Her Christmas Wish

“I want to go out with you.”

Eric smiled as he made his announcement.

A tiny, perfect V creased Alina’s forehead as she studied him. “You know I have to return to Croatia in the middle of January.”

The reminder sent a stab of pain through his chest. “We’ve got almost three months until then.”

“So…we go out for three months, and then I leave?”

Did she have to state things so bluntly? He much preferred to pretend January would never get here. “We could have a lot of fun in that time,” he said. “You could go home with some good memories.”

“You’re promising me good memories?” Her eyes sparkled with amusement, teasing him.

He leaned closer, and put his hand at her waist. “We could make some very good memories,” he whispered.

Dear Reader,

I think Christmas is the most romantic time of year—more romantic, even, than Valentine’s Day. After all, the whole idea behind Christmas is love, and this has translated into acts such as gift giving, and getting together with family and friends. As well as acts of charity and thinking of those less fortunate.

Christmas is so romantic to me that I was married at Christmastime. Instead of orange blossoms and roses, the church was decorated with evergreens, poinsettia and a Christmas tree. My husband and I celebrate our anniversary only a few days before Christmas each year, and the festive atmosphere only adds to our joy.

So when I was given the opportunity to write a Christmas romance, I was thrilled. Crested Butte, Colorado, with its small-town charm, snow and multiple Christmas trees, seemed the perfect romantic setting for this story. Alina and Eric come from different backgrounds and even different countries, but they’ve both found a home in Colorado. As they learn about each other’s holiday customs, they see how their differences can add variety and interest to their relationship and how the love they share can bring them together.

I hope you enjoy reading their story. I love to hear from readers. Write to me at [email protected] or in care of Harlequin Enterprises Ltd., 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9, Canada.

Happy reading,

Cindi Myers

Cindi Myers’s favorite holiday is Christmas. She loves the decorations, the gifts and especially the food. Her idea of a romantic evening is sipping spiked eggnog, eating Christmas cookies and sitting with her honey admiring the lit Christmas tree while snow falls outside. Christmas carols are optional, but there should definitely be mistletoe.

For Muna

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

Epilogue

“Don’t look now, but there’s a really hot guy watching you.”

“Oh?” Alina Allinova started to turn and scan the crowd gathered for the culmination of Crested Butte’s Vinotok fall festival.

Her friend Marissa Alvarez put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. “Don’t look. He’s staring right at us.” She giggled. “Really, he can’t take his eyes off you. It’s like he’s in love with you.”

Alina’s stomach fluttered. The idea of a handsome stranger falling instantly in love with her was preposterous, but wonderfully romantic and exciting. The kind of thing she’d fantasized about, though she’d never admit it out loud. “If you won’t let me look at him, at least tell me what he looks like,” she said. “Is he blond?”

“No, not blond. His hair is brown.”

“Oh.” Not that it really mattered…“Maybe it’s that dark blond that looks brown in a certain light. Is he a big guy?”

Marissa shook her head. “Not that big. And his hair is a very dark brown, almost black.”

Alina turned all the way around and caught the eye of the stranger.

Her heart sped up again. Okay, he was good-looking. Dark brown hair fell across his forehead, above a pair of eyes the color of roasted coffee beans that seemed to stare right through her. When their gazes met, he smiled, revealing perfect white teeth against his olive skin.

“Girl, how are you even standing here with a man watching you like that?” Marissa whispered. “I’d be melting right into the ground if a gorgeous guy ever looked at me that way.”

The man took a step toward them. Alina immediately whirled around, embarrassed to be caught staring.

Marissa grabbed her arm. “Why are you turning away? Hello? The man is hot.”

Alina didn’t have time to explain. Mr. Gorgeous was by her side. “Hi, I’m Eric Sepulveda,” he said, offering his hand.

Alina went wobbly in the knees when he took her hand, and immediately felt ridiculous. “Alina Allinova,” she said, and withdrew her fingers from his, though the warmth of his touch lingered on her skin.

“Where are you from, Alina?” he asked. “Not from around here, I’m guessing.”

That smile again, which sent her stomach fluttering wildly. Get a grip, girl. “I’m from Gunnison,” she said. She said it merely to be contrary—she knew that wasn’t what he’d meant. Her accent gave her away as a foreigner as soon as she opened her mouth, though people couldn’t always place her country of origin.