The spirit of Cameron Douglas has totally screwed-up…again. Now, he has to fix his mess in one night with the help of his best friend and somehow encourage his widow to move on.
Holly Douglas is anguished that this is the last Christmas she’ll be visited by her late husband, Cameron. For three years he’s sent her the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and they‘ve helped her cope with her loss. But now all that ends, and she doesn’t understand why he must push her away.
Ethan Stewart has been in love with Holly since Cameron’s death, but she isolated herself from everyone, including him. Then something changed, and he was welcomed back as her friend. But he wants more— to love her openly, and most of all to make her happy again. Though he loved his best friend like a brother and will do anything for Holly, as he’s pulled into the spirit world, he discovers the price they must pay for their chance at forever…and it just might be too high.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. “I miss Cam. It was as if we were two parts of the same soul. I lived vicariously through him even while I worried constantly about him. It was one of the reasons I was constantly warning him to be careful. I was afraid to lose him.”
Ethan looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. “And then I did.”
She felt as if her heart were breaking all over again, not for her but for Ethan. He was so good to her. He even loved her. And she… “Ethan, I understand.”
His gaze returned to hers. Though she couldn’t see his face clearly, the limited light reflected off the sheen in his eyes.
She placed her hand on his cheek and rising on her toes brushed her lips across his in a feather-light kiss. She only meant to give comfort, but a spark of something else hit her heart.
She remained there, her lips close to his but not touching, wanting more but afraid to ask.
Ethan remained absolutely still, his breath mixing with her own.
He loved her but would never push her. It wasn’t his nature. She could walk away right now, but to what?
Nothing.
She stared at his mouth in the dim light. She wanted to live again. She wanted to feel again. Tilting her head, she pressed her lips more firmly against his, moving her hand down his stubbled jaw and behind his neck to pull him closer.
Ethan’s lips opened, and she slipped her tongue between them.
As his arms came around her, it was like waking from a dream. A slow burn flowed through her veins as he took control of the kiss and explored her mouth with his tongue. It was an unhurried exploration and heat built in her belly. When he pulled back to lick the underside of her top lip, she took her first deep breath. As she exhaled, tingles spread throughout her body.
He kissed the corners of her mouth before leaning his forehead against her own. “Ye catch my blood on fire, lass.”
Ethan looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. “And then I did.”
She felt as if her heart were breaking all over again, not for her but for Ethan. He was so good to her. He even loved her. And she… “Ethan, I understand.”
His gaze returned to hers. Though she couldn’t see his face clearly, the limited light reflected off the sheen in his eyes.
She placed her hand on his cheek and rising on her toes brushed her lips across his in a feather-light kiss. She only meant to give comfort, but a spark of something else hit her heart.
She remained there, her lips close to his but not touching, wanting more but afraid to ask.
Ethan remained absolutely still, his breath mixing with her own.
He loved her but would never push her. It wasn’t his nature. She could walk away right now, but to what?
Nothing.
She stared at his mouth in the dim light. She wanted to live again. She wanted to feel again. Tilting her head, she pressed her lips more firmly against his, moving her hand down his stubbled jaw and behind his neck to pull him closer.
Ethan’s lips opened, and she slipped her tongue between them.
As his arms came around her, it was like waking from a dream. A slow burn flowed through her veins as he took control of the kiss and explored her mouth with his tongue. It was an unhurried exploration and heat built in her belly. When he pulled back to lick the underside of her top lip, she took her first deep breath. As she exhaled, tingles spread throughout her body.
He kissed the corners of her mouth before leaning his forehead against her own. “Ye catch my blood on fire, lass.”
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This sounds like a good book.Thanks for sharing the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday tradition was being able to open one gift on Christmas Eve.
That's a good one! We used to do that too...there was just always something SO exciting about it! Merry Christmas!!!
DeleteOh, we do that too!
DeleteWe always cut down a Christmas tree. We try to get one at least 12 feet tall. I collect ornaments and have a blast decorating the tree with all my ornaments.
ReplyDelete12 feet tall? Oh wow! You must have very high ceilings!
DeleteThis sounds like a really good book. My favorite christmas tradition is going to mickey's very merry christmas party.
ReplyDeleteNow that sounds like fun!
DeleteAll my favorite Christmas memories are with my family as a child. We didn't have much but my Mum made sure we had stockings full of beautiful handmade gifts and a wonderful Christmas dinner. My Mum and Dad were awesome.
ReplyDeleteThey sound it!
DeleteWhen my father was alive, he always handed out gifts one at a time, and everyone would open that present before more were handed out. It made the excitement of getting presents last longer, and you got to see everyone else's presents, too.
ReplyDeleteThat was a terrific idea on your father's part :-)
DeleteOne of my favorite holiday traditions is making Christmas cookies, we always have lots of fun :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites is eating Christmas cookies LOL
Deletethe book look good an d the best one i had was about 4 years ago
ReplyDeletei got a teddy bear for Christmas and it was 9 11 bear and the man who was there and my brother ask him about the bear
Wow, that was a very special gift.
DeleteOur holiday tradition is diiner at christmas eve and exchanging gifts with the family
ReplyDeleteThat sounds wonderful :-)
DeleteBeautiful book cover.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite gift was a puppy.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori.
DeleteMy husband proposed to me during a family Christmas gathering. We've been married 21 years.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! That's a fantastic memory and definitely a happily ever after :-)
DeleteThank you so much for spotlighting my Christmas Carol story :-)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition is making Christmas cookies with my kids. Then we enjoy them while watching Christmas movies and hot cocoa.
ReplyDeleteNow that sounds absolutely cozy :-)
DeleteI would like to give thanks for all your really great writings, including One of a Kind Christmas, and wishing the best in keeping up the good work in the future.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jerry 😊
Delete