(MSRP: 6.0000)
Available in Print
After losing her father ten months ago, divorcee Katherine Cahill goes back home to Houston and fights to return the joy of Christmas to her mother and young son. At the same time she secretly battles two men, her two-timing ex-husband who blackmails her, and a Texas attorney hell-bent on sharing his bed, but not his heart.
After the fiasco when his fiancée returned to her ex, Jared Randall swore he would never get involved with another divorcee. Then, he made two colossal mistakes—rescuing ice princess Katherine Cahill from her mother’s roof and playing Santa. Now he’s up to his cobwebby Santa brows in trouble, thanks to the promise he made Katherine’s son.
Rose
PRINT ISBN 1-60154-187-2
(208 pages) Spicy
Excerpt:
Jared couldn't keep his eyes off Katherine as she made her way toward Santa's North Pole Station. A strand of black hair fell casually across her cheek, bringing his attention to her flashing, jade eyes and her parted lips tinted with a pink lipstick called..." If the shade she wore wasn't called 'tantalizing' it should be, because it tantalized him to no end, making him wonder what it might be like to kiss her.
A smile tugged at his lips as he watched her head his way. Skillfully dodging a toddler, Katherine held large bags in both hands and carried on a conversation with Matt, who wore an infectious grin. A tall overweight man turned a corner too sharply and plowed into her, almost knocking her backwards. Jared's hands fisted when the jerk placed his beefy arms around Katherine. After a brief nod and a smile at the buffoon, she continued through the minefield, jabbering to Matt like nothing had happened.
She wore casual black slacks and flats while a blue crewneck sweater peeked from the collar of her blazer. The snug outfit reminded him of her perfectly proportioned figure.
A new line of expectant children, laughing, crying, screaming and wetting, drew his attention from Katherine and Matt. He glanced up after some time and saw Matt had made his way to the head of the line. He came forward and sat on Jared's lap. Katherine smiled and waved from the sidelines.
"Ho-ho-ho. Have you been a good boy this year?"
Matt nodded, his eyes flickering with excitement.
Jared smiled. "What do you want Santa to bring you, little boy?"
He grabbed a handful of Jared's white beard none too gently, causing Jared to lean forward. "I knew you wouldn't remember. I told Mom you wouldn't remember me 'cause I'm at Grandma's for Christmas. Mom thinks I'm special, so there's no way you could forget me, but she's wrong." His brows furrowed. "Do you need me to go over what I want again?"
Prying Matt's fingers from his beard, Jared tried to diffuse his blunder and remove the hurt he saw in Matt's eyes. "Matt, I haven't forgotten you."
His mouth rounded. "You remembered my name."
"Of course I do. I have elves around the world that help me keep up with where kids live so we don't goof up any of the orders. I thought you might have forgotten something when you told me the first time. Do you want to add to your list?"
Matt shook his head and put his arm around Jared's shoulder. Pressing his chubby legs further up the padded Santa belly, Matt leaned close and whispered in his ear. "Can you do something for grownups, or can you only help us kids?"
Jared furrowed his glued-on white bushy eyebrows. "I specialize in kids, because they're the ones who ask for help each year, but I can help grownups, too. They never ask. Do you want me to help some grownup?" He gazed at Katherine, who smiled at them from the sidelines again. A vivid picture of her on his lap flashed into his mind.
Placing his finger over his own lips, Matt said, "Shhh. It's a secret. Mom would never ask for your help, but she needs it."
"Okay, it's a secret," Jared whispered back, excited to hear how he could help Katherine. "What can I do for your Mom?"
"Bring her a baby."
