Jingle Wars (Hollyridge, #1)
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Read between December 22, 2023 - January 1, 2024
8%
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Beautiful, and not a resident of Hollyridge. I would know her if she was. I’d never forget her face if I’d seen it before. She’s around five foot tall, give or take an inch or two. Much shorter than my six two. So much that I have to look down at her. Bright blue eyes framed by thick, dark lashes peer back at me. Her cheeks and nose are red from the cold, and snowflakes cling to her lashes. Pink, lush lips that I immediately want to kiss draw my attention. They compliment her dark, highlighted wavy hair that falls down her back.
16%
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Another string of Christmas lights, another nail. Maybe if I make the inn ten times better than her resort, we can win back some of our business. Or maybe if she wasn’t so damn beautiful, I could think straight for five minutes, and that just makes me hate her even more.
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Bad brain. No more lumberjack lusting.
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A scoff bursts from me as I put on a show of examining my designer outfit. I know I’m cold, but when Finn challenges me I just want to go off. He calls on every stubborn bone in my body. “What’s wrong, big guy? Don’t know fashion when you see it? It’s called style.” At my snarky tone, he grips me by my upper arms, leaning close enough to kiss me as he hisses, “Put some real goddamn clothes on before you freeze that perky little ass off in the snow, traitor.”
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Finn watches with a strange expression. Without the anger, it does funny things to my chest, igniting butterflies. At last he mutters, “Saint, you’re a traitor.” It doesn’t hold any heat. He allows me to keep petting his donkey for a few more minutes.
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If that wasn't bad enough, of course Freya is standing directly across from me in another pair of UGG boots and a plush fur coat, looking every bit out of place as she has each time that I’ve seen her thus far. Princess isn’t used to snow and freezing ground, but one good time on her ass and she’ll change her tune from chic to sensible. Women. Her frigid gaze catches mine and she glares at me, shooting icicles directly my way. If looks could kill, I’d be dead on the spot. What's worse is she's even hotter when she's scowling. Shit. Why does my traitorous enemy have to look so good in those ...more
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Before I can even blink, she turns around and sprints at me full speed, tackling me like a fucking linebacker and almost knocks me clear off my feet. I'm so shocked that she just sumo wrestled me that I lose my footing and am on my back once more, with her sitting on top of me. But this time, it feels intense. Like all of the fresh forest air around us has been sucked out. The warm apex between her thighs is pressed tightly against me and I stifle a groan. She leans in closer, whispering, "Listen here, Finn Mayberry. You can have this damn tree. But let's be clear, it's because I'm letting you ...more
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She swallows, and her little pink tongue darts out to wet her lips. Her pupils dilate, and I know she's feeling every bit of what I’m feeling, plus some. I read her body and everything it tells me.
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I remove her from my lap abruptly and stand, offering her my back while I adjust myself so it isn't completely obvious that while I may hate her, my dick sure doesn't. When I turn back, she's on her feet, heading back in the direction she came. Finn: 1 Freya: 0
26%
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Freya is going to ignore me and act like I don't exist, and that's perfectly fine with me. Not like I have anything to say to her anyways, not after what I said during our scuffle in the woods. I like seeing her off kilter, her hair disheveled, her makeup smudged. I can tell she spends so much time trying to perfect everything and what she needs is a hard dose of reality. One I'd happily deliver.
27%
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Did he mean to sort of kiss me as a distraction? The brush of his lips on mine and faint scrape of his scruff against my skin as he told me we’re playing by his rules is branded in my mind. As Cornelius flirts with the crowd, I press my chilled fingers to my lips.
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Without asking, he reaches forward and picks a twig out of my tangled hair. A shiver runs down my spine, but I’m not sure if it’s from the chill in the air or from the way he’s looking at me. I lift my chin a fraction higher. Twigs are rustic chic right? That’s me.
