by Karla Doyle
“I think you put those words in the wrong order.” Saying the naughty words turned her cheeks a deep pink.
Seeing that blush on her face, thinking about how out-of-this-world amazing it’d felt to bury himself in her tight ass…he nearly threw his morning plan to the wind. Instead, he kissed her, softly and slowly. For as long as he could, without running out of self-control.
“You’re going to kiss me like that, get me all Kelly Horned-up, then leave me hanging?” she asked, as he released her. “And have the nerve to put on gray sweatpants?”
He laughed while tying the drawstring at his hips. No point in playing dumb, he knew how much she liked these pants, that’s why he’d chosen them—and gone commando. “Just for a while.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the door. “Come on. Let’s see if the other Easter Bunny came last night.”
Whatever grumble might’ve left her lips became a loud gasp when he opened their bedroom door. “Oh my God, Kelly…” Her eyes were wide as saucers as she gazed around the room, taking in the assortment of colorful plastic eggs he’d left in plain sight. “When did you do all this?”
“After you fell asleep.” He picked up the pink wicker basket he’d left outside their room and curled her fingers around the handle. “Have at it.”
She lifted the basket, her mouth making an adorable O. “Is this the same one I used when we were kids, and your mom made you wait for me to come over, so we could hunt for Easter eggs together?”
He nodded. “She kept the baskets all these years. I asked why when I saw them in a moving box. She said they were for her grandchildren. At the time, I thought she was crazy. Now I’m glad she kept them.” He tapped her sexy butt before the conversation sidetracked them further. They couldn’t follow it where it was headed until she finished her Easter egg hunt. “Go collect your eggs.”
She surveyed the room with its minor explosion of plastic eggs. “Which ones are mine?”
When they were kids, the eggs had been color-coded. Even in her rare, frivolous moments—such as their childhood Easter egg hunt—his mom had been sensible.
“All the eggs are for you. But when you find the gold one, you have to open it right away.” He probably shouldn’t have told her that, but the waiting was officially killing him.
She rose to her toes and kissed him before hopping across the room like the adorable bunny she was. She opened each egg as she found it, inadvertently torturing him by drawing the process out. Worth it, though, to hear her squeals of delight as she unpacked the assortment of treats and trinkets.
She cracked a pink egg, gasping when a Pandora charm fell into her palm. “Oh, Kelly. It’s so pretty, but it’s too much.”
“It’s not.” He rubbed his hand over his morning scruff to mask the smile on his face. If she thought a charm for her bracelet was too much, wait until she found that golden egg. He liberated the charm from her hand and dropped it in the basket. “Keep looking.”
“You can’t give me such a beautiful gift and expect me not to stop and admire it.” She plucked it out of the basket. “In fact, I might even take a break from collecting eggs to add the charm to my bracelet.”
He gazed across the room the room at the golden egg, sitting front and center on the living room windowsill. The curtains were open. The sun was shining. How had she not seen it immediately? How had she not raced to it first thing, after his comment that she needed to open it as soon as she found it? This must be karma, doing its thing. Making him wait because it had taken him so damn long to see what was right in front of him.
“Grab your bracelet and I’ll put the charm on it for you,” he said, meeting her eyes again.
“I was teasing about the bracelet.” She slid her arms around his waist and smiled up at him. “And I can see you’re in agony that I haven’t picked up that golden egg yet.”
“You saw it?”
Her soft laughter vibrated against his chest. “Of course, I saw it. You’re great at many things, but hiding Easter eggs is not one of them.”
“I can’t believe you’d keep me hanging like that.”
“It wasn’t easy. I know that whatever you put in that egg, it must be fantastic.” She kissed him, then walked across the room to pick up the golden egg. “Though I can’t imagine it being better than the Pandora charm.”
Oh, man, was she in for a surprise. He followed her, used every ounce of self-control he had to keep a relatively straight face as she split the plastic egg at its seam.
“You got me two charms?” she asked, removing the small, black box within.
Unable to answer without jumping the gun, he shook his head. Held his breath while she opened the lid. Then lowered to one knee and took her hand as the diamond ring came into view.
“Will you marry me?”
She gazed down at him with glassy eyes. “Are you sure, it’s only been a few months.”
“The best months of my life, twenty-three years in the making. I love you, Addie. I want to be with you, and only you. I’ve never been surer of anything. But I’ll wait for you, as long as it takes, if you’re not ready.”
“I’m ready.” A smile erupted across her beautiful face. “I’m so ready.”
“Then say yes and make it official.” He took the ring from its velvet box and slid it onto her fourth finger. “Adeline Bethany Mission, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she squealed, jumping up and down, then tackling him to the floor in the best possible way.
They’d probably watch a lot more sappy, predictable movies together in the years to come, but none of them would compare with the happily-ever-after he’d share with her.
