I'm so pleased to share my first Christmas-themed story as part of the collection A CHRISTMAS COWBOY TO KEEP.
Only 99 cents
The weather is cold, the atmosphere is festive, and the
cowboys are hot. How do you keep a cowboy at Christmas?
Don’t miss this holiday collection of modern-day cowboys and
the women they love, featuring the same USA
Today, Amazon Bestselling, and Award-Winning authors from “A Cowboy to Keep,”
which garnered 55 reviews with an average rating of 4.5 stars.
CHRISTMAS, LIBERTY, AND THE THREE MINUTE MAN by Carra
Copelin
Daniel Dylan Layman is determined to show headstrong city
girl Liberty Ann Hart that a country life in Mistletoe, Texas, is the perfect
Christmas gift.
A CHRISTMAS CAROLE by Andrea Downing
Carrie Matheson and her son
are trying to settle into a new life in Wyoming. Tate Schrugge is trying to
ditch his Scrooge and play Santa to the young boy. But will there be a Dickens
of a romance by Christmas?
THE PEPPERMINT TREE by Kristy McCaffrey
Lawyer Skye Mallory returns
home for the holidays due to an unexpected inheritance, and cowboy Joe Carrigan
stands in her way.
THE DEVIL’S
CHRISTMAS KISS by Devon McKay
When
Kristen Kelly receives a Christmas kiss from Cole Lawson, she doesn’t believe
it means anything. But Cole sets out to make things right with the woman of his
heart.
SLAY BELLS by Hildie McQueen
At a small-town Christmas festival sparks fly between Carmen
Dias and Detective Jared Bowden, but a dead body and a pesky ex-girlfriend
don’t exactly spell romance.
THE
BEST CHRISTMAS by Hebby Roman
All Sofia
Rossi wants is to re-connect with her estranged son. But can Gar McCulloch, a handsome
cowboy who runs a juvenile rehab ranch, be the answer to her problems?
COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS by Patti Sherry-Crews
Wedding
planner Melody Evans views happily-ever-after endings with a skeptical eye. Veterinarian
Leland Jennings IV thinks Christmas is for kids. Can the holiday spirit bring
them together?
An Excerpt from The Peppermint Tree
Joe scanned the crowded dance floor. Where was
she?
A merry melee of couples crowded before him,
tuxedos and gowns of various lengths all meshed together beneath a flashing
disco ball.
He caught sight of Tina three tables over. He
spun around and headed in the opposite direction, and spied Skye at the bar.
He came up behind her and leaned his mouth
close to her ear. “You can’t keep avoiding me.”
She jumped. “My God. You’re so quiet. What are
you? An assassin?”
“Just a cowboy. How about a dance?”
She didn’t exactly agree but didn’t resist
when he placed a hand on her lower back and guided her to the dance floor. Once
they infiltrated the throng of couples clinging to one another as they swayed
to Frank Sinatra, Skye turned to him, her face a blank mask. He folded her hand
into his and wrapped his other arm around her, enjoying her proximity. Spending
time with her hadn’t unfolded as organically as he’d hoped, since she’d managed
to avoid him for large chunks of the evening.
“Did seeing Anderson make you feel like you
were at prom again?” he asked, trying to ignore the cleavage teasing his senses
and the heady scent reminding him of wildflowers.
She shrugged. “He’s doing well, of which I’m
glad, and his wife is very lovely.”
She wouldn’t look at him, her countenance as
icy as a frozen lake.
“Am I missing something here?” he asked.
“I’m tired. I want to go home.”
“I was hoping to spend some time with you.”
Putting distance between them, she raised her
chin and locked eyes with him. “Are you now? What a piece of work you are,
Carrigan.”
Her anger ignited the small space between
them.
“Why do you say that?” He pressed his hand
against her back to keep her from walking away, because one thing was
certain—she was about ready to bolt.
“I’m tired of being at your beck and call.”
Her voice seethed in a furious whisper. “You rejected me all those years ago,
and now you’re just stringing me along again. You can’t have it both ways. You
can’t keep treating me like some consolation prize and expect me to put up with
it.”
Taken aback by her outburst, he attempted to
regroup. “I’m not stringing you along.”
“I can’t do this anymore.” She tried to leave
again, but he held fast to her. “I can’t be your friend,” she bit out, her
voice still lowered so as not to attract attention. “I’ve tried. It’s too
difficult.”
The shadow of pain in her eyes brought him up
short.
He’d had no idea how much he had screwed up
until this instant.
He grabbed her hand and led her out of the
ballroom as Brenda Lee started singing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” His
grip firm, he wasn’t about to let her go.
Copyright © 2018 K. McCaffrey LLC
Treat yourself to an early Christmas present. Grab a copy today!!
2 comments:
Hi, Kristy! As always, it was great to work with you and the others again. And Christmas is so special! I loved seeing how each author captured the holiday spirit in their own ways and of course, the romances between cowboys and ladies added to the sparkle. Loved your story and the peppermint tree.
Thank you, Patti!! What a fun opportunity to write a Christmas tale. And I loved yours as well, especially the ending. Happy Holidays!!
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