New Release, Elven Magic

In the whimsical realm of the North Pole, where enchantment fills the frosty air, a tale of love, mischief, and holiday magic unfolds.

Can a sweet female elf suddenly become a stalker?  You bet she can!
 
 Patty Peppermint is a spirited and talented elf, her pointed ears and diminutive stature belying a vibrant personality. However, after two hundred years she’s tired of waiting for Mr. Right, and settling for Mr. Right Now. In fact, she’s thinking of leaving The North Pole altogether until Wyatt Wonderland appears like an early Christmas gift. The sexy Reindeer Wrangler kindles a fire that could burn forever, but he’s holding out on her. Getting him into her bed just became her new mission.
 
Wyatt, a charismatic cowboy from Tennessee has taken the position of Manager of the Reindeer Barns. Half Elven and half human, he is drawn to Patty’s charms, but Wyatt has his own agenda for his time in The North Pole, and it doesn’t include engaging in what might be an unsustainable relationship with the tempting, pink haired elf.  Unfortunately, she’s now stalking him and making all kinds of crazy plans. Taking her over his knee may be his only option to get her under control.
 
The idyllic hamlet, nestled amidst the snowy landscape, becomes the stage for their deepening relationship as whispers of danger circulate among the Elven community. Strange occurrences begin to unfold, challenging Patty and Wyatt to unravel a mystery that could ruin Christmas forever.
 
With a delightfully spicy blend of suspense, fantasy, romance, and holiday cheer, this enchanting tale weaves a tapestry of love, laughter, and the enduring magic of the North Pole, where dreams come alive and happily-ever-afters hang in the balance.
 
Don't miss Elven Magic, the third book in the Love Stories from the North Pole Series.

Excerpt:

“Reindeer are temperamental creatures at times. They have good moods and bad, can be gentle and feisty, and frequently need a firm hand, much like a little female elf I know,” he replied as he helped her clean up.

“Is that so?” she asked stiffly as she began to put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. To do so she realized she was bending over and quickly turned her head to look at him. At that exact moment he was staring at her bottom with a strange gleam in his eye. Quickly she straightened up and shoved the door closed. “I’ll just put these in the sink and take care of them later.”

“That’s your choice,” he replied softly, “but it won’t help you now.”

“I don’t know what you mean?” she gasped out as he reached out and took her hand. Pulling her to the great room, he stopped and placed his big hands on her shoulders, holding her in place.

“Look around,” he ordered. “Take a good long look, Lil’ Bit and tell me what you see.”

Patty ran her hands down her skirt, smoothing it and trying to dry her perspiring hands. Her eyes traveled the room that appeared somewhat dark and gloomy from this angle. All of the furniture was heavy, oversized, the leather such a deep brown that it nearly appeared black with only the fire’s glow. Now that she looked closely, she realized Merry had even changed the drapes. Instead of the soft, frilly Pricillas that had covered the windows letting in the moonlight, there was now room darkening drapes that blocked the stars. When she looked at the huge longhorns hanging over the fireplace, she winced.

“Why would you do this?” he asked. “Why would you turn such a bright, cheerful, welcoming home into this depressing monstrosity?” he asked, turning her to face him, his hand sweeping the room.

“I don’t know,” she whispered avoiding his eyes.

“I reckon you do know, little elf. I reckon we both do,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair and walking away from her. Taking a seat on the sofa he patted the space beside him. “Come here.”

When she hesitated, his voice deepened as he repeated himself. “I said come here, Lil’ Bit and I meant it,” he warned.

Slowly she moved closer until she finally sat down, sinking so far into the sofa that she let out a panicked squeal, her arms flailing. Swiftly Wyatt plucked her up and positioned her sideways on his lap, one strong arm holding her in place when she fidgeted, her hands twisting.

“Now, because I’m basically a patient man, I’m going to give you one opportunity to try and explain all this to me. I doubt it will change the way this evening ends, but feel free to dig into your little bag of Elven tricks and give it your best shot. I’ll wait.”

Patty’s mind was racing. What did he mean it wouldn’t change the way the evening ended? Was he going to stop seeing her? Was he going to leave angry and end the friend‐ ship she so wanted to coax into so very much more? Damn, what could she say? How could she explain such a dramatic shift? Verbally stumbling she hesitatingly began.

“Well, I was just ready for a change that’s all,” she insisted. “This place was far too girly…”

“Nope,” he interrupted. “Despite your preference for jeans and sneakers, you’re definitely girly, and in all the right places too. Try again,” he suggested, his hand rubbing her stiff back and toying with her hair.

