Welcome Home for Christmas

by Annie Rains

  Welcome Home for Christmas is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  A Loveswept Ebook Original

  Copyright © 2016 by Annie Rains

  Excerpt from Forbidden Kisses by Annie Rains copyright © 2016 by Annie Rains

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Loveswept, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

  Loveswept is a registered trademark and the Loveswept colophon is a trademark of Penguin Random House LLC.

  This book contains an excerpt from the forthcoming book Forbidden Kisses by Annie Rains. This excerpt has been set for this edition only and may not reflect the final content of the forthcoming edition.

  Ebook ISBN 9781101969175

  Cover design: Georgia Morrissey

  Cover photograph: © Vitalii Smulskyi

  randomhousebooks.com

  v4.1

  ep

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  By Annie Rains

  About the Author

  Excerpt from Forbidden Kisses

  Chapter 1

  Troy Matthews’s morning had started off with a bang when a few grunts had decided to road race down the 35-mile-per-hour back roads on base. Then a rebellious teen had issued a blanket threat at the military high school, warranting all of the MPs to raid the building. The kid had a big mouth, but that’s all he’d had despite his claims of more. He definitely wouldn’t be making Santa’s good list this year.

  Then again, neither would Troy.

  It was lunchtime now and Troy could only imagine what the rest of the day held. He walked back into his office, thirsty for a Coke to accompany the stack of paperwork he was going to have to complete regarding the morning’s festivities, and stopped cold. He shared an office with fellow military police officer Griffin Black, who was already seated behind his desk and pretending not to notice that Troy had entered.

  “What’s this?” Troy asked, frowning at the small Charlie Brown tree housed in a Styrofoam cup on his desk. A single string of tinsel wrapped around it.

  Griffin glanced back. “It’s a Christmas tree. I’m not giving up on you, buddy.”

  Troy lifted the cup of tree and carried it to the opposite side of the room. His friend’s persistence was almost amusing. Almost.

  “Busy morning,” Griffin commented then. He’d been at the high school scene, too.

  Troy sat behind his desk and nodded, grabbing his Coke and popping the tab. “You can say that again.”

  “Guess it’s true that Christmas brings out the crazy in people.”

  Troy chuckled. “What’s January through November’s excuse?”

  Griffin joined in his laughter. Troy expected that Griffin would return to his work, but he continued to stare across the distance at him.

  “Am I just beautiful or are you staring for a reason?” Troy asked, waggling his eyebrows.

  “I need a favor.”

  “More help training Jaws?” Jaws was Griffin’s K-9 partner.

  “No. This isn’t about work.”

  “Well, what then?”

  “First, you have to say yes,” Griffin told him.

  Troy turned his chair to face his friend. “To a favor that I don’t know about? Do you think I’m one of the Christmas crazies?”

  Griffin shrugged. “My favor involves helping orphans, man. You wouldn’t turn that down, would you?”

  Troy shook his head, setting his Coke down. “Of course not.” He’d been lucky enough to grow up in a family with two parents and three siblings. And Troy knew that Griffin had been adopted. He didn’t like to think of a kid who didn’t have anyone in the world. That had to be scary. And lonely.

  Griffin nodded. “I can see it on your face. You’re going to say yes.”

  “To helping orphans? Hell, yeah.” Troy nodded. Maybe everyone thought he was being a Scrooge this year because he didn’t want to celebrate Christmas, but he wasn’t heartless. He just didn’t want to do rounds with his older brother David at the Christmas dinner table again, or see his mother in tears over their feuding like last year. Troy had chosen the military over running the family’s many businesses in Paradise Point, and he was proud of his service. His father, now passed, had also been proud of him. If his brother David wasn’t, well, Troy could care less.

  Griffin punched a triumphant fist into the air, a little too happy about Troy’s agreement.

  Charlie Myer, the K-9 team’s kennel master, knocked on their office door. “Did he get you, too?” he asked Troy.

  “I guess so,” Troy admitted. He just wasn’t yet sure what he’d gotten into.

  “Well, you’re in good company. We’re all doing it.”

  Troy nodded, narrowing his eyes at Griffin. “Doing what?” he asked. “What exactly is the favor?”

  Griffin shrugged. “There’s going to be an auction at the Veterans’ Center in Seaside this Friday to help raise money to buy presents for the children at Mercy’s Place. They were robbed last week, you know.”

  “Yeah.” Troy had heard. What kind of asshole stole presents from orphans at Christmas? “What do you need me to donate?”

  “Nothing too much. Just yourself,” Griffin said, one side of his mouth kicking up.

  “Me?”

  “A few hours of your time. That’s all, buddy. The idea is, with Seaside being a military town, spouses are gone more often than not. There’s a lot of honey-dos that aren’t getting done. So Allison Carmichael, the director at the Veterans’ Center, is auctioning off volunteer Marines willing to do things like yard work, house repairs, washing the car.”

  Troy didn’t see what the big deal was. “All right. Count me in.”

  Griffin and Charlie Myer exchanged a look that didn’t get past Troy. There was more that they weren’t saying. Troy’s officer’s gut was ringing like a security alarm. He was about to begin the interrogation when a call went over the radio.

