by Anthology
Hot for the Holidays
A Collection of Naughty And Nice Short Stories
21 Indie Chicks
Contents
Introduction
Under the Mistletoe
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
About Michelle Lynn
Other Books by Michelle Lynn
A Ten Below Zero Christmas
A Letter From Whitney Barbetti
A Ten Below Zero Christmas
About Whitney Barbetti
Other Books by Whitney Barbetti
Love in Motion
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
About R.E. Hunter
Other Books by R.E. Hunter
A Parisian Holiday
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About Jade Eby
Other Books by Jade Eby
When the Clock Strikes Twelve
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About Elisabeth Grace
Other Books by Elisabeth Grace
Naughty Not Nice
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
About Mia Kayla
Other Books by Mia Kayla
Keep Us
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
About Faith Andrews
Other Books by Faith Andrews
FLARE
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
About Autumn Grey
Other Books by Autumn Grey
Drifting
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
About Gia Riley
Other Books by Gia Riley
Second Beginnings
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
About Kristy Love
Other Books by Kristy Love
Always Us
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About Stephanie Rose
Other Books by Stephanie Rose
Sleepless Night
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
About Kimberly Rose
Other Books By Kimberly Rose
Special Delivery
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
About B.A. Wolfe
Other Books by B.A. Wolfe
Baby, It’s You
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About Ryleigh Andrews
Other Books by Ryleigh Andrews
Compromise
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About Livia Jamerlan
Other Books by Livia Jamerlan
Champagne Kisses
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
About Eleanor Green
Other Books by Eleanor Green
Promise You Forever
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
About Celeste Grande
A Taste of Christmas
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Epilogue
About Anne Carol
Other Books by Anne Carol
Unwrapped
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
About M.C. Decker
Other Books By M.C. Decker
Home for the Holiday
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
About Ruthie Henrick
Other Books by Ruthie Henrick
Fire Over Frost
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
About J.A. DeRouen
Other Books by J.A. DeRouen
Copyright
Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of Hot for the Holidays—a collection of naughty and nice short holiday romances by the authors from Indie Chicks Rock.
The Indie Chicks Rock group is a sisterhood of incredibly supportive writers whose goal is to empower and promote one another.
If you’ve purchased this book because you’ve read one of our stories before or for the hot and sexy male on our cover, know that we are forever grateful and honored that these stories are on your reading device.
All proceeds from Hot for the Holidays will benefit ProLiteracy, an international nonprofit organization that helps adults learn how to read and write.
Approximately 36 million adults in the United States cannot read better than the average 3rd grader. Without basic reading skills these Americans have difficulty finding stable jobs to support their families. And globally, more than 1.4 billion people are living on less than $1.25 a day. Adults in these developing nations need to earn income for their families but millions lack the literacy skills needed to escape poverty.
ProLit
eracy is committed to creating a world in which all adults are able to read and write so thank you for your purchase and your support.
Happy Holidays & Happy Reading,
Indie Chicks Rock
The best kind of gifts are books, which can be opened again and again.
Under the Mistletoe
By Michelle Lynn
Piper and Tanner head up to the mountains for a big family Christmas. Piper has the perfect plan to give Tanner her gift until her twin brother, Brad, decides to arrive early. She’s left to salvage her perfect holiday…Merry Christmas Piper.
Chapter One
I wade through the clear water, my mind swimming with anything and everything that doesn't involve what I’m actually doing. The shock of what I saw on that pink stick moments ago obviously hasn’t hit yet.
My hand instantly falls to my flat stomach as though I'm cradling him or her already.
I pray that my students or their parents don't notice how off I am today—not like my bloodshot eyes and blotchy face don’t give it away.
"Miss Piper! Katie circles in the water, splashing water around her.
I wipe the water off my face. "Hi, Katie. Are you ready?" I wave to her mom on the bench.
"Yep. Guess what?" Katie is the talker of our group.
Will mine be outgoing or quiet?
"What?" I ask, certain that a long explanation will follow. She doesn’t disappoint. And as her mouth is moving, my mind is whirling like a F-5 tornado.
Panic sets in. We weren't planning this. Tanner has the Olympics next year and ... shit. I calculate the dates in my head. My stomach drops. I'm due a month before the Olympics.
What if I can't go with him to Portugal? The last thing I want is my—our—baby not being born here, surrounded by everyone who loves us.
And let’s say I do go. I can just see me, waddling along the tile floor with water running down my legs in search of Tanner's lane.
I’m being crazy. Tanner will be just as happy as I am and we’ll figure it all out together. As my internal battle rages on, I look down to find all five of my kids waiting for me to teach them something.
I clap my hands, hoping they didn't notice their instructor was off in la la land. "Ready, guys?"
Screams ignite and I'm thankful it's my older group. I won't have to do as much hands-on instruction.
"Katie was here first, so you start." I tap her shoulder, and she dips under the water and swims away.
I'm still in awe at how far she's come in such a short time. When I started here, she didn't even want to go under the water.
I tap Brandon's shoulder. He pushes off the wall and tries to catch up to Katie.
The kids are paddling through the water back toward me when I spot Brandon weaving over to Katie's lane. This is not going to end well. Katie pushes him and Brandon pushes back. By the time they reach me, both of their faces are bright red. Katie splashes Brandon and he splashes her back.
"You messed me up on purpose!"
"No, I didn't. Water got in my goggles." The quick smirk in the direction of his best friend, Nick, who is wading in the next lane, signals he's lying. I should have separated all three of them.
