Heating Up the Holidays

By Marcia James

Nicky Paxton is up to her pointed elf ears in work—filling in for a sick Santa’s helper, corralling kittens in a mechanical winter wonderland and running her family’s department store chain. With only 14 shopping days until Christmas, the last thing she needs is the return of her high school heart-breaker.

Lawyer and single dad Chris Spencer leaves the Los Angeles rat race to raise his five-year-old daughter, Holly, in his sleepy Virginia hometown. His first goal is to make sure Holly has a Christmas to remember. His carefully laid plans don’t include a second chance with his first love.

When Holly asks the store Santa for a “fairy pony puppy”, Chris enlists Nicky’s help to track down the elusive item. Despite Nicky’s resolve not to re-gift her heart to Chris, their sexual attraction could power the town’s holiday light display. With the help of mistletoe, a hairless dog and a lonely child, Chris and Nicky just might get their Christmas desires.

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Read an Excerpt

Chris and his daughter stepped onto the elevator after her, and Nicky used her staff key card to send it slowly down.

“What’s that?” Holly, with the inquisitiveness of the young, pointed up at a sprig of plastic mistletoe an employee had taped to the elevator’s ceiling. Nicky picked her up so she could see the holiday decoration better.

“Mistletoe,” Chris explained. “When you stand under it, you’re supposed to kiss the person you’re with.”

Holly giggled, then placed a sticky kiss on Nicky’s cheek, before twisting to her father. “Daddy, kiss us.”

Nicky froze like a reindeer in headlights as Chris leaned down to kiss his daughter’s forehead. Then he turned slightly and met her eyes–his intention clear–before moving his mouth toward hers.

No, no, no, no, no! This man would be gone again in the New Year. The sane side of Nicky’s brain yelled for attention, told her to avoid the kiss, to offer her cheek instead. But she waited, heart thudding, breath hitching, until his lips brushed hers. It was electric, momentous, and God, she didn’t want it to end.

Nicky. He was kissing Nicky Paxton again, and Jesus it felt right. Her mouth was soft and sweet, and she smelled like sugar cookies. Chris had been back in Paxtonville for a week, but with this…he finally felt he was home.

More. His brain was monosyllabic and demanding. His hands were filled with bags, dammit, so he couldn’t drag her closer. Instead, Chris tilted his head for a better angle even as he knew for some reason it was a bad idea to deepen the kiss…

Holly clapped her hands in delight.

Oh, yeah. Five-year-old daughter. That’s why this wasn’t cool. As he drew back, Chris stared into Nicky’s dazed eyes, pretty damn sure he looked just as stunned. She snapped out of it first, however, when the elevator dinged and opened on the first floor.