A Gift For Santa
It’s the season for giving…and starting over?A reindeer farm without Santa wouldn’t be Christmas in Marissa Gray’s Alaskan hometown. Luckily Chris Allen’s there to pinch-hit, although for Marissa, seeing her ex-fiancé again brings back memories of what might have been.Ten years after their breakup, the feelings between the wildlife biologist and blue-eyed fisherman are stronger than ever. Only now there’s a foster kid in the mix, as well as the shocking crime that cost Marissa her job and her family’s security. She and Chris need to find their way to a meeting of minds and hearts to make this truly a season for second chances…
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Itâs the season for giving...and starting over?
A reindeer farm without Santa wouldnât be Christmas in Marissa Grayâs Alaskan hometown. Luckily Chris Allenâs there to pinch-hit, although for Marissa, seeing her ex-fiancé again brings back memories of what might have been.
Ten years after their breakup, the feelings between the wildlife biologist and blue-eyed fisherman are stronger than ever. Only now thereâs a foster kid in the mix, as well as the shocking crime that cost Marissa her job and her familyâs security. She and Chris need to find their way to a meeting of minds and hearts to make this truly a season for second chances...
âAre you ready to collect on our bet?â
The corners of Chrisâs eyes crinkled after he said it.
âI am.â Marissa smiled and took a step closer. âKiss me.â
He ran a finger down the side of her face to brush her hair back behind her shoulder. And then he gathered her into his arms and pulled her tight against his chest. Her heart beat faster, and he hadnât even gotten to her lips yet. He lowered his head and brushed his mouth against hers like a whisper. She parted her lips to draw in a breath, and he captured her mouth. Her arms wound around his neck, bringing him closer.
How sheâd missed this. The way they fit together. His arms holding her safe, his heart beating in time with hers. It was like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle that fit into the remaining spot and brought the whole picture into focus. It was never this way with anyone else. She wanted to stay in his arms forever.
I love Christmas. I love the decorations, the food and the excitement of children as they anticipate Santa coming. In my heroine Marissaâs family, Christmas is not only a passion, but a way of life. Marissa grew up on her aunt and uncleâs reindeer farm in Alaska, and Christmastime is their busiest season. Her uncle Oliver is a natural Santa, with his white beard, round belly and love for children. But Oliver is sick, and itâs up to Marissa and Aunt Becky to carry on.
For my hero, Chris, Christmas magic was in short supply during his childhood. Until he met Marissa, heâd never known that that sort of supportive and happy family unit existed. But a fundamental disagreement led to their breakup.
Now, as much as Marissa would like to deny it, her family needs our heroâs help. Partly to annoy her, he agrees to step in. Just to complicate things, a dinosaur-loving boy in dire need of a dose of Christmas spirit ricochets into Chrisâs life. And Christmas starts to work its magic...
I hope you enjoy reading this story. There will be more Northern Lights romances to come. To keep in touch, visit www.bethcarpenterbooks.blogspot.com, where you can find my email, Facebook and Twitter contacts as well as the latest book news. You can also sign up for my newsletter.
Wishing peace, love and joy to you and yours the whole year through.
Beth Carpenter
BETH CARPENTER is thankful for good books, a good dog, a good man and a dream job creating happily-ever-afters. She and her husband now split their time between Alaska and Arizona, where she occasionally encounters a moose in the yard or a scorpion in the basement. She prefers the moose.
To my husband, Steve. Thank you for supporting my dreams.
I also want to thank my agent, Barbara Rosenberg, and editors Kathryn Lye and Victoria Curran for believing in me and working with me to make each story the best it can be. And thanks to Brenda, Brenda, Christy, Sue, Diana and other early readers. Your encouragement made all the difference.
Contents
Twenty-four days till Christmas
NO SNOW. No Uncle Oliver. Even the reindeer werenât cooperating. Instead of following the others out, Peppermint pawed at the floor of the trailer and shook her head, jingling the bells on her harness.
Marissa scratched the hairy divaâs forehead and spoke in a low voice. âCome on, girl. Youâll have fun. Think of all those kids so excited to ride behind a real live reindeer.â She patted Peppermintâs neck until she seemed calm. âLetâs go. Your public awaits.â She gave a little tug on the lead, and with a toss of her antlers, the reindeer trip-trapped down the ramp. Her snort formed a cloud of white vapor in the icy air.
The last few rays of sun cast a pink glow on the oval track of trucked-in snow, breaking up the expanse of brown grass. Ordinarily, at least ten inches of packed snow would blanket the area beside the golf-course clubhouse Grizzlyco always rented for their Christmas party, making it the perfect venue for reindeer sleigh rides. But there was nothing ordinary about this year, especially without Oliver playing Santa Claus.
