“I hear the beer is really good.” A strange accent caught her attention.
She turned and was face to face with the dark, black-brown eyes that had haunted her dreams the past four weeks. His tan had faded, his dark hair was cropped a little shorter and the scruff she’d loved to rub her cheeks against was gone.
But it was him. In the flesh.
“The guy at the door told me I had to get a pint of the pale ale. What do you think?” He smiled in that wonderfully crooked way she’d grown to adore.
He wore a dark shirt, open at the collar and rolled up at the sleeves. Dark denim encased his legs and she caught a whiff of aftershave, something light but masculine. He looked and smelled good enough to eat.
“After all that happened you’re going to ask me for a beer recommendation?”
The second he held his arms open she threw herself into them. “I thought it might be an easy lead-in question,” he said, laughing into her hair.
“I don’t want your easy lead-in questions,” she said, squeezing her arms around him and pressing her cheek to his chest.
“How are you feeling? You look like you’re healing up nicely.” He took her chin in his hand and tipped her face up to his.
A lump lodged in her throat. “How did you know I’d be here?”
“We lawyers have pretty good research skills. And just because I don’t have Facebook doesn’t mean I don’t have a sister who does.” He chuckled. “I got in contact with your brother and he told me you’d be here. And yes, I’m staying.”
“For how long?”
“Forever, I hope.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Her voice cracked and the emotion and fear she’d experienced the past eight weeks came to the surface. He was finally here. She wanted to be peeved that he’d kept his plans from her, but her joy bubbled over.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
She punched him lightly in the arm and he laughed, pulling her back into his grip and planting a kiss on her lips. “I hate surprises.”
“You’ll live.” The smile that stretched across his lips went all the way to his eyes, making them crinkle and sparkle in a way that had her heart thudding in her chest. “Besides I quit my job to come here so you have to forgive me.”
“How did they take it?”
“They were shocked, which isn’t surprising. But I got an appeal on that class action suit and now it’s been handed over to a senior partner to take forward.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “I can’t practice law until I go through the processes here…but I’m not sure I want to do that, to be honest.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I might take some time to experience the real world and give myself the chance to figure out what I want to be. Maybe I’ll become a fisherman.”
Neve laughed and wrinkled her nose. “Too smelly.”
“What about a lumberjack?”
“I could see you in one of those sexy, checkered shirts.” She pressed her lips to his jaw. “But you’d have to stop shaving.”
“Part of me has always wanted to fix up a house. I used to help my dad with repairs to the beach house when I was young. He was handy with stuff like that and he taught me a lot.”
“Maybe we could find a place to fix up together.”
“I’d like that very much.”
“You’re going to stay.” The lump in her throat almost blocked the words completely. It felt like fireworks were exploding inside her, all the bright, exquisite joy she’d been so scared to feel finally running wild and free through her body. “For good.”
He pressed his lips to hers. “If you’ll have me?”
“How could I possibly say no?”
He waggled his brows. “Even though you hate surprises?”
“I’ll make an exception for this one.” Her hands clutched at his shirt as she leaned in for a deeper kiss. “Now let me introduce you to your new hometown.”
Neve took the opportunity to parade Damian around, since most of the folks she knew were at the steakhouse anyway. By the time they left it was clear Damian would fit right into Kite Harbor.
Outside snow fell and their boots crunched on the layer already coating the ground. With her body tucked hard against his, she couldn’t have felt more loved. More wanted.
More home.
The cold air nipped at her nose but she was warm all over. The love she shared with Damian could ward off the most bitter of chills. Nothing would could freeze her heart now.
“I guess it’s lucky you caught me in your kitchen when you did, huh?” she said with a laugh as they walked to his car.
“Very lucky.” He winked at her in that perfect, cocky way of his.
“How about we go back to the hotel room and catch up?” She stopped and tugged his face down her hers.
The cold air had chilled his lips but his tongue was warm and hot, his hands insistent. “There’s a lot to catch up on. It might take more than one night.”
“What about two nights? Three? Four?”
Snowflakes whirled around them as the air turned to white mist. “Why don’t we start with three hundred and sixty five and take it from there?”
EPILOGUE
True to his word, Damian gave her three hundred and sixty five days. The year had flown by in a blur of meeting people and getting ingrained in the Kite Harbor community. They’d welcomed him with open arms, especially Neve’s parents and brother.
It felt strange to be a part of a family again after being a lone wolf for so long. But now he couldn’t understand how he’d done it for so long. The joy that Neve gave him had turned him into a new person. A better person. And he was determined to never, ever let that go.
“Two hot chocolates coming right up,” Neve said in a sing-song voice as she carried the oversized mugs to their antique coffee table. “And a head scratch for Tilly.”
He watched as she bent down, her hair—now shorter—swishing like brown silk against her cheek. Her fingers gravitated immediately to the sweet spot behind Tilly’s ear and the dog looked up at her with total adoration, her pink tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth. It was hard to believe they’d had such a rocky introduction.
Neve grinned and climbed onto the couch, snuggling up against him. She wore a bright red knitted jumper—or sweater, as he’d learned they were called here—and it made her blue eyes seem even brighter.
“Are you just going to stare at me or are you going to drink your hot chocolate?” she teased.
“Bossy boots.” He reached over to tickle her and she squealed, swatting at him with her hand.
“Can you believe you’ve been here a whole year already?” She reached for her drink and blew at the winding tendril of steam. “We should have done something to celebrate. The renovations have taken all my brain power.”
They’d moved into the single storey clapboard house two months after he’d arrived. It had been owned by a few people and hadn’t been given the love and care it deserved. But Neve had big visions for the place and Damian was determined to give her anything her heart desired. Even if that was a ridiculously oversized bathtub and a whole walk-in wardrobe to herself. If there was one thing he’d learned in the past year, it was that he couldn’t say no to Neve.
Tilly had joined them as soon as they secured the house, after enjoying several months being babysat by Annabel, who’d returned home with her English boyfriend. And now the dog had a huge yard to play in and everything she could possibly want.
His two girls. They had him wrapped around their little fingers.
“Luckily one of us remembered that it was an important date,” Damian said, nudging Neve with his elbow. “I got you a present.”
“Oh, no. Now you’re going to make me feel guilty. Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Traditionally these types of presents only go one way.” He pulled the small black box from its hiding spot between the cushions of the couch.
When Neve’s eyes wide
ned, his heart almost stopped. He’d been bursting to pop the question for months, but he’d promised her three hundred and sixty five days. It felt right to do it now. A perfect way of cementing just how special and important this date had become to him.
It signaled a new life for them both. But for him, it was salvation. A second chance to live his life to the fullest.
“Damian.” Her voice trembled as he opened the box.
He’d picked the ring because it reminded him so much of her. The single round diamond was flanked with two sky-bright aquamarines, the same brilliant blue as her eyes. It was delicate, unique. Perfect.
He pushed off from the couch and dropped down to one knee. “Neve Elizabeth Ritter, would you do me the hon—”
“Yes!” She launched off the couch and almost sent them crashing to the ground.
Tilly yelped and ran over, wagging her tail so that it hit him over and over on the leg. She nuzzled her nose under his arm until she, too, was part of the action.
“You’re supposed to let me finish asking you to marry me,” he said, unable to stop the laughter from bursting forth as she took the ring from him and slipped it on to her finger. It was a perfect fit.
“I didn’t want to waste a second.” She slung her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his in a hot, open-mouthed kiss. “I would love nothing more than to be your wife, Damian. Mrs. Neve Alessio…It sounds good.”
“It certainly does.” He pulled her in close and brought Tilly in for a group hug. “My two, beautiful girls.”
“Hopefully one day it might be three,” Neve said with a twinkle in her eye and he could see their future. This woman and dog that he loved, and the possibility of their child.
His family.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Damian and Neve’s journey to happy ever after.
I find myself returning to some themes in my stories, family being a big one. I strongly believe we’re shaped by those around us and, in some cases, by the absence of some figures in our lives. I wanted to throw two characters together who were both battling with family issues and I knew these characters would need to find a partner who understood the importance of strong family ties.
This story also has a brief introduction to Kite Harbor, and I feel that this is a good time to tell you I’m going to be spending more time in this little town! I have a few stories currently in the works which will be available sometime in 2016.
In the meantime, if you enjoyed Sleigh Bells in the Sand you might also like my Behind the Bar series.
Restaurateurs and brothers, Des and Paul Chapman, are the hottest things you’ll find behind the bar. When they’re not mixing drinks and charming customers they’re taking the heat out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. Whether you like a tattooed guy with a heart of gold or a sexy, reformed playboy – there’s a brother for you!
Get a sneak peek at book one here. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list for the latest information on my book release dates, sneak peeks and more. I also run a giveaway through my newsletter every month!
Thanks for taking the time to read Sleigh Bells in the Sand, I hope you’ll check out some of my other stories.
With love,
Stefanie
Growing up, STEFANIE LONDON loved going shopping with her Nan. She would sit on the floor of the bookstore with her little sister and painstakingly select the books to spend her allowance on. Thankfully, Nan was a patient woman.
After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she got a job in Communications. But drafting emails didn’t fulfil her creative urges, so she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.
Now she lives with her very own hero and dreams of travelling the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, French perfume, high heels and zombie movies. Stefanie loves to hear from readers! You can find her at her website, chatting on Facebook or posting pictures on Instagram.
MILLIONAIRE UNDER THE MISTLETOE
~
KANDY SHEPHERD
Thank you to the other LoveCats, for your inspiration and help.
Copyright © 2015 Kandy Shepherd
All rights reserved.
CHAPTER ONE
On Christmas Eve, as Carly de Luca changed her eighth cat litter tray of the day, she gritted her teeth and thought about good ideas gone bad.
Like this surprise visit to Sydney for a summer Christmas.
