The Best Gift of All

By Jennifer Britt

Christmas is rushing toward Robin Taylor faster than a freight train. For Robin, Christmas is a reminder that a new year is about to begin and she still hasn't met her one true love. Taking her friend's advice, she decides to have a one-night stand, only to be mortified when the guy says no.

Ty Flynn, an ex-Army Ranger, moves to Lincoln Falls, looking for a new beginning. That new beginning doesn't include a woman. When a cute redhead propositions him at a bar, his instinct tells him to run, but he can't seem to escape from Robin. She's gentle and kind and he knows he doesn't deserve her.

As they grow closer together, Ty discovers that they have something in common - fear. Ty fears himself and Robin dreads failure. Just when they find love, will they allow those fears to tear them apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jennifer Britt
• Release date: Dec 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311068422

Jennifer Britt

By day, Jennifer Britt is an associate director and legal editor for an accounting firm. By night, she's a contemporary romance author who loves to write happy endings. Jennifer Britt is the author of the popular Lincoln Falls series and her books have been nominated for industry awards, including the Carolyn Readers Choice Award and the Heart of Excellence Readers' Choice Award. When she's not writing, Jennifer loves spending time with her husband and family at their home in Virginia.

Book preview

THE BEST GIFT OF ALL

By

Jennifer Britt

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY:

Jennifer Britt on Smashwords

The Best Gift of All

Copyright © 2015 by Jennifer Britt

Cover design by James, GoOnWrite.com

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook 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 use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Other Books by Jennifer Britt

Finding the Dream Sample

Betting Brenda Sample

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Chapter One

Robin Taylor took a sip of her amaretto sour. Another Christmas was coming, racing toward her faster than a freight train. She glanced around Rowdy's. Multi-colored lights were strung along the ceiling. Beneath the lights, singles lined the bar and tables, seeking that one perfect person. Her heart sunk at the thought of another Christmas alone. She hadn't been on a date in months, making finding her perfect person nearly impossible.

Why had she agreed to a ladies' night? The Head Bangers started playing their infamous song, Honky Tonk Christmas, and Robin grumbled.

What is wrong with you tonight? You're such a downer, Lissa said.

Jill smacked Lissa's arm. Christmas.

I don't get why you're so depressed at this time every year, Lissa said, brushing her black hair behind her shoulder.

I work for my dad and uncle. That's all I have. Christmas reminds me of that. It makes me feel lonely. Christmas is a time for lovers. Christmas was a time for giving and she'd like nothing more than to give her heart to someone.

Excuse me, but you have us. How could you possibly want more? Lissa said.

We're not guys, Jill said.

I don't just want a guy. I want that once in a lifetime love, like Jessica and Eric.

Jill sighed. And Stacia and Will.

I'm going to vomit. I don't have a boyfriend and I'm fine with that.

You don't want one, Robin said to Lissa.

I want one, but I don't let it get to me. I'm willing to wait for however long it takes, Jill said.

That's because you can have any guy you want. Robin looked at Jill, the all-American beauty with light brown hair and brown eyes, and realized Jill had no idea how pretty she was. Jill could walk out of Rowdy's with any guy she chose. Robin sighed and ