Once Upon a Christmas

by Lisa Plumley

  Praise for the novels of Lisa Plumley

  SO IRRESISTIBLE

  “Plumley delivers yet another witty romance with this fun read featuring likable characters and plenty of steamy scenes.” —Booklist

  “Lisa Plumley tells amazing romance stories and like the title, her latest is irresistible. I loved every moment of this book.” —Eye on Romance

  THE HONOR-BOUND GAMBLER

  “Welcome to Morrow Creek, Plumley’s little slice of the West and a romance with heart and grit. Lively storytelling and a cast of engaging, delightful characters—from a rapscallion little boy to a conniving reverend to a hardened gambler and a preacher’s daughter—are simply perfect for this tale. Love and redemption are the soul of this heart-tugging charmer.” —Romantic Times (4 stars! + K.I.S.S. hero)

  TOGETHER FOR CHRISTMAS

  “Plumley makes her third trip to Kismet, Mich. (after Home for the Holidays) in this laugh-out-loud Christmas romp. This sweet romance tugs at the heartstrings from the beginning and doesn’t let up until the final page.” —Publishers Weekly

  “This is a genuinely fun story, with complex, engaging characters and a thoroughly charming holiday atmosphere. No matter what, Lisa Plumley knows how to craft a terrific, heartwarming story with deliciously happy endings, and I definitely plan to go back and read her other books set in Kismet. At least that will give me something to do until her next book comes out!” —The Romance Reviews

  MELT INTO YOU

  “Plumley (Holiday Affair, 2010) has written another delightful story filled with everything her fans expect—likable characters, a great romance, humorous situations, witty dialogue, and a heartwarming story. ” —Booklist (starred review!)

  “This is a delightful story with a hero who could easily be a real jerk, but is quite a sweetheart, and a heroine determined to not be hurt by love again, yet can’t help herself. Her mistrust of the hero is quite understandable, and his struggle to learn how to be good is entertaining. ” —Romantic Times (4 stars!)

  THE BRIDE RAFFLE

  “Ms. Plumley knows how to make her characters real and relatable. We know these people. We have friends like this. This ability to create realistic characters makes Ms. Plumley’s novels even more compelling. I loved every page of this book and found it hard to put down. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Plumley produces next! ” —Historical Romance Writers

  “Lisa Plumley has penned a really cute, delightful tale with The Bride Raffle. Looking for something that is lighthearted and fun? Something that combines romance and humor? The Bride Raffle by Lisa Plumley is perfect for you! ” —CataRomance (4 stars!)

  MAIL-ORDER GROOM

  “Everyone has a secret in this delightful tale from the Old West. The concept of the mail-order groom, rather than bride, is an entertaining twist on a standard plot. There’s plenty of gun-slinging, bloodshed, and lovemaking going on from start to finish, which will keep readers turning pages until the very end. ” —Romantic Times (4 stars!)

  “Lisa Plumley has written a charming romance between two very appealing characters. An engaging novel with a heroine you won’t soon forget. ” —Love Western Romances (4 spurs!)

  HOLIDAY AFFAIR

  “Secrets and subterfuge add complexity and zing to this well-crafted, heartwarming story that features a wealth of engaging characters, including five remarkable, memorable children, and great sexual tension. A deliciously satisfying, cocoa-worthy holiday read.” —Library Journal

  “Lisa Plumley’s latest holiday novel delivers. It has warm gooey holiday moments complete with happy children, Christmas traditions such as caroling and decorating Christmas cookies and, oh yeah, hot and steamy romance. Loaded with fun pop-culture references and witty dialogue, Holiday Affair delivers on entertainment!” —The Romance Reader (Five Hearts!)

