Hello Romance Readers!
I’m excited to share with you the blurb and an excerpt from my upcoming Harlequin Online Read, ONLY YOU FOR CHRISTMAS. It’s a free, short holiday story and part of the Chasing Love Series. Every Monday beginning November 10th and ending on December 29th, a new chapter will be available on Harlequin’s website. I’ll post a reminder here as well. Check out the blurb and excerpt below. (Sorry no book cover) Oh and there’s a giveaway, too!
Candace
Blurb
She’s the only gift he wants…
After accepting a promotion to VP of marketing for a chain of upscale boutique hotels, Sasha Monroe is thrilled to return to Atlanta in time for the holidays. Her first Christmas purchase, a venerable Victorian style home, is the perfect project for her cousin, famed interior designer Megan Chase-Monroe. But when Megan discovers structural issues with the house, she refers a contracting company. Sasha is speechless when her old college sweetheart, the devastatingly handsome Devin Montgomery, walks through her door.
Devin, now in charge of his family’s construction business, never wanted to let Sasha go. And he hasn’t stopped yearning for her in the five years since. When he intercepts an email detailing plans on the remodeling of Sasha’s new home, he makes his own plan to reclaim her heart. All Devin ever wanted was for Sasha to pursue her dreams, but this time around he’ll have to convince the sensual beauty that he can build a future for them that will last forever.
Excerpt
“I’m ecstatic you’re going to decorate my new home,” Sasha Monroe said to her cousin-in-law Megan Chase-Monroe as the ladies stood on the wraparound porch of Sasha’s newly purchased Victorian-style house.
“Me too.” Megan answered, running her leather-gloved hand down one of the columns of the porch before the ladies trekked inside to escape the cold Atlanta air. “With Christmas approaching in a few weeks, I have a little room in my schedule to squeeze you in. Besides, you’re my husband’s baby cousin.”
They skirted in between the maze of boxes in the foyer and the family room as they made their way into the kitchen. Sasha wanted the space upgraded with top of the line appliances, new cabinets and a huge work island in the center.
Megan glanced at her watch. “I have to leave in an hour, but Jonathan and I work together all the time. Plus, I’ve already sent him my plans and the structural issues.”
“And you’re positive the construction company can have the renovations done by the new year?”
“Of course, maybe even Christmas Eve.” Megan nodded with a reassuring smile. “Supreme Construction is the best in the south-eastern states. You’ll have no worries.”
Sasha exhaled, rummaging through a box on the kitchen counter that she couldn’t wait to have ripped out and replaced with black granite along with the hideous flowered wallpaper. “Perfect. Would you like some apple cider to warm you up?”
“Sounds delish,” Megan said, sliding into one of the chairs at the outdoor bistro table that Sasha had temporarily placed in the breakfast area. “So how does it feel to be back in Georgia after living in sunny Florida for five years?”
Sasha laughed, filling the tea kettle with water. “Cold, but I kinda missed being here. I enjoyed the city when I attended Clark. Plus, Atlanta has always been my second home since majority of the Monroes live here–except for my parents who have chosen to stay in Savannah.”
“I’m sure they’re glad that you’re now only a few hours away.”
“Yeah, Tampa definitely isn’t a four hour drive…” she paused as the doorbell chimed. “Must be the contractor.”
Megan stood. “I’ll be right back.”
The tea kettle whistled, and Sasha poured the hot water over the cider mix into the two mugs. She heard Megan speak in a pleasantly surprised tone and then a man’s voice. A deep baritone voice that washed a load of fear through Sasha’s veins. She latched onto the counter for support as her breathing stifled while she continued to listen. It couldn’t possibly be him, she thought. Just because the contractor sounded like her ex didn’t mean it was. A lot of men spoke alike such as her cousins Steven and Bryce.
She shook her head. No, the contractor wasn’t her ex. He worked for his father’s company, Montgomery Construction. She hadn’t kept up with him after their break up five years ago, but she knew he would never leave the family business. With that affirmation, Sasha exhaled and sipped on her apple cider, listening to their footsteps as the contractor and Megan walked toward the kitchen. It may not have been him, but the contractor’s sexy tone was heating her up more than the cider. She smoothed her pixie-cut hair style and hoped his looks matched his suave voice.
But as they entered the kitchen, the fear Sasha had rushed back at an accelerated rate when her gaze met the light brown eyes of her ex, Devin Montgomery.
Suppressed emotions rose to the surface of her skin causing goosebumps to prickle over her body and the once simple chore of breathing became restricted in her throat. Sasha’s heart hammered against her chest as she tried to remain composed, leaning against the counter. However, there was no use as her eyes travelled over him, soaking in every familiar feature of his deliciously handsome face.
Her eyes wandered to his lips, those luscious damn lips that use to drive her crazy with passion as he would kiss and tantalize every inch of her body. She had the urge to run her hand down his smooth, milk chocolate face and trace his mustache with her finger, then follow up with a satisfying deep kiss.
Devin raised an eyebrow along with the devilish grin Sasha knew all too well as if he sensed her thought process. His stare raked over her body as a cold shiver coursed through her. Now she was kicking herself for throwing on a pair of jeans, a sweater and fuzzy pink slippers. It wasn’t at all the if-I-ever-see-my-ex-again outfit, which was the form-fitting but tastefully sexy, red dress with stilettos and a thong so he would wonder whether or not I’m wearing panties.
Sasha’s thoughts were cut short when she realized Megan was making introductions.
“Devin, this is my cousin Sasha Monroe and Sasha, this is Devin Montgomery. He’s the owner of Supreme Construction…who I didn’t realize was coming today,” Megan said slightly puzzled.
“I know Sasha very well,” Devin stated, resting his seductive glare on her. “And Jonathan wasn’t able to make it.”
The way Devin said it, along with the curl of his sly smile, made her realize he had something to do with Jonathan missing the appointment. Sasha cleared her throat and prayed that when she opened her mouth, she didn’t stammer or raise her voice in a squeaky octave, which usually happened when she was nervous. She had to stay calm and composed. Devin couldn’t know that she was flustered by his presence.
GIVEAWAY TIME!
To celebrate the release of my first Christmas story, I’m giving away a $10.00 Starbucks Giftcard and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” CD which is one of the CDs I listened to while writing in order to get into the Christmas spirit a few months early. All you have to do is tell me one of your favorite Christmas traditions. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, then tell me a family tradition you don’t mind sharing. Mine is when I was a little girl and my mother and I would bake cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Instead of milk we left out coffee. Of course as I grew older, I realized Daddy was Santa Claus. The coffee gave it away!
The giveaway will end Sunday, November 9th at midnight EST. I’ll announce the winner on Twitter, Facebook and in the blog post for the link to chapter one of Only You for Christmas on Monday morning. I’ll also send out an email to the winner! Good luck!
Hello Romance Readers!
Candace Shaw 