The End
Thank you for reading Kelly & Adeline’s friends-to-lovers romance! I hope you enjoyed spending Christmas in Hope Harbor.
I would be so grateful if you have a moment to leave a star-rating, or write a short review of 12 DAYS on Goodreads and/or your ebook retailer’s website. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Karla
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Also by Karla Doyle
Gift Wrapped
Cup of Sugar (Close to Home—Book 1)
Icing on the Cake (Close to Home—Book 2)
Sweet as Candy (Close to Home—Book 3)
Close to Home Box Set (Books 1—3)
Body of Work (Very Personal Training—Book 1)
Worth the Wait (Very Personal Training—Book 2)
Game Plan
More Than Words
Crossing the Line
Stealing Home
Gift Wrapped
After catching her boyfriend cheating two weeks before Christmas, Brinn is seriously lacking in holiday spirit. So when she looks into the eyes of a last-minute shopper after closing on Christmas Eve, she’s sarcastic rather than sympathetic. But Brinn is ever the good girl and her conscience wins out. She offers the handsome stranger ten minutes to select a gift and ends up with a present of her own—a date. On Christmas Eve.
Davis hates Christmas. Especially this year, since a neighborhood heist liberated him of his hard-earned belongings and the few gifts he’d purchased. But the robbery led him to a cute store manager with a sense of humor, smokin’ body and no plans for the evening. Mistletoe might be in order after all.
Their Christmas Eve date is like gift-wrapped, sexy satisfaction. But the best gifts keep on giving, and one naughty night may not be enough—for either of them.
Cup of Sugar (Close to Home series—Book 1)
Nia has one rule—don’t date neighbors. Simple, except the guy next door is single, handsome, and not inclined to close his blinds while naked. When her car dies, Conn takes “being neighborly” to a new level by offering a ride to her long-distance destination. Nia has resisted his looks and charm for months. Surely she can handle a few hours in his truck…
For months, Conn has blatantly put himself on display, hoping his pretty blonde neighbor would tire of
secretly watching and come knock on his door for a cup of sugar—or more. No such luck—until an unusual opportunity arises. After a six-hour drive turns into a sweet-and-sexy weekend, Conn wants more than neighborly status with Nia. To get it, he must convince her to break the rule protecting her heart—by putting his on the line.
Icing on the Cake (Close to Home series—Book 2)
Nia and Conn’s wedding will be fairytale perfect…if their siblings can get along.
Free-spirited, anti-establishment Sara has always been on the outside of her family’s fairytale mold. Now she’s being forced smack into the middle of it at her sister Nia’s wedding. Alongside the cocky and annoyingly sexy best man—Conn’s cop brother.
Curtis doesn’t buy in to organized romance and fairytales. But for his brother, he’ll throw on a tux and fake it for a few hours. His flak vest would have been a better choice around the maid of honor. He should have brought his handcuffs too, because somebody needs to restrain the dark-haired spitfire—and he’s just the man for the job.
One night to indulge the spark between them, then goodbye—that was the agreement. Curtis isn’t looking for a relationship and he sure doesn’t want a troublemaker for a girlfriend. The last thing Sara needs in her daily life is a cop looking over her shoulder, no matter how hot he is.
But giving in to their chemistry is much more fun than giving it up…
Sweet as Candy (Close to Home series—Book 3)
To survive and thrive in her line of work, Candace has become a master at reading people. With most of her customers, it’s easy. Until the off-duty cop with golden-boy good looks starts coming around. He pays for her services but never collects, even though it’s obvious he wants her. Candace can’t afford to get to know or like him. Whatever his angle, he’s still a cop, and she’s breaking the law to provide for the only person who matters—her five-year-old daughter.
Between his looks and his police uniform, Jake never lacks for female attention. But when a favor for his partner Curtis lands Jake in a massage parlor, one sexy “masseuse” fries all his circuits. He should enjoy her services and move on, but it wouldn’t be real. It wouldn’t be enough. When he and Candy get together—and they will—it won’t be a paid transaction.
Close to Home series Box Set (Books 1, 2 & 3)
This box set contains three full-length novels:
Cup of Sugar
Icing on the Cake
Sweet as Candy
Body of Work (Very Personal Training series—Book 1)
Cassie has fantasized about the ginger-haired personal trainer for months. Brian is friendly, but never more—until he appears on her doorstep and shows her how much her flirting has affected him. The more she’s with him, the more Cassie wants the fairytale, not just hot sex with the six-two hunk. She can give Brian full access to her body, but after her ex’s reaction to her explicit photography business, sharing her secrets, and her heart, isn’t an option.
