gets hurt, it’s Ethel to the rescue, nursing him back to health, and unearthing feelings she had tried to hide for so long.
Gravel doesn’t want to settle down. He’s lived his life his way for the past forty years, why mess with something that isn’t broke? Except Ethel manages to sneak her way in, making Gravel second guess his plan, wondering if maybe there has been something missing all along.
Battling Troy: Devil’s Knights Series Book 4
A one night stand; that was all it was supposed to be. At least that’s what Marley thought.
After a blundered kidnapping, Troy and Marley are constantly thrown together, fighting an attraction they both don’t want, but can’t be denied.
Who will be the first to raise the white flag and surrender to their desires, realizing some battles are worth fighting?
Gambler’s Longshot: Devil’s Knights Series Book 5
Opposites attract, or so they say.
With Gwen constantly throwing sass and questioning every word that comes out of Gambler’s mouth, Gambler and Gwen maybe the first couple to prove that saying wrong.
All Gambler wants to do is keep Gwen safe and that’s it. He never expected the unwanted attraction and the need to protect her no matter what.
Gambler’s intentions maybe true, but Gwen has learned the hard way that things are not always what they seem.
Can Gambler persuade Gwen to take a chance on him, or will all bets be off?
Keeping Meg: Devil’s Knights Series Book 6
After years of heartbreak and being married to the wrong man, Meg has finally found what she always wanted with Lo.
Except there’s one problem. Lo is keeping something from Meg and Meg is more than determined to figure out what it is.
Will they make it down the aisle and ride off into the sunset, or will life get in the way and have Meg make a decision she might regret for the rest of her life?
Fighting Demon: Devil’s Knights Series Book 7
A shared past that no one knew about until Demon and Paige’s worlds collided again.
Demon and Paige both made mistakes eight years ago, tearing apart the love they had for each other.
Now, Demon has Paige in his sights again, and he isn’t going to let her go. But things aren’t always what they seem.
Could Demon and Paige be over before they even start again, or will the past fade, making room for the ending they’ve always wanted?
Unraveling Fayth: Devil’s Knights Series, Book 8
Fayth doesn’t know what she wants anymore. Torn between the life she used to live or staying in Rockton, Fayth can’t decide which future she wants. All she knows is that the one man who won’t leave her side is the one man who is taking over her heart. Everyday Slider relives the moment he thought he had lost Fayth before he even had the chance to have her. Now, with Fayth back in Rockton, he’s never letting her out of his sight. Although, someone else has other plans
; Danger is lurking, and Slider is the one man that will keep her safe.
He let her down once.
He’ll never let it happen again.
The score is finally settled in this thrilling conclusion to the Devil’s Knights Series.
Take a ride with the Jensen Boys
Downshift: Skid Row Kings Series Book 1
Luke Jensen lived on the wrong side of the tracks all his life, but that never stopped him from realizing his dream and making it a reality. Now, the King of the Street Racing scene, he finally has everything he wants and he won’t let anyone take it away from him.
Violet Barnes lived a sheltered life growing up, never fitting in except in the books that she loved. After losing her parents, she forges forward, creating her own little world, content in being alone.
When Violet stumbles into Luke’s shop, sparks fly but neither can let go of the hard lessons they learned growing up.
Will Violet give Luke a chance to prove he’s not just another gear head? Or will Luke write Violet off before they even have a chance to see that they both need to let go of their past, and focus on the future?
Powershift: Skid Row Kings Series, Book 2
Mitch Jensen knows what it’s like to have nothing and claw your way up from the bottom. Living with nothing growing up, he’s always strived to help those in need. Except, he’s never met someone who didn’t want his help.
Scarlett James is running from a life she never wanted but was too afraid to leave. Free from the man who was destroying her, she now has to find her way and build a new life for her and her son.
Silas: A Scrooged Christmas Page 5
