He didnât believe in fairy tales
Romantic fantasies and happy endings donât fit Oakes Bartasavichâs reality. Of course, neither does his breathtaking attraction to Daphne Lynch. From his prestigious career to his volatile family, thereâs too much at stake to risk one kissâlet alone one nightâwith her.
But a snowy Christmas stranded together in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania, shines light on everything heâs fighting to deny. Daphne isnât just a beautiful temptation. Sheâs a strong, intelligent, kind woman who deserves a happily-ever-after. One that Oakes isnât sure he can give her...no matter how much heâd like to.
âI mean it, Daphne. Donât kiss me.â
She widened her eyes. Blinked innocently. âI hadnât planned on it.â
âI know what youâre doing,â Oakes said, his voice harsh. âYouâre trying to lure me in, messing with my head. Trying to get me to break.â
âOh, Oakes.â She cupped his face with her gloved hand. âI would never want to break you.â
âIâm not going to kiss you,â he told her gruffly. But he was pulling her toward him slowly. So slowly she could stop him at any time.
âIf you say so.â
âBut if I do kiss you,â he said, a desperate man fighting a losing battle, looking for a way to justify his actions, âitâs only to prove, again, that thereâs nothing there.â
But his words were weak. How could they be anything, but when he was drawing her nearer, his arms wrapped around her waist.
âIf thatâs what you need to tell yourself,â she whispered.
It was. He wished he could believe it, too. Eyes on hers, he lowered his head and pressed his mouth to hers.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for picking up a copy of Winterâs Kiss! If youâre a return visitor to Shady Grove, welcome back, and I hope youâre enjoying the In Shady Grove series. Hello and welcome to all new readers. The town of Shady Grove is near and dear to my heart as itâs based on my hometownâthe town where Iâve lived my entire life, met and married my best friend, and raised our children. Iâm so happy to be sharing with you all the very best of what makes small towns so wonderful!
I love everything about the holidays: the decorations and music, the food and family time. I even love the sappy commercials! So when I decided to write Oakes and Daphneâs story, I knew theyâd need a bit of holiday magic to achieve their happily-ever-after. Thanks to a winter storm that strands them in Shady Grove over Christmas, they find that magicâalong with the strength and courage to fall in love.
Charming, nice guy Oakes Bartasavich is a good man trying to do whatâs right. He puts others first and never rocks the boat. Too bad heâs about to be hit by a tidal wave in the form of Daphne Lynch! Daphne is irrepressible, fun and always follows her heart. And her heart is telling her that Oakes is the only man for her. Now she not only has to convince him sheâs right, but that together, they can weather any storm life throws their way.
I loved writing Oakes and Daphneâs story and returning once again to Shady Grove and catching up with the people there. I hope youâll look for the next In Shady Grove book out in August 2016 where Zach Castro, the last Bartasavich brother, finds love and his own happy ending with Shady Grove resident Fay Lindemuth.
For more about future releases and a listing of all my books, please visit my website, bethandrews.net, or drop me a line at [email protected]. Iâd love to hear from you.
Happy reading!
Beth
While writing Winterâs Kiss, the seventh book in her popular In Shady Grove series, Romance Writers of America RITA® Award winner BETH ANDREWS drank copious amounts of iced coffee, finished off several bags of Dove dark chocolates and shed many a tear over her youngest daughterâs high school graduation (though she isnât saying whether those were happy or sad tears). When not drinking coffee and eating dark chocolate...oh, and writing, of course...she can be found cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins, scrolling through Instagram or reading a good book with a happy ending. Learn more about Beth and her books by visiting her website, bethandrews.net.
For Trevor and Hannah Grace.
Thank you for the best present ever!
PROLOGUE
IF SOMETHING SEEMS too good to be true, Daphne Lynchâs mother had always told her, then it probably is. Especially if that something is a man.
Hard-earned wisdom from a woman whoâd been burned not once, but twice by men whoâd swept her off her feet only to stand by and watch as she landed flat on her ass.
Daphne knew her mother had reasonsâvalid onesâto feel the way she did. To want to protect herself from being let down again. From being hurt. But Daphne didnât want to live life that way. Afraid to trust. Afraid to love.