A Dragon for Christmas: Shifters for Christmas #2

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A Dragon for Christmas: Shifters for Christmas #2 Page 18

by Chant, Zoe


  Leader Lion. (Protection, Inc. # 5). A tough lion shifter bodyguard hiding a lonely heart + the determined stage manager he'll protect with his life + deadly danger behind the scenes = one sizzling thrill ride of a romance!

  Soldier Snow Leopard. (Protection, Inc. # 6). Two broken shifters. Two hearts in need of healing. Justin’s emotions were ripped out to make him the perfect assassin. Fiona hides behind her role as the perfect spy. When their paths cross on a perilous mission, he’s not the only one at risk of feeling again....

  Tropical Tiger Spy. (Shifting Sands Resort # 1). A unique shifter in search of her past + a tiger shifter spy on an undercover mission + a shifters-only resort with secrets to hide = a dangerous and thrilling romantic adventure!

  Tropical Wounded Wolf. (Shifting Sands Resort # 2). A curvy math teacher on vacation + a wolf shifter who spent years in captivity + an accident that leaves them stranded together in a jungle paradise = one thrilling romance!

  Tropical Bartender Bear (Shifting Sands Resort #3). A curvy black woman in disguise + a hot bartender bear shifter + a male beauty pageant at a shifters-only resort = a romantic adventure that bares it all!

  Tropical Lynx’s Lover (Shifting Sands Resort #4). Newly a shifter, Jenny has to come to grips with the otter sharing her head, and the gorgeous lynx shifter it insists is her mate.

  Bearista. (Bodyguard Shifters # 1). A tough bear shifter bodyguard undercover in a coffee shop + a curvy barista with an adorable 5-year-old + a deadly shifter assassin = a scorching thrill ride of a romance!

  Pet Rescue Panther. (Bodyguard Shifters #2). What's hotter than a sexy man holding an adorable kitten? How about a sexy, protective panther shifter cop holding five adorable kittens! Ben must protect curvy cat-rescue volunteer Tessa (and her box of kittens) from the dragon assassin who has sworn to kill her.

  Sheriff Bear. (Bears of Pinerock County # 1). A small-town sheriff + a wrongly accused BBW on the run + deadly enemies and dangerous passions = a sizzling forbidden love!

  Bad Boy Bear. (Bears of Pinerock County # 2). Biker bear on the open road + a BBW runaway-bride hitchhiker + evil motorcycle gang = an unforgettable red-hot road trip!

  Alpha Rancher Bear. (Bears of Pinerock County # 3). A take-charge alpha with commitment issues + a midwife who's not about to give up control of her well-ordered life + a roadside winter disaster = an explosive romance that's about to blow up everything they both thought they wanted!

  Mountain Guardian Bear. (Bears of Pinerock County # 4). A mountain man with a tragic past + a curvy amnesiac + two deadly secrets = one explosive romance!

  Hired Bear. (Bears of Pinerock County # 5). A curvy farmer deep in debt + a lonely rancher hoping to open his heart + a family farm hiding a hidden treasure = a red-hot rural romance!

  A Pinerock Bear Christmas. (Bears of Pinerock County # 6). Revisit the ranch at Pinerock County in this heartwarming holiday romance.

  The Christmas Dragon’s Mate. (Christmas Valley Shifters #1). A lonely bookkeeper in search of Christmas + a mysterious dragon shifter with a past full of pain + a beautiful snow castle hiding a ruthless enemy = one glittering Christmas romance!

  The Christmas Dragon’s Heart. (Christmas Valley Shifters #2). A curvy hotel manager longing for a real home + a broken fire dragon shifter who hates Christmas + a lost dragon hoard = a magical Christmas romance!

  Bear Cop. (Enforcer Bears # 1). A BBW baker with a troubled past + a protective bear shifter cop with a secret of his own + an accident that leaves them stranded in the wilderness = one untamed romance!

  Hunter Bear. (Enforcer Bears # 2). A BBW artist who fears she's lost her muse + a scarred, reclusive bear shifter hunting danger + a mysterious treasure map = one adventurous romance!

  Wedding Bear. (Enforcer Bears #3). A curvy librarian in desperate need of a date + a bear shifter in search of a home + the past that's pursuing him = one sweet and steamy small-town romance!

