The Christmas Boyfriend: A Return to Snow Valley Romance

by Taylor Hart

  “You were amazing out there.”

  Pulling back, but not letting go, she felt herself turn to mush inside. “You were out there the whole time?”

  His eyes misted, and he blinked. “You know I had to see you in this one.” He’d made it a point to come to every performance, but he usually told her he was coming beforehand.

  Warmth filled her, and she gently kissed him on the lips again. This time, he deepened the kiss. They’d both agreed not to get intimate unless they decided to marry. At this precise moment, she was wondering why that hadn’t happened yet.

  Letting out another laugh, he pulled back from her and gently touched her face. “You’re so beautiful, Lacey Hamilton, and I’ve missed you.”

  Feeling his words penetrate into her heart, she let his love surround her. “I missed you too.”

  He let her go and took her hand. “Get cleaned up. I want to take you to dinner.”

  She couldn’t wait to ask him the question she was planning. “No, we have to talk about something.” Her heart thrummed inside of her chest, feeling like it would burst out of her.

  Narrowing his eyes, Dom cocked an eyebrow. “We have to talk about something, huh?”

  She took him into the dressing room and shut the door, but just flung clothes on top of her leotard. She didn’t want to waste time, and she could do it in front of her friends. It would be perfect. “Yeah.”

  Dom waited for her, and she grabbed a sash and her purse, then pulled him out of her dressing room.

  She rushed toward the cast party. “Come here first.” Yes, this is where she would ask him.

  Dom followed dutifully, his hand in hers, and she grinned. They’d come a long way from that fateful fake Christmas boyfriend.

  As they approached to the cast party, Dom pulled back. “Are you sure you want to talk here?” He didn’t really enjoy the gatherings—said he didn’t know anybody and he wanted to spend his limited time with her—but he would go to them with her when he was in town.

  “Yes.” She pulled him through the crowd, getting to the stage. Taking a deep breath, she tapped the microphone. “I have something to say.”

  Everyone was chatting, but some stopped talking and turned to her.

  “I want to tell you all how amazing you were out there tonight!”

  This got a rousing applause from the group and calls out to her. “You were amazing!” someone yelled back.

  Tears came to her eyes. “I have to say that it’s been such a fun year with all of you. I want you to know I love you, but I’ve decided to retire.”

  There were gasps.

  Dom looked visibly upset. He squeezed her hand. “Lacey?”

  She turned to Dom. “I want to be with you. I want … will …”

  The microphone screeched as Dom ripped it out of her hand, looking mortified.

  She grabbed for it, but he held it out of reach. “Dom, I want—”

  He shook his head and then dropped to his knee, his face red, a smile on his lips. “Woman, you don’t get to make all the first moves, okay?”

  Although baffled at first, she gasped when she saw him pull a tiny box out of his pocket.

  Her friends sensed what was happening and began applauding and calling out. It felt like her heart was caught in her throat.

  “Lacey—” Dom broke off, letting out a laugh. He turned to her friends. “Man, this woman is always one step ahead of me.”

  The crowd laughed and then quieted down.

  His serious blue eyes turned back to hers. “Lacey Hamilton, will you marry me and be with me and keep living your dreams with me?”

  Unable to believe it, she fell into his arms.

  The microphone slipped, and she felt him standing and twirling her around.

  The applause grew louder.

  He put her down, still holding the ring. “You never answered.”

  “Yes!” she said, jumping into him again.

  Everyone laughed and clapped.

  She couldn’t believe he had a ring. That he was going to propose to her!

  He slipped the ring on her finger. “To being a real fiancée.”

  Staring at the diamond, she leaned up. “I want you for the rest of my life and I want to live in Snow Valley and I want to be waiting for you every time you come back from your crazy missions.” She blinked back tears. “And I want to build a home with you.”

  He blinked and his eyes moistened. “Frankly, Scarlett, it looks like you’re going to get exactly what you want.”

  They kissed, and she knew that this moment, this man, the future … it was the dream she’d wanted all along.

  I hope you enjoyed The Christmas Boyfriend: A Return to Snow Valley Romance. If you would like to receive updates on new releases and receive a book FREE, The Rookie, sign up HERE.

  Are you ready for the Bachelor Billionaire series?

  Good—cause it’s ready for you, too!

  Keep reading to check out the first chapter of Cameron Cruz’s story in ‘The Football Groom.”

  The Football Groom Sneak Peak

  Cameron Cruz, quarterback for the Denver Storm, stared off the back deck of his recently acquired home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Being in Jackson for the past three weeks had been good for him. It’d given him a break from the incessant paparazzi. Given him a break from all the questions from his sister, Alicia. Given him a break from the sport he loved—the sport that was so deeply tied to the father he’d lost six months ago.

  His phone buzzed. Flipping it over, he shook his head. Think of the devil and she shall call. Reluctantly, he answered the phone. “Hey, sis.”

  “Can you tell me why I’m staring at a deed to a house in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, that’s in my name?”

  He’d known she’d find out, but hadn’t known when. “Does it matter?”

  “It does when you’re supposed to be in Denver doing special training, which is why I let you out of all the spring branding. Then this shows up in the mail, so yeah, it matters.”

  “All my assets are yours. You know that.”

  “But you put this one under my name.”

  Cam sighed. “Sis, you know your name won’t be flagged by the press piranhas like mine will. Plus, all my assets go into the family trust anyway. We share them.”

  Alicia paused. “So you’re hiding?”

  “No.”

  “What’s going on with you? Why are you in Jackson? Is Tina still in the picture?”

  His sister worried about him. That’s what happened when you had a twin who was two minutes older—as she often reminded him. “No. Tina’s not in the picture. My plans changed, okay? Just …” His voice trailed off, and the familiar loneliness pierced the center of his heart. Unwanted emotion surfaced and he blinked it back. “I can’t be on the ranch. There are too many memories.”

  Silence. Then she let out a long sigh. “I know, Cam. I know.”

  Guilt surged inside him. “I know you do.” Alicia lived on the ranch with her husband and two boys; she’d worked with Dad every day. He sucked in a breath. “Do you need any money for the ranch? ’Cause you know you can just call the attorney and he’ll put more into the fund.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me?” Her voice was slightly less accusing. “And no, I don’t need money.”

  He sank into a deck chair, hating that he’d left her to manage the ranch by herself. Not that she couldn’t do it—she’d been basically running it all the past couple of years—but he hadn’t forgotten his responsibility. They’d made the decision together to keep the ranch after the funeral. He shook his head. “I should be over this.”

  “What are you talking about, Cam?” Her voice softened. “There’s no timetable on grief. Don’t you remember Dad used to tell us that all the time?”

  The portrait of his mother’s face on his dad’s night table popped into his mind. His mother had died in childbirth, and his dad had never gotten over her.

  “Cam, what can I do?”

  “Nothing.” She d
idn’t need his problems too.

  “You talked about opening a charity in Dad’s name or something. Have you done anything?”

  Honestly, opening a charity seemed so cliché. He didn’t want to treat his dad’s death like it was something ordinary. “I haven’t decided anything yet.”

  “Okay,” she said tentatively.

  “I’m fine. Really.” He opened his eyes and stubbornly wiped his cheeks. He was fine. He was. He willed it to be so.

  She let out another sigh. “Is Tina there?”

  “No. Like I said, things ended. They never really had a chance to begin. I just need space.”

  “Cam …”

  “What?”

  “I know you’re struggling, but don’t blame your relationship issues on Dad’s passing.”

  He hadn’t been expecting this. “What?”

  “Things don’t work out with any of them because you always get bored and put the toy back on the shelf.”

  Letting out a long breath, he ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re really going to do this right now?”

  “No, I’m not.” She sniffed, dismissing the subject. “What are you doing up there?”

  “Clearing my head. I bought two horses.”

  “I guess that’s a start.”

  “It is.” He nodded, thinking about his long ride earlier. “I’ve also been doing some writing.”

  “Songwriting?” She sounded skeptical.

  He’d thought about being a songwriter before his football career took off, but he really wasn’t much of one. Lately, he’d been working on some stuff—if he could count scribbling some notes and then wadding the paper up and throwing it in the trash working. The guitar strumming helped keep the demons in their box.

  “It wasn’t your fault, Cam. You know that, right?”

  Alicia had told him this over and over. He knew, logically, the car accident could have happened anywhere. But his dad had been coming to one of his games in Denver last winter. On icy roads. He’d told his dad not to come, but secretly, he’d been happy to have his dad come. Football had been “their” thing; the thing they talked about unceasingly, the thing had cemented their relationship when he was younger. There had been countless hours of playing catch, of his dad coaching him on every team. He had even been the assistant coach when Cam got into high school. Football had been everything to both of them.

  It had been a bright spot in life. He still remembered the look on his dad’s face when he’d told him about going pro. Still remembered staying up all night with his dad going over old game tape. Everything about his current life and playing the game was tied to memories of his dad.

  Cam had pushed through the end-of-season games. In fact, it’d been commented on in the media that Cam had played better than he had before the funeral.

  It ticked him off. How dare they say he played better? But later, in the recesses of his bedroom, praying on his knees, he’d come to peace with it. With the fact he’d played harder and better because he’d been playing for his dad. Only for him.

  They’d won the last two games, and his team had taken the championship title from the Destroyers, which had been quite a feat. Legend James still hadn’t commented on it.

  But the press was even jumpier about why Cameron was staying silent. That was the main reason he’d bought the house in his sister’s name. She was right—he was hiding. And now she’d found him.

  “Anything new with you guys?” he asked.

  He imagined her pinching the bridge of her nose, which is what she did when she was worried about something. “We’re good.”

  “John?”

  “He’s fine. Been doing some roping.”

  Cameron didn’t think it was wise for his brother-in-law to still compete in roping competitions because of the risk to his body. But what could he say? He played professional football for a living. “That’s good.”

  “Kurt and Jason have been practicing, and Kurt wants to try it out this season.”

  Cameron thought of his nephews, who were twelve and eight. “Kurt’s a good athlete. I can see him doing well.” He didn’t like how perfunctory the conversation sounded, but he didn’t have anything else to say.

  “Cam?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you okay?”

  How did he tell his sister the truth? He couldn’t. “I’m fine. Great. Doing much better.”

  “Are you just hermitizing?”

  “No.”

  “Liar. I would have gotten a Google alert about you if anybody knew you were in Jackson.”

  “You’ve set Google alerts for me?”

  “Of course.”

  This actually made him laugh. Something he hadn’t done in a long time.

  “It’s nice to hear you laugh.”

  He sucked in a breath. He was doing better here. Coming to Jackson had been good for his soul, so he decided to share. “You’d be happy. I’ve grown out the blond hair.”

  She snorted. “What? You’re not dyeing it like the media prima donna you are?”

  “You never liked the blond on me.”

  “No, I didn’t. I bet you look better.”

  “More like my high school self.”

  “Exactly.”

  “But I have a beard.”

  Another light laugh. “Awesome.”

  Rubbing his chin, he grinned. “I look like Dad. That’s been … interesting.”

  After a beat, she sniffed. “You’ve always looked like him, Cam.”

  “I know, but … you know.”

  “So you’ve been up there buying a house for me, living it up.”

  “‘Living it up’ isn’t quite accurate.”

  “Oh sure, you’re probably wrecking my house, staying up late in the hot tub.” She sighed. “Do I need to talk to you about ownership?”

  He grinned. She sounded just like their father used to when he was lecturing him. “Lay it on me.”

  “Be careful with my house.”

  He sighed. “I’ll try.” Then he had an idea. He said the words before he could think. “You should come up.”

  She didn’t hesitate. “When?”

  “Um, I don’t know. Two weeks? For the fourth of July?”

  “Okay,” she quickly agreed. “The boys will love coming.”

  He checked his phone. Two weeks for him to get back to his old self. “Okay.” He breathed out.

  “Will you do me a favor?”

  The favors his sister always asked him to do while growing up were meant to somehow better him. She’d always had the role of half sister, half mother. “Sure.” She wouldn’t take no for an answer anyway.

  “Get out of that house.”

  “I get out,” he said defensively.

  “I don’t mean go get all in the press. I just … it’s not in your nature to sit around and be a broody songwriter.”

  This made him laugh. “I’m totally broody.”

  “You’re being ridiculous. I’m the broody one.” Which was true. “Being with people and doing things has always been food for your soul. So get out. Do something. I expect to see some type of Google alert about you soon, or I’ll have to make a run up to Jackson sooner than expected.”

  Unable to stop himself, he grinned. “You’re the only person I know who can make a visit sound like a threat.”

  She laughed. “Love you, Cam.”

  Warmth filled him, and he wondered why he’d waited so long to talk to her. “I love you too.”

  Then he got off the phone, and frowned. Now he really did have to get out of the house.

  Purchase or Read for Free in Kindle Unlimited HERE!

  Also by Taylor Hart

  Bachelor Billionaire Romances

  The Country Groom

  The Unfinished Groom

  The Barefoot Groom

  The Masquerading Groom

  The Christmas Groom

  Rescue Me: Park City Firefighter Romance (A Bachelor Billionaire Companion)

  The Lost Gr
oom

  The Undercover Groom

  The Last Play Series

  Last Play

  The Rookie

  Just Play

  A Player for Christmas

  Second String

  End Zone

  Hail Mary

  Snow Valley Series

  A Christmas in Snow Valley: The Christmas Eve Kiss

  Summer in Snow Valley: First Love

  Spring in Snow Valley: The Bet

  About the Author

  Taylor Hart has always been drawn to a good love triangle, hot chocolate and long conversations with new friends. Writing has always been a passion that has consumed her dreams and forced her to sit in a trance for long hours, completely obsessed with people that don’t really exist. Taylor would have been a country star if she could have carried a tune—maybe in the next life. Find Taylor at:

  www.taylorhartbooks.com │ Twitter: @taylorfaithhart │ Facebook: Taylor Hart