Christmas In Ghost Gum Springs

by Nicole Flockton

  Christmas in Ghost Gum Springs

  Nicole Flockton

  www.romance.com.au

  Christmas in Ghost Gum Springs

  Nicole Flockton

  She’s a long way from home, and definitely not in the Christmas spirit...

  Diana Jenkins’ dream vacation has turned into a nightmare. First, her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, Australia. Then she’s rescued by a tall, blonde Aussie who won’t take her back to Sydney, only to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town of Ghost Gum Springs. Finally, the rental car company won’t be able to deliver her a new car until after the holidays. So now she’s hot, jetlagged, and stuck in a small town just like the one she’s trying to escape. Australian small towns won’t be any different from Montana small towns, and Diana wants out.

  A lover of all things Christmas, Connor Shetland is determined to bring the Christmas spirit to the small town of Ghost Gum Springs. Stepping away from his law career to run the local pub for three months is the best decision he’s ever made, and now he’s relaxed, cheerful, and ready to take on even the grinchiest of Scrooges. He just didn’t expect Scrooge to be quite so attractive.

  With Diana’s mistrust of small town life and her plans thrown awry, Connor has his work cut out for him. Christmas miracles never come easy, but they come to those who need them the most.

  About the author

  USA Today Bestselling author NICOLE FLOCKTON writes sexy contemporary romances, seducing you one kiss at a time as you turn the pages. Nicole likes nothing better than taking characters and creating unique situations where they fight to find their true love.

  On her first school report her teacher noted ‘Nicole likes to tell her own stories’. It wasn’t until after the birth of her first child and after having fun on a romance community forum that she finally decided to take the plunge and write a book. Now with over 20 books published she hasn’t looked back.

  Apart from writing Nicole is busy looking after her very own hero — her wonderfully supportive husband, — and two fabulous kids. She also enjoys watching sports and, of course, reading.

  To catch up on all of Nicole’s latest news, upcoming releases and sales, sign-up for her newsletter here: http://bit.ly/2JkgWzZ

  You can visit Nicole at her website www.nicoleflockton.com or follow her at these following places:

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/NicoleFlockton

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleFlockton?ref=hl

  Amazon: http://goo.gl/ZvjHtS.

  Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nicole-flockton

  Acknowledgements

  A big thanks to Kate, Johanna and the team at Escape Publishing for loving my story. It’s always a pleasure and privilege to work with you all.

  To my tireless PA, Jennifer Greeff, I couldn’t write as much as I do without knowing I’ve got you in the background helping with graphics, social media and all the other little things I don’t have time for.

  Once again, Abigail Owen, you helped me get this story written with our sprinting sessions.

  Finally, Jason, Skylar and Zane, my family, as always, your support means the world to me and I can’t thank you enough for your endless encouragement.

  To Paula Jeffrey and Tania McLean, my football supporting sisters. Go Purple Haze!

  Contents

  About the Author

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  Bestselling Titles by Escape Publishing...

  Chapter 1

  Take a trip, her work colleagues said.

  You’ve earned it.

  Enjoy your newfound wealth and freedom.

  Do all the things you haven’t been able to do over the last few years.

  All great ideas that were of little comfort to Diana as she stood by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere with the scorching sun beating down on her back.

  ‘Oh yeah, go visit Australia and experience a warm summer instead of another Christmas under fifteen feet of snow. Maybe you’ll meet your very own Hugh Jackman.’

  Fabulous idea. She’d rather be freezing under all that snow than where she was right now. What was the point in having an overflowing bank account when she couldn’t access it to pay for help? As for finding a Hugh Jackman—there was only one and he was taken. The chances of her finding her very own Hugh were slim, especially when she had no idea where the hell she was.

  Diana kicked the tire of her useless rental car. Steam poured out from underneath the hood. How did she get stuck with a lemon of a car? Was this her dear old grandmother’s way of getting back at her for having the audacity to use some of the money she’d inherited? Probably, Grandma Mary-Lou was petty enough to somehow arrange for her car to break down from heaven. Or maybe it was from hell. Being vindictive seemed more of a devil emotion than a heavenly one.

  For the tenth time since the car crapped itself, Diana wondered why she hadn’t decided to just stick to the city and not venture out into rural Australia. It definitely wasn’t like rural USA where there were many blink and you miss it towns dotted along the major state highways. Or at the very least large gas stations with a few fast food joints next to them. And to pile onto how crappy her day and life was, her cell phone had died so she couldn’t even call anyone for help.

  Maybe sitting in the car would be better than standing out under the baking sun. Sure, she wanted to get a suntan, but she didn’t want to be fried like a chicken drumstick.

  She opened the door and immediately closed it as a draft of hot air swept out to meet her. Nope, definitely not sitting in the car. Guaranteed heatstroke in there.

  Diana gazed up and down the road again, wishing against all hope that a car would magically appear or a cowboy would come riding up on his horse and rescue her. She snorted at the thought. Did they even have cowboys in Australia? And since when did she believe in fairytales and Prince Charming coming to her rescue? She’d given up on that ideal when Grandma Mary-Lou threw away her book of fairytales—the only link she had to her parents—and replaced it with Emily Post’s etiquette book. Now that was fun bedtime reading. Diana firmly believed her grandmother hoped that if she instilled certain morals her granddaughter wouldn’t travel down the path her daughter had. Maybe if Grandma Mary-Lou had loved her daughter in the first place, her granddaughter wouldn’t be stuck in the middle of nowhere-Australia baking like a cake. She’d be home in the snow-capped mountains of Montana enjoying a family Christmas.

  ‘Hey, are you okay?’

  Diana jumped, her heart racing a million miles a minute. Lost deep in her thoughts she hadn’t heard the purr of the car.

  ‘Do you need some help?’ The driver asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.

  Hot, annoyed and scared out of her wits she raised her eyes to the sky, blinded by the bright yellow orb and spoke before thinking. ‘Do I look like I’m okay? I’m standing on the side of the road with steam and God knows what else pouring out of my rental. Of course, I need some help.’

  He chuckled and she flashed him a look Grandma Mary-Lou had used on her many a time. A look that had scared the beejeezus out of Diana but rolled off this man like water off a duck’s back. ‘This really isn’t a funny situation.’

  ‘Look, why don’t you come and sit in my car. The air con is on and you look like you need cooling down.’

  Diana didn’t know if she’d just been insulted or if this stranger was trying to
be nice. It didn’t matter if it was an insult or not, getting out of the searing sun and into a cool car was beyond temptation.

  Don’t let a man sweet talk you. I don’t want you ending up like your mother.

  Diana faltered and stopped mid-step. It was like Grandma Mary-Lou’s ghost was sitting on her shoulder, warning her like she’d always done. During college Diana had managed to mute and ignore the voice. That first semester she’d partied hard and had done all the things her grandmother hoped she wouldn’t. Waking up in her room with no recollection as to how she’d got there had been the come to Jesus moment she’d needed. That as well as just scraping through on her end of semester exams. Come second semester, she’d quit the partying, buried her nose in the books and finished her degree. She’d even had a couple of serious relationships.

  Now she was about to get into a stranger’s car, in the middle of nowhere, in a country that wasn’t her own. Maybe she should listen to Grandma Mary-Lou right now.

  ‘I know what you’re thinking,’ her stranger spoke as he got out of his car. She looked at him, like really looked at him, not the quick glance she’d given him at first.

  Damn, he may not be Hugh Jackman, but he was mighty fine to look at. Tall, at least six foot, wearing a blue t-shirt that hugged his broad shoulders and defined the expanse of his wide chest, khaki shorts that finished just above his knee. His eyes were hidden behind mirrored sunglasses perched on a straight nose. One corner of his mouth was raised in a yeah-I-know-you’re-looking-at-me smile. It didn’t detract from its fullness, if anything his lips tempted her to step closer so she could trace them with her finger.

  Diana jammed the brakes on her thoughts. The sun was messing with her, but she remembered his comment and the fact she hadn’t answered it yet annoyed her. Never in her life had she been struck dumb like she was at this moment. Pulling herself together, she straightened her shoulders and tapped her fingers on the fabric of her skirt. ‘So, big guy, what am I thinking?’

  ‘You’re wondering if it’s safe to get into a stranger’s car. In a strange country.’

  ‘How do you know this isn’t my home?’ she countered, surprised at how close to the mark he was.

  ‘Your accent is a big hint. Along with the fact you look like you don’t belong.’

  The story of her life. She hadn’t belonged in her grandmother’s house. Hadn’t belonged in the town she’d grown up in. Hadn’t belonged at the school she’d taught at before she’d quit and come on this trip.

  What she should do was march over to his car, slide into the driver’s side and zoom off down the road, leaving him in her heat infused dust. Only she wasn’t that petty, that had been her Grandma through and through. ‘Fine, you’ve got me, aren’t you a smarty pants?’

  He threw back his head and laughed, the sound trickled down her spine making her wish they’d met in different circumstances. When she wasn’t covered in sweat and smelled like the gym at the high school she’d worked at.

  ‘How about this,’ he offered and closed the distance between them. ‘Hi, I’m Connor Shetland, you look like you’re having car trouble. Can I be of assistance?’

  He stuck out his hand toward her. The manners instilled in her by Grandma Mary-Lou, the same ones she tried very hard to ignore, compelled her to grasp his hand. The second she did she wished she hadn’t. If she thought she was hot before, one simple touch had her flesh tingling as if lit by a thousand flames.

  Diana pulled her hand away and almost rubbed her palm down the side of her skirt. She didn’t want him to think she was wiping away his touch, but she wanted to get rid of the sensation still lingering from their connection. Crap on a cracker, she really must be suffering a form of heatstroke to be having all these emotional highs and lows from a simple conversation.

  Realising she was standing mute again she mentally slapped her cheeks and concentrated on the here and now. All she wanted was to get off the side of the road and the man in front of her was her way to the nearest town. Or back to the city.

  ‘Hi, Connor Shetland. I’m Diana Jenkins and you’re right, I’m having car trouble and would appreciate a ride back to the city.’

  ‘Pleasure to meet you, Diana. As for taking you back to the city …’ He paused and her heart sank, he was just going to call for a tow truck or something and leave her here while he drove off in air-conditioned comfort to wherever he lived. No doubt to a woman who would give him a hot kiss before handing him a cold drink. A guy as good-looking as Connor wouldn’t be single.

  Why the hell was she wondering about his relationship status?

  ‘… will that be okay?’

  Crap, she’d drifted off again and hadn’t heard what he said. Not wanting to look like a complete dimwit she pulled a smile out of nowhere. ‘Yep, that’s fine. I appreciate it, thanks.’

  ***

  Connor watched the woman standing in front of him and bit back another laugh. She had no idea what he’d just said to her. He could go along with her and let her think he hadn’t noticed the way she’d drifted off the second he started talking to her. Or he could call her out on it. The last thing he’d expected to find on his drive back to Ghost Gum Springs was a damsel in distress. Although from the short interaction he’d had with her, calling her a damsel would go down like a lead balloon with Ms Diana Jenkins.

  ‘Are we leaving?’

  As his damsel sauntered toward him, his eyes were immediately drawn to the long length of leg. Her skirt was pale purple in colour—Alice, his fashionista sister, would probably call it lilac or some other fancy name—and it finished a couple of inches above her knee. Her white blouse had the top two buttons undone and he could see a hint of the curves beneath, ones he wouldn’t mind checking out if she didn’t run the second he pulled into town. Her brown hair glinted with gold highlights in the bright Australian sun. Her facial features were delicate, but she definitely had kissable lips.

  Now he was acting like the person Diana was concerned about: a lecherous creep who picks up women on the side of the road so he can have his wicked way with them. Definitely not his modus operandi. True, it had been a while since he’d been with a woman, but he didn’t need to resort to kidnapping one.

  A cockatoo squawked as it flew past, reminding him they were standing on the side of the road and he’d yet to answer her question. ‘Yeah. Why don’t you get all your stuff out of the car and I’ll put it in the boot?’

  ‘The boot? How is my suitcase going to fit into a boot?’

  Her brow furrowed in confusion and he jammed his hands in his pockets to stop from reaching out and smoothing the lines away. Maybe he should’ve gone and got laid while he was in Sydney checking on his house and picking up more Christmas decorations for the pub. If he’d done that, perhaps he wouldn’t be so drawn to this complete stranger.

  ‘Not a boot, boot, but this.’ He walked to his car, leaned in and pressed a button which popped the lid of his boot.

  ‘Ohhh, the trunk.’

  Connor chuckled. ‘Right, that’s what you call it in the States. What do call the bonnet?’ he asked as he pointed to the front of his car.

  ‘Hood and I’m not putting my bags in that,’ she huffed as she rounded to the back of her car and opened his trunk wider. The sight of her bent over, her skirt stretching enticingly over her arse, had his body twitching to life. Time to change his view if he wanted to be able to drive back to Ghost Gum Springs without sporting a hard-on.

  Connor moved to the front of her car, steam still rising from the radiator. A mechanic he wasn’t, but at least he could look like he knew what he was doing. As expected the engine was covered as most new car engines were these days. He remembered Sunday afternoons whenever they visited their grandparents house, Grandad was always in the garage tinkering with his ute. At six he was eager to spend time with him, but his mother said he was too little and he would have to wait until he got a bit older. Unfortunately, his grandad had died a year later and he never got the chance to know his way around
an engine. Today he wished he had, then he could look impressive when he was able to tell her exactly what was wrong with the car.

  ‘So, hot shot, what’s wrong with the car?’

  Connor took a moment to centre himself before turning to face her. She’d practically drawled the words out and he found it extremely sexy. Normally an American accent annoyed the shit out of him, but Ms Diana Jenkins could talk to him all day.

  Whoa, settle down, fella.

  He was taking her to town, which was a half hour down the road. She could call the rental company from there and sort out the car for herself. They’d send a car or something for her and she would be gone and he could get on with his life. If he only had some idea

  what his life entailed now. He slammed the brakes on those thoughts as well. Concentrate on the here and now.

  He backed away from the engine and pulled the bonnet down. ‘Looks like your radiator is shot.’

  ‘Great, just fantastic. What the hell was I thinking to come to the ass end of the world for a vacation.’ She muttered her annoyance, but loud enough for him to hear her.

  ‘Seeking adventure?’ he asked and was rewarded with another death glare. He laughed and cocked his head toward his car. ‘Come on, let’s get you some place out of the sun where you can get a drink and cool off.’

  ‘Second sensible thing you’ve said since you turned up here,’ she commented as she strode to his car.

  He observed the sway of her hips in her short skirt, her long legs eating up the small distance for where they stood to where he’d parked his car. It wasn’t long enough, he’d decided when she disappeared inside.

  Giving one last check over her car to make sure she hadn’t left anything behind, he walked to his own vehicle and slid into the driver’s seat. ‘What was the first sensible thing I said?’

  ‘That you’re going to take me back to Sydney.’

  Conner laughed. ‘I’m not taking you back to Sydney. I’m not driving three and half hours back to the place I’ve just come from.’