A Season For Romance

by Marks, V. R.

  Just like it wasn't her fault a jumper couldn't check the destination before arriving. Though maybe she could, since she could only get from Hobbitville to here, and it was a

  short drive. Oh! She was confusing herself now. Her theories and resolutions were all mixed up with her delusions of meeting some special guy in Hobbitville. She stared hard at Daniel. If he hung out here so often, it was a wonder she'd never been caught by him before.

  "What are you doing here?" Her demand seemed to shock him a bit.

  He glanced behind him, as if expecting her to be addressing someone else, then focused again on her. "I'll tell you, if you tell me how you did that."

  It was too late to deny it. She thought for a second–only a second–about going back through the stone. Then, when they met tomorrow, she could claim he was hallucinating. But he'd touched her, and it was too late for that ploy. Why couldn't she think faster on her feet?

  "I can't tell you anything about how, um…that."

  "Why not?"

  "Tell me what you're doing hanging out in a cemetery in the middle of the night."

  "It's barely seven o'clock," he countered. "We weren't supposed to meet until tomorrow."

  "And you're here because…"

  "Can't tell you that."

  "Well. That's a stalemate then." She reached into her pocket for the things she'd brought for their snowman's face. Two blue buttons that matched Daniel's eyes, hopeless romantic that she was, and some Groucho Marx joke glasses she stole from her prankster brother's stash.

  "I brought this for our friend on the hill." She offered the items, expecting him to take them.

  Daniel shook his head. "No way. We'll do it together, or be done with it." Was that him, tossing out ultimatums to a pretty girl? She stuffed everything back into her pocket and scowled at him. He reached for her hand as she reached for the angel statue. "You said–"

  He wasn't sure what he meant to say or what he meant to remind her that she'd said. Shock and utter disbelief captured him completely.

  They weren't in the cemetery anymore–the chapel was gone, the angel too. He blinked, but he didn't think he was dreaming. It was a quiet place he'd never seen. A garden, maybe? It was hard to tell with everything blanketed by snow. They were standing next to what seemed to be a snow-dusted cupid framed by a snow-filled hedge.

  Surrounded by all this impossible, trying to make it make sense, it took a long moment to realize he was still holding Austin's hand. He tried not to enjoy it too much while he struggled to verbalize the questions racing through his head.

  "Where are we?"

  She didn't answer him.

  Looking down at her, he started to worry. She was the picture of dejection. "Hey. Austin? Are you okay?"

  "Oh, yeah. I'm great. I probably just created a rift in the universe. Gah! I am so stupid." With that, she plopped down in the snow, her arm stretched up where their hands remained connected.

  "You're not stupid." He heard her sniffle and panicked. He had no idea how to deal with tears. "Can you just tell me where we are?"

  "It's obviously too late, so yeah, I might as well tell you. We're in Hobbitville."

  "What the heck is Hobbitville?" He knelt beside her. "And how did we get here?"

  "The statues are magic. They connect to other magic statues around the world if you–hey! You're here."

  Daniel had heard about people in shock and chafed her hand between his. She wasn't crazy, and he knew he wasn't asleep, but her surprise worried him. "Yeah. I'm here."

  "That's important." Her smile bloomed, and a familiar heat crept up his neck into his face.

  "Important how?"

  "It means you can jump, too, which means maybe I didn't destroy Hobbitville or the universe."

  He gave up and settled next to her, pulling her away from the cherubs and tucking her next to his side. She wasn't shivering, but he hoped the contact would help this all make sense. Soon. "Hobbitville?"

  "This garden. It's private, but the band sneaks in and out of here regularly. I didn't know other people–not band geeks–could jump too."

  "Well, I am a musician."

  "You are?"

  "Piano. It counts."

  "Of course it does."

  She snuggled closer, filling in the details. He tried to ignore his body's normal responses to hers while she explained the known and unknown facts about Hobbitville and the recent discoveries of her closest friends. It was tough to keep track of the convoluted details, but he got the gist of it. Thank God his mother couldn't see him; he'd never hear the end of her absolute glee. It occurred to him that his mother might actually be part of why he could jump through the angel statue: those were her ancestors in the cemetery.

  "It makes sense," he said when Austin finished.

  "Does it?"

  "Not really. But being a Llewellyn might make it plausible. For me to jump, that is."

