Almost Christmas (Sort Of)

I know we haven't had Thanksgiving in the U.S. yet, but I'm thinking it's time to start talking about Christmas. The fact I have a holiday release likely has something to do with my early push. And I am not alone. Harlequin is giving away copies of the HOLIDAY KISSES anthology and the two other Carina holiday anthos. So, head on over HERE and enter.

And to tempt you, here's a snippet from my novella, IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU:

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He blew on his gloved hands. "It's going to snow."

"You could always tell."

"Not sure if it's my innate ability to read the signs or the fact it started coming down a second ago."

She leaned in and glanced out the big window that overlooked the lot. "Ah, brilliant."

White flecks filled the near-black sky and landed on the tree branches. She inhaled and even through the walls could pick out the refreshing scent of pine, the same smell she associated with Holloway and hayrides and hours of racing around outside once the school cancellation announcement came across the crawl on the bottom of the television screen.

If she closed her eyes she could blink her way back to the wooded acres surrounding Austin's house and relive the last winter she spent there. The nights so deadly quiet except for the soft rustle of branches and slick click of icy snow as it fell and piled in feet-high stacks.

Austin slid a thigh onto the desk and studied her. "What are you thinking about?"

"Why?"

"You're smiling."

The memory filled her with the same comfort as a cozy blanket on a cold night. "Trudging through the snow until I could barely lift my leg and was so tired I almost fell over. Impromptu snowball fights and the rumbling sound of the snow blower."

"You're kind of making me hot."

She coughed out a laugh and kept going until she doubled over and her stomach ached. When she opened her eyes again, he was at her side with that soft expression of amusement on his sexy mouth.

He slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her body tight to his. "You okay there?"

"You make me happy."

His hand tightened on her arm. "Good to know."

"Everything about you tempts me."

"Then I'll stay quiet to keep from messing this moment up."