  MPs needed at the commissary.

  “Lunch is over, guys,” Troy said, grabbing his keys. “The Christmas crazies are at it again.”

  —

  Allison stared at the list of men on her desk, all willing to donate their time for a good cause. She wanted to kiss each and every one of them. In a matter of days, everything had come together seamlessly. The Vets’ Center had already been planning the holiday function for military spouses. It was a ready-made event for adding on the fundraiser auction for the kids at Mercy’s Place. She only had one thing left to do for tomorrow’s party.

  She needed wine to prime the pump.

  Grabbing her purse, she headed to her car in the parking lot. There was a sandwich place next door to Seaside’s local wine shop. She could kill two birds with one stone and grab lunch while she was out.

  A text came in from her mother as she plopped into her little car.

  You’re coming to the family’s Christmas Eve party next Saturday, right?

  Allison sighed. She was excited about tomorrow’s funct
ion with the military spouses, but not so much about her family’s annual Christmas Eve party. She hated attending those gatherings. Her extended family, whom she loved dearly, were like well-intentioned vultures picking away at her.

  When was she settling down? Why was she still alone? Didn’t she know that ripe-for-the-picking had passed many moons ago?

  Yes, Allison typed back, her index finger twitching with resistance.

  Her phone dinged with another incoming message.

  Bringing a guest? her mother wanted to know.

  Allison could almost hear the tone in the typed words. Her mother was a psychologist at the Naval Hospital on Camp Leon. If Allison responded no, the psychobabble of why she wasn’t dating would commence. Yes would be a lie, of course, because her mother’s psychobabble was partially true. Allison was avoiding dating. Scared, tired, uninterested. Those were all part of her reasons.

  Not sure yet, she answered instead, taking the middle road. Sorry, Mom. Really busy. I’ll call you later.

  Allison blew out a breath, promising herself she would indeed call her mother back later. After she’d primed her own pump. She was tired of defending herself. She was happily single right now, and could pretty much satisfy every need she had without a guy in her life.

  Speaking of satisfying needs…

  Allison spoke into the dictation app on her cellphone: “Buy more double A batteries.” Then she flung her phone into the passenger seat and continued her drive to Seaside’s finest wine store—Wine from the Vine. She’d grown up with the owner here, but it was usually an older woman who ran the shop.

  The bell to the store rang behind Allison as she entered and headed straight for the blue-haired woman behind the register.

  “Hi, I’m Allison Carmichael, the director at the Veterans’ Center. I left a message earlier in the week for Mr. Mason about the annual party for military spouses.”

  The woman nodded sweetly. “Yes, of course. Mr. Mason told me that you could pick out any wines you like, as much as you need, free of charge.”

  Allison’s mouth dropped open. She’d been hoping to get a discount since she knew the owner, but she hadn’t expected this. “That’s very generous!”

  The older woman nodded. “Mr. Mason is a very generous man, I’m sure you know.” She pointed to a stack of shopping baskets. “Go ahead, dear.”

  Allison grabbed a basket and began to peruse the wines, some from the Mason family vineyards and others from vineyards across the country. She had picked out about eight bottles when the bell to the store rang again and someone walked in. Allison was on an inside aisle and couldn’t see the customer’s face, but she heard his deep voice. She paused to listen as he charmed the older woman to giggles. Allison smiled to herself. She was probably going to turn into one of those unmarried old maids that got giggly around an attractive man, too. Nothing wrong with that, even though everyone and their neighbor thought singlehood was a disease, to be cured only by shaming and matchmaking.

  Allison picked up another bottle from the shelf and read the label, trying to focus on the task at hand. A few minutes later, she’d picked out a few white wines and some red. The one in her hand was a sweet holiday variety.

  “That one looks delicious,” a deep voice offered behind her.

  Allison startled, gripping the bottle so tight she was surprised the glass didn’t shatter in her hand. She turned and saw that the voice was attached to a man with dark hair, dark eyes, and a smile that made her belly quiver with awareness. “Oh, hi,” she said for lack of anything better to say.

  “Hi.” His gaze hung on hers for a long moment, then moved to her heavy basket.

  “I, uh…This isn’t all for me. I’m having a party.”

  He nodded.

  “Not that I’m a partier. I’m not. It’s more of a function.” And she really didn’t need to explain herself to a stranger. She shifted the basket, which was digging into her forearm. Maybe eight bottles of wine was enough. She didn’t want to take more than she could carry.

  “Need help with that?” he asked.

  “No.” She shook her head and giggled. Giggled? Just like the older woman, she was moved to giggles over a handsome man. “I’m fine,” she told him, placing the last bottle into her basket and attempting to walk past.

  The dark-haired, sexy man and his broad shoulders took up most of the aisle, though. He didn’t move. Instead, he stared at her with those mahogany eyes that seemed to twinkle in the dim lighting. He was wearing a military police uniform, she noticed now. Damn. She’d always had a thing for a man in uniform, and this one was especially delicious.

