Hot for the Holidays (21 Holiday Short Stories): A Collection of Naughty and Nice Holiday Romances

by Anthology

  And our love, how we had gotten to that point, was far from smooth. It was a rugged dirt road with swerves and turns, and a few nails that caused a couple of flats along the way, but this——this moment...him...us. It was all worth it.

  I knelt down beside him, and his eyes widened in response. As I stared into his baby blues, I knew without any doubt that he was the only man that I wanted to wake up next to for the rest of my life. The only man I saw in my future.

  I leaned in closer, almost nose to nose. "Husband and wife, for life. Yes," I responded, staring up at my real-life Prince Charming.

  The applause around us rose to a deafening volume as I wrapped my arms around his neck and we locked lips.

  "Geez, get a room," Beth teased in the background.

  When I pulled back for air, Brian stood, locking our fingers. "Your ring."

  "Oh, yeah. That." I couldn't hide the cheeky grin as I took in the ring in the box. Then my smile slowly faded.

  What the...?

  He took the ring out of its blue-velvet home, and my eyes went wide on the half-circle stone shaped as a moon. What the what? I clenched my teeth together in a forced grin as he slipped it on my finger.

  "I'm giving you the moon. Fulfilling your psychic’s predictions." His stare was gentle as he lovingly smiled.

  "Baby...It's so...uh...nice." My eyes narrowed at the diamond moon thing as everyone surrounded us.

  I was all about cheese and originality, but to be honest, it was the ugliest ring I'd ever seen. A crescent-shaped moon? One-fourth of a full ring? Predictions or not, it screamed tacky. I wondered if it'd change color like those mood rings in the eighties.

  I glanced back up at him, and his lips twitched into a smile, then he burst into laughter. "Give me that. That's not Tiffany, that's from a candy shop." He tugged off the moon ring and took my hand in his. "This is the real deal." From his back pocket, he pulled out another ring, and I held my breath as he slipped a single solitaire onto my finger. The ring was simply stunning, a thin band holding a single stone. The diamond sparkled against the overhead light.

  Now that’s more like it.

  Well done, my smile said. Then I brought him close again, kissing him.

  More applause.

  As soon as he released me, our families rushed in. Hugs were exchanged with my mom, his mom, his sisters, our fathers, and with Beth, who squeezed me so hard I thought my eyeballs would pop out.

  "Finally. I've waited for you to find your special someone, and now you have yours for life," she whispered in my ear.

  I laughed into her shoulder.

  "Oh, Brian! We almost forgot her last present." Beth’s eyes danced with a secret humor.

  Brian scratched the top of his head, looking apprehensive, and Kent approached me holding a box. I tilted my head, wondering why the box was whimpering. And then it barked.

  I glanced up, and as soon as my eyes locked with Brian's, he let out a deep chuckle and shrugged.

  Kent placed the box on the floor and I bent down as Brian knelt beside me. "Surprise two? You were so upset when your mother's dog died."

  My mother had the strangest look on her face. "Kendall, I don't even want to know."

  The whole room burst in laughter.

  Unable to hide my excitement, I opened the box to find the cutest little white Yorkshire terrier.

  "I love her!" I squealed, bringing her to my face. She showered my cheeks with kisses as I cuddled with the four-legged furball.

  "Him," Brian corrected. "So, we're keeping him?" he asked, eyes alight.

  "Yes, for sure we're keeping him. He'll be our practice baby since we won't be having real ones for a while."

  "That's what you think," he joked as he sported a smug grin.

  I smacked his shoulder and pressed the little munchkin to his face. "Not like we're having them tomorrow." It was his turn for kisses. The cutie pie slobbered all over Brian's cheeks.

  "What’re we going to name him?" Brian nodded toward the little pup.

  The puppy had a little teddy bear haircut, shorter around his face and puffier around his body.

  "Shakespeare," I replied.

  "That's what you want to name him?"

  "What?" I took the pup and raised him to the ceiling. "Shakespeare was white. It seems fitting."

  Brian shook his head, entirely amused.

  "Instant family," I said, pulling Brian toward me.