  MY FAVORITE WITCH

  “In keeping with Plumley’s tradition of lively romantic comedy (Home for the Holidays), her first foray into the paranormal witch world subgenre is quirky, sexy, creative, and hilarious.” —Library Journal

  “Humorous adventures and unexpected romance with a sprinkling of heartwarming moments will keep the reader well entertained in this delightful tale, skillfully crafted by the clever Plumley.” —Booklist

  HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

  “Lisa Plumley once again gifts readers with a Yuletide story sure to put you in a holiday mood. This is vintage Plumley. She’s created a cast of characters that are a bit eccentric, quirky, and likeable and spun a story that will make you smile.” —Lezlie Patterson, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

  “A delightful secondary romance adds to the fun in this upbeat romp that is touching, hilarious, and lightly dusted with seasonal charm.” —Library Journal

  LET’S MISBEHAVE

  “Once again, Plumley shows her fine flair for comedy as Marisol learns that there is life beyond Rodeo Drive, and the Connelly triplets discover that they can’t scare away every nanny. Full of witty dialogue and hilarious situations, this romp with a heart is certain to please readers.” —Booklist (starred review; named one of the Top Ten Romances of 2007)

  “Plumley not only delivers a fun-filled premise, clever dialogue and a delightfully sexy sports-loving hero, she brings to life a memorable, hilarious and utterly unique heroine readers will adore. This is pure romantic fantasy and an absolutely entertaining novel from start to finish.” —Romantic Times (4½ stars Top Pick!)

  MAD ABOUT MAX

  “A cool cast of secondary characters adds much to the story as clever Plumley, who is already known for her entertaining romantic comedies, presents another winner in this humorous and engaging tale about a man who literally loses his shirt, but finds his heart.” —Booklist (starred review)

  “Mad About Max kept me laughing from beginning to end. What great characters! Very highly recommended, especially for fans of romantic comedy.” —Romance Junkies

  JOSIE DAY IS COMING HOME

  “Turning not-so-perfect, unlikely characters into romance heroes and heroines is Lisa Plumley’s forte, and she once again delivers a zany cast who will make you laugh!” —The State newspaper

  “In this heartwarming, often humorous story, the feisty Josie proves that you can go home again—if you’ve got the right stuff. And once again, the talented Plumley, whose books include Perfect Switch, proves that when it comes to writing romantic comedy, few do it better.” —Booklist

  ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS

  by

  Lisa Plumley

  *

  previously published by Kensington Publishing

  This Christmas, chill out and cuddle up with these enchanting holiday stories…

  Mistletoe and Holly

  Accountant Holly Aldridge scrupulously plans everything in her life—until her boyfriend gets spontaneous by dumping her right before Thanksgiving. Still, Holly’s sure he’ll reconsider, given a little time…and a reason to be jealous. That reason, all six-feet-plus of him, is her new roommate, Sam McKenzie. If Sam has his way, Holly will have a sizzling new romance by Christmastime…

  Christmas Honeymoon

  Some women would consider it the perfect Christmas gift: an all-expenses-paid Vegas honeymoon. But Stacy Ames isn’t some women. Actually, she’s supposed to be posing as her cousin Janie. Too bad Stacy’s faux hubby turns out to be her infuriatingly sexy ex, Dylan. Fortunately, mistletoe and free champagne have a way of turning “too bad” into very, very good…

  A Baby for Christmas

  Kahlúa, coffee, and sympathy—it’s amazing the trouble they can get a girl into. Chloe Carmichal was only trying to help her best pal (and secret crush), Nick, drown his sorrows. She never expected they’d end up having a hot-and-heavy tryst that Nick’s hangover wou
ld make him forget, but that Chloe will always remember…since she’ll have his baby as a Christmas memento…

  *

  Copyright © 2012 by Lisa Plumley

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, then please respect the hard work of this author by purchasing your own copy. Thank you!

  *

  USA TODAY best-selling author Lisa Plumley has delighted readers worldwide with more than three dozen popular novels. Her work has been translated into multiple languages and editions, and includes contemporary romances, western historical romances, paranormal romances, and a variety of stories in romance anthologies. Her fresh, funny style has been likened to such reader favorites as Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, LaVyrle Spencer, and Jennifer Crusie, but her unique characterization is all her own.

  Lisa lives in sunny Arizona with her husband and two children. In her free time she reads romances and research books by the dozen, practices yoga, and spends time with her family—hiking in the mountains and deserts of Arizona, visiting ghost towns and historical sites, traveling, reading, and watching classic movies.

