Christmas Wishes Come True

By Jessica Coulter Smith

Elise doesn't feel like celebrating Christmas this year. A divorce has left her feeling more like Scrooge than Santa. But will the handsome, charismatic Nathan be able to change her mind? He may be just the present she needs this year.

 

*Publisher's Note: The cover for Christmas Wishes Come True was updated November 2020, but the content remains the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JCS Books
• Release date: Dec 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781452329130

Jessica Coulter Smith

Author of Adult & Erotic Romance, with an emphasis on paranormal and fantasy.

Book preview

Prologue

Elise opened her car door and stepped out onto the driveway, snow crunching under her feet as she stood and closed the door.  It was October, but they’d had an unseasonable cold snap, complete with four inches of snow.  Closing the car door, she pushed her hair back out of her face, the long blonde strands getting whipped around by the wind.  Wrapping her arms around her body, she quickly walked up to the house.

I can’t wait to surprise Todd! She smiled. Inserting her key into the lock, she quickly opened the door and dashed inside out of the cold.  Closing the door quietly, she tiptoed to the bedroom. 

Just outside of the door, she paused.  A frown marred her brow as she pressed her ear to the door.  She heard voices and what she could have sworn was giggling.  Gripping the knob, she pushed the door open.

Her breath left her in a rush, the blood drained from her face.  Lying in the bed was her husband, Todd, and his voluptuous secretary, Denise.  With a shaking hand, she pulled the door closed and slid down the wall. 

How can he do this to me?  How long has it been going on? She was too stunned to the feel the pain of her heart breaking.

Elise? Todd opened the door and looked down at his wife.  What are you doing home early?

Apparently catching you in the midst of an affair, she answered quietly.  How long has it been going on?

Todd sighed.  A while.

Why?

He shook his head.  You know as well as I do that things haven’t been that great between us.  The passion in our marriage died out months ago.

Actually, she didn’t know that, but she wasn’t going to admit it to him.

I want you to leave, she said softly.

Elise, let’s talk about this.

She looked up at him.  His blond hair looked ruffled and he had a smudge of lipstick on his neck.  It was enough to strengthen her resolve.  She pulled herself together and climbed to her feet.

There’s nothing to talk about.  Get dressed and get out of my house.

"Our house."

Not anymore, she said, staring him straight in the eye.

Todd threw his hands up in the air. Fine.  I’ll move in with Denise.

Elise nodded, not trusting herself to say anything else.  She knew she was on the verge of crying, but she refused to shed a single tear in front of her cheating spouse. She would never let him know how much he had hurt her.

Moving down the hall, she collapsed on the sofa and waited for them to dress and leave.  She’d contact a lawyer and begin the divorce proceedings immediately.  There was no sense in dragging things out.  She knew she wouldn’t forgive him and wouldn’t be able to continue in a sham of a marriage.  It seemed her days of being Mrs. Elise Filmore were at an end.

Chapter One

December

A week before Christmas

Elise stood in the doorway to her living room.  She hadn’t decorated for Christmas, feeling more Scrooge than Santa.  The once bare corner by the fireplace now held a beautiful Fir tree, completely trimmed with lots of twinkling colored lights.  Holly decked her mantle and mistletoe hung above her head.

Warm, strong hands skimmed her waist and soft lips brushed against her neck.

Merry Christmas, Elise, the stranger said in a husky voice.

Tipping her head back, she stared up at the most gorgeously masculine face she’d ever seen.

Blue eyes peered down at her, trimmed with thick sable lashes.  Dark brown hair fell over the stranger’s forehead.  His lips were full, and his jaw, strong. A cleft in his chin drew her eye.

Speechless, all she could do was stare at him.

You’ve been a very good girl this year, Elise.

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

But... Santa couldn’t very well come and visit you without the proper decorations.

Santa? she asked, finally finding her voice.

The man nodded. And do you know what Santa is giving you for Christmas this year?

She shook her head.

Me.

Elise tried to swallow the knot in her throat. Who are you?

Nathan.  Nathan Hall and I’m your Christmas present.

But...

He smiled down at her.  Of course, that’s only if you want me to stay.

But how did you get here? she asked breathlessly, thinking she must be dreaming.

Magic.  Christmas Magic.

Magic isn’t real.

He caressed her cheek. Oh it’s real all right. Very real.  And if you decide to accept me as your gift, you get to keep me forever.

Her breath caught in her throat.  Forever?  She wouldn’t be alone.  She wouldn’t be thinking of Todd all the time.  Forever wasn’t sounding so bad.

This is insane, she murmured.

His lips tipped up in a sexy grin.  Maybe, but it’s real.

Turning her to face him, he pressed his lips against hers.  When she opened her mouth under his, his tongue plundered inside, tasting her.  He grinned against her lips when she pushed herself closer, her hips bumping against his.

Are you going to keep me? he whispered, his nose touching hers as he looked into her eyes.

Yes, she said softly.  Yes, I want to keep you.

With a grin, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

Just as the bedroom door opened, Elise woke up with a groan. 

Staring at the ceiling of her bedroom, she realized it had all been a dream, a wonderful dream at that.  It had been months since she’d filed for her divorce from Todd.  Her lawyer had