  He kissed my forehead and brought us closer. "Instant family," he agreed lovingly.

  I sighed, glancing at Shakespeare and my beautiful engagement ring. Singular. Whole. Circular with no end in sight.

  And life had never been sweeter.

  The End.

  Again.

  About Mia Kayla

  Mia Kayla is a New Adult/Contemporary Romance writer who lives in Illinois. She is the wife to the husband of the year and mommy to three unbelievable cute little girls who have multiplied her grey hairs. Most of the time, she can be caught on the train with her nose in a book sporting a cheeky grin because the main characters finally get their happily-ever-after at the end. She loves reading about happy endings but has more fun writing them.

  You can find her here.

  Website: http://www.miakayla.blogspot.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormiakayla

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/authormiakayla

  Instagram: https://instagram.com/author_miakayla

  Other Books by Mia Kayla

  If you loved Brian and Kendy’s story and would love to read about their journey to finding love, pick up THE SCHEME.

  The Scheme

  Also all the characters in NAUGHTY NOT NICE have a book of their own.

  Love a hot billionaire who does bad well? Read about Kent and Beth in MARRY ME FOR MONEY.

  Marry Me for Money

  How about a hot football quarterback who falls in love with his childhood best friend? Read about Jimmy and Bliss in EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.

  Everything Has Changed

  Keep Us

  By Faith Andrews

  A Grayson Holiday Tale

  For the Grayson family the holidays have always been a time of togetherness.

  Eat, drink, and be merry is their motto, but not this year . . .

  With Marcus and Riley knee deep in their flourishing careers, their spouses, Tessa and Beck, have been decking the halls and dashing through the snow without support from the busy Grayson duo. A new baby is on the way for one of these ladies and she hasn’t even had the chance to tell the daddy; plans for a huge holiday feast are up in the air because priorities are out of whack; unexpected visitors and a bomb of a surprise from Mr. Grayson—it’s safe to say this holiday will be far from jolly.

  Tempers are high, feelings are bruised, and it’s not something spiked eggnog can cure. Will Marcus and Riley make it home for the holidays or will Tessa and Beck be forced to ring in the New Year alone?

  Chapter One

  Thanksgiving

  Tessa

  "Claire, get off your cousin! His face is turning blue!"

  "It’s o. . . kay, Mom. She’s . . . just . . . playing." My son gasps for air as my niece tightens her grip around his neck, riding atop his back like he’s a pony. They usually play together so nicely, even if a little too rough at times, but I’m not in the mood for a visit to the ER on the eve of Thanksgiving. Not with all the prepping and cooking I have ahead of me.

  "Luca, game’s over." I rush to them, prying Claire’s tiny fingers from his flesh. She jumps off him, only to tangle her arms around my waist with a rather powerful squeeze for a three year old.

  "Aun-tee, I wuv you. Can you be the pony now?" Claire’s adorable innocence almost makes me forget that Luca’s collapsed in a ball at my feet.

  "I love you too, but I don’t have time for pony and I think you killed Luca man."

  "Uh, oh!" She pouts, wiggling out of my grip. "Wooka, you okay?" She stoops next to him, patting his back.

  My son looks u
p, panting, and smiles a toothless grin that warms my heart. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Pony’s fine, Claire Bear, but let’s go watch TV instead. That stup—I mean silly show you like with the talking fish is on."

  Luca’s too proud to admit that it’s one of his favorites too, but for Claire he’d do anything so it wouldn’t matter if he hated it. "You’re a good boy, Luca. Go teach little miss devil some pointers."

  With the way-too-mature-for-his-age charm, he winks at me over his shoulder and then grabs the raven haired terror’s hand to lead her inside. The partners in crime walk off to the living room and climb onto the couch. Claire sticks her thumb in her mouth and rests her head against Luca’s shoulder, getting comfortable.

  All is right in our Grayson household... for now, of course. My sister-in-law, Riley, is out of town again and her husband Beck has been working back to back shifts at the firehouse. I never mind looking after their daughter Claire, but with Marcus super busy at work—aka taking over the world, one designer underwear company at a time—I’ve been holding down the fort.. Barely.

