Falling For Scrooge
Julia Stanton loves Christmasâalmost as much as she loves the home sheâs made in Holiday Harbor. So when her beloved pastorâs prodigal son returns for a brief visit, she hatches a plan to keep Nick McHenry in town. Growing up as an ambassadorâs daughter, sheâs charmed countless dignitaries and surely she can get the brooding bachelor to see how much joy there is in a family-filled holiday. Julia never expects to feel the spark of something more for Nick. But it will take more than attraction to turn this handsome scrooge into her hometown hero.
Holiday Harbor: Where love is just around the bend.
âI thought you wanted to
keep your new life here a secret.â
âSome reporter will track me down eventually. This way, I control the situation.â Leaning forward, Julia pinned him with a knowing look. âYesterday, you told me you miss getting the scoop. Iâm giving you one, right here, right now. Take it or leave it.â
Nick knew if he didnât grab this opportunity, another journalist would. Of course, agreeing meant heâd be stuck in Holiday Harbor longer than heâd planned. But a story like this was worth it. And getting to know the reclusive ambassadorâs daughter through personal interviews would be downright fascinating.
âOnce folks know youâre here,â he commented, âyour online orders should go through the roof.â
âI hadnât thought of that. It would be nice to do my books with black ink instead of red.â
He scoffed. âLike thatâs a problem for you.â
That got him a steely glare. âRule number oneâassume nothing. Things in my life arenât always what they seem to be.â
MIA ROSS
loves great stories. She enjoys reading about fascinating people, long-ago times and exotic places. But only for a little while, because her reality is pretty sweet. Married to her college sweetheart, sheâs the proud mom of two amazing kids, whose schedules keep her hopping. Busy as she is, she canât imagine trading her life for anyone elseâsâand she has a pretty good imagination. You can visit her online at www.miaross.com.
Give, and it will be given to you.
âLuke 6:38
Acknowledgments
To the very talented folks who help me make
my books everything they can be: Elaine Spencer, Melissa Endlich and the dedicated staff at Love Inspired Books.
More thanks to the gang at Seekerville
(www.seekerville.net). Whether Iâm looking for advice or just some cheerleaders, you never let me down.
My wonderfulâand very patientâ
friends and family surround me with support and encouragement every single day. Without you, this book would still just be a quirky idea floating around in my head.
Chapter One
It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and Julia Stanton was expecting a busy day at Toyland. Looking forward to some coffee to ward off the chilly morning air, she was about to pull open the door of Holiday Harbor Sweets when a manâs black leather glove closed over top of her hand.
âLadies first,â said a deep voice, and she looked up into the darkest brown eyes sheâd ever seen. Framed by a tanned face and hair that was just a little too long, those eyes had a piercing quality, as if their owner noticed things other people missed and didnât always like what he saw.
He was wearing classic black, from his briefcase and cashmere dress coat to a pair of stylish boots that were better suited to a business meeting in Manhattan than the slushy sidewalks of northern Maine. Set against the gently falling slow, his outfit gave him a dark, dangerous look. Until he smiled. The gesture lightened his intense features, and unabashed male interest flashed in his eyes.
When he opened the door and motioned her ahead of him, she returned the smile. âThank you.â
âSince I know who you are,â he continued while they joined the to-go line, âIâm thinking you know who I am, too.â
She laughed. âThe notorious Nick McHenry. My friend Bree Landry tells me youâre the toughest magazine editor sheâs ever worked for.â
âAw, sheâs just being nice. Speaking of Bree, when are she and Cooper due back from their honeymoon in the Caribbean?â
âHer last email said âin time for Christmas.â That was about a week ago.â
âIâm surprised she didnât mention to me that youâre living here now. Itâs not every day you find the daughter of a U.S. Ambassador cooling her heels in a backwater place like this.â
His unmasked disdain for the quaint village sheâd called home for six months irked her to say the least. âWhy would you say that? I thought you grew up here.â
âI did. First chance I got, I was outta here.â
âToo bad you didnât stay out.â A young woman interrupted their conversation with an unforgiving scowl. Normally sweet and cheerful, Lucy Wilson looked as if sheâd just run across her worst enemy.