  “Excuse me,” she said, tearing her eyes off him and focusing them forward. She had her wine and it was time to get out of here before she made a bigger fool of herself.

  The man hesitated before stepping aside. “Don’t party too hard. You don’t strike me as the type who would, but if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that people are never what they seem.”

  This made her pause. Allison turned back, unable to resist asking, “And how do I seem?”

  He was still doing that twinkly-eye thing at her. How did he do that?

  “Well, I don’t know you, but my gut says you’re a nice woman. And my gut is usually spot-on.”

  She inwardly cringed. Nice was boring. Like milk toast, she thought, remembering a former ex’s description of her. “You’re on duty buying alcohol,” she noted, trying to find Sexy Police Man’s fatal flaw. The one that, if she were to find herself in a relationship with him, would end it all. Surely a man who bought alcohol on the job was no good.

  “It’s a gift. Nothing says love like expensive red wine.” He held up a bottle.

  Love? A little ache settled in her chest. “Girlfriend?” she asked, unable to believe she’d actually uttered the word. He was likely to think she was interested in him by asking that question.

  He shook his head. “It’s for my mother. Just a gift, not a Christmas present,” he clarified.

  “I see. Well, good luck with that.” She continued toward the register where the cashier smiled.

  Sexy Police Man stepped up beside her. Allison’s gaze flicked sideways.

  “Nice choices,” the cashier said, glancing between them. “You made a nice selection in beaus, too,” she told Allison with a wink.

  Allison’s mouth fell open. “No…We’re not.” Her cheeks burned. “I’m not with him,” she said, hearing the laugh under the man’s breath.

  “Come on, baby. Don’t be like that,” he teased in a low voice that did something to her pulse. “You told me you loved me.”

  The older woman’s lips rounded into a subtle O.

  “I’m not your, uh…baby,” she told him, avoiding his gaze. “He’s joking,” she told the cashier, scooting away from him.

  “Too bad,” the woman said. “If I were forty years younger…”

  “Or I forty years older,” he said, being the charming devil.

  Allison didn’t like charming devils. Charming devils were also heartbreakers. So there it was, his flaw. “Please tell Mr. Mason that I appreciate his generosity.”

  “I will.” The woman pushed a box that contained the wine across the counter. “Be careful, dear. It’s heavy.”

  The man laid down exact cash for his bottle. “I’ll help you get that to your car,” he told Allison, following behind her.

  “Not necessary,” she protested, even as she nearly dropped the box.

  He heaved it out of her arms easily, his biceps bunching at his sides. Then he opened the door and gestured for her to exit first. “Not a problem,” he said.

  —

  Troy could smell the floral scent of the woman in front of him. It wasn’t excessive like some women’s perfume. No, Red’s scent was so subtle that he wanted to lean in and get a stronger whiff. And yeah, it wasn’t just the way she smelled that had him wishing he was closer than the arm’s length at which she seemed to be keeping him.

  After setting the box
of wine in her backseat, he straightened and looked at her. He would’ve done the same even if she had been old and haggard—which she definitely wasn’t.

  “Thank you.” She swept a lock of rose-colored hair out of her face.

  He tensed his hand at his side, wishing he could help her do that, too. “You’re welcome.” A soft smile bloomed on her face, making him feel lighter than he had all month. Too bad he would probably never see her again. Not unless he got her name and number right here, right now.

  His heart bucked against the badge on his chest.

  He’d meant it when he said she looked like a nice woman though. Too nice to get caught up with the likes of him. He had a history of dating and then moving on. That’s just what he did. And in the wake of that, he unintentionally hurt people. Nice people.

  “All right then. I’ll see you around,” he said, forcing his leaden feet to move away from Red’s floral scent and goddesslike beauty. He got into his truck and started his engine, then looked over at the parking space where her little car had been a moment earlier. Already gone. Well, good. He had other things to worry about right now, like work, repairs on the fixer-upper house he’d purchased a few months back, and his mother’s guilt trips about not going home for Christmas. Then there was the auction he’d offered himself up for tomorrow night. It was a strange idea, selling men for the good of the children. He supposed he’d make a great deal for some overburdened Marine Corps wife whose husband was on deployment right now. He could conquer a yard like no one else. Troy had grown up doing yard work for extra cash. He was also pretty handy with home repairs. A jack-of-all-trades. He just hoped no one crazy bid on him. Spending time with crazy wasn’t his idea of fun.

  Spending time with Red, however, might’ve been a whole lot of fun.

  And a whole lot of trouble, too.

  Chapter 2

  Troy was running late for the auction. He’d planned on wearing something nice, like pants and a polo shirt; he wanted to rake up as much cash for the kids as he could. But, as had happened the whole week, all hell had exploded on Camp Leon this afternoon. He’d given out more speeding tickets in the last few hours than he had all month. Then, to top things off, there’d been a tip about drugs in the barracks and he and his police K-9, Bear, had gone to check things out, which had somehow turned into one man ratting out another, which resulted in an old-fashioned fistfight. Sometimes Troy had to remind himself that he was a police officer on a military base and not a custodian for a bunch of rowdy high schoolers.