In the depths of a London winter the trip had seemed a great idea. But everything that could have gone wrong had gone wrong. No sooner had she arrived, shattered from the twenty-two hour flight, than her parents had departed on a Pacific Ocean cruise—they’d had no luck getting a last-minute booking so she could go with them. Then her friend Felicity had been rushed to hospital with a ruptured appendix and had begged Carly to take over her cat-sitting business.
Carly had been happy to help her friend in such an emergency but, after four years away from Australia, she was finding rushing around from house to house looking after the kitty clients less than the ideal vacation and too darn hot. In her borrowed, one-size-too-small “Fifi’s Felines” uniform of bright pink jeans and polo shirt, heat trickled down her spine and her hair felt uncomfortably damp under the matching pink cap.
“Worst Christmas ever coming up,” Carly muttered to herself as she started to hunt for the cat that had this magnificent north shore mansion to itself while its owners were away. Part of the agreement with Fifi’s Felines was the cat-owners were sent a daily photo to reassure them their kitty was okay.
That was a very good idea. Trouble was, it only worked if the cat cooperated. And this particular cat was being elusive. Carly caught a glimpse of a furry striped tail under a curtain. She pulled out her smart phone from the pocket of her jeans. “Gotcha! Here kitty, c’mon kitty, photo time.”
But the tabby cat took off and streaked up the stairs. Carly uttered a string of Italian swear words under her breath. Not against the cat. She loved cats. But she was hot, jet-lagged and irritable.
This house on the exclusive Balmoral slopes area of Mosman, one of the wealthiest suburbs in Sydney, was fitted with every luxurious appliance. But she hadn’t been able to turn on the air conditioning and in the late afternoon heat it felt like a sauna inside. Okay for the cat who had access to a cool, tiled enclosed balcony, but Carly was sweltering. She’d left the front door ajar with just the screen door across it to let in any breeze but it didn’t make much difference.
Carly headed up the stairs. As she went through each shuttered room the lights automatically switched on ahead of her, which she found disconcerting. What was the cat’s name? Morris. “Here, Morris. C’mon, Morris,” she called.
She finally found the big tabby curled up on the owner’s enormous bed. She snapped a few images then went to pat the cat. Part of the Fifi service was to cuddle the cats if they were amenable. Morris was not amenable. He hissed at her and slid under the bed.
“Fine, if that’s how it’s to be, stay under the bed,” she said, exasperated.
Rejected even by a cat.
Carly sighed out loud. No need to dwell on the reasons she’d been so glad to get out of London. Not just rejection but betrayal. Dating the boss had been another very bad idea. When she’d caught him cheating and ditched him, he’d fired her. She wasn’t too concerned about finding another job—her reputation as a talented, hard-working chef was good. Finding another man? Forget it. She didn’t seem to have much luck with her love life. Not since… Well, she wouldn’t dwell on that either.
Morris was the last cat client of the day, thank heaven. She found kitty sitting grueling in a way she hadn’t found a frantically busy commercial kitchen catering for a fully booked restaurant. Thank heaven it was only for a few days. She slumped against the wall. Where to now? Her parents’ empty house or Felicity’s empty apartment?
This would be the first time in her twenty-eight years she would be alone on Christmas Eve, alone on Christmas morning. Good idea gone very, very bad.
She left the bedroom wing to head toward the staircase only to be confronted by a tall, powerfully built man charging up the stairs and wielding a weapon made of two wooden rods and a chain.
Carly’s hand went to her heart. She tried to scream but terror seized her voice and paralysed her limbs so she stood frozen to the floor.
Escape. Hide in the bathroom. Run.
The man came into full view. He rippled with aggressive muscle and wore only a pair of swim shorts.
“Who the hell are you and what do you think you’re doing?” His voice reverberated through the house and—shockingly—through her heart.
Carly froze now for a different reason. Dylan. This intruder was Dylan. Her first love and the man she’d left behind when she’d departed for Europe four years ago. Dylan, but a different, fiercer Dylan. Bigger, tougher, his dark blond hair cropped short, blue eyes narrowed with suspicion. More devastatingly handsome than ever.
Her heart set up a furious pounding and she clutched the wall for support. “Dylan?” she managed to croak out from a suddenly dry throat. She hadn’t seen him since she’d left Australia.
He frowned and lowered the weapon to his side. “Carly?”
Her voice still wouldn’t work properly. She nodded and put her hands up above her head in a gesture of surrender.
She had no right to expect joyous surprise from him. Or even a “welcome home”. Not considering how they’d parted.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice as deep and manly as ever. And cold, very cold.
She cleared her throat. “I could ask the same of you.”
“Investigating a possible break in.”
“By me?” The idea was so ludicrous she smiled—a smile not echoed by Dylan.
“Every light in the place on, the door wide open, my neighbors away,” he said. “Draw your own conclusion.”
She cringed at the lack of friendliness in his voice. “I’m feeding the cat while the owners are away.”
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