Mary E. Thompson's Blog, page 49

Secret Santa (Dec 11)

Bryan walked beside Holly trying to think of something to say. He worried if he spoke too much she would recognize his voice. On the other hand, he didn’t want to be rude to her. 

“How old is Bobby?” He finally asked, assuming the child asleep in his arms was a safe subject. 

Holly smiled, making Bryan’s heart squeeze. “He’s five. Just started kindergarten this year.” 

“Does he like school?” 

Holly nodded. “He loves it. He’s a very bright kid, sweet too. I just wish I could spend more time with him.” 

Bryan hated that she was frowning again, no doubt thinking about what a horrible boss he was. It had been too long since he had considered the feelings of someone else. All Bryan usually had to do was bark out orders. 

Only now did he see how detrimental that was to those around him. 

Not that it had ever been his intention to be nasty to his employees, but when he thought about it he knew he was. 

As much as Bryan dreaded the answer, he had to know, “Have you thought about getting a new job?” 

He held his breath as Holly nodded. “Constantly. The problem is nothing else pays as well. I’ve looked.” 

It felt like Holly filleted him. He hated the thought of her leaving, especially since it was his fault. If only he had a solution. A way to make things better for her. To give her more time with Bobby. Maybe even make her hate him a bit less. 

Bryan was still thinking when Holly stopped in front of a beat up old sedan. Bryan’s brand new Mercedes wasn’t far from where they stood, making him feel guilty. 

Until an idea popped into his head. He grinned beneath the beard and knew he’d figured out a way to make both Holly and Bobby’s Christmas wishes come true. 

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Secret Santa (Dec 10)

Holly looked up at Santa. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew him, but didn’t know why. It didn’t matter though. Every word she said was the truth. She didn’t believe in anything anymore, especially Santa. 

“Come on, Bobby,” she said, sliding off Santa’s lap, “we need to get home.” 

“Just a few more minutes, Mom. Please,” he begged. 

Holly felt bad. She knew she would get another night to bring him to the festival. Christmas was always busier at work since her boss took off more time than usual. But she knew she needed to get Bobby home. 

As if to prove that, he yawned loudly and snuggled against Santa. 

“Why don’t I walk you out,” Santa said, standing with Bobby in his arms. 

Holly looked up at him, searching the body beneath the suit. His arms bulged under the weight of her son, but he appeared well capable of carrying him. Bobby was drifting quickly and Holly knew she’d never make it to the car without help. 

“Thank you,” she finally said, meeting Santa’s eyes. “I’d appreciate the help.” 

He smiled at her and she felt something shift inside. Like his smile was only for her. Made for her. 

If only that were true, she thought. 

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Chubby & Charming, Best Friends

Chubby & Charming is finally available everywhere! Just in case you haven’t picked it up yet, I have to tease you a little more.

Big & Beautiful is about friendship as much as it is about relationships. The four women who start the series have been best friends for years, and as only friends can do, give each other shit all the time. Life is so much better when you share it with your best friends!

Excerpt from Chubby & Charming

I laughed along with them, flipping pancakes and eating a hot one every once in a while. Claire made me a hot chocolate while the rest of them enjoyed coffee. After breakfast we piled on my couch and flipped channels before deciding to watch Bridesmaids.

My phone beeped with a new message shortly after the movie started. I picked it up halfheartedly, not expecting more than an alert about coupons ready to expire or something like that.

Xander’s name was on my screen and I opened the message. Claire paused the movie, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, just a text from Xander. Oh, he’s so sweet,” I said, handing my phone over. He’d taken a picture of himself with an empty pillow next to him and said, ‘Your pillow and I are lonely without you.’

The phone beeped again when it reached Addi on the other end of the couch and she squealed and dropped my phone. “What happened?”

“I didn’t need to read that!” she called. “Oh shit, I can’t unread it.”

“What did it say?” Sam asked laughing. She picked up my phone and read the text, laughing. She passed the phone to Claire who responded similarly to Addi and tossed the phone to me.

I read, ‘My cock misses you, too. I’m ready for round two when you are.’

I blushed and sent him a quick text back for us to get together the next day. He responded instantly that he wanted to see my place. I sent him my address and agreed he’d come over for dinner after work the next day.

I tucked my phone away and settled back into the movie, feeling good about the not so awkward morning after.

Available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Smashwords, Kobo, and others

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Secret Santa (Dec 7)

Bryan’s heart sunk, simply plummeted to his toes. He looked into Holly’s eyes, wondering if she was telling the truth, praying she wasn’t.

But he couldn’t deny the conviction he saw in her eyes. She wasn’t joking and she wasn’t exaggerating. She was being 100% honest. She didn’t believe in anything anymore.

And for someone who pretended to be Santa, nothing could break his heart more.

He looked down at her son, Bobby, and wondered if maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for her. After all, she had a kid who believed so fiercely that he risked getting in trouble so he could ask Santa for something for his mom. A woman who didn’t believe.

Bobby had to have gotten his faith from somewhere.

“Everyone believes in something,” Bryan argued. “Even as adults, we believe.”

He watched her eyes take him in, carefully searching his hidden face for clues as to who he really was. He couldn’t let her see though. She couldn’t know. He wouldn’t let her.

“Not me,” she argued right back. “I’ve got debt up to my eyeballs, a boss who thinks I’m a step above his slave, and haven’t had a man look at me twice since… well, you can probably guess.” She eyed her son meaningfully, as if to tell Bryan the last time a man had given her the time of day was when she got pregnant.

But that wasn’t the part that had him sucking in a breath and wishing he could run. Sure, finding out she was basically a virgin all over again made certain parts of him want to come to life, but his brain got stuck on the second part of her argument.

The part about her horrible boss. The one who treated her badly.

“If can’t be that bad. Maybe your boss thinks you’re indispensable.”

Her snort of derision was like a knife through his chest. He hated knowing she felt that way.

“If that were true he wouldn’t have me working around the clock, neglecting time with my kid, just so I can take care of him. The jerk has the nerve to leave early too, like he’s the only one with a life. He’s probably out with some model, telling her how hard he works and trying to convince her he’s a great guy.”

Bryan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He couldn’t argue with her, even if it wasn’t true. Well, not all of it. If he argued she would know the truth. That her boss was the very same man she was complaining to. And that he wasn’t out with a model, but instead sitting with a single mom and wishing he could convince her he was a great guy.

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Secret Santa (Dec 5)

Holly stared at her son sitting on Santa’s lap. She was annoyed, but she was used to that feeling. Bobby was constantly pushing her beyond her comfort zone, ever since he was born. 

But more than that she was still scared. He vanished, then she found him in the lap of a strange man. Yes, she knew it was Santa, but there was no guarantee this Santa was a decent person under the suit. 

Holly assured herself Bobby was okay then looked up at Santa. Her breath stuck in her throat when she tried to suck it in. She froze. 

Santa was watching her. His blue eyes were dark, like a midnight sky, and they held hers with such intensity she couldn’t breathe. Beneath the fake beard he was attractive and young. Much younger than she expected. 

Despite the intensity in his eyes, one she couldn’t define, she was drawn to him. 

Her feet moved her forward even as her mind shook her head no. She didn’t want to join Bobby on Santa’s lap, but it appeared as though she was going to. 

The mysterious Santa opened his arm and welcomed her onto his lap. She could smell the man beneath the suit. Expensive cologne was fading, one she thought she recognized but could put her finger on. In its place she inhaled a male scent with a hint of something else, probably his deodorant. 

He smiled when she finally lowered herself into his leg. Bobby beamed at her and said, “Ask Santa for what you want, Mom. I already told him what I want.” 

“I don’t need anything, Bobby. Santa has too many other people to worry about anyway.” 

“I’d love to know what would make you happy. It’s Christmas, miracles can happen,” Santa said with a wink. 

Holly looked him straight in the eyes and told him, “I don’t believe in miracles. I don’t believe in much of anything anymore.”

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Chubby & Charming Party

I’m having a mini-party over on Facebook for Chubby & Charming! Please stop by and say hi, and win a free book, or two. It’s starts at noon.

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Secret Santa (Dec 3)

Bryan turned and saw a little boy running full speed toward him. He couldn’t have been more than five or six, but he was alone. Bryan sat back down and nodded to his elves to stay with him for a few more minutes. They escorted the boy up to him while Bryan kept his eyes peeled for a parent.

“Hello, young man, how are you tonight?” he asked the boy on his lap.

“I’m tired Santa, but I had to see you. Before my mom gets here, I need to tell you what I really want for Christmas. Can I tell you now?”

“Of course, I’d love to know.”

“You can’t tell my mom,” the boy said in all seriousness, looking deep into Bryan’s eyes.

Bryan focused on the boy’s solemn brown eyes and nodded, silently agreeing to keep his promise.

“I want my mom to find a new job. She works really late hours, which is why we’re just getting here now. She needs to be home earlier because I miss her. She’s always tired. It’s not fair to her.”

Bryan’s heart slowed as he listened to the boy who had to much faith in Santa he asked for a better life for him and his mother. He was sure she worked a thankless, low paid job. He hated that the little boy in his lap would miss time with his mom, and he wondered if there was something he could do.

“Bobby! Bobby, where are you?” a woman shrieked.

“That’s my mom, Santa. Can you help? Cuz she’ll be here in a minute so I’m gonna have to make up other stuff I want so she doesn’t know. You won’t tell, right?”

Bryan swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded at Bobby.

The woman came closer, the elves calling her over, and Bryan watched as she walked toward him. Her long brown hair fell in soft waves halfway down her back. She was bundled up in a winter coat, but Bryan could see long slender legs encased in boots that met the edge of her jacket. She was running toward them and with each step, Bryan felt his heart beating harder. He wanted to hold her, tell her that he kept her boy safe, make things better for her.

“Come on, Mom,” Bobby said when she got to the front of where the line would be, “ask Santa for something.”

She looked up at Bryan and his heart stopped. He wanted her more than he’d wanted any woman before. She was stunning with flushed cheeks, blazing green eyes, and that hair he itched to get his hands on.

But he would never have her. Because he knew her. And knew she’d never be his.

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Secret Santa (Dec 2)

Bryan buttoned his coat and looked at himself in the mirror. The transformation was always incredible, but then it had to be. When he took over for his dad, he knew he would have to alter everything about the way he looked.

After all, he couldn’t have little kids knowing he wasn’t the real Santa.

Satisfied with his look, Bryan headed out the door to get started.

He loved the Winter Wonderland. It was a tradition, one started almost fifty years ago by his grandfather. Bryan’s dad took over when he was little, but he announced last year that he was done. He wanted to enjoy the holiday season with Bryan’s mom, who was diagnosed with dementia a year ago. Bryan understood, but he wasn’t sure he was up to the job just yet.

It didn’t matter though, he was up.

The festival was in full swing already, but Santa made his appearance after dinner every night. Bryan saw a line already all the way around the carousel. He hated keeping the kids waiting.

Cheers erupted from the crowd when he took his seat. With a nod to one of his elves, the kids were brought forward, one at a time.

“Ho ho ho,” Bryan barked. “Merry Christmas little one, how are you tonight?”

“Hi Santa!” the boy exclaimed. Bryan smiled, the edges of his beard tickling his cheeks. He loved the joy Santa brought to these kids. “I love you, Santa.”

The kid threw his arms around Bryan’s neck. Bryan laughed his Santa laugh and hugged him back. Some kids just needed to know someone cared, and he was okay with that. Others wanted the latest toy. And some were only there because their parents forced them to go, wanting that iconic shot of their kid with Santa.

Bryan loved all of it.

“Can I tell you what I want for Christmas?”

“Of course,” Bryan bellowed. “I’d love to know. It makes things easier for my elves you know.”

One of the elves moved closer as the boy told Bryan all the things he wanted to Christmas. When he jumped down she handed the list to his mother before bringing up the next kid.

Bryan listened to requests for two hours. Kids wanted everything from a stuffed animal to the latest XBOX to a new cell phone. The parents smiled and snapped pictures, the elves wrote furiously, capturing every whispered request for the parents. The line was starting to die down, but Bryan kept up his hearty laugh and smile, knowing each child was special.

After another two hours the line had vanished and taken Bryan’s energy with it. The festival was about to close for the night, and he was ready to sleep. Bryan worked as a pediatrician during the day. It was Friday, but it’d been a long week, and Bryan needed a few hours to himself.

“Wait, please,” came a voice from the distance as Bryan stood. “Santa, please wait!”

 

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Chubby & Charming, So Sweet

It’s Release Day! Yay!

I’m so excited that Chubby & Charming is officially available!

If you don’t see it yet on your favorite retailer site, it’ll be there soon. I’ll add links here as they become active, but just in case you haven’t bought it yet, here’s another little sneak peak.

Isn’t Xander sweet?

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Misunderstanding (Nov 30)

George woke up the next morning with a stiff neck, his arm numb, and freezing. He was incredibly confused. 

Until he opened his eyes and saw Bianca, sound asleep next to him. She’d stolen his blanket and was curled up with her head resting on his sleeping arm. George’s head was on the armrest of the couch since he was too tall, but he didn’t care once he saw Bianca. 

Bianca. 

Just her name brought a smile to his lips. He thought back over their night. He was sure she’d balk at his request to tell him everything about her, but she didn’t. They’d stayed up most of the night talking about past relationships, their families, and themselves. 

In between a lot more kisses, of course. 

George was falling for Bianca. She was smart and funny and sensual. She was everything George had ever wanted in a woman, but never thought he’d find. 

Bianca wriggled in her sleep, pressing her backside into George and waking up other parts of him. He turned, cupping her breast and nibbling her neck, then heard heavy footsteps on the stairs. 

George froze. He slid his hand out from under Bianca’s shirt, but there was no hiding that they’d slept on the couch together. 

“What the fuck?” Steven growled, low and menacing. 

Before Bianca woke up, George jumped off the couch and dragged his friend to the backyard. 

“I know you’re pissed at me right now, but-” 

“You’re damn right I’m pissed. I told you to stay the fuck away from my cousin!” Steven shouted. 

“I know. And you can kick my ass later. Just let me explain.” 

Steven cocked an eyebrow at him and crossed his arms over his chest. George knew his friend could easily kick his ass, especially since he wouldn’t fight back. 

“This oughta be good,” Steven snarled. 

George took a deep breath. “I knew she was hurting and you would be pissed, but I couldn’t resist the pull I felt toward her. From the moment I saw her, I wanted to get to know her. That’s all that happened last night. We talked.” 

Steven narrowed his eyes at George. “Did you kiss her?” 

“No,” Bianca said from the back door. “I kissed him.” 

“What?” Steven bellowed. 

“Calm down,” Bianca said impatiently. “I’m an adult and I make my own decisions. You don’t have to protect me anymore.” 

“You don’t know him. You met yesterday.” 

“And I’d be willing to bet I know more about him than you do. We talked last night. Yes, we kissed too, but mostly we talked.”

“What about Adam?” 

“It’s been over with Adam for a long time. I know what I’m doing.” 

Steven looked down at their joined hands, supporting each other, and sighed. “I don’t want to see you hurt. Either of you. What happens after this weekend?” 

George smiled at Bianca. They’d already talked through everything. “We see how it goes. We like each other, but we’re going to take it slow. Neither of us wants to rush into something and have it fall apart because we didn’t get to know each other well enough.” 

“Are you sure about this?” Steven asked, looking at Bianca. 

She nodded and smiled up at George. “I’m sure,” she said, then pulled him down for a kiss. 

They laughed when they heard Steven rush off. Then went back to kissing. 

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