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    More Than a Gift
    More Than a Gift
    More Than a Gift
    Ebook110 pages1 hour

    More Than a Gift

    By Patricia Preston

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    About this ebook

    Falling for Santa is not on Holly's to-do list

     

    Back in town to celebrate his favorite season, Blake has firmly closed the door on romance, focusing on his family's thriving construction business. However, his world is turned upside down when he discovers that his brother has hired none other than his dream girl.

     

    Holly has returned to Nashville, determined to steer clear of both office romances and the Christmas spirit after a heart-wrenching breakup last year. However, fate has different plans when she finds herself at the mall and encounters a playful, charming Santa who advises her on how to find the perfect gift and urges her to give the holidays a second chance. Can a mere stranger dressed as Santa really be the one to change her mind about love?

     

    Unable to resist the chance to play Santa to Holly's Scrooge, Blake can't help but notice the undeniable chemistry sparking between them. With each passing moment, their connection deepens, and they find themselves drawn to each other despite their reservations.

     

    Yet, lurking beneath the tinsel and twinkling lights lies a secret that could shatter their newfound love. When Holly learns the truth about the man behind the Santa suit, will the flames of their chemistry flicker out? Or will they discover that love is more than just a gift, and sometimes, the right person may be where you least expect them?

     

    Join Holly and Blake on a heartwarming journey of self-discovery, second chances, and the magic of Christmas, as they learn that sometimes, love has a way of finding us when we least anticipate it. "More Than a Gift" is a charming, mainstream romance novella that will leave you with a renewed belief in the power of love during the most enchanting time of the year!

     

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPatricia Preston
    Release dateDec 12, 2022
    ISBN9798215502419
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      Book preview

      More Than a Gift - Patricia Preston

      Falling for Santa is not on Holly’s to-do list

      Holly moved back to Nashville after being dumped last Christmas. Now she plans to avoid office romances and all things Christmas this year. While she’s at the mall, a flirty, sexy Santa convinces her to give love and the holidays a second chance. Is it possible that a stranger in a Santa suit might be Mr. Right? No way.

      With the family construction business booming, Blake returns home for his favorite holiday. Although he’s sworn off romance, he finds his brother has hired his dream girl. Unbelievable. When a charity gig has him working as the mall Santa Claus, he can’t resist being Santa to Holly’s Scrooge. Nor can he deny the chemistry between them.

      But will that chemistry flame out when Blake is stranded at Holly’s house during a winter storm and she finds out her amazing Santa is actually her boss’s brother, Blake Andrews, who is totally Mr. Wrong?

      MORE THAN A GIFT is a fun, feel-good holiday romance novella. Content includes some mild language. Heat level: 2, closed door.

      MORE THAN A GIFT

      A Holiday Romance Novella

      PATRICIA PRESTON

      Copyright ©2022 by Patricia Preston

      ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

      This story is a work of fiction. All characters are either products of the author’s imagination or being used fictitiously. Names and locales have no relationship to anyone bearing the same name and any resemblance to actual persons, events, and locations is purely coincidental. Characters are not even remotely inspired by individuals known or unknown to the author and all events are imaginative inventions.

      No part of this text is allowed to be reproduced or transmitted by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the author. To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

      Cover Design

      ©2022 Patricia Robertson, LoveStory Press

      For all the remarkable romantics

      during the holiday season.

      Much Love and Good Cheer

      Chapter 1

      BLAKE ANDREWS STEPPED into his office for the first time in two months and found it decked out in Christmas décor. A twinkling Christmas tree stood in the corner, flanked by jolly snowmen. Glittering snowflakes, attached to silver twine, hung from the ceiling. On his desk was an automated Santa sitting in the cockpit of an airplane. A small sign beside the plane read: Merry Christmas, Blake!

      He smiled. Miss Betty and Miss Irene had outdone themselves this time. They had been with Andrews and Sons Construction and General Contracting since his father founded the company over thirty years ago. He had grown up being adored by them.

