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Category: Romance
Description: Merry Collins is trying hard to live up to her name this holiday season. Between juggling three jobs, contending with a car on its last leg, and her ex-husband suddenly demanding visitation with their son, she's finding it tough to keep her impish smile in place as one of Santa's part-time elves. After losing a bet, Jack Wittingham finds himself ringing the Red Kettle bell in front of the mall for two weeks. A successful self-made businessman, Jack's not long on Christmas spirit, but a bet's a bet and he'll ring for a good cause. So when an elf appears bearing a hot cup of coffee, he's intrigued, especially when she blushes. Can Merry and Jack put their holiday troubles behind them to open the greatest Christmas gift of all--love?
eBook Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc./Champagne Rose,
eBookwise Release Date: December 2011

1 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [115 KB]
Words: 25525
Reading time: 72-102 min.
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

"I thought you might like a cup of coffee."

Jack looked down for what seemed like forever to a pair of bright blue-green eyes and curly red hair sticking out from beneath...an elf's hat? He blinked. Was he delusional? Had the cold gotten to him to the point where he was imagining elves?

Her smile disappeared as she bit her lip. "I noticed you when I came into work. I thought you might be cold if you were still out here. And we--we had some leftover coffee."

He took the cup from her. "Thanks."

She shifted from one foot to the other. "Right. It's black. I hope that's how you like it."

"It is." Jack knew he was making her nervous, but he couldn't resist. He remembered her now. She was the woman in the tailored overcoat who'd been so cheap...tossing in just a buck. And here she was dressed like an elf.

She hadn't entered the mall to shop; she'd arrived for work. The woman in the tailored camel hair coat was working as an elf. For whatever bizarre reason, Jack found that intriguing.

She nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A small shiver shook her slender frame beneath the costume.

"You'll freeze out here. You should go in unless elves have some sort of magical protection."

This time she blushed, as if only now realizing she still wore her elf suit, and nodded her head. She was captivating in a way Jack had never been captivated before. He enjoyed his share of women. Many of them fell all over themselves to get to him. He wasn't so conceited he thought it was for him. No, they were drawn to Jackson Wittingham, owner of JW Construction. He didn't get the feeling from her she had the foggiest idea who he was. What a novelty.

"You're nodding yes you have magical protection, or you need to return inside?"

Her hands fluttered, and he noticed how fine-boned she was. "I should go inside."

She turned to hurry away from him.

"Wait!" She stopped and glanced over her shoulder. His gut clenched with sudden desire. "What's your name?"

She blinked. "Merry."

"Mary?"

"Merry--like Merry Christmas."