Christmas In A Small Town

Running out on her wedding was the best decision ever!

A cheating fiancé sends Camden Harris fleeing to her grandparents’ home in Missouri. When her ex follows, determined to win her back, Camden makes a deal with neighbor Levi Walters: they’ll pretend to be in love and she’ll support his plan to buy her grandparents’ land.

The boy from her childhood has grown up into an impressive man. His charm, good looks and sweet gestures make it difficult for Camden to remember this is fake. And Levi’s kisses only confuse her more.

“So we pretend to kiss, go on a fake date to the dance and your ex finally moves on. What do I get?”

Camden drew her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’ll suggest to my grandfather that selling you those forty acres might not be a terrible idea.”

Levi held out his hand, and when Camden took it, he pulled her closer. “But you haven’t asked me to the dance,” he said. It was fun watching those golden flecks in her eyes sparkle to life in annoyance.

“Levi, will you go with me to the Christmas dance tonight?” she asked, and turned on her heel without waiting for his answer. Levi held fast to her hand, and Camden turned to look at him again.

“Yes, I’ll go with you. Do I get a corsage?” She pursed her full lips, and Levi couldn’t hold back the grin any longer. “You’re cute when you’re annoyed.”

“You’re annoying when you speak,” she retorted. “Are we doing this or not?”

“Yes, we’re doing this.”

“Good.” Camden pulled away from him and said, “I’ll see you tonight.” Then she was gone.

When Levi got to the pasture, he was still thinking about kissing Camden. What kind of man cheated when he had a beautiful woman like Camden already in his bed? What kind of man pretended to date a woman like Camden, not to get her into bed, but to enter into a real estate deal with her grandfather?

Dear Reader,

I adore Christmas! From the music to the lights to the anticipation as gifts pile up under the tree, Christmas is by far my favorite holiday. I especially love small towns that go all out with one special event after another until everyone falls into a holiday stupor after the last sip of eggnog.

Levi and Camden are positive of one thing this holiday season: they won’t be falling in love. But when Camden’s sleazy ex comes to town, suddenly they’re knee-deep in a pretend affair that is feeling all too real...and if they aren’t careful, love is exactly what they’ll find under their tree this year!

Christmas in a Small Town is all about the small-town celebration of Christmas and, of course, the greatest gift we can give one another: love.

I love hearing from readers. You can catch up with me through my website and newsletter at www.kristinaknightauthor.com or on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/kristinaknightromanceauthor, and if you’re a visual reader like me, follow my books on my Pinterest boards—you’ll get some behind-the-scenes information and lots of yummy pictures.

Happy reading!

Kristina

Christmas in a Small Town

Kristina Knight

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KRISTINA KNIGHT decided she wanted to be a writer like her favorite soap-opera heroine, Felicia Gallant, one cold day when she was home sick from school. She took a detour into radio and television journalism but never forgot her first love of romance novels, or her favorite character from her favorite soap. In 2012 she got The Call from an editor who wanted to buy her book. Kristina lives in Ohio with her handsome husband, incredibly cute daughter and two dogs.

For everyone who loves the holiday season!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Lyle and Lois at the Serendipity Stockdog School. I am awed by not only what you teach the animals in your care, but the way you teach them. The next time I’m in town, I want to see that herding ducks thing live and in person instead of on video!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

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

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

SHE SHOULD HAVE changed before she got on the highway. Or off the highway onto the two-lane road leading into town. Or at any of the rest areas between Kansas City and Slippery Rock County line—she had to have passed at least twenty during the trip south.

Camden Harris eyed the stained parking lot and the layers of bodily fluids, oil, gasoline and whatever else that covered the pavement. She swiped a hand over the miles of tulle covering her hips, creating what her mother had described as “bridal perfection” in the dress shop a few weeks earlier. She eyed the stained parking lot once again. Nothing about this gas station was bridal perfection, but then, what small-town gas station ever promised perfection? Gas stations were about utility. Getting to the next stop on whatever journey a person was taking. Camden sighed.

She could chance that whatever gas was left in the tank of her car would get her where she was going—although the red needle was precariously close to the E marker—or she could get out.