  I breathe in an exasperated sigh and look down at my non-existent baby bump. I forgot how exhausting the first trimester is, and keeping this secret has been even more tiresome. I shrug off the drowsiness and smile while I daydream about our holiday surprise.

  "Are you the little sister your big bro wants so badly?" Even though she’s pint size trouble, Luca loves Claire something fierce. A sister of his very own would make the kid’s whole year. Already picturing her, I can’t help but wonder what our daughter would look like. If she has Marcus’s drop dead gorgeous features—she’ll be a stunner. But before I can dwell on who this baby will resemble, a wave of disappointment washes over me. Why? Because I haven’t had time—or the right moment—to tell Marcus he’s going to be a daddy. I mean, he’s already Luca’s father, even if he doesn’t share his blood. But regardless of how much he loves Luca, this child was created from our love. More precisely, our hot quickie on the back of his motorcycle that night we had Riley and Beck babysit Luca so we could have alone time.

  Prickles of pleasure coat my skin as I remember how intense our lovemaking was underneath that brisk October evening sky. That motorcycle has so many fond—and naughty—memories. He better never get rid of it.

  Luca’s giggles snap me back to reality and cause me to bite my lower lip to keep my over-alert body in check. Guess I forgot how sensitive my body was in the first trimester, too. I touch my stomach again, caressing it in tiny circles. "We’ll tell him tonight. I can’t keep it a secret forever. I just hope he isn’t too preoccupied."

  * * *

  Riley

  "Tell me again that I’m not the worst mother in the world for being away from my baby girl and the love of my life on Thanksgiving?"

  "Ry, it’s impossible for you to be the worst mother in the world. You’re the best. The sweetest. And did I mention . . . the hottest? You’re a fucking MILF, baby."

  I laugh through the lump in my throat. Beck always has a way of making me smile, even when I want to cry. "I didn’t think it would bother me this much. When I signed up for the conference, I was being selfish. Now, I just want to get on a plane and eat Tessa’s turkey with you."

  His voice drops to a sinful decibel. "That sounds kinda kinky, even for you."

  "B, head out of the gutter," I moan, yet a giggle escapes past the exasperation. "I’m serious. I miss you guys. This isn’t worth it."

  "Listen to me," Beck reassures me through the phone, an ocean away. "Remember what you told me last year, when I had to miss Thanksgiving?"

  "Shit happens?" I shrug, staring at the Eiffel Tower with disdain. I must be the only woman who’s ever not gazed at it with sparkles of wonderment in her eyes.

  "Well, besides that. It’s fucking dangerous, babe! Like last year when I had to put out that asshole’s blaze of glory after he tried to deep fry his goddamn turkey. I wanted to punch him in the nuts. Weird shit goes down on the holidays, but that’s not the point."

  "Then tell me what is. Because no matter how wonderful of an opportunity this is for me, I’m missing you and my Claire Bear something awful and I just want to be home." I’m one step away from stomping my feet like a toddler. He better come up with something to wash my guilt away and make this seem right.

  "There’ll be many more Thanksgivings, Ry. These are Claire’s firsts, but she won’t remember them. I know you’re hurting because you’re away, but as much as she misses you, she has her cousin, your brother and Tessa, and your old man to make this Thanksgiving a special one."

  It makes me feel the tiniest bit better. She’s so little, this won’t even be a memory. Besides, Tessa, Marcus and Luca are her main peeps away from home. She loves being with them so much, she’ll hardly have time to realize I’m missing. "I guess you’re right. Plus, she has her Daddy too."

  "Yeah—about that."

  "Oh, hells no! What do you mean?" I jump off the bed and start to pace. "You told me you’d be with her. I don’t want her spending the holiday with both her parents gone like some . . . some . . . orphan. I’m getting on the next plane home. I cannot believe—"

  "Whoa! Hold up. Before you fuck up your trip and go all psycho mommy on me, I volunteered to take the extra shift so I can have both Christmas and New Year’s off, Ry. I thought you’d be happy about that. I figured you wouldn’t mind since you weren’t here, anyway."