“No, I’m not,” she stated. “Ask anyone! They’ll all tell you that I’m not at all fussy, and I like to keep things simple and organized.”
“And you call this simple?” he asked with a laugh. “You think having furniture you can’t even sit on without needing a strong hand to pull you out of is simple?”

“Well, no, but I didn’t sit on it at the shop, so I had no way of knowing.”

“Why would you buy something without trying it out?” he pressed.

“I guess I just liked the looks of it, and it seemed so big and comfortable. I thought it might suit someone who is used to…”

“Ah, now we’re coming to the truth of it, are we?”

“Well not everyone is as small as me. Perhaps one day I will find a mate who would appreciate such a room,” she snapped. “As I said more than once, I’m not a girly sort of female!”

“Pink is definitely a girl’s color, well maybe not all females, but it suits you well,” he said as he slid his hand into her hair and cupped the back of her scalp.

“Thank you, I think,” she breathed when he pulled her head to his chest.

“Why don’t I tell you why you really did all this?” he suggested softly, his mouth near her ear.

“Okay,” she whispered, melting against him and closing her eyes.

“After you learned I was not going to complicate our relationship with a passionate physical romance, you panicked, even though I explained my reasons and they had nothing to do with how I felt about you.

“It was natural that you would discuss our situation with Merry, after all, she is your best friend, but you took it too far. It seems the two of you decided that if you could make your home more appealing to the cowboy from Tennessee, he might spend more time here, allowing you to tempt him into changing his mind.

“Of course, none of that was necessary. You were already plaguing my every thought, disrupting my sleep with dreams of teasing and tormenting you,” he admitted with a groan. “It seems I wanted to do to you what you’ve been mentally doing to me; and yes, I know that’s a little insane, but wanting you has done that to me.”

“It has?” she asked weakly.

“Yes. Unlike you, I don’t make up a lot of crap to explain my actions. I tell it like it is and I have from the start.”

“That’s true,” she admitted. “You did tell me why you didn’t want a sexual relationship.”

“It wasn’t a matter of not wanting you, Lil’ Bit. I wanted you badly, so much that I needed to stay away from you for just that reason. But you would not leave me alone. Tell me, have you used magic to mesmerize me?”

“No, Wyatt, I swear,” she protested, pushing away from him and looking directly into his eyes. “No magic,” she continued, biting her lip.

“But you considered it,” he pressed. Patty nodded, feeling her face heat up.

“I ache for you,” she told him softly, her hand flying to her tummy. “I don’t exactly know why, but it’s been like this from the moment I met you. I feel like a part of me is missing and only you can fix it, make me whole again,” she admitted as a tear trailed down her cheek. “When you said there was almost no chance for us to be together, I did panic. I felt like my life was over, wasted and I would never be happy and carefree again.”

“We’ve only known each other a short time,” he pointed out as he wiped her tears away with his big thumb. “Don’t you think it’s unusual for two people to feel so connected to each other so quickly?”

“My mind says yes, but my heart says no. Maybe it was like this with your parents, Wyatt. Maybe they knew from the moment they met that they were supposed to be together forever,” she offered as she sank back against his chest, her arms going around his neck.

“And look how that worked out,” he answered with a touch of bitterness. “I’ll never know if my mother used magic to bewitch him. I’ll never know if he truly loved her, or she him.”

“She had to love him, honestly and forever loved him or she never would have broken like she did after his death. Only love could make a female give up everything she’s ever known, leave her family and home to be with him.”

“Love or stubbornness,” he countered. “Maybe she was just too damn stubborn to realize she’d made a mistake, too angry at my grandparents for not supporting her when they were right all along!”

“Wyatt, no,” Patty cried, cupping his cheek. “I can’t believe that. I won’t believe that!” She felt the tension in his body and sensed his resolve reawakening. Soon he would set her away from him and leave, maybe never coming back. It was enough to make her howl, but that’s not exactly what happened.

Wyatt did move her off his lap, only to slide over on the sofa and then pull her across his knees. When he flipped up her skirt, she knew what was happening, but she had to ask anyway. Turning her head she looked at him over her shoulder.

“Wyatt, what are you doing?” she asked weakly.

“I’m doing what a man does when his woman steps over the line,” he stated.

I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse into Elven Magic. Thanks for stopping by, and I have a fabulous holiday season.

You can find me just about anywhere using this link.  linktr.ee/StevieMac