Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge: New Holiday Romances to Benefit St. Jude Hospital
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DAYDREAMS & DRAGONFLIES
SWEET ROMANCE
A Kiss Upon A Star
A Kiss Beneath A Christmas Star
A Kiss Beneath A Strawberry Moon
A Kiss Under A Blue Christmas Moon
TALES FROM DRAGONFLY POINTE
Revelations
Restoration
ANTHOLOGY ROMANCE
Magical Weddings
A Touch of Passion
Mother’s Day Magic
Annie Acorn’s 2016 Romance Treasury
Love In Times of War
Hunks To The Rescue
Sweet and Sassy: The Best Kind of Romance
Hotshot Charmers: Men Women Love
Sweet Heat: Where Romance and Suspense Meet
A Christmas She’ll Remember
Sweet and Sassy Christmas: A Time for Romance
Sweet and Sassy Valentine
A Valentine She’ll Remember
Unforgettable Thrillers
Sweet and Sassy Weddings
A Wedding She’ll Remember
Sweet and Sassy At The Beach
Unforgettable Thrills – Passion & Power
Love, Christmas – The Movies You Love
2018 Pink Anthology (Benefits Breast Cancer Research)
Christmas Heartwarmers & Holiday Smiles (Benefits St, Jude Research)
Love Under Fire
Heart of A Hunk
Unforgettable Passion
A Romance She’ll Remember
After Hurricane Nina – Rand’s Resolution
Do No Harm – 17 Medical Thrillers
Invincible – Strong and Fearless
Irresistible Heroes
Christmas At Mistletoe Lodge
FREE MISTLETOE LODGE COOKBOOK
Dark Secrets
2019 Pink Anthology (Benefits Breast Cancer Research)
Irresistible at Christmas
Sweet and Sassy Holidays
St. Nick’s Christmas Wish
Irresistible Valentine
Irresistible Weddings
FREE Book Bits: Love In Times Of War
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From the Authors of Love, Christmas 2
About the Author
Writing steamy yet sweet compassionate stories of fate that are wonderfully romantic, Tamara Ferguson is the multi-award winning, #1 international and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the Tales of the Dragonfly Romance Suspense Series, the Kissed By Fate Series, the Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Series, the Daydreams & Dragonflies Sweet Romance Series, and the Tales From Dragonfly Pointe Short Story Series.
Since 2015, she’s won over 30 awards in the multiple genres of mystery, romantic suspense, romantic intrigue, short story fiction, novellas, women’s fiction, new adult romance and military fiction for her series titles, including the Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals from Readers’ Favorite along with 9 awards from the Independent Authors’ Network.
A member of the RWA, the Authors' Billboard and the Independent Authors' Book Network, her stories have been included in several #1 bestselling anthologies.
Since she remains a full-time caregiver for an autistic son (along with a bunch of adopted pets!), you can usually find Tammy working at home, where she spends a lot of time not completing her numerous home improvement projects, because she's writing or helping author friends promote their books on twitter.
Alaskan Christmas
Alaskan Christmas
A Mistletoe Lodge Novella
USA Today Bestselling Author
JEN TALTY
Praise for Jen Talty
"I positively loved In Two Weeks, and highly recommend it. The writing is wonderful, the story is fantastic, and the characters will keep you coming back for more. I can't wait to get my hands on future installments of the NYS Troopers series." Long and Short Reviews
"In Two Weeks hooks the reader from page one. This is a fast paced story where the development of the romance grabs you emotionally and the suspense keeps you sitting on the edge of your chair. Great characters, great writing, and a believable plot that can be a warning to all of us." Desiree Holt, USA Today Bestseller
"Dark Water delivers an engaging portrait of wounded hearts as the memorable characters take you on a healing journey of love. A mysterious death brings danger and intrigue into the drama, while sultry passions brew into a believable plot that melts the reader's heart. Jen Talty pens an entertaining romance that grips the heart as the colorful and dangerous story unfolds into a chilling ending." Night Owl Reviews
"This is not the typical love story, nor is it the typical mystery. The characters are well rounded and interesting." You Gotta Read Reviews
"Deadly Secrets is the best of romance and suspense in one hot read!" NYT Bestselling Author Jennifer Probst
"A charming setting and a steamy couple heat up the pages in an suspenseful story I couldn't put down!" NY Times and USA today Bestselling Author Donna Grant
"Murder in Paradise Bay is a fast-paced romantic thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. You won't want to miss this one..." USA Today bestselling author Janice Maynard
To Megan Wagner-Flynn. Thanks for the use of the name and for helping me come up with the characters and storyline. Your encouragement and excitement are what made this book happen.
And to my niece Britney Talty for introducing me to Megan.
And to my Sister-In-Law, Barb Talty, for opening her lake house so I could come and brainstorm this story! You all ROCK!
Book Description
He was the second date that should have lasted a lifetime.