  I hear the resentment in his tone even if he doesn’t want to admit it. Beck’s the most supportive husband there is. Always pushing me to follow my dreams and picking up the parenting slack so I can better myself and my business. But I’d be an idiot to ignore the way he just said that. I can’t guilt him for doing what’s best for him when I’ve never been told not to put myself first. It still stings, though.

  "Please don’t say it like that," I beg. I don’t want a fight. It’s bad enough that I’m missing him, I don’t need him being pissed at me.

  A long sigh fills my ear. I picture him running his hands through his thick, black hair. "I’m sorry, babe. It’s just . . . I miss you too. This last year has been a tangled mess of juggling poor Claire. Tessa and Marcus are a godsend, but I think—I think we need to slow things down a bit in the new year. We should talk when you get back. Reevaluate. Settle in to the Mommy and Daddy roles and let work take a back seat and suck it."

  It’s so much easier said than done, but he’s got a point. "It’s not the worst idea you’ve ever had. I agree. This will be the last getaway for a while. And now that I know you’ll be home for the holidays, how about we host? Give Tessa a break for a change?"

  "I think that sounds awesome. Christmas with the clan. It’ll be right out of a greeting card."

  Yeah, right. "Knowing our family, it’ll be more like a sarcastic meme than a Hallmark."

  Beck’s laughter fills my ears. The rest of our conversation is lighthearted and sweet. We even sneak in some not-so-sweet dirty talk to make the distance between us seem closer. When I close my eyes tonight, I’ll be thinking of my loving, sexy husband and my beautiful daughter with a longing that can’t be cured. The French don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, so I’ll be out of sorts without the traditional mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. I should have never agreed to this, but choosing between my career and my family is not something I’ve mastered yet. Guess I’ve just made my first New Year’s resolution.

  * * *

  Marcus

  "Gary, she ain’t gonna go for that. She’s all about tradition. And right now, she’s elbow deep up a turkey’s ass and you want me to tell her to cancel her Thanksgiving feast so we can freeze our asses off at the parade? No can do!"

  "The kids will love it! I have enough VIP tickets for all of you. Think about it, Marcus, this is a big deal. Everyone watches the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and they’re giving you a special shout out and mini-interview. Housewives all over the city will be drooling over you and wanting to buy their husbands your fancy skivvies for Christmas. Other designers will be vying
for you to model their latest lines. You’re doing this, with or without Tessa’s blessing, buddy. Sorry to burst your bubble."

  I’ll give him a bursted bubble. I want to bust every single Thanksgiving float right now—including Charlie Brown and his stupid yellow shirt. "How the fuck am I supposed to tell her this? And now—so last minute? She’s home alone with my son and my niece. I can’t disappoint her like this, Gary. I’ve been gone enough as it is." My amazing wife is more than supportive and understanding, but the holidays are the holidays. They’re supposed to be intimate and old-fashioned. Tessa loves having the whole family over, stuffing their faces with her gourmet cooking. It’s bad enough Riley’s out of town and Beck’s working. This won’t go over well.

  "I’m sorry, Marcus. Had I known sooner, I would have given you a heads up. This was a surprise for me too, but it’s a good one. We can’t say no."

  Gary walks away and leaves me furious. Balling my fists, I growl, mad at myself that I didn’t see this coming. With bigger gigs come bigger opportunities. It’s all great for the long run and for the stability of my career, but my family matters most to me and I hate having to let them down.

  Mumbling like a madman under my breath, I pack up my duffel and head to my car with my cell phone in hand. My thumb hovers over her name, never actually making the call. I’m too much of a coward to do this to my girl. My wonderful pretty girl who has given me so much to be thankful for.

  Instead of disappointing her over the phone, I stop by the market on the way home and pick up the most expensive bouquet of flowers I can find. I know a bunch of crappy sunflowers and roses won’t make her abandon her feast and drag the kids out in the cold. I’ll just explain to her that I’ll make my appearance and be home as soon as I can. This is business. I hope she’ll understand.