  "Oh. Good point. Did you mean it?"

  "Mean what?" he was feeling lost again.

  "When you said I wasn't stupid," she clarified.

  He nodded. "Of course I meant it. Now, do you think you can take us back?"

  "I'm sure I can't take us anywhere else."

  He felt a little better when she laughed. Standing, he helped her to her feet, then hung on as she reached for the statue. Nerves assailed him. Not because of the unconventional transportation, but because now that he knew her secret, it was time to tell her his.

  Austin admired Daniel's acceptance of the impossible. She'd been so afraid she'd blown everything. Sharing Hobbitville, even by accident, wasn't done. Combined with how she was feeling after spending just a few hours with Daniel made her feel even more like a fool. Liking a cute guy was one thing, but the super nerd and the dumb blonde? It was too clichéd. Even if she wasn't as dumb as everyone thought.

  She watched him shake off his amazement as they landed by the angel statue and then she followed him into the prayer chapel. There wasn't much choice as he didn't seem to have

  any intention of giving her hand back anytime soon. It felt like he was being protective, and the sensation was actually pleasant.

  Inside, the chapel wasn't gloomy or creepy as she'd expected. "This is cozy," she whispered.

  "It's warmer." He chuckled. "You don't have to whisper. Here." He stepped away, picked up a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Guess it's my turn."

  "For?" She curled into the blanket, wishing he'd put his arm around her like he had in Hobbitville. Silly, but there it was.

  "You told me your secret." He took a big breath. "I hang out here to think, like I said, but I also hang out here to write. It's weird, sci-fi stuff. No one knows."

  Well that was certainly a leap of trust. "Daniel, that's–"

  "Yet another solitary endeavor my mother would hate to know about." He tried to smile, but only half of his mouth cooperated. It was endearing.

  Once more, her thoughts went to cataloguing his features, but this time, she acknowledged it was all for her own selfish reasons. When he stepped closer, her heart skipped a little, ridiculously hopeful that she was about to be kissed. "I was going to say that's wonderful."

  "I saw you on New Year's Eve."

  "So you said." They were now toe to toe.

  "Not at the party. Here, afterward. I thought you were an illusion." He ran his fingers over her ponytail, drawing the ends over her shoulder. "Then, there were the foot prints that just appeared in the middle of the cemetery. You really put my imagination to the test."

  She felt herself blushing and knew her grin must look goofy, but she couldn't stop either reaction. "I think you passed."

  "I usually do." He smiled, completely, this time.

  Mesmerized, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his, not caring that it was too bold and probably too dumb. It was nice, at least in her opinion, but he didn't react, so she retreated.

  "Well. Umm. Now that I know, I won't pop in and inter–"

  She squeaked as he yanked her
closer and kissed her. What had been nice turned marvelous, and she sank into the perfect moment as it stretched and spun until she wasn't sure her heart would ever remember the right pattern.

  Ending the kiss, he dropped his forehead to hers. "Let's go put that face on our snowman."

  They held hands and climbed the hill. As they gave their snowman his face, Austin was filled with a strange blend of satisfaction and apprehension. Resolutions were well and good, but they'd both implemented big changes over the holiday break, and there would be the inevitable fallout.

  "What happens Monday?" she asked as they admired their creation. "At school, I mean."

  "You mean with us?"

  She nodded, unsure how to say everything that was in her head when he put his arm around her waist.

  "I suppose that depends on whether my mom finds out I have a girlfriend. She's likely to paper the halls with flyers."

  Austin laughed.

  "Do I have a girlfriend?"

  She turned to hug him. "Only if it's me. I won't reopen my hot guy data base to list your details for some other girl's benefit.

  "Hot guy data base?"

  "It's what I'm known for–all the facts pertinent and not so pertinent on any above average guy in town. But I made a resolution to give it up. It was filling my memory with everything but what I needed to know."

  "You're saying I'm above average?"

  "Only in every possible way," she replied. "Before and after the contacts."

  "I knew you were smart."

  They laughed, and she gave him a quick kiss for each of his attributes as she listed them. It was a pleasantly distracting game, especially as he returned the favor.

  "But what about your database? You can't let all that work go to waste."

  "Oh, no worries." She smiled up at him. "I think I know just who should take over."

  The End

  Contents

  Meddling with Mistletoe

  -One-

  -Two-

  -Three-

  -Four-

  Chapter 1

  The Sheriff's Proposal

  -One-

  -Two-

  -Three-

  Finding the Focus

  -One-

  -Two-

  -Three-

  Snow-Covered Resolutions

  Prologue

  -One-

  -Two-

  -Three-

  Contents

  Copyright

  About the Authors

  Copyright

  A Season For Romance

  Copyright 2012 ã Getaway Reads, LLC

  Cover art by Just Write! Communications

  Published by Getaway Reads, LLC

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

  This ebook is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the express permission in writing from the author.

  Meddling with Mistletoe

  By Kimberly Hope

  Copyright 2012 ã Kimberly Hope

  Published by Getaway Reads, LLC

  A Sheriff's Proposal

  By V.R. Marks

  Copyright 2012 ã V.R. Marks

  Published by Getaway Reads, LLC

  Finding the Focus

  By Jay Keelan

  Copyright 2012 ã Jay Keelan

  Published by Getaway Reads, LLC

  Snow-Covered Resolutions

  By Regan Black

  Copyright 2012 ã Regan Black

  Published by Getaway Reads, LLC

  About the Authors

  Happy holidays from all of us! We hope that the spirit of the season with all its wonder and hope finds you safe and happy with the ones you love!

  Kimberly Hope

  Kimberly Hope knew from the time she was 12 she was destined to write romance novels. With a name like that, what else would she be? The only question was, what direction that trip would take.

  She found her forte in smart, sexy, sassy, contemporary romances with guaranteed smiles and happily-ever-afters for today’s contemporary reader. Her heroines are feisty and give as good as they get; her heroes are sexy, successful men you’d want to keep for yourself.

  A professional freelance writer, she grew up in northern California but now lives in North Carolina where she manages 2 kids, 2 dogs, and a cat that must be obeyed. When not writing, she enjoys gardening, knitting, and cooking (although not after a day of writing).

  Connect with her online:

  Visit www.KimberlyHopeBooks.com for news, giveaways and more!

  Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/kimberlyhopebooks

  Twitter: @kimberlyhopebks

  Also by Kimberly Hope:

  The Heiress and Her Fake Fiancé

  The Billionaire Bachelor's Revenge

  V.R. Marks

  According to Alfred Hitchcock, "There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it." V.R. Marks feels the same way about writing romantic suspense. After falling in love with the suspense genre during a Hitchcock film festival, Marks combined that with a passion for writing that eventually became adventurous romantic suspense novels readers crave. Marks resides in Portland, Maine where two cats provide regularly scheduled breaks from the keyboard.

  See what’s next at www.VRMarks.com

  Stay connected online at Twitter: @VR_Marks

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vr.marks.author

  Also by V.R. Marks:

  The Thief

  The Witness

  The Hostage (coming December 2012)

  Jay Keelan

  Jay Keelan has always been a lover of novels and nature. With the help of plenty of coffee and her rescued shepherd-mix, she writes stories combining romance and her interests in conservation. Look for more books featuring Marley and the menagerie from The Reserve coming soon.

  Regan Black

  Regan Black is dedicated to providing action-packed stories with a paranormal twist so readers of all ages can savor a fantastic escape from the daily routine. Raised in the Midwest and California, she currently lives in South Carolina and balances the bliss of writing life with a household of engineers of all ages and an impressive domestic zoo starring two retired greyhounds, two cats, and two quirky finches.

  You can visit her anytime at www.ReganBlack.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReganBlack.fans

  Twitter: @ReganBlack

  Also by Regan Black:

  The Hobbitville Saga (young adult short stories)

  The Pixie Chicks

  Hot Spots

  Breaking New Ground

  The Shadow Stone

  Snow Covered Resolutions

  The Shadows of Justice Series:

  Justice Incarnate, Book 1

  Invasion of Justice, Book 2

  Veil of Justice, Book 3

  From the Ashes novella

  Dream Works novella

  Tracking Shadows, Book 4

  Shadows to Light, Book 5

  The Matchmaker Series:

  The Matchmaker's Mark

  Non-fiction:

  Adopt A Greyhound Guide

  Goal Setting For Writers: Making Revisions Work in Life and Art