  Fighter Bear. (Enforcer Bears #4). A curvy veterinary technician longing for a family + a lonely bear shifter with a wounded heart + a family farm in jeopardy = one exciting rural romance!

  Bear Guard. (Enforcer Bears #5) A lonely secretary who doesn't know she's a shifter + a protective bear shifter guard + a mob attack = a small town romance that'll make you purr!

  Lawman Lion. (Cedar Hill Lions #1) A sexy lion shifter sheriff + an independent BBW who runs a diner + trouble with a local gang = one red-hot romance that will leave you breathless!

  Guardian Lion. (Cedar Hill Lions #2) A curvy, confident accountant + a sexy lion shifter bodyguard sworn to protect her + a terrifying kidnap attempt = one roaring romance!

  Rancher Lion. (Cedar Hill Lions #3) An independent BBW on the run + a sexy protective lion shifter + a pack of deadly enemies = one action-packed romance that will leave you breathless!

  Second Chance Lion. (Cedar Hill Lions #4) A curvy independent woman + a protective alpha lion + old memories and new beginnings = one heartwarming story of second chance romance!

  Protector Lion (Cedar Hill Lions #5) A curvy single mother in need of a protector + a hotheaded lion shifter who needs to make up for past mistakes + the little boy who brings them together = one heartwarming romance!

  Zoe on Audio

  Dancing Bearfoot – Audiobook - A single dad from the city + his daughter's BBW teacher + a surprise snow storm = a steamy story that will melt your heart.

  Kodiak Moment – Audiobook - A workaholic wildlife photographer + a loner bear shifter + Alaskan wilderness = one warming and sensual story.

  Hero Bear - Audiobook - A wounded Marine who lost his bear + a BBW physical therapist with a secret + a small town full of gossips = a hot and healing romance!

  A Griffin for Christmas: Special Sneak Preview

  What was that?!

  The massive CRASH! that had just sounded from outside was loud enough to make Emilia almost jump out of her skin, even over the furious howling of the wind.

  Coop’s head shot up, sleepy eyes suddenly alert, while, by the door, Laurel and Bob started barking.

  “It’s okay guys, calm down,” Emilia said, swallowing hard, her heart pounding. “I’m sure it was nothing.”

  Maybe the wind had torn the branch from a tree, or one of her trashcans had been picked up and hurled against the wall, she thought. These things happened – and living alone, with the nearest town a half-hour drive away, it was either get used to them, or spend her whole life freaking out.

  Besides, while none of her dogs would ever hurt a fly, Laurel was a big German Shepherd, and Max was so huge and hairy he could have been part wolf. Burglars would definitely have thought twice before bothering her, if they’d spent any time at all watching her house before breaking in.

  The occasional bump in the night – or in this case, mid-morning – was nothing to worry about.

  But that was a little bit more than a bump, Emilia thought, standing up slowly, her knees shaking just a little.

  That had been more like...

  More like a bump convention, taking place right outside her window.

  Taking a deep breath, Emilia marched over to the door, gently pulling Laurel and Bob back by their collars.

  “Hey, I said calm down,” she told them again. This time, they listened, and stopped barking right away. But their ears stayed pricked up, eyes alert and fixed on the door.

  “It’s nothing, guys. Come to think of it, I think I forgot to put the trashcans in the shed,” Emilia said – but she already knew she was going to go out there to check. For her own peace of mind, if nothing else. And, she supposed, to pick up her trashcans and put them in her shed, since she’d apparently forgotten to do that before the storm rolled in.

  “I’ll be back in a moment, okay?” she said soothingly as she reached for her jacket, pulling it over her shoulders and zipping it up to her chin. Jez and Suzie, her two smallest dogs, had emerged from their place by the heater now to look at her dubiously.

  “You guys worry too much,” Emilia grumbled, shaking her head.
“But all right.” Whistling, she called out, “Max!”

  Max lumbered out of the living room a moment later, all gray shaggy fur and massive paws. Forget wolf – Emilia sometimes had trouble believing he wasn’t part polar bear!

  “I’ll take him with me, okay? Just in case the big bad trashcans try to jump out and attack me.”