"Okay, guys." I reach out and physically push them apart. They’re like Tanner and I were at this age.
"But Miss Piper!" Katie squeals.
"Brandon, you move next to Cindy. Everyone scoot over."
They all do as they’re told, and once everyone is situated, I tap Brandon’s shoulder first this time to keep as much distance as possible between the two.
"Freestyle, backstroke, freestyle. You guys know the drill."
Their small hands pierce the water, and I swim to the middle of the pool so I can correct their transitions from backstroke to freestyle. I get into a good pace with them, and the whole baby-in-my-belly thing moves to the back of my mind.
Their paces slow to turtle, so I call out, "Great job, guys. Time for some fun."
I grab a handful of plastic rings and toss them in the water. The kids all take off through the water to collect them, while I lean on the edge of the pool and watch the ensuing fight for the rings. I swear Katie and Brandon are going to come up with blood dripping from their noses.
Each kid swims over to me, hands me the rings, and I throw them farther out than before. "Find your color and only your color." I eye Brandon and he gives me a lopsided grin. Those blue eyes will be many a girl's weakness when he's older.
The little bodies fan out under the water. I'm thankful Brandon listened to me and he's only picking up his color.
SPLASH
A big body plunges into the water and begins grabbing the rings before the kids can reach them. I roll my eyes, watching him come up for air.
"Was that a record?" I ask. My hand falls to my stomach instinctively.
"Probably not." His head bobs up and down as he moves toward me. Those butterflies still flutter in my stomach every time his green hues fixate on me. "How's my girl?" His body covers mine and he brushes his lips on my cheek.
"Parents ... kids," I whisper.
"I’m just saying hello to my fiancé." He leans closer and my pulse quickens. "Plus, if we were alone, I'd already have that swimsuit off." My body tingles with the thought of him inside of me.
I shake my head. "You're distracting me." I shove him and he pretends to fall into the water.
"TANNNER!" Katie screams, and her small arms propel her toward us. I'm like a proud momma watching her.
"Man, Piper. She's doing awesome."
I recruited Tanner to help me with Katie early on. I figured with a strong man holding her, she might feel safer being dunked in the water. Turns out, I was wrong; she felt more secure with me. But Tanner is her forever playmate.
"I know. I was just thinking that earlier."
He swims over to her and lifts her out of the water.
"Ready?" She plugs her nose. "Nope. Rule One, never plug your nose." Tanner shakes his head and she releases her nose.
He tosses her into the next lane and she sinks in the water.
"Me next," Brandon begs, and all the kids line up for Tanner to throw them.
Since Tanner has the kids, I venture over to the parents to see if they have any questions or concerns for me.
"It's so nice he came today," Nick's mom says.
I glance back to see four out of five kids hanging off his back and the fifth climbing on.
Jesus, Tanner, be careful. They aren't ours.
My reality surfaces and my hand falls to my stomach for the millionth time since that plus sign appeared on the stick.
"What are your plans for Christmas?" Katie’s mom asks.
"We're going up to the mountains." I bite my lip, looking out the window. The snow is really starting to come down. Then again, when does it not in Colorado?
"Oh, how romantic," Katie's mom gushes.
"Our families are meeting us up there tomorrow."
All their lips droop into a frown and I laugh.
"We like our families."
"They get along?" Katie's mom's eyes bug out of her head. I'm guessing hers don't.
"They're best friends. Tanner and I grew up next door to each other our whole lives." My lips quirk as I remember all the years we’ve spent together and how blessed we are to have parents who love to be around one another.
"Aww…" Nick's mom covers her heart with her hand.
"Yeah." I look back at Tanner. All five kids are trying to catch him. He allows them to get close and then swims away. "I'm lucky."
I turn back to the women, and they're all staring at Tanner with goofy smiles on their faces.
"Yeah." They each sigh, and I can’t help but laugh at all their googly eyes pointed at my fiancé.
Finally, Tanner leads the kids to the edge of the pool and raises his hand for a high-five. Each small hand hits his bigger one as they climb out of the pool. After wrapping up in towels, they all head off in the direction of the locker rooms with their moms traili
ng behind.
"Bye, guys. Have a great holiday." Katie's mom and the other moms wave over to us, then they disappear through the locker room doors.
"Let's take a dip." Before I can object, Tanner's arm wraps around my waist and he submerges us both into the water. His lips brush along my neck as we float to the surface.
"We should get going," I say.
My breathing hitches when he pushes my back against the cement wall. The light stubble across his jaw makes him more handsome than the boy I fell in love with.
"We have time." His head dips down to the hollow of my neck, and my bare skin pricks from his lips cascading kisses down it.
My eyes whip to the locker room door to make sure we're alone. When I see the closed doors, I wrap my legs around his torso. I'm the one who closes tonight so we have the place to ourselves.
"If we hurry up, you can build me a fire," I say softly, and his head rears back.
"Can I now? You'll allow me to?"
"Yep." I press my lips to his cheek. "I'm nice like that."
His fingers begin moving up my ribcage, and I squirm out of his hold before he has a chance to tickle me.
"I'll build you a fire…on one condition."
"What's that?" I allow him to lock me in his arms again.
"You lie naked on the bear skin rug in front of it."
I shake my head, but my lips betray me with a smile.
"Deal."
He walks us over to the shallow end of the pool and releases me. I slide down his rock-hard body, wishing we didn’t need to beat the snow to the lodge.
"Well then ... let's get you to the mountains."