  Visit with Lisa at her website, www.lisaplumley.com, follow her on Twitter @LisaPlumley, connect with her official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lisaplumleybooks, or circle her on Google+ at www.google.com/+Lisaplumley today!

  Special Note from the Author

  “I’m thrilled to share these stories with you! Once Upon a Christmas is a special edition of my first three romances, which I spiffed up, revamped, and Christmasified for the holiday season. The originals are out of print, so if you missed these stories (Surrender, The Honeymoon Hoax, and My Best Friend’s Baby) the first time around—when they were in limited release—please be sure to check out this mega-collection.” —Lisa

  Books by Lisa Plumley

  Contemporary Romances

  All He Wants For Christmas (2014)

  So Irresistible (2013)

  Together for Christmas (2012)

  Melt Into You (2012)

  Holiday Affair (2010)

  Home For The Holidays (2008)

  Let’s Misbehave (2007)

  Mad About Max (2006)

  I Shaved my Legs for This?! (2006) (anthology w/Theresa Alan, Holly Chamberlin, and Marcia Evanick)

  Once Upon a Christmas (2005)

  Josie Day is Coming Home (2005)

  Perfect Switch (2004)

  Perfect Together (2003)

  Reconsidering Riley (2002)

  Santa Baby (2002) (anthology w/Kylie Adams, Elaine Coffman, and Lisa Jackson)

  Falling For April (2002)

  Making Over Mike (2001)

  Her Best Man (2000)

  Man Of The Year (2000)

  My Best Friend’s Baby (1999)

  The Honeymoon Hoax (1998)

  Surrender (1997)

  Historical Romances

  Notorious in the West (2014)

  The Honor-Bound Gambler (2013)

  Weddings Under a Western Sky (2012) (anthology w/Elizabeth Lane and Kate Welsh)

  The Bride Raffle (2011)

  Wanton in the West (2011)

  Mail-Order Groom (2010)

  Hallowe’en Husbands (2008) (anthology w/Denise Lynn and Christine Merrill)

  The Rascal (2006)

  The Scoundrel (2006)

  The Matchmaker (2003)

  The Drifter (2002)

  Lawman (1999)

  Outlaw (1999)

  Paranormal Romance

  My Favorite Witch (2009)

  Time-Travel Romances

  Timeless Winter (1999) (anthology w/Sandra Davidson and Kathryn Hockett)

  Timeless Spring (1999) (anthology w/Sandra Davidson and Cynthia Thomason)

  Table of Contents

  Praise for the novels of Lisa Plumley

  Back Cover

  About the Author

  Special Note from the Author

  Books by Lisa Plumley

  Mistletoe and Holly

  Christmas Honeymoon

  A Baby for Christmas

  Dear Reader Letter

  MISTLETOE AND HOLLY

  by

  Lisa Plumley

  Chapter One

  It should have been a perfectly romantic evening. The lighting was soft, the music was seductive, the wine was cold. Even the weather had cooperated, in the form of a late-autumn Arizona rainstorm that thrummed on the roof with a hypnotic rhythm. It was the kind of night that invited snuggling up together and forgetting the rest of the world existed.

  And it would have been that kind of night, had everything gone according to Holly Aldridge’s plan. Instead, things had started going downhill from the moment her boyfriend Brad came home to the cozy Craftsman-style bungalow they shared, swearing and dripping rainwater on the foyer tile. He stripped off his wet suit jacket and, tugging at his tie, came toward her in the darkness.

  “Power go out?”

  “Nooo.”

  “Then what’s with all the candles, Holly? I can hardly see a thing in here,” he complained, finally whipping off his tie with a last irritable tug.

  He’s had a hard day, Holly told herself. Be nice to him.

  She patted the sofa cushion. “Mood lighting. You’ll get used to it in a minute. Come sit by me.”

  He did, first catching hold of her feet and swinging her legs up on the coffee table to make more room. So much for her seductive pose. She leaned into him and lay her head on the rain-dampened curve of his shoulder. “Tough day?”

  Brad dropped his head back and sighed, staring up at the ceiling. “Yeah, you could say that.”