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Before I get far, Finn has an arm hooked around me, stopping me in my tracks. I struggle with a grunt, but he easily herds me back two steps so my back is pressed against the cool wooden frame of the gazebo, his big hands planted on either side of my head. A pine garland wrapped with silver tinsel blocks us from view. My chest rises and falls with each breath as we stare each other down, and my heart skips a beat. “What are you doing? Let me out of here. I want to go take a long hot bath and get out of these dirty clothes.” Finn’s deep brown eyes flare with heat. He holds my gaze, then drops ...more
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We’re close enough I can see his pupils dilate, feel the shift in his breathing when his head inclines another inch to erase what little distance is left between us. To prove my point, I reach up to cup his neck, thumbs grazing his jaw. It’s warm beneath my icicle fingers. His focus drops to my mouth and my grin stretches. Without warning, I dig my nails in, just enough to be uncomfortable, not break the skin. “I’m a fighter, Finn Mayberry. I have no problem fighting you to the end.” “We’ll see about that, Traitor,” Finn rasps, a hint of arousal clear in his tone. I lick my lips and he ...more
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He said Grams, so that would make her Mrs. Mayberry. She’s a beautiful older woman with laugh lines and her eyes crinkle at the corners with her smile. Everything about her immediately makes me want to hug her. “Well, um.” I hook my thumb in a vague direction that is anywhere but here. “I’m just gonna. Yeah. I need to go.” “Make sure you drink something warm after you get yourself cleaned up. Don’t let your bath water get too hot, or you’ll burn fresh out of the cold. You have to go slowly to warm back up,” Mrs. Mayberry says, taking in my state, lingering on my soggy UGG boots. “And after ...more
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“Fuck, Riley’s here.” West groans when he finally drags his eyes from Aria and spots Riley perched on her stool next to Freya. The history between those two is so long and complicated that it would take me an entire case of beer to explain and even then we would only be scratching the surface. I like Riley, she's cool. Her spunky "take no shit" attitude is everything that West can't handle. The dynamic between them is hilarious, but for the most part I stay far away from that shit. I listen when my dude needs an ear, but other than that I'm out.
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"Mmm, fancy meeting you here West..." Riley heckles him. Both of them enter into the most intense stare off I've seen in my life, and I can't imagine how uncomfortable Freya is feeling, especially since she doesn't know either of them well enough to understand their history. "Riley, uh, can we talk?" West asks, rising from his stool, stepping closer to Riley and she takes a step back. Freya elbows her in the side, and she rolls her eyes, like she's annoyed that her friend is pushing her to give him what he's asking for. "Fine. Five minutes. Freya, I'll be right back, okay?"
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"I bet you another round of shots that you can't ride that moose past eight seconds." I grin and point to the large brown mechanical moose that sits in the middle of the bar.
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"You're gonna do it, really?" I ask when she places her small hand on my arm to steady herself, then pulls her hair back out of her face. "I don't back down from a challenge, Finn Mayberry. That moose doesn't have shit on Freya Anderson." She grins. Fuck, I want that feisty mouth wrapped around my dick. "I mean… If you think you can do it, be my guest." She grabs my hand, tugging me from the barstool. Laughing, I grab the beer and follow her over to the moose where Landon is setting up for the next rider.
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"Nope, my girl Freya is." I grin and toss an arm around her shoulders nonchalantly. I basically just pissed on the ground in front of her, staking my claim, and I have no damn clue why.
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"Ugh, you are infuriating. You love to watch me make a fool of myself, don't you." I lean into her, right where her dainty, diamond earrings are showing and whisper gruffly, "Maybe I just wanted to see how well you could ride, Princess."
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Freya's standing against the cold brick, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. The moisture of her breathless pants makes a soft cloud in front of her. I walk over and stop just in front of her until her eyes open up and meet mine. Then, it's like all rationality has been sucked from the air. We collide together in a messy, raw fumble of chaos but it's every fucking thing I've waited on since she pranced her way into town. I can hate her tomorrow.
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"Wanna talk about what just happened?" she asks me lightly, her eyes hesitant. "Nope, let's pretend it never happened," I tell her, even though it's the last thing I want to pretend. West and Riley's interruption was like a splash of freezing water and exactly what I needed.
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"Wow, I thought you'd at least wait until tomorrow to be a dick, Finn." She scoffs and storms off. "Freya... Wait," I call out, trying to stop her but it's too late, she's already opening the door and stomping inside. Great, now I've made an even bigger mess than the one I'm already in.
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"Hi Finn! We're making your favorite cookies, the ones with the little strawberry filling, look," Grams says giddily, all too happy to have Freya by her side helping. She lifts the dough in her hands to show me. Typical Grams, trying to distract me with food while she gets away with murder. "Uh... Sounds great Grams, can't wait. Freya, surprised to see you here...with my Grams...baking cookies in my kitchen..." I trail off, waiting for one of them to say something, or at least tell me what the hell is going on. It's...strange seeing Freya in my house and the idiot part of me who always thinks ...more
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"You ever made cookies before Freya?" I ask. She bites her lip and her eyes flicker with sadness before recovering quickly. "Uh, no actually, this is my first time." I caught the look that passed in her eyes before she answered, and suddenly, even though I know I shouldn't... I want to know what caused that sadness in her eyes.
