She picked up the picture postcard her sister, Honey, had sent her. Sapphire Falls, Nebraska at Christmastime. Heck it looked like a scene from Currier and Ives. Idyllic, Quaint. Boring. Cold.
Boring?
Cold?
She exited the spreadsheet and flipped the card around. Even though the wedding wasn’t until Christmas Eve, Honey had invited her to come early and help with the preparations.
She could do boring.
She might do cold.
She could even do quaint.
But there was no idyllic. Not in the twenty-first century.
But then, what did she have to lose?
* * *
Troy Caine was never going to give advice again.
Ever.
Giving advice backfired on him big time.
Giving advice put him squarely in the dreaded friend-zone.
And giving advice never got him a girlfriend.
Not even in the magical town of Sapphire Falls where other people fell in love—hard, fast, and steamy.
He sat alone in the corner of the Come Again, the local bar, and knocked back another Guinness as he watched his ex-girlfriend walk off with a farmer from the next town over—blissfully happy after applying his advice on how to get a guy to commit.
Troy took a look at himself in the pub mirror, squinting between the etched letters touting a draught of Guinness.
He was twenty-nine. Still had a head full of dark brown hair. Women had assured him he was good-looking, and he worked out every day—in a gym, unlike the farmers around here who stayed fit by working on their farms.
His blue eyes were supposedly his best trait. Clear like the Nebraskan sky, and his teeth were white and straight.
Dark hair, blue eyes, killer smile unfortunately described most of the men in Sapphire Falls.
Only they got their forever-woman, and he was always the best friend, the shoulder to cry on. The enabler.
Tonight was slow, and the bar was mostly empty except for some newcomers: mechanics, workers at the hardware store, and employees at the new shopping area shot pool near the dartboard, but Troy wasn’t in the mood to socialize.
He’d patched up his ex-girlfriend’s relationship with another man, and while he was truly over her, it still stung that she’d taken all his good advice and applied it to someone else. He should be happy she was no longer a bitch, that she increased her self-esteem and was in control of her temper.
But still, another man had reaped his rewards.
Not wanting to engage in chit chat, Troy browsed through an online advice forum on his smartphone.
It was the same never-ending story. Heartbreak, cheating, lack of communication, lack of commitment. The same as the sad stories he saw at his job as a social worker for the county hospital.
Dear Dr. T,
I have been dumped again, and I don’t understand what’s wrong with me. It’s always the same story. I meet a man. Sparks fly, and I know in my heart he’s the one. We fall in love hard and fast. I move in with him, and within two or three months, he calls it quits.
I don’t think I’m bitchy or demanding. I have my own business and interests, and I keep my body in fantastic shape. I’ve done everything the self-help books say—be independent, don’t cling, don’t nag, be supportive, give him space, communicate—only nothing works.
If I had a million dollars for every time I hear the words “It’s not you, it’s me,” I’d be rich enough to buy Trump Tower.
I’m at the end of my rope, literally. My family and friends say I’m a magnet for the wrong type of men. I know I’m fun to be with, on the prettier side of the scale, in great physical shape, passionate, and romantic, but now, I’m beginning to wonder if there’s something wrong with me.
Why do guys run out of my life as fast as they run in?
Signed, Sick of being Dumped
Nine times out of ten, scratch that, ten times out of ten, she hadn’t found the right guy. But to say that would not be helpful. Troy took another swallow of the bitter brew and tapped in a reply.
Dear Dumped,
Short answer. You haven’t found the right guy. But I know that’s not what you want to hear.
My advice to you is to slow down. You describe your romances as a whirlwind—coming fast and going out faster. This is obviously not working for you. You are getting caught up by the beginning of a relationship which is exciting, fun, and exhilarating. At this time, you’re willing to overlook, or indeed, you are blind to the faults of your partner. You idealize each other and fall in love with an image of the perfect romantic relationship, but after the newness wears off, the problems and issues which were ignored become apparent.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with you. Next time, when you meet a guy you think is “The One,” step back and consciously tell yourself to slow down. Make a list of all the negative traits you can imagine about this guy, and take your time in getting to know him. It’s always better to be positively surprised rather than disappointed.
Don’t let your emotions cloud your logical side. Evaluate and grade this guy, as you would if you were buying a car or a house. I know this doesn’t sound romantic, but at least you’ll know if he is the right guy for you.
Best of all luck, Dr. T
A draft of cold blasted through the door as a crowd of locals stepped in. Among them was the mayor of Sapphire Falls, big TJ Bennett, his brother Ty with his wife Hailey, followed by Troy’s best friend’s fiancée, Honey Myers. Troy was in a committee with them to coordinate the town’s Christmas events and activities with the interest of bringing in tourists.
Sapphire Falls had changed in the past five years from a sleepy hamlet of old-timers to a growing community with new businesses, retail space, and entertainment and sports venues.