  “Sorry,” she murmured, turning her head to glance up at him. Even wet and grouchy he looked good, like a glossy sort of Young Republican poster boy—not a single dark hair deviated from its prescribed course. Holly admitted to no one but herself Brad was more skilled with styling gel than she was.

  She didn’t want to ask about his day and be treated to an hour-long discourse on the impossibility of practicing medicine on a bunch of patients who—as Brad put it—wouldn’t recognize common sense if it fell on their heads. Once he got started on that, things would really go awry. So she slid a little closer and started undoing his top shirt button.

  “Holly.”

  Buttons two and three down. He was always telling her how he was tired of making the first move. Tonight would be different. She moved lower and tackled button number four.

  “Holly.” This time Brad caught her wrists in his hands, as though she’d maul him if unrestrained. “Give me a little time to decompress, okay? It’s been a long day.”

  “Okay. Sure.”

  He let go of her wrists and pulled the ends of his shirt together again. Paradise lost.

  “How about a drink, then?” Holly asked brightly. She filled two wineglasses with rosé and handed him one.

  He drained his glass, then set it on the glass-topped wrought-iron coffee table with a thunk that set the tabletop ringing, completely bypassing the coasters he usually insisted on using. Holly frowned. Either Brad was very, very thirsty or his mood was even worse than she’d thought.

  She splashed more rosé in his glass, hoping it was the former. When Brad finally looked at her, fixing her with what she immediately recognized as his I’m-serious-as-Hell look, Holly knew it was the latter.

  “I’m sorry, Holly,” he said, now looking everywhere but at her. “Really sorry. But I just can’t do this anymore. You and me…it’s not working. Things just aren’t right for me.”

  Cold trickled down her spine. Of course things were right. She’d planned everything, down to his favorite ratatouille simmering on the stove, down to the CDs she’d programmed on the stereo, down to the perfume the tastefully made-up woman at the Esteé Lauder counter had assured Holly was “irresistible, dea
r.”

  She wouldn’t have gone to such trouble for a doomed relationship, would she?

  “What do you mean?” Her voice sounded faraway, broken. She finished off her wine for fortification and glanced at him. Any second now he’d come out with some clichéd line like, “I need some space, that’s all,” and she’d nod wisely and tell him she’d been thinking exactly the same thing about herself, wasn’t that funny, ha ha. And then she’d brain him with the wine bottle and boot him out into the rain.

  “I—” He spread out his arms in a choreographed sort of helpless gesture, careful not to actually touch her. “I’ve got to get away for a while, do some thinking. I guess I just need some space, that’s all.”

  Oh, God. “Brad, I—” Her lower lip trembled and her chin wobbled. She would not cry, she wouldn’t. Holly poured more rosé and gulped it down. “I…that’s funny, ‘cause I was just thinking the same thing.”

  Her croaked statement lacked a certain conviction, but it was the best she could do under the circumstances.

  He pressed both hands to his thighs and pushed up from the sofa. “I knew you’d understand,” he said, ruffling her hair as he passed by.

  So much for her carefully arranged, seductive hairstyle.

  “Mmmm—what’s that great smell?” he went on, looking brisk and assured. Whew, his expression said. Glad that’s over with! Brad hated scenes. “Mind if I eat before I pack up? I’m starving.”

  “It’s ratatouille,” she replied numbly. “Help yourself.”

  “Help yourself? You actually said to him, ‘Gee, Brad, help yourself’? Oh, Holly.”

  Feeling miserable, Holly slumped further in the corner of her kitchen banquette. She rested her cheek against its soft yellow upholstery.

  “Quit shaking your head at me, Clarissa. Come on, it wasn’t as dumb as it sounds. It just popped out. I couldn’t help it.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “It was supposed to sound cosmopolitan. ‘Sure, darling—of course we can still be friends,’ something like that. You know. And I didn’t say, ‘gee,’ either,” Holly added indignantly. “Geez, you’re supposed to be my friend! What am I supposed to do now?”

  Clarissa gave her a sympathetic look. “Sorry. I didn’t realize Brad the Bad meant so much to you.”