      Look at this. His older brother, Tristan, walked through the open door of his office, followed by Evan, his younger brother. Now we know who Miss Betty and Miss Irene’s favorite is.

      Evan grinned. They know he loves Christmas.

      Out of all the holidays, Christmas was Blake’s favorite.

      I only got a tree and candy canes. Evan handed Blake a foam cup filled with coffee.

      Thanks, Blake said. He and his brothers were all part of his father’s company, and he served as Director of Project Management. He flew across the country, working with clients on the development of new construction projects, including the legal aspects, logistics, and design.

      Evan stayed on the road, too, as he handled overseeing the various sites that were under construction. The eldest, Tristan, remained at the Nashville home office because he was Chief of Operations. Evan and Blake often teased Tristan about his being the glorified office manager.

      It was rare for all three of them to be together at the office. Blake hadn’t seen Tristan or Evan since October. Their conversation shifted to football and bowl games. Blake told Tristan if he could get tickets to the Super Bowl, he would fly them there in the company’s new Cessna. He’d piloted his first plane when he was sixteen and discovered he loved being in a cockpit.

      You’ve got a deal, Tristan said as his phone buzzed. He left Blake’s office to take the call, probably from a new girlfriend. Tristan always had new girlfriends. Plural.

      Evan took his leave, too. He had company reports to finish before the end of the day.

      Alone in his office, Blake sipped the coffee and glanced at the stack of mail waiting for him on his desk. He needed to go through it, plus he had an ICAO flight plan to file for his upcoming trip to Kansas City.

      The brief business trip would be his last one until mid-January. He was ready for the holiday break, as he could use some downtime, even though he couldn’t say he was excited about it.

      Nothing excited him anymore.

      The screech of brakes drew his attention. He turned to the double window overlooking the street and the employees’ parking lot. He was surprised to see a sporty black Camaro whip into a parking space. Late, he thought with a grin, figuring the driver of the Camaro with a hood scoop had to be Logan, the IT guy.

      The driver’s side door opened. It wasn’t Logan. A young woman emerged from the vehicle. The sunlight lit up the golden hair that spilled over her shoulders. A short, shimmering aqua dress hugged her torso, outlining a curvy figure. She wore black leggings and slippers with the dress. He couldn’t look away.

      Blake heard Logan call out from a window below: TGIF!

      She extended her arms and twirled in the morning sunshine. Her flared skirt swirled, and Blake’s pulse went full throttle as he watched her. She had such an aura of energy and sexiness that he indulged in a fantasy—of the two of them somewhere far away. Clothes scattered on the floor, enticing each other to the point of no return.

      He hadn’t realized he was that desperate. Or, maybe, it was just that she was the first girl in ages that had triggered an instinctive reaction. As she retrieved a purple coat and tote bag from her car, curiosity got the best of him.

      He took off out of his office and down the rear stairs. The side door where the employees entered the building led into a small coatroom and a janitorial closet. As the side door opened, he disappeared into the closet. The smell of cleaning solutions almost stifled him. Holding the door slightly ajar, he watched through the crack. He told himself this was not stalking. He just wanted a closer look at her.

      She came inside and let out an exhausted sigh as if she’d had a crazy morning.

      She stopped a couple of feet from the janitorial closet and hung her coat on a wall peg. He checked out her hips and legs as she turned. They hinted at heaven.

      Holly. He heard Miss Betty’s stern voice. Betty Gaines had been the front office administrator since his father founded the business. Did you get the water leak fixed?

      Holly. He committed his fantasy girl’s name to memory.

      He got a close-up view of her face as she spoke to Betty. My dad came over and turned the water off at the meter. A plumber is on his way.

      Blake studied her features. He loved her expressive, tawny-colored eyes. A sprinkle of freckles across her nose added a touch of mischief to her face. She had generous lips that begged to be kissed.

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