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I look over at her and see unshed tears filling her eyes. For the first time since meeting Freya, I see her for more than the neighbor next door that I'm supposed to hate. Everything is turning out to be more complicated, especially when I realize that I’m falling for a traitor. A beautiful, traitorous neighbor who despite all of that, is still off limits. Now I realize just why I’ve spent so much time trying to hate her. She came to Hollyridge with the goal of making her resort the bigger, better resort. With all of the finest amenities money could buy. High tech sleigh rides, state of the ...more
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“Him and Grams opened the inn almost fifty years ago, and have built a business from the ground up. Never had any help. And now it’s like all his hard work is being ripped from him. He feels helpless. Hell, I feel helpless. Everything is falling apart. It seems like every time I fix one thing, something worse breaks.” It feels strange to open up to her like this, but it also feels right. “So that’s why you joined the competition… For the prize money?” She looks at me compassionately. The unshed tears clinging to her lashes begin to fall. She’s realizing that it isn’t just “some” competition ...more
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Freya’s quiet the rest of our ride into town, staring out the window. I hate that I had to push her away, but the farther I get into this competition, the harder I have to work to make sure I’m the one who’s on the stage collecting that prize money. Nothing is going to stand in my way. Nothing will stop me from saving the inn. Even if it means pushing away Freya in the end.
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Today I’m on a mission to see my handsome neighbor about a cup of sugar. A metaphoric one, intended as a peace offering. When Finn told me his reason for entering the Jingle Wars competition is all to give back to his grandparents for raising him and save his family’s struggling inn, I understood so much more about who he is. He’s an admirable man beneath the gruff moodiness. I don’t want Finn and his grandparents to lose the livelihood they built by hand, or lose the place Finn grew up.
41%
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The truth is, it felt so important and special when Grams Mayberry invited me inside to bake cookies with her. She spent more time teaching me how to mix and handle the dough than I did helping. Each time I think of my first memory making cookies from scratch with her guiding me through the process, I’m struck by a nonstop surge of emotions welling in my throat. To her it might have been another afternoon spent baking cookies she’s made hundreds of times, but to me it’s immeasurable how much it meant.
43%
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“Ain’t you a pretty little thing.” Lyle takes my hand before I drop it and gives it a hearty shake. “Jared, ain’t she pretty? That’s my son.” “Come on.” Finn’s deep voice sounds from right behind me, his hand brushing over my hip through my wool coat. “Stop getting distracted. Let’s get your tractor back to rights.”
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As I’m watching Finn work with Lyle and his son, a funny sensation builds in my chest, encircling my heart. The man who I thought was stubborn and willing to play dirty isn’t really who I thought he was at all. He’s so much more. Finn is kind. Helpful. The sort of person who would give the shirt off his back to someone in need. His grandparents did a great job raising him, especially in the wake of the tragedy that rocked their family. He’s a good man.
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The tractor moves from the pond, and Finn’s concentration is on pushing. I only see it happen because I’m standing to the side out of the way, but something tells me to move. I jump in beside him just as his boot catches a slippery patch of the ground, gripping tight on his jacket so he won’t lose his balance. “Careful,” I murmur. “You’ll catch a cold for sure if you fall in the pond.” He blinks as he adjusts his footing and together we help push. He’s probably doing more of the work, but I feel good standing beside him with my palms pressed to the cold metal as it inches up the incline while ...more
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My heartstrings tug insistently. This thing I feel for Finn is more than physical attraction. I keep getting flashes of future possibilities each time he smiles at me or puts his hand at the small of my back. It’s a future where I have everything I’ve wished for—a life to share with someone, a family, a home. One that isn’t simply a place to hang my coat, but somewhere filled with love and memories I’ve made with the people closest to my heart. My breath catches more than once at the force of longing for these glimpses. They’re the things I stopped hoping for a long time ago, when I was alone ...more
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I wasn’t supposed to stay here forever. The plan was to show Dad how capable I was so he’d start trusting my input for other properties we own. But now? I’m not so sure I ever want to leave. I’m not sure I ever could leave.
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Walking over to the pantry I open the door and search through more baking supplies than a damn bakery, searching for the marshmallows. Ah! Finally. They’re nestled in the back behind a shit ton of sugar. Wait. Didn’t Grams send me and Freya for sugar the other day? She said she was out. It dawns on me that my meddling Grams had sugar all along. She wanted to send me alone with Freya and she used sugar as the ruse. Sneaky, sneaky woman.
