Publication date: November 10th, 2021
Synopsis:
It's been ten years since Delaney Silverman last stepped foot on the Silver Bells Christmas Tree farm her family owns and operates, but when her father dies, she has no choice. Even if it means mending fences with her estranged mother. The last thing this reformed wild-child-turned-Manhattan-marketing-pro has in mind, though, is a second chance at first love. But after life brings her face to face with the sexy, ex-fiancé neighbor boy, she realizes he's everything she never knew she needed.
Travis Harper knows two things to be true: 1. It's time to adopt his foster daughter and build a custom home life for themselves, and 2. Laney Silverman is the last woman he'd ever trust with their hearts, even if she is everything he's ever wanted. Especially since she has a bad habit of walking away from him.
Will twelve days be enough to give two former lovers a Merry Ex-Mas?
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Excerpt
Perched on one of the wood stumps that doubled as a seat, Laney watched Travis expertly stoke a fire into life. The flames crackled and popped, sending sparks flying into the air. He'd done the same thing to her heart, she realized with a start. He'd nurtured the small flame, fanning it until it threatened to engulf her.
Satisfied with the fire, Travis pulled a stump close to Laney and took a seat. He unfurled the blanket, draping it over their laps for added warmth, not that either of them were cold, before retrieving his bag. Laney had to stifle a laugh as he reached in and pulled out a pack of marshmallows, graham crackers, and two chocolate bars. All the fixin's for s'mores. A favorite from her childhood. She was touched. "You remembered."
"Of course, I did." He handed her a wire stick, fingers grazing her hand. His gaze, dark and unreadable, cut her to the quick and her breath lodged in her throat until she had to look away.
She took the fat marshmallows he offered and pushed them onto her stick before hovering it over the flames, close enough to soak up the heat but not so close to catch fire. A surge of nostalgia swelled. How many times had they sat side-by-side, roasting marshmallows for s'mores and laughing? She turned to study him.
Shadows cast by the flames danced across his face. As a boy he'd been gangly, nothing more than lanky arms and legs. But he'd filled out nicely as a man. Lean muscles molded by years spent working in construction. If she closed her eyes, she could easily recall the smooth expanse of his muscular back, the hard planes of his chest, the slight dusting of hair.
"You're on fire."
On fire for him maybe. The man didn't have to touch her to set her skin on fire. All it took was one look in her general direction and her entire body felt ready to combust at a moment's notice.
"Earth to Laney. You're on fire." He pointed to her flaming stick.
Sure enough, her mallows were indeed fully engulfed and a total loss. They melted and dripped into the fire. She set the stick aside. "Crap on a stick."
Travis chuckled at her odd expression and offered up the bag of fluffy treats. "Try again?"
Her stomach growled. She eyed Travis's perfectly toasted marshmallows. They'd skipped dinner and gone straight for dessert. She watched as he sandwiched them between two graham crackers and slid them off the stick. Adding a thick hunk of chocolate to the mix, he took a tentative bite. Strings of gooey marshmallow stuck to his lip and melted chocolate dripped down his fingers.
Oblivious to the naughty thoughts running through her mind, Travis said, "You know, this might make a great added feature for Silver Bells. Make a s'more while you wait for your tree to be chopped down. Customers love nostalgia and being fed. As an added bonus, no hangry customers."
Laney sucked in her bottom lip and eyed his dessert. Her stomach rumbled again. His treat did look awfully good.
She leaned over and stole a bite of his ooey gooey s'more for herself.
"Oh my God, so good." She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, reveling in the sugar rush.
A rich laugh tripped off his lips. Travis took another bite of his s'more, and then offered her a second bite. He waggled his eyebrow at her. "I'll share."
He didn't have to ask her twice. She popped the whole treat into her mouth.
"Hey!"
Mouth full, she said, "Sorry, I don't share."
The smoldering look Travis gave her, the way his gaze slipped to her lips as she finished swallowing her stolen s'more, was all the invitation she needed. She leaned over and licked the gooey strands from his lip, the tip of her tongue grazing the corner of his mouth.
Between the moonlight and the light from the fire, Travis was a mesmerizing sight. One that turned her inside to molten lava.
In silent offering, Travis touched a chocolate-coated finger to her lips.
Now this was a game she could get behind. She licked the chocolate from her lip, then sucked his finger into her mouth, swirling her tongue around the tip.
What was happening to her? Who sucked the chocolate off a man's fingers?
But damn, if it didn't taste heavenly. Would his lips taste the same way? She tilted her head and leaned in to find out.
Born to parents who loved to read, it's no surprise Elizabeth Janette's lifelong love of literary led her to become both a teacher and a writer. In fact, writing about getting RIF'd from her teaching job in the 2008 recession is what led her to publish an essay about the experience. From then on, she was hooked. Now days, when she's not teaching sassy 5th graders, Elizabeth Jannette writes romance that both sizzles and thrills. And when she's not teaching or writing, she works for her local chapter of the National Writing Project teaching teachers how to teach writing. Visit her website to connect and sign up for her newsletter.
