Book blurb
Single mom Amber Barnett loves family, kids, Christmas…and unfortunately, her boss, confirmed bachelor Michael DeFranco. It's a crush she really needs to get over. Except, when she’s temporarily forced from her apartment, her only option is to stay at Michael’s private ski lodge, where she's the housekeeper. No problem. Her handsome boss rarely visits Snowflake Valley unexpectedly, plus he’s spending the holidays with his family. Or so she thinks…
A stormy Christmas Eve reunion leaves Michael seeking the solitude of his lodge, where he finds Amber in residence—and in trouble. Attempting to save her from her matchmaking family, he announces they’re a couple. His good deed backfires when they’re instantly included in each and every holiday event in town. So much for solitude.
Only the more time he spends with the beautiful, cheery brunette, the more he yearns to make things real between them. But he and Amber want different things, and Michael could never be the family man she's looking for.
Excerpt
“I need a place to stay, just for a few days,” she said truthfully. “And I don’t want my family to find out.”
“Interesting.” He tilted his head, studying her, making her heart skip a beat. “Do you do this often?”
“No! I’ve never stayed here before. Except when you’ve asked me to. When you’ve come here with guests, I mean.” Get a grip. Falling apart won’t impress your boss any more than the bunny slippers did. Taking a tip from her birthing class, she inhaled and exhaled a deep, calming breath and tried again. “Michael, I’ve never stayed here on my own before. And I wouldn’t have done it without asking you this time. But I knew you had plans for the holidays, and I didn’t want to bother you while you were with your family.”
“Believe me, I’d have welcomed the bother.” His scowl sent her curiosity skyrocketing. “I don’t mind that you didn’t ask. It’s good to have the house occupied once in a while. I just didn’t expect company.”
“I’ll keep out of your way,” she promised.
One dark eyebrow rose as he stared her down. “Somehow, I don’t see that leading to the peace and quiet—and solitude—I was looking for.”
“No worries. Hand to heart. I’ll stay far away,” she promised again. “You won’t hear a peep out of me.”
At that moment, as if on cue, Penny let out her usual I’m-ready-to-eat screech. Michael’s suddenly blank expression proved he had heard the baby, too, and wasn’t pleased. But wait—there’s more. Penny’s hunger cries were loud enough. How would he handle her being colicky?
“What was that?” he demanded.
“Uh…not what. Who. My daughter.” Michael had never met Penny. In fact, he hadn’t even known about Amber’s pregnancy until she was so far along he couldn’t miss the baby bump.
“Ah,” he said. “When it comes to not making a peep, it doesn’t look like you were speaking for your daughter.”
She smiled sheepishly. “Sometimes she likes to speak for herself.”
He shook his head, but his mouth curved up at one corner. He was fighting a smile. Even in the midst of this disaster, even with the recent reminder that she couldn’t and shouldn’t trust her judgment around men, that half-smile was enough to make her melt.
So not good. But the thought of having him upset with her had been more than her stressed-out, worried, and exhausted mind could handle.
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About Barbara
Barbara White Daille lives with her husband in the sunny Southwest. Though they love the warm winters and the lizards in their front yard, they haven’t gotten used to the scorpions in the bathroom. Barbara also loves writing, reading, and chocolate. You can find her books, blog, and newsletter signup here: https://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
