by Kate Benson
“You love him,” she sings teasingly. “Abby loves Santa.”
“I barely know him,” I argue. “And I do not love Sant- err… Dex. I don’t love him, but I do like him,” I admit. “I just…”
“What?”
“I’m going back to school and he lives in Allentown.”
“So,” she shrugs. “That’s perfect. That’s where you’re about to be.”
“Yeah, in six months. A lot can happen in six months. Look what happened in a week!” I argue, gesturing to the candy cane striped tights I’ve yet to peel off. “How do I know it won’t blow up in my face?”
“Honestly?” she asks, pulling a nod from me. “You don’t, Abs,” she shrugs again. “But that doesn’t mean you avoid him altogether, just try your best. Do whatever you can to make it work and see where it goes, ya know?”
I think on her words, consider her advice and although I know it’s the truth, that she’d never breath a word of it otherwise, I still can’t help my nerves.
“That feels so scary to me,” I confess, my voice low and unsteady.
“Well, I get that,” she admits. “We don’t let people in and sometimes, it’s for good reason.” She releases a sigh and moves to sit beside me on the bed, her head leaning against my shoulder. “But Abby, you spent the entire day with this guy dressed up like a fucking elf,” she giggles. “Hating Christmas? That’s always been more your thing than mine. I actually kind of love it.” Her words shock me to my core and I’m about to apologize, but she waves me off before I can. “Don’t. You needed it, Abs,” she says softly. “But I mean, if you aren’t going to take a chance on a guy worth doing that for, it’s hopeless, Kiddo.”
My expression shifts into a combination between concession and amusement at her words before she releases another sigh.
“I mean, besides. You already let the guy dick ya down in a gingerbread house. You may as well see where it goes.”
“Marissa!” I laugh, playfully shoving her away from me as I stand to make my way to the closet and yank a sweater down from a hanger.
“He was wearing the suit when you did it, huh?”
“Shut up,” I snort, my cheeks blazing wildly.
“Oh! My God!” she howls, laughing hysterically. “Did he have the beard on?”
“No!” I shout defensively. “He took the beard and the belly off when shit got serious!”
Any chance of helping my case ceases with my words and immediately, she falls back against the mattress, gripping her stomach.
“This is the best Christmas ever!” she proclaims, making me shake my head in exhaustion.
“You’re the worst sister,” I lie, pulling on my leggings and reaching for her hand, pulling her up to me. “It’s also after midnight. Merry Christmas, buttmunch.”
She dries her tears of laughter and wraps her arms around me tightly, holding me close.
“Merry Christmas to you, too, Kiddo,” she smiles, kissing my cheek before releasing me. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I smile. “Now come on. There’s a Hitchcock marathon on and if we hurry, we can catch the tail end of it!”
“Sweet!” she smiles, both of us giddy. “I’ll get the hot chocolate, you get Santa.”
“That’s not his name, Marissa.”
“Well, I’m not calling him Dex or Dax or whatever it is you called him before,” she announces. “It’s weird.”
“Yeah,” I smirk at the memory. “Yeah, I thought so, too.”
Epilogue
Abby
The sound of the knob on the front door rattling makes me jump, my horror obsessed brain moving into overtime of its own accord. I reach for the closest thing, a rubber spatula, and peek my head around the corner of my new kitchen.
“That should be the last of the boxes, babe,” Dex calls out before shutting the door behind him and I release a deep sigh of relief. “And my key works,” he continues, coming to a slow stop when he finds me leaning against the doorframe, clutching the spatula to my chest in relief. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I thought you might be an intruder.”
“Why? I was only gone for like ten minutes?” he smirks, gesturing toward my weapon of choice. “And what the hell would you have done with that if I had been an intruder? Slap me to death?”
“No,” I hiss, eyes narrowed in defense for a moment before I toss the spatula back onto the counter and step out beside him. “Shut up.”
“You need to expand your reading choices,” he teases, kissing my hair. “You’re starting to get paranoid.”
“You need to mind ya business,” I counter playfully.
“Duly noted,” he laughs, following me back out to the living room, both of us stepping around the stacks of boxes.
The last few months had been hectic, to say the very least. Although I’d been worried in the beginning about a long-distance relationship with Dex, we’ve both given it our all. Sure, it hasn’t always been easy, but we made it to where we are right now. As I stand in the middle of my new apartment, less than ten minutes from his, it’s easy to see how worth it the last six months have been.
“So, the key works, huh?” I start, smiling over my shoulder at him. “I’m glad it-oh, my God!”
“What?”
“What the hell is that thing doing in here?” I demand, the tall white box in the corner looming over the rest of my things.
“Surprise!” he exclaims, his eyes wide with glee as I turn to face him, my deadpanned expression seemingly lost on him. “When we were loading up the truck, I noticed you didn’t have a Christmas tree, so I thought I’d get you one,” he beams. “Only two hundred and seven days until-”
“Don’t you dare!” I cut him off with a dramatic gasp that makes him laugh harder.
“Oh, come on,” he starts, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close, his lips falling into my hair before he meets my eyes once more. “You have to celebrate Christmas now, babe. It’s our anniversary.”
“Are you seriously trying to pass that thing off as an anniversary tree?” I ask through narrowed eyes, making him grin wide enough to flash me his dimples.
“If you promise to keep it and let me put it up, I’ll sweep ya chimney,” he mewls low as he buries his lips into my neck. His words make me laugh breathlessly. “I’ll deck your halls,” he husks, his tongue darting out to taste my skin before he raises his eyes to mine and flashes me a devastatingly seductive grin. “Come on, baby. Let Big Poppa Christmas show you his chestnuts.”
“You’re an idiot,” I snort, reaching for his shirt and yanking him close enough to give him a firm peck on the lips. “Fine. Do whatever you want, just don’t do anything crazy while I’m not home,” I warn. “I know you’re already thinking about it. I never should’ve given you that key before the first of the year.”
“I won’t do anything until after Thanksgiving,” he promises. “And why do you have to be home? Don’t you trust me?”
“Of course,” I shrug. “That’s not it at all.”
“Well, what then? Are you worried I’ll bother your other boyfriends?”
“Well, not all of them, but Peter is really shy,” I tease. “I don’t want you running him off.”
The playful smirk on his lips disappears instantly and is replaced with a deadpan stare.
“I don’t like this game anymore,” he admits, his words making me giggle.
“I’m obviously kidding,” I vow, kissing his cheek.
“You’d better be,” he winks before releasing me and reaching for my hand. “Did you talk to your sister?”
“Yeah, she’s just finishing up packing. Her flight lands at six tomorrow night.”
“Okay, I’ll make sure to be off in time to go with you to pick her up,” he promises, kissing my hair once more. “Come on. We need to get you to bed.”
“What?”
“You’ve got a big day tomorrow,” he grins over his shoulder, tugging my hand when I stand firm. “Let�
�s go, baby.”
“It’s four o’clock in the afternoon, Dex,” I argue, unable to keep my lips from turning up on either side.
“No such thing as being too prepared,” he winks again, abruptly lifting me over his shoulder and smacking me playfully on the ass on his way down the hallway.
“Would you put me down?” I giggle, my smile wide when he flips me back over, my legs wrapping tightly around his waist as he continues carrying me to my bedroom. “I have to unpack all this shit.”
“No, ma’am,” he teases. “Now stop sassing me or you’re gonna end up back on my naughty list.”
My thoughts drift back to the gingerbread house, back to our first night together in Cringle Cove and I can’t help the devious smile that covers my lips.
“The naughty list, huh?” I hum against his mouth, his dimple calling me to trace it with my pinky and so I do. “Promise?”
“Mhm,” he smirks wickedly. “Hang on to those bootstraps, baby. Your favorite Santa’s back in town.”
Books in The Cringle Cove Christmas Chronicles
What the Elf? by Kate Benson
Christmas on the Rocks by Michelle Dare
Mistletoe Not Required by AD Justice
Winter Games by Victoria Renteria
Wrapped in Love by Kristen Luciani
Unexpected Gift by HJ Bellus
Available now at your favorite book retailers!
Acknowledgements
When I was asked to be a part of a Christmas collection, especially with so many talented authors, I jumped at the chance. I’ve wanted to do something for the holidays for a few years now and finally, just like Santa had gotten his hands on my wish list early, the chance had come.
Except I had no idea what to write.
Like… at all.
I sat at this computer, willing the characters to come to me, tell me their story. I was working on Pieces of You, something completely different, so I was convinced the second it was done, I’d meet my elf, but days came and went. I was about to scream when finally, I heard Abby’s voice. Know what her first words were?
“Christmas? Ugh! That sounds awful.”
I knew immediately, I loved her. I also knew that she was lying. She didn’t really hate Christmas, she was just scared, and she needed my help.
Enter Dex.
I love these two. Their sweetness, their vulnerability, their angst, their sarcasm… it speaks to my own dark little heart. They were just the reminder I needed to be patient and sometimes, the things you grow to love are worth waiting for.
I guess Abby helped me, too.
I hope you loved their story! And special shout out to Marissa because she kept me laughing through the entire book! I loved writing for her!
Thank you, God, for bringing me characters to help, to tell their stories and to love. I can’t wait to find out who I’ll meet and love next.
To my husband, Sean, who name has adorned the top of every Christmas wish list I’ve had for seventeen years. You’re better than all the pie, Christmas cookies and hot chocolate I’ll ever have in my whole life and I want to kiss you like mistletoe is going out of style. Thank you for being my favorite in everything always and forever, forever and always. I love you the most.
My parents and grandmothers for being my first fans and biggest supporters. You always made every holiday, especially Christmas, amazing. I’m so grateful for every one of them I was able to spend with you. I love you.
My family and closest friends for supporting me and loving me, even in the most unlovable moments when I haven’t changed or showered in three days because I’ve gone manic at the seventy-five percent mark through a book and I’m living off cheese and have stopped answering my phone. I love you and even when I’m nuts, I’m still thinking about you and hoping you’re happy.
My fabulous PA’s and PR team, Heather, Charlie and Amber. I couldn’t have pulled this year off without any of you and I am so grateful to have you in more corner! Love you lots xo
My alpha squad for this project: Heather, Sara and Jenna. We had to do this one crazy fast! Thanks so much for dropping everything to help me get it just right!
My beautiful betas: Charlie, Nikki, Christie, Michelle and Patti. You girls mean the world to me and I’m so lucky to have your love and support. Thank you so much for everything you do!
My Babes: I’ll never ever stop talking about how amazing you are! I’m just crazy every single one of you and am constantly blown away by how good you are to me and every project I release. Thank you for being the best readers in the whole world! I love you!
The other wonderful ladies who I was so fortunate to work with on this project, Michelle, Angel, Victoria, Kristen and Heidi: Thank you for the unrelenting support. It isn’t easy to get six authors focused enough to start Christmas stories when it’s a hundred degrees outside and it’s even more difficult to have as much fun as we did in the process. I’m so grateful to have my name up there with all of yours! Thanks for just being. You’re all amazing! And Dana Leah for making this cover so beautiful! Thank you for all your hard work. I’m so glad I was able to work with you again!
Special shout out to: Jazmen Garcia, Angie “Boomtastic” Tucker, Amy Guskay, Muriel Garcia, Brandi Leigh, Amanda Vrtis and Kathy Coopmans.
Thank you to the amazing blogs and authors who shared this release and all the others. You make all of this possible!
Finally, thank you to my characters. It’s always an honor and I can’t wait to see all the places we’ll go together. I love you all so much. Especially, my sweet girl.
Until next time…
XO Kate
About the Author
Kate Benson was raised in Texas and currently resides in central Florida with her husband and their ever-growing army of fur-minions. She learned to read at the age of four and has been hooked ever since.
She credits her passion for literature to her mother, her love of story-telling to her father and her unwavering faith in happily-ever-after’s to her husband, Sean.
Some of her favorite things include rainy days, loud music, superhero movies, sweet tea and of course, lazy afternoons with a great book.
To find out more about Kate, her work or to just say hello, she loves hearing from her readers and can be found on social media.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
Books in The Cringle Cove Christmas Chronicles
Acknowledgements
About the Author