Flynn Wagner didn’t have time for relationships. Her career as a headhunter in New York City was the only thing she truly cared about, outside of her parents. When her dying mother asks her to go on their much-anticipated trip to Alaska without her, Flynn can’t deny her mother’s request. Shortly after her mother’s passing, Flynn sets off to the frozen tundra and the Mistletoe Lodge. She’s prepared to hear endless stories about her mother. However, nothing can prepare her for coming face to face with the one man she couldn’t get out from under her skin.
Colton Granger left Alaska and joined the Army when he’d been eighteen years old. He swore he’d never return to his hometown. But when his father has a heart attack, Colton decides it’s time to return to the Mistletoe Lodge and help his mother keep the business running during the winter months while his father recovers. He never expected to open the doors to the lodge and find the woman who had changed his life forever standing there in high-heeled boots, a winter coat that didn’t keep a person warm, and a killer smile that would soon melt his heart.
1
Flynn Wagner prided herself on two things.
Her work ethic and her devotion to her parents. Nothing else mattered. She would do whatever it took to advance her career, and she’d do almost anything her parents asked.
Including a mother and daughter trip to Alaska for Christmas, alone.
Flynn gripped the steering wheel of the massive SUV she’d rented at the Anchorage airport. It had been over a year since she’d driven, and that had been in a sports car. In all her years, she’d never driven anything larger than a four-door sedan, but the man behind the counter told her she’d want the truck, especially since the forecast called for snow.
Well, it was Alaska for Pete’s sake.
Tears burned the corner of her eyes. Two years ago, she truly believed her mother would conquer her illness, and they’d be taking this trip together. However, her mother made her promise she’d go no matter what. Hours after her mother died, her father handed her a notebook with an itinerary, a letter from her mother, and a plane ticket.
The dark road leading up Denali stretched on forever between massi
ve mountaintops. Flynn had never seen anything like it before, except in her mother’s college memory books from her trip to the area during Christmas break and later, her honeymoon. A tear escaped and scorched Flynn’s cheek. Her mother always became animated when she spoke of her magical time in Alaska.
Flynn shivered. She certainly didn’t get the draw. Dark and cold wasn’t her idea of a little piece of heaven. She preferred skyscrapers and pavement over the bear spray and the quiet of the country. Public transportation beat driving any day of the week. At least on the subway, or in the back of a cab, she could get a little work done.
But out here in the wide-open wilderness, she was left with her thoughts, and she didn’t particularly care for them at the moment.
She didn’t know what was worse. The fact that the second she stepped outside she had icicles on her eyebrows or that it wasn’t even four in the afternoon and it was pitch-black.
Both equally sucked.
As did losing cell service for more than half the trip, making it impossible to keep up with the issues at the office.
She shouldn’t have left. She should have begged her father to let her postpone the trip a few months or even a year. Things at work were falling apart faster than a speeding bullet. Of course, she hadn’t told her father half the issues because she didn’t see the point. He had enough on his plate after losing his wife. She couldn’t bring herself to tune him in on her life problems. Besides, he’d taught her to be independent and a problem solver.
She just wasn’t sure how to solve the problem without resorting to murder.
Ugh. Driving in the dark was making her have crazy thoughts.
Well, at least she knew Colton wouldn’t be there. He hated Alaska, and no matter how much his parents had begged, he would never return to the state, much less the family-owned resort. Besides, he was probably off on some super-secret mission for Delta Force. It had taken her all of a second date with him to figure out he valued near-death experiences more than a superior glass of wine at a five-star restaurant where jeans and ripped T-shirts were not acceptable.
She shouldn’t have slept with him so fast, but only because he had become the measurement for all other men in her life, and in that department, no one even came close.
Nope. Colton had brought her to new heights she hadn’t even imagined. He’d been attentive, and yet at the same time, he took what he wanted. That was the only reason she’d agreed to meet him when he returned to the city a few weeks after their first encounter, which proved to be more challenging. Colton hadn’t wanted a repeat of bedroom activities of their first week together. No. He wanted to get to know her and to quote him, ‘on an intellectual level,’ whatever that meant and not what she expected from a man like Colton.
Sex, Flynn could handle.
But talking about life and the potential of a future with marriage and kids? That had Flynn running right back into the throws of what she knew best.
Work and avoidance, and in that order.
Her GPS told her to make a right at the light. The Mistletoe Lodge would be another two miles on the left.
She stifled a yawn. Her internal clock said it was eight in the evening, but her body thought it was time for bed. And she hadn’t even had supper yet.
A big sign for the Mistletoe Lodge came into view. About fifty yards later, she found herself pulling into a half-empty parking lot. She rolled to a stop in the circle in front of the hotel. Pulling her parka tight around her body, she pushed open the car door and gasped.
Her body trembled from the bone-chilling cold Alaskan air. Her pulse slowed, and she swore her blood came to a standstill in her veins. She scurried toward the front door, slipping and sliding on the ice. Flapping her hands wildly, she tried to gain her footing, but her right heel decided to lodge itself into a crack in the ice, twisting her knee. “Shit,” she mumbled.