“Hey, Troy,” Ty, who’d once been a world class triathlete, shouted as he removed his coat. “Put that phone away. This isn’t New York City.”
The locals of Sapphire Falls believed it was rude to stare into a phone while at a public place around town.
Honey gave him a hug, and Hailey shook his hand as the Bennett brothers ordered a round of drinks.
“So, we want to do something different this Christmas,” Hailey Connor said as soon as she took a barstool. She was the Director of Business Development and Tourism.
“How so?” Troy asked, sliding his phone into his pocket. He was curious to see what Dumped would say about his suggestion to slow down, but it would have to wait until after the meeting.
“I’ve been researching other towns which have Christmas tourism, our competitors, and I’ve decided we need to shake things up. We are too much into the Norman Rockwell small town farm theme here. I mean, it’s nice to be charming and idyllic, but this year, we want to be edgy and different.”
“Edgy and different?” Honey asked. “But why? If people want glamour and glitz, they can go to Vegas or New York City.”
“I didn’t mean that.” Hailey flipped her blond hair over her shoulder and smiled at her husband, Ty, as if she were winning an argument. “But since the reenactor guilds worked so well during our Halloween festival, I think we should have a convention of time travelers here and do a Dickensian Christmas. We should open the haunted house and fill it with ‘Christmas past’ spirits.”
Big TJ Bennett grunted, shifting his weight on the bar stool. “What’s wrong with doing Christmas the way we’ve always done?”
Hailey hooked Ty a meaningful look, and Ty quickly set down his drink. “Because it’s boring. Everyone has the Santa’s lap, the caroling, the pageant, the traditional stuff. Hailey’s right. We need to spice it up.”
“Honey, what do you think?” TJ looked to the relative newcomer for support. Honey was a native of San Francisco who was about to remarry her ex-husband, an investment banker who had grown up in Sapphire Falls. Her first encounter with the town was at the haunted petting zoo, and despite the series of frights she experienced over Halloween, she had become one of th
e town’s biggest boosters, writing all the ad copy for the tourist bulletins and also including the town in her romance novels.
“It’s good to combine the traditional with something new, but I’m afraid we don’t want to do a copycat thing. There’s a town in California called Christmas Creek that does the Dickensian reenactment most of December. Their citizens go around dressed in costumes almost the entire month.”
“They have one glaring weakness,” Hailey said. Her eyebrows lowered, obviously not used to being challenged. “They don’t have snow. They don’t have the winter wonderland we have. They’re foggy and full of redwood trees.”
“We should make use of our snow-covered fields,” Troy cut in, kissing up to the mayor who was quite a traditionalist. “Put up a Santa’s village and have a workshop of elves. Maybe reenact the North Pole. We already have reindeer at the petting zoo.”
Hailey huffed and took a sip of beer, then slammed the glass on the table. Troy could tell she wasn’t used to being contradicted.
“I still think we should open the haunted house,” she said. “It’s one of our biggest assets. We can at least have a big party there the day before Christmas Eve.”
“A party would be a great idea,” Honey agreed. “It’ll give everyone a chance to mingle, and we can invite the entire town, including the tourists.”
“I’m for the party,” TJ said. “It’s a one day thing, rather than staffing people the entire month to haunt the house.”
“Same thing with the Santa’s Village,” Hailey retorted, darting a glare at Troy. “You’d have to staff people there all month, too.”
“I’m sure we can get volunteers,” TJ replied evenly. “The Blue Brigade can be the elves, along with the children who are out of school, and we can set up booths in the so-called Village and sell things like crafts and gifts. All we need is a Santa.”
“I’ve already taken care of that detail.” Hailey shot Troy a devious glance that sent prickles skittering up his spine. “I took a vote and the town has elected Troy Caine to be Santa Claus this year.”
Troy jumped to his feet. “Me? What about Frank, Conrad, Thomas, and Albert?” They were the old guys in town.
“Sorry, it’s you, Troy.” Hailey lifted her chin as if she’d beaten him on a bet. “Since you like doling out advice, the twist this year is the Dear Santa activity. Instead of children sitting in your lap, you’ll get people with love problems. There will still be an old geezer for the Santa for children, but you’re going to be Dear Santa—advice for the lovelorn.”
“Did you just make this up?” Honey quirked her eyebrow at Hailey. Even though she was a newcomer, she had already caught on that Hailey was an alpha female who had to get her way.
“I’m Director of Business Development and Tourism, and this is something Christmas Creek doesn’t have.” Hailey snapped her planner shut and set it on the counter with an air of finality. “Let’s start writing ads and posting this on social media. Once we post a picture of our hunky Dear Santa, the entire world of lovesick women will descend on our town for some of that Sapphire Falls magic.”
TJ groaned loudly and gave Ty a sympathetic look, which he shrugged off, while Honey put an arm around Troy and patted his back.
