THAT CHRISTMAS FEELING~ short story/holiday/contemporary
Evernight Publishing release December 13 2012
NOTE: this is a re-release/reissue of Christmas Memories
Approx 8047 words
BLURB:
Jimmy Doyle is at the top of his game, but
his life is empty. Karin has resigned herself to a Christmas alone in her
wilderness lodge. A spur-of-the-moment holiday trip brings the devastatingly
handsome Jimmy to her doorstep on Christmas Eve. Memories of a past Christmas
haunt him and he is surrounded by joy and holiday anticipation, and a searing
hot attraction he can’t deny. Will that Christmas feeling be enough to heal a
painful past?
EXCERPT:
Jimmy was already sorry he came. The two hour flight, the three hour
drive—and for what? He was in the middle of nowhere. The trip seemed
like a good idea looking out over the balcony of his downtown Toronto
penthouse. Some quiet time, some poker, and maybe some turkey sandwiches
with lots of Miracle Whip.
He should have stayed in Winnipeg and taken a suite at the Sheraton. He hadn’t brought his boots either. Idiot. He was standing with his feet ice-cold in the snow, much like the Grinch. He felt like the damned Grinch. He had the overwhelming desire to run around and pull down all the outdoor Christmas lights, wreaths, and other Christmas crap evident on the property. Jimmy remembered a homemade turkey dinner was included. Fucking great,and he, the Grinch himself, would carve… he snorted aloud, not finishing the thought.
“Did you say something?”
He glanced down at the woman in the parka. Clear, beautiful blue eyes stared at him in amusement. Shit, she must have heard him. She took off her woolen mitten and held out a slim, feminine hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Karin Kellegher.”
He looked at the hand then back at this Karin. She was pretty, perhaps not a raving beauty, but attractive. She had dark blond hair, pulled back tightly in a pony-tail. The shade reminded him of caramel. Her skin appeared crème brûlée against the dazzling white of the snow. There was a smattering of freckles across her pert nose, which was red from the cold. Her breath puffed out in icy huffs. He took her offered hand. “Jimmy Doyle.”
****
Karin was shameless. She headed toward the most handsome man of the group and introduced herself. Jimmy Doyle looked familiar, but he did have the generic tall, dark, and handsome look. He looked like any number of the beyond-gorgeous men who graced magazine covers. His hair was black and wavy, not too short or too long. His jaw was rugged and framed by chiseled, high cheekbones. His dark blue eyes were a color that could not be natural, contacts she thought cynically. When they shook hands his large palm all but swallowed hers. A bolt of warmth shot up her arm from the contact. Wow. Karin glanced down. His hand was beautiful, but masculine, with long fingers and lots of veins. Why she found his hand attractive, she had no idea. She slowly scanned his broad chest and even broader shoulders. He was wearing a winter leather coat, but he still must be feeling the cold, as the temperature was ten degrees below zero.
Her gaze met his face again. Oh yes. Way, way handsome. Jimmy Doyle knew
he was gorgeous too. She could see the amused glint in his eye. She
pulled her hand out of his tight grasp at last and walked away. The loss
of his potent touch was disturbing. Forget him, he was here for
drinking and male bonding, nothing more.
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