Brian knows better than to break the rules. Don’t date gym members. Keep his inner beast on a leash during sex. Cassie tested his resolve on number one her first day in the gym. Shattered the second rule when he touched her. The petite pixie shares his preferences in the bedroom. She makes him laugh and love—but past mistakes haunt him, emotionally and tangibly. Cassie’s worth the price he’ll pay for breaking the rules. Now he must convince her to give him her heart.
Worth the Wait (Very Personal Training series—Book 2)
When personal trainer Sam bumps into his favorite former client, their chemistry reignites instantly. Leigh is everything he pictured in his sometime-down-the-road woman. Sexy, funny, independent, mature—in more ways than one. He never cared about their age gap, he just wasn’t ready to get serious before. He’s ready now. But when his prior playboy ways come back to bite him in the ass, it’ll take more than sizzling sex and charm to convince Leigh to stick around.
Leigh’s life is humming along according to plan. Her custom bakery is thriving. Her daughter is a well-adjusted ten-year-old. Romance is the one area that’s lacking. Completely. Until the universe fulfills her request for some hot lovin’ and puts Sam in her path—for a second time. Sam gives her exactly what she was missing, and more. Maybe more than her well-structured life plan can handle…
More Than Words
A brutal mugging two years ago left Calli terrified to go out after dark, and incapable of real dating. Hanging out with a resentful Chihuahua every night hasn’t filled the void, and all the sex toys from the store she owns could never replace a flesh-and-blood man. An online Scrabble site promising anonymous, flirty fun sounds like just the ticket. A like-minded geek, that’s what she needs. Unbeknownst to her, the man on the other end of the game is anything but geeky.
Tired of the party scene, Travis seeks a venue where he can meet a woman who is drawn to his mind, not his profession. Having women chase after his bad-boy musician persona has grown stale. After heating up the tiles online with Calli, he knows he must meet her in person. Touch her in person. And when he does, their chemistry is undeniable. She stimulates him, mind and body. But when he discovers her tragic past he realizes it will take more than words to win her heart…and her trust.
Game Plan
Recently divorced after seventeen years with a snooty, uptight, controlling man, forty-year-old Andie is definitely ready for some casual, sexy fun when a hot younger man “accidentally” hits her with a baseball. Mason’s interest is clear and he looks like a lot more fun than her overworked vibrator collection, so she goes for it, despite the obvious age gap. The young veterinarian is as easy to be with as he is on the eyes, making him an ideal summer diversion and the perfect man to help her make up for lost time and missed orgasms.
Mason had to meet the sexy woman at the ball diamond. The chemistry between them is instant and completely addictive. Andie is more than beautiful, she’s uninhibited and independent—totally unlike the needy twenty-somethings he’s been dating since his ex-fiancée deceived him five years ago. And yeah, Andie is ten years older than him, big deal. The more they’re together, the more his heart wants her as badly as his cock. Too bad Andie isn’t playing for keeps.
Crossing the Line
Lifelong best friends Derrick and Jeremy met Hanna at a bar ten years ago. Both wanted her—one married her. Now the other man has been invited to join in for one hot weekend.
Everything would’ve been fine if they’d had their fun that weekend, then gone back to normal. But they didn’t. And when past demons resurface, things will never be the same—for any of them.
Stealing Home
When Paige’s latest attempt at happily-ever-after with a nice guy tanks, she decides to quit fighting her destiny. She craves bad boys. Men who deliver short-term, panty-melting excitement, not reliability and settling down. If she’s going to embrace her true nature, who better to start with than the dark-haired, tattooed ballplayer whose cocky attitude gives her more thrills than any steady boyfriend ever has…
Alex had major league plans for his life until it threw him an unexpected and unwelcome curve ball. Switching gears to pursue his other passion was a rough road, but things are good—aside from his MIA muse. When a chance meeting with a blonde firecracker stirs his creative juices—and more—Alex is game to see where their chemistry leads. Trouble is, his potential Miss Right thinks she’s only capable of playing the field.
All of Karla’s books can be read as standalone stories.
About the Author
A small-town girl with some big-city experience, Karla resides in Southwestern Ontario with her husband and two teenagers. She studied fashion design in college and spent 20+ years working in that industry, before succumbing to the writing muse. When she’s not writing the sexy stories that swirl around in her head, you can find her playing online Scrabble, cruising in her big orange Jeep, or cuddled up with a book and her adorable pets.
Visit Karla’s website :
www.karladoyle.com
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la:
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ISBN 9781777156831 (Print Edition ISBN 9781777156848)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
12 Days, Copyright © 2020 Karla Doyle
Editor: Grace Bradley
Cover design by Karla Doyle. Cover images by Depositphotos.
Electronic book publication November 2020 / Print book publication November 2020
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only, and may not be re-sold 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, or it was not purchased for your sole use, please purchase your own copy at a legitimate online retailer. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.