“This is a good thing,” she said, reassuringly. “Maybe this year, Santa will find his Mrs. Claus.”
Now, everyone groaned, including Troy.
It was going to be a long December.
[End of Excerpt. To continue reading, please buy Going Toe to Mistletoe from Amazon.]
COME TO SAPPHIRE FALLS!
Welcome to SAPPHIRE FALLS—a tiny Midwestern gem overflowing with small-town charm. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy happy hour at the Come Again bar, a tasty treat at Scott’s Sweets, a country-music-infused party at the river with a mason jar of legendary Booze, or even join in the fun at one of the annual town festivals, where the locals specialize in making you feel right at home.
But fair warning: Love is always in the air, and visitors tend to fall quickly—for the town and its inhabitants. You may not be looking for happily ever after…but in Sapphire Falls, happily ever after might come looking for you.
Start with the original series by Erin Nicholas:
Getting Out of Hand (Book 1 – Adrianne and Mason)
Getting Worked Up (Book 2 – Phoebe and Joe)
Getting Dirty (Book 3 – Lauren and Travis)
Getting In the Spirit (Christmas novella, Kate and Levi)
Getting In the Mood (Valentine novella, Kate and Levi)
Getting It All (Book 4 – Delaney and Tucker)
Getting Lucky (Book 5 – Hope and TJ)
Getting Over It (Book 6 – Hailey and Ty)
Getting to Her (Book 6.5 – Hailey and Ty)
Getting to the Church On Time (Wedding novella – all)
Getting His Way (Book 7 – Tessa and Bryan)
Getting Wound Up with author Jennifer Bernard (Caitlyn and Eli)
Then move on to these amazing Sapphire Falls reads from Kindle Worlds:
October 2016 Release
Going Back to Find You - PG Forte
Because even vampires deserve a second chance.
Going Crazy for You - Allison Gatta
Getting her help is going to be a lot easier said than done...
Going for Brook - Kinsey Holley
He can’t live with her, he can’t leave without her.
Going for the Moment - Elena Aitken
Sometimes opposites don’t just attract, they collide.
Going for Wilder - Trish Edmisten
It’s been ten years since Jackson walked away from the only woman he ever loved. Maybe it’s time to get her back.
Going Haywire - Rachelle Ayala
Vampires, zombies, and wolves, oh my! Honey's vacation with her ex-husband goes haywire. when he tries too hard to get her back.
Going Home - Amanda McIntyre
Sometimes what your heart is searching for is never far from home.
Going Strong - EmKay Connor
Ember Jones-Roseman needs a reminder that life is about the journey, not the destination, and Ford Slater is the perfect man for the job.
Going the Extra Mile - Katy Alexander
Small town. Big hearts. But can one little secret tear it all apart?
Going to be Yours - Samantha Chase
They’ve been in an intimate relationship for three years, they’ve just never met.
Going to the Castle - Angelique Armae
A rebellious aristocrat looking for love… Meets a noble rebel worthy of his heart…
Going Wild - Sydney Somers
Love at first sight, or a past they don’t remember?
We're Going to Make It - PJ Fiala
In the security business things can happen fast – the same is true in the business of love.
May 2016 Release
Going All In - Molly McLain
Going All the Way - Suzanne Rock
Going Down Hard - Rhian Cahill
Going for a Ride - Kylie Gilmore
Going for Broke - Kate Davies
Going For It - Marilyn Brant
Going My Way? - Samantha Chase
Going Out on a Limb - Lizbeth Selvig
Going Rate for Mr. Right - Jessie Evans
Going To Find Temptation - Melanie Shawn
Going Too Fast - Mari Carr
Going Up In Flames - Meg Benjamin
Also by Rachelle Ayala
Sapphire Falls Kindle World
Going Haywire
Going Mistletoe
Bad Boys for Hire
Ryker (Motorcycle Club Romance)
Ken (Hawaiian Vacation Romance)
Nick (Christmas Romance)
Sports Romances
Played by Love
Playing the Rookie
Playing Without Rules
Roaring Hot!
Intercepted by Love
Playing Catch
The Hart Family (Sweet Romances)
Christmas Lovebirds
Valentine Hound Dog
Spring Fling Kitty
Christmas Romances (Sweet)
A Father for Christmas
A Pet for Christmas
Christmas Stray
Christmas Creek Series
Deck the Hearts
Her Christmas Chance
The Remingtons Kindle World
Leap, Laugh, Love
Blush of Love
Laguna Beach Kindle World
Lucky in Laguna
Christmas Romances
Christmas Flirt
Santa's Pet
Chance for Love
Broken Build
Hidden Under Her Heart
Knowing Vera
Sánchez Sisters
Taming Romeo
Claiming Carlos
Jewells in Love
Whole Latte Love
Historical Romance
Michal’s Window
Sapphire Falls: Going Haywire (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 14