“Whoa there,” a familiar male voice rang out at the same time strong arms wrapped around her body, holding her upright. “Heels like that aren’t a good idea in these parts.”
“Thanks. I thought I was hitting the pavement for sure.” She brushed her hair from her face and stared into Colton’s ice-blue eyes. A ski mask covered his face, but she’d never forgotten those piercing orbs. They tore into her like a lightning bolt striking the water, electrifying her bones. “Colton?”
His eyes narrowed and then widened. “Flynn? What the hell are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
“I live here. What’s your excuse?” he asked in a bitter tone.
“Live here? Since when? What about the military?” In the last couple of years, she ignored anything her mother had to say about Colton, but this she would have remembered.
“I retired three months ago after my father had a heart attack.”
Flynn swallowed. “My mom told me about that. How’s he doing?”
“He’s doing well.” Colton planted his hands on his hips. “I’m sorry about your mom. She was a great lady.”
“Thanks. Right before my mother died, she bought me a plane ticket and arranged for me to come here.” Why she gave Colton this information, she had no idea.
Colton nodded. “Ahhhh. The great mother-daughter trip.”
“Without my mother,” she whispered, fighting back the tears. Since her mother had passed, they came frequently, and most of the time, she couldn’t stop them. Her mother told her to live her life without regrets, but she’d spent a few years putting her mother off when it came to planning a trip to Alaska. Her career took up all her time, and she couldn’t take a vacation, even if she wanted to. Not if her end goal was to become VP of sales.
Or at least that’s what she told herself. The reality was she hadn’t wanted to take a break from her work, not until she’d achieved a certain level of success. After she slept with Colton, the idea of coming to his hometown made her skin tingle with memories of his lips on her body, and those were thoughts she’d rather forget.
“I’m sure she was happy that you accepted her gift.”
“My father didn’t give it to me until after she died.”
Colton rested his hand on her shoulder and gave a firm squeeze. “My mom misses her and was bummed she couldn’t make it to the funeral, but she’s still afraid to leave my dad’s side.”
“That’s understandable.” She wrapped her arms around her middle and adjusted her weight from one leg to the other. “My mom understood they both wanted to be with her.”
“Come on. Let’s get you inside where it’s warm. My mom’s up at the main house. I’ll give her a call and find out where you’re staying.”
“You had no idea I was coming?”
He shook his head. “My mother probably figures it was a nice surprise for both of us.”
“If I had known, I wouldn’t have come.” Flynn followed Colton through the main doors of the Mistletoe Lodge, staring at his tight, round ass. His snow pants didn’t hide the muscle definition in his thick thighs. She shivered and not from the cold. “Renee mentioned something about the Northern Lights cabin,” Flynn added.
He groaned. “You’re the VIP? I should have known.”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“No,” he said with a long sigh. “You can follow me to the cabin.”
“Follow you?” She glanced over her shoulder and stared out into the parking lot. Snowflakes floated from the sky, dancing in the night. “Is it far away?”
“It’s at the end of the road. We can get you settled, and I’m sure my mom wants you up for dinner.” He waved to a young woman behind the desk. “Call my mom and let her know that Flynn Wagner has arrived.”
“Right away,” the girl said. “Mrs. Granger has been so excited to have you stay with us. My name is Tonya, and if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call the front desk, but you have a fully stocked fridge, and Colton here has been chopping wood all day, so you’ll be nice and toasty warm.”
“Let’s get you to your
cabin.” Colton stomped outside, not holding the door for her.
Figures. He might be attentive in bed, but he hadn’t a clue how to treat a lady anywhere else—one of the many reasons she canceled their third date.
“I’m shocked you managed that truck for four hours,” he said, pulling open the driver door and offering his hand.
Wonderful. He’ll help her into the vehicle, but he couldn’t have been bothered to make sure the hotel door didn’t smash her face in.
“I can handle a truck,” she mumbled.
He chuckled. “I’d like to see you try to parallel park this beast or drive it over the George Washington Bridge during rush hour.” He slammed the door shut and climbed onto a snowmobile. The engine revved, and snow kicked up from under the tread.
Lights flickering on the side of a mountain caught her attention. Her jaw flopped open as she stared at a grand house. The rooftop nestled into the high peeks. Snowflakes trickled from the sky, dancing in the Christmas colors, only adding to the ambiance. She felt like she was inside one of those globes where you shake it and the snow swarms around some quaint house.
Dark cabins lined the right side of the road. Ten of them, to be exact. The last one had a faint glow from a light filtering through the front window.
She skidded to a stop, barely missing the back of Colton’s snowmobile.
He dared to pull open her door, laughing.
“It’s icy,” she said with a steely glare.
“I hope you brought different boots because those things aren’t going to cut it.” He waggled a finger at her UGG heeled boots.
“These work just fine in cold upstate New York winters. I spent a long weekend in Lake George last year, and these worked perfectly.”