Yours for Christmas
There's nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool's Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped…Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of it. That's why she's opening her own store in Fool's Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that's magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.Gabriel's memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugarplums, thanks to his drill sergeant father. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from an injury sounds as appetizing as last year's eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle…and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can't stop sharing.Gabriel didn't think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse….
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Step out of the winter chill and into the warmth of Foolâs Gold, California, the charming small-town setting for a new holiday novella from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery
Famous former NFL stars donât date single working moms like Bailey Voss. Sheâll allow herself to daydream about Kenny Scottâs muscles and killer smile, but wanting more would lead to post-holiday regret. Then Kenny volunteers to run a toy drive with Bailey, and she learns that heâs not just hotâ¦heâs also generous, funny, nice. The whole packageâtantalizingly out of reach.
The ache of past loss reminds Kenny why he needs to avoid getting too close to anyone. Especially to a gorgeous redhead and her adorable little girl. Mess it up, and heâd lose them both. Yet Kenny can only resist Bailey for so long. And as festive spirit spreads throughout the town, heâs all wrapped up in Baileyâs sweet, sexy kisses and determined to make this the first of many Christmases togetherâ¦
This is for Linda Elliott,
who said yes to the man of her dreams Waymon (Ray), in 1961 on Christmas Eve. Since his illness and death in 2008, Linda has returned to comfort reading, her first love, with a vengeance.
Contents
âMOM, EVEN THOUGH I know thereâs no Santa, is it still okay to have a stocking?â
Bailey Voss smiled at her daughter. Being a single mom was often a challenge, but every now and then she thought maybe, just maybe, she was getting it right.
âOf course,â she told her seven-year-old. âChristmas is about being with the people we love and sharing our traditions. A stocking is a tradition.â
Chloe beamed. âWhen can we put out our stockings? And decorate the house?â Her bright, adorable girl paused. âWhen we move, right? Can we put up our Christmas tree the very first night?â
âWe can,â Bailey promised, confident she was going to be exhausted after a long day of moving, but determined to make this the best Christmas ever for her little girl.
Chloe had already been through so much, most especially the loss of her dad over a year ago. But she was happy and thriving now. Bailey and her daughter had made a place for themselves in Foolâs Gold and they were less than a month from moving into what Bailey hoped was their forever home. Bailey had a great job she loved, Chloe had friends and was doing well in school. A wonderful holiday season was exactly how she planned to finish up her year.
Chloe walked to the calendar attached to the refrigerator and counted out the days.
âSeventeen days until Thanksgiving,â she said excitedly. âThen twelve more days until we move and get our tree and stockings.â She hurried over to her mother and hugged her. âItâs almost Christmas!â
Bailey held her tightly, then stroked her hair. âIâm proud of you, honey,â she said, trying to keep from sounding too emotional. âYouâre working hard in school and youâre a big help to me.â
Her daughter looked up her. âI love you, Mom.â
âI love you, too, sweet girl.â She glanced at the clock on the stove and held in a shriek. âWe are so late!â
Chloe laughed and pulled back, then ran out of the kitchen. âIâm ready. I just need my coat.â
Five minutes later the Voss women were walking briskly toward Chloeâs school. After dropping off her daughter, Bailey continued on toward city hall, where she worked as Mayor Marsha Tilsonâs assistant.
Mayor Marsha was the longest-serving mayor in California. She ran her town with an impressive combination of carrot and stick. Bailey was pretty sure Mayor Marsha could twist the devil himself to her bidding. Today was no exception.
Only it wasnât going to be the devil walking through the mayorâs office doors. Instead they would be visited by a tall, broad-shouldered man who got Baileyâs heart to fluttering in a way that really couldnât be healthy.
âItâs just a crush,â Bailey told herself as she waited in line at Brew-haha for her morning latte, then realized that talking aloud in a crowd was a sure way to get her neighbors and friends to worrying about her. She pressed her lips together, then felt them curve into a smile as she thought about how being around Kenny Scott made her feel sixteen again.
She knew that having a crush was no big deal. It was a part of life. As long as she didnât act on it, she would be fine. Because throwing herself at the muscular, former NFL player, and Super Bowl-winning receiver, would be foolish and possibly pathetic.
There was no way she was Kennyâs type. Not that sheâd ever seen him with a woman, but still. He was gorgeous. Dark blond hair, big blue eyes. He was built like a superhero and strong. A gentle giant of a man. And speaking of big, his hands...
She held in another sigh, placed her order, waved at her friend Patience, who was manning the espresso machine, then moved to wait for her drink.
