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Series: Chances Inlet Contemporary Romance #5
Publication date: December 12th, 2024
Synopsis:
In the quaint coastal town of Chances Inlet, Christmas is a time for rekindling lost connections...
Elinor "Elle" McAlister is on the brink of a big-time promotion that will finally put her on equal footing with her overachieving siblings. The catch? She has to babysit a notoriously prickly war reporter who's late delivering his memoir. As if that weren't enough, her editor banishes them both to Elle's hometown on the Carolina coast to get the job done. Spending the holidays in Chances Inlet might have been fine--if only she hadn't wrecked the most important relationship in her life during her visit last Christmas.
Deputy Sheriff Hayden Lovell has known Elle was his person ever since she swiped his purple crayon back in kindergarten. Through every twist and setback, her steady friendship has been his anchor, especially after he returned from combat with wounds that run deep. But everything changed last New Year's Eve when Elle surprised him with a kiss, stirring feelings he didn't realize he had. Now that she's back in town and keeping her distance, Hayden wonders if that moment meant as much to her as it did to him.
Chances Inlet has a knack for bringing people together. With Christmas around the corner, can Elle and Hayden rewrite their story before the holiday spirit fades? Join them in a heartwarming tale of love, friendship, and the magic of second chances in a town that knows how to celebrate Christmas like no other.
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Excerpt
A miniature Christmas tree sat front and center on the round kitchen table. It was decorated with photos of holidays from years past. Many of them were of Elle and Hayden sitting on Santa's lap. Hayden's grandfather, the town's postmaster, had played the part of Santa for a quarter of a century.
Elle pulled her arm free to get a closer look. She fingered the photos, many of them worn with age.
"I've never seen these," she whispered.
He made a rough sound with his throat. "My grandmother kept them."
"Such precious photos."
Tears suddenly stung the back of her eyes. The man behind her had played a role in so many of her memories--good and bad. It hurt to think that part of her life could be over.
"How did we get so messed up?" she asked, not bothering to turn around.
He was silent behind her for so long, she thought he'd left her again. But when she worked up the courage to face him, it was to see him looking as wrecked as she felt. It pained her to take a breath.
"I don't want to lose you, Hayden."
With a slight shake of his head, he stalked across the room to her. They stood facing each other, less than an inch separating them for what felt like hours until... She wasn't sure who kissed who first, but it didn't matter. Teeth and tongues clashed as they tried to get as close to one another as possible.
Hayden's hands were suddenly everywhere. In her hair. Along her back. Burning a path along her skin beneath her fleece. When his mouth moved to explore the curve of her neck, she tilted her head to give him better access.
Elle wasn't going to let the opportunity to explore the body she'd been fantasizing about all week go to waste. She tugged his Henley free of his jeans and slipped her fingers beneath it. He nipped at her jaw when her fingers made contact with his ridiculously flat abs. His thumb brushed over one of her nipples, already sensitive and aroused, and her knees almost buckled. He groaned when her fingers tangled up in the happy trail of hair leading below the waistline of his jeans.
"Either tell me to stop, or tell me you want this, Elle." His teeth grazed her ear. "But you have to decide. Now."
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