Sexy fun under the mistletoe awaits in this collection of three seasonal novellas by Dana Volney. Let the men of Casper, Wyoming, put you in the holiday mood!
Excerpt from Candlelight Conspiracy:
Candace stomped back to her cozy flower shop, Kiss from a Rose. That guy. Thinks he knows everything. Of all the places she had to choose to locate her flower shop, she had to buy the one right smack dab next to Luke friggin’ Carrigan.
She’d never daydreamed about kissing Luke in high school or before, she’d never written their names together in her homework notebooks, and she’d never studied his body. Until present day. Setting up Kiss from a Rose right next door to the Carrigans’ family pub was pure coincidence, and one that had made her grimace internally and externally when she’d come face to face with him while painting her newly purchased walls.
“Well, well, well.”
She’d heard his unmistakable tone behind her and whipped her head around so fast her neck muscles stung.
“You’re stalking me, aren’t you?” he’d asked.
His tall, defined build took up her doorway and stopped the sunlight from streaming through.
“Luke Carrigan,” she deadpanned as her mind raced to catch up. Why would he think she was stalking him? The bar next door. Dammit. How had it taken her until now to piece that gem together? “Just trying to make the neighborhood a better place.” She focused on his eyes, careful not to let her gaze roam. She couldn’t give him any upper hand. Especially not now. Great, just what I needed. It’s bad enough I’m new to having a business of my own but now I have to contend with Luke Carrigan? Just my luck.
“So you’re just doing the work for the real owner, then?”
“You wish,” she said. “I’m here to stay. I bet it’s going to suck to have someone around who won’t take your crap.”
If his dark brown polo hadn’t fit him snug around his biceps, she might’ve said something nice. But it did. He’d grown up well. Time had only created a handsome man. And one who knew he was handsome. Which, sadly, wasn’t totally unattractive. What are you doing? Don’t think of him like that. He’s bad news. He’s still bad news.
“I don’t mind at all. Because she surely doesn’t give it as good as she gets it.” With a proud chuckle at his own ridiculous try at a joke, he rolled from the wood door frame and ambled toward his pub. Those were the only few seconds she’d ever thought about selling her new building and setting up shop somewhere else, but the notion was just plain dumb. She would have to find a way to deal with him, just like high school.
And, just like school, they managed to stay out of each other’s way unless completely necessary—which was usually in the back parking lot that their businesses shared. Seven months into a neighborly relationship, it seemed their stay-out-of-my-way truce had now ended.
She made her way through her flower shop. The year-round bright green walls, crisp white flooring, and splashes of pinks were a welcome relief to all the mahogany in Luke’s dank bar. She tried to shake off the cold of winter—and Luke. The small white Christmas trees peppering her front room and cheerful ornaments hanging from the ceiling couldn’t help but bring a smile to her face. The holiday magic always conjured hopefulness, possibilities—this year, however, it had brought negative tidings.
“Who was that hunk of hottie?” Sophie Graystone asked as she finished repotting a large butterfly palm plant. “I’ve seen him around. I didn’t know you knew him.”
“He’s no one.” Candace rubbed her forehead before picking up a sprig of evergreen lying on the island workstation behind the main counter. The beautiful bouquet of dark, long-stemmed red roses for the customer who was apparently very sorry for his actions the previous night wouldn’t start itself.
“If I had a no one who looked like him, I wouldn’t share either.”
Holiday Hoopla: Halle Adams’s gift shop needs a serious cash infusion to survive, and banker Blake Ellison needs a no-strings date for his family’s holiday functions. It’s a perfect solution – he’ll approve her loan if she’ll be his escort – until feelings of jealousy surface. Romance wasn’t on their holiday wish list. Will a business deal between strangers get hoodwinked by holiday hoopla?
Christmas Clash: Candace Ellison is determined to stop the city council’s new convention center project from demolishing her new flower shop. Unfortunately, that means she’ll have to cooperate with annoying Luke Carrigan, whose family pub is also on the chopping block. Will this Christmas bring miracles or the destruction of everything these old rivals love?
Candlelight Conspiracy: When Sophie Graystone’s apartment building loses power during the holidays, the aloof restaurant owner next door surprisingly invites her for a late-night menu tasting. Marc Sizzo’s too busy concentrating on success to fall in love. But sharing confidences in the intimate candlelight just might be the spark for a real relationship . . . unless an old flame reclaims his heart. Will Sophie find herself alone on New Year’s Eve after all?
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