Excerpt One

“Callie, I know this isn’t a typical holiday season for you. I can’t imagine how you are feeling now that…things are different without …”

“You can say his name, Hannah.”

“Joey,” she says softly. “I’m sorry. I know this is a difficult time.”

I shake my head. “Don’t be sorry. I asked him to set a wedding date, and he said he wasn’t ready and didn’t know when he would be. That pretty much told me everything I needed to know. Our goals were not exactly as aligned as I thought they were.”

She places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. “I’m really proud of you.”

“Proud? For getting dumped?”

“No. For not settling,” she explains. “And for letting me drag you into crazy holiday chaos instead of spending the night alone, binge-watching TV shows you’ve seen a hundred times.”

I laugh under my breath. “You’re not wrong. This is good for me—I always do better when I’m busy.”

“You might even enjoy yourself at the festive family night,” she says, tying another bow in less than two seconds.

“Oh, I’m sure it’ll be a blast,” I say flatly. “Hundreds of children, awkward small talk, and tacky decor. I’m all in.”

She giggles. “By the way, Anna’s new friend is coming with us. Her name’s Mia. She’s such a sweetheart.”

“Cool,” I say, biting my lip as I attempt another bow.

“And her dad’s meeting us there.”

I glance up. “Okay?”

“He’s a very nice guy…”

I narrow my eyes at her. “That’s great. Is there a reason you’re telling me this?”

She conveniently avoids making eye contact with me.

“Hannah…”

“Yes?”

“What are you up to?”

“I’m not up to anything,” she says, innocently. “I just thought it might be nice for you to meet a new friend.”

I stare at her. I should’ve known she was up to something. She was very insistent that I go to the festive family night.

She shrugs. “Anyway, he’s single. And nice. He has a good job. And he’s very—”

“Stop right there,” I interrupt. “No setups. You promised.”

“I didn’t set you up,” she says. “I merely mentioned that a single, employed man who also happens to be a devoted father will be in the same vicinity as you.”

“Oh, well in that case,” I say, rolling my eyes again.

She smirks and reaches over to take the mangled ribbon from my hands. “Here, let me help. You’re not exactly grasping the bow tying process here.”

“I didn’t get Mom’s crafty gene like you,” I mutter.

She laughs. “No. But you certainly inherited the moody gene from her.”

“I’m not the only one,” I tell her.

She holds up a perfectly wrapped box, complete with an elaborate gold bow. “See? We make a good team.”

“Always,” I say. “You do the work, and I’m here for moral support.”

 

Excerpt 2

I’m convinced late-night pancakes are the key to happiness. There’s something wonderful about sitting in a booth at the Pancake Shoppe, with the scent of fresh coffee lingering around us. The holiday décor only adds to the mood, twinkling lights strung across the windows and garlands wrapped around the counter. There’s a steady stream of classic holiday tunes playing, and for the first time this season, I’m feeling the festive energy. Who knew breakfast and good company was all I needed to ring in the most wonderful time of the year.

Travis and I have been talking nonstop since we sat down. We’ve shared stories about family, his life back in Texas, and the most random things that have us laughing so hard people in nearby booths keep shooting glances at us.

“So, is football really that big of a deal in Texas?” I ask, sipping my coffee.

“It’s basically a rite of passage,” he says, leaning back against the booth as if he’s about to deliver a TED Talk. “You haven’t really lived until you’ve experienced a Friday night game in a small Texas town. Some of my favorite childhood memories include being on the field under those lights. My dad was always front and center in the same spot cheering me on. He never missed one of my games from the kids league through college.”

“Wow. I feel like I’ve been missing out,” I tell him. “I might have to add ‘visit Texas and go to a football game’ to my travel bucket list.”

“You should.” His grin widens, which makes my stomach do a flip.

“So, are all of your friends still in Texas?” I ask.

“Most of them, yeah.” He pauses, “It’s hard being away sometimes, but…this job was a big step and something I needed to do.”

“Were you expecting the promotion?” I ask.

He laughs nervously. “Not at all. When the board of directors met with me, I was freaking out. And then when they presented the offer, I almost turned it down.”

My mouth drops open. “Really? Why?”

“Classic imposter syndrome,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Ah, yes. I know it well,” I say dramatically.

“I kept thinking there had to be someone more qualified and better suited to take on this role,” he continues. “But somehow they still took a chance on me.”