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Tonight she’s wearing makeup and even though I prefer her face bare, she looks breathtaking. Dark, thick lashes frame her eyes. Everything about this girl is perfection. But I’m beginning to see that Freya’s beauty isn’t just skin deep. She’s beautiful inside and out.
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Finally, the glow of downtown begins to peek through the thick of the trees and we’re near town. “Wow, everything is so beautiful. The lights, the trees, the snow,” Freya says in awe. I agree. “It really is.” Except I’m not looking at the scenery, I’m looking at her. Tonight it’s exceptionally hard to keep my eyes off of her, and harder not to take her into my arms and show her what I’ve been holding back for too fucking long.
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"Except your family, Finn. Grams and Gramps are perfect." She smiles sadly. I'm beginning to realize that Freya's problems stem from her relationship with her father, and it makes me want to knock him the fuck out for hurting her. Sometimes I'm a gentleman, but there are times where I will fuck someone up when need be.
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"You're impossible, Finn Mayberry! You don't laugh at a lady, how rude. What happened to being a gentleman, huh?" I reach down and grab her hand, pulling her to her feet. She's clutching onto me for dear life, but instead of letting her go back on her own, I pull her closer. "Wanna test how gentlemanly I'm feeling right now?" I whisper huskily into her ear. My breath teases the sensitive flesh, inciting a shiver from her. She pulls back and her eyes go wide. "Finn! We're at a skating rink. With children. Behave!"
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He nods. “Never seen Finn move so fast in his life.” He gives her a teasing grin. I know exactly what story he’s telling and he may be…exaggerating just a bit. But, seeing the two of them together causes an unfamiliar sensation, something deep in my stomach to hit me. Watching this beautiful woman listening intently to what my Gramps is saying, hanging onto every word like it's the most important thing in the world makes me only want her more.
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The movies I love don’t lie—Finn inviting me to the lighting festival was a date. There might not have been a kiss, but he held my hand and my heartbeat fluttered with excitement whenever his gaze met mine.
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Finn releases a soft, rumbling sound while he watches me, his gaze a sensual drag over my body, taking in my skimpy white bikini. The warmth of the spring clashes with pockets of cold from the elements, but inside I’m burning up from the desire filling his eyes. My nipples harden, but I don’t know whether it’s from the rush of hot and cold I get standing at the edge of the spring or from his unwavering attention. “Your turn,” I murmur, dropping my gaze to his sweatpants, where the front has tented from his hardening cock. Damn. My teeth sink into my lower lip. From thirsty bitches everywhere, ...more
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A squealed gasp escapes me when Finn catches me, keeping my wrists trapped in his firm grip. Grinning, he releases my hands and moves down to hold me up by my waist so I don’t have to tread water because it’s too deep for my shorter legs to reach the bottom. “Got you,” he murmurs, eyes bright and playful in the dim lighting.
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“You just like driving me crazy any chance you get. A splash war? So original, traitor.” A laugh rolls out of me. “You started that. Don’t pretend you’re all mature when you’re only, like, a year or two older than me. I think you like anything that leads to fighting with me.” His mouth curves. “Maybe I do.”
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Who knew beneath the sweet, hometown heartthrob was a sinful, dirty-minded man who takes great enjoyment in taking me apart piece by trembling piece?
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“Look what the cat dragged in,” she says with a bite. Ah hell. I’d rather have an early prostate exam than be here right now. “Hey there, Ella. How are you today?” I grin, trying to charm my way into her good graces even if I want to run in the opposite direction. “Well, you haven’t answered any of my calls or even called me back Finn.” She pouts. Fat chance of that ever happening.
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think we should talk about us. We’re so good together, Finn. Everyone says it. Don’t you think so?” This is getting increasingly awkward and I don’t want to do this, especially in the middle of her place of business with customers here. “I think you’re great, Ella, but I’m here for Jingle Wars and I don’t think now is a great time to talk about this, do you?” I glance around the room at her customers, hoping she will let this go. “Whatever, Finn. Kinda hard to talk about it when you never answer your phone, and don’t bother to return my call. It’s really quite rude, if you ask me. And I hear ...more
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“Ella, don’t talk shit about someone you don’t even know. Have you ever spoken to her? Her name is Freya and she’s fucking perfect. You’re the same old person that you’ve always been, and that’s quite sad if you ask me. You’d think as you grew into an adult, you’d mature and lose that mean girl attitude, but that obviously hasn’t happened. Do me a favor, don’t call, don’t text, stop showing up at my house, and for God’s sake get it through your head that I am not into you. Sorry to be an asshole, but the second you called someone you don’t even know a “skank” any of the little bit of respect I ...more
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