  None of the dogs looked all that soothed, but, Emilia decided, they’d just have to deal with it.

  “Come on, boy,” she said to Max, as she pulled her hat down firmly over her head, and went out into the storm once more.

  She gasped as the wind hit her as soon as she stepped out onto the porch. Icy needles of snow pierced into every inch of uncovered flesh, and Emilia pulled up her collar even higher to protect her cheeks. It seemed worse than it had even fifteen minutes ago when she’d gone to check on Harvey. With wind this strong, she’d be lucky if her trashcans weren’t halfway across the county by now.

  Whoops.

  Well, they definitely weren’t where she’d left them at the side of the house, anyway, she thought as she came around the corner, Max at her side. So, halfway across the county it was, then.

  Blinking into the snow, Emilia grimaced. She’d really have to get less lazy about putting them in the shed where they belonged. Especially in this weather.

  But... wait...

  Now that she thought about it, she recalled... she had put them in the shed. It had been last night, after her boss at the grocery store, Janice, had reminded her about the storm coming in.

  Frowning, Emilia marched forward. Well, now she’d have to check, just to make sure she wasn’t going completely and utterly crazy.

  This is what happens when you live alone, Emilia thought as she trudged forward. You have to go check if your trashcans are where you think they are just to verify your sanity.

  Shaking her head at herself, Emilia opened the shed door.

  Well, there were her trashcans, anyway, just where she’d put them last night.

  And there, on the pile of old cardboard boxes that were filled with old college assignments, old dog blankets, and who knew what else was – was –

  What the hell????

  Was a large, muscular and unconscious man.

  For a long moment, Emilia could do nothing but stand there in open-mouthed shock.

  I... I... WHAT??

  Vaguely, Emilia became aware of the snow that was blowing down from above, and, dazed, looked up to see a massive hole in the wooden roof of the shed.

  Well, I guess that explains the noise, she thought, fighting off the urge to laugh hysterically.

  What it didn’t explain was literally everything else.

  The man groaned slightly, and Emilia’s attention immediately snapped back to him.

  Okay. Okay. First things first.

  And the first thing was, no one should be walking around in a t-shirt in this kind of weather, regardless of how they got into her shed.

  Emilia gulped. The t-shirt wasn’t doing a lot to keep him covered up – his massive biceps were clearly visible, as were his rock-hard abdominal muscles where the shirt had ridden up. It obviously wasn’t doing anything at all to shield him from the weather.

  But nonetheless, she hesitated. Okay, yes. He had the abs of a Greek statue, the jawline of a movie star and the kind of dark brown, softly curling hair she’d always loved on men, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a creep.

  And what the hell is he doing in my shed?? I mean, aside from being barely clothed and passed out?

  By her side, Max whimpered slightly, before licking her hand where it hung limp by her side.

  “What is it, Max?” she whispered, looking down at him.

  Usually, Max was wary of strangers – he had to get to know someone before he’d get too close to them. Once he did know them he was the most affectionate dog she’d ever known, and whenever a new dog or cat arrived at the house, he’d usually be the first to make them feel welcome, sitting by them – not too close if they were shy – and providing licks if they were wanted. She’d never forgotten the time just after she had brought Antony, Cleopatra and Octavian home as tiny little kittens from an abandoned litter. Within a few hours all three of them had been right at home sleeping on Max’s broad, fluffy back in front of the fire.

  And now, Max, far from his usual wary habits when dealing with new people, was trotting forward and pressing his nose into this – okay, extremely hot – guy’s face, sniffing in concern.

  A moment later, he looked back at her and whimpered again.

  He wants me to help.

  She understood it in an instant. Max was worried about this stranger who’d apparently crash-landed through the roof of her shed, three days before Christmas.

  Maybe Santa’s been working out, Emilia thought, shaking her head. Or maybe I’m going nuts after all.

  Whatever the case, she couldn’t just leave the guy here. That much was certain. He probably had hypothermia – he needed to be warmed up, right away. And much more importantly, he couldn’t be allowed to sleep.

  Pressing her lips together, Emilia began unzipping her jacket.

  You better appreciate this, buddy, because I do not like the cold.

  To keep reading A Griffin for Christmas, click here.

 

 

 


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