“They made the right decision,” I insist confidently. “At least from what I’ve seen so far. You were spot-on with the suggestions you gave my clients. And you didn’t hesitate or back down when I tried to argue. I’m not used to that.”

He smirks. “Marketing is kind of my thing.”

“Mine too,” I reply proudly.

The reminder that we work together hovers like a dark cloud over our table, but I push it away. Tonight isn’t about work or what will happen on Monday. For the first time in months, I’m enjoying myself, and I don’t want to overthink or let what-if’s ruin the moment.

 

Excerpt 3

When I step off the elevator, I glance around the room. Well this is interesting. There is mistletoe hanging from the ceiling everywhere. I’m all for holiday décor, but you really need to watch where you stand or else you could find yourself in an awkward situation.

“Hello, Mr. Kirkland,” Callie says. She and her team are all standing in a row like they are the Von Trapp family. It’s quite a greeting.

“Welcome to marketing,” she adds. Her curly hair is as wild as it was the first time I saw her.

“Thank you. I’m happy to be here,” I say trying to avoid the leafy green plant hanging above her head. Mistletoe is a plant, right? Or a flower? I’ve never put much thought into it.

“Meet my all-star team—Whitney, Katherine, and Sadie.” She holds out her arm to introduce them like she’s on a game show.

“It’s great to meet you all. I’ve heard only good things.”

“That’s a relief,” Callie exclaims.

“Nah, it’s not a surprise,” one of them says with a shrug. “We are the best team in the company.”

“Very true,” Callie agrees.

I smile. “I look forward to seeing you all in action.”

“Should we go to my office to chat?” Callie suggests.

“Let’s do it.”

I follow her carefully, avoiding the decorations that seem to be multiplying. I feel like I’m weaving through the space.

“It’s very Christmasy around here,” I say.

She groans. “Yes. That would be Whitney’s handiwork. She’s decided that the office needs more holiday cheer, so she’s transforming it to a winter wonderland. I didn’t have the energy to push back. She’s very determined when she feels strongly about something.”

“Well, it does brighten things up. My mother would love it.”

She snorts. “Mine would too.”

“I’ve already had a few lectures about decorating my new apartment for the holidays,” I say, sitting down across from her desk. “Honestly, I’m surprised she hasn’t shown up yet to make sure I have at least hung a stocking.”

“Did you?” she asks.

I chuckle. “No.”

“I haven’t either,” she admits. “I’m not in the holiday spirit yet.”

“Yeah, I know the feeling,” I agree. My eyes lock on hers, making something stir in my chest. She’s very attractive, and it’s kind of hard not to stare.

“Ugh. I’m so sorry,” she exclaims. “We’re supposed to be discussing marketing and business.”

“Yes,” I agree. “You’re right. Thanks for keeping me on task.”

“You’re very welcome,” she says, the corner of her mouth curling up. “That’s what I’m here for.”

“I’m guessing you keep a lot of things running here,” I say. “It’s obvious that Burton has been checked out for a while now.”

She presses her lips together. “So you figured that out?”

I chuckle. “Yes, it didn’t take me long. When he didn’t have anything to share or even suggest, I knew he was out.”

“Maggie is an excellent assistant,” Callie says.

“Yes. She’s made this transition very easy for me,” I tell her.

“That sounds about right. She’s the real MVP of this company.”

“I’m sure she’s not the only one,” I say before I can stop myself.

“Good answer,” she says leaning back in her chair.

I notice the same coffee cup she had on my first day in the middle of her messy desk. Honestly, I’m surprised she’s able to function with all the chaos.

“I like the cup.”

She grins. “Thanks, it’s my lucky mug. If I ever forget it, my day is a disaster.”

“Kind of like this desk.” I tease.

She looks taken back. “My desk isn’t a mess. I know exactly where everything is.”

I try to hide a smile. “Really?”

“Mr. Burton never said a word about the state of my desk.”

“I have no doubt about that,” I reply. “I’ve spent most of my time cleaning out the cabinets and drawers in his office. I can’t concentrate in a cluttered office.” My eyes dart across her desk again.

She gives me a curious look. “Are you suggesting I can’t do my job because I have a few pieces of paper on the desk?”

A few?

“Maybe we should agree to disagree?” I suggest. “Who am I to judge the methods used for productivity.”

“Ah, very good idea.”

“So, let’s chat about marketing,” I say.

Despite the disarray around her— Callie has a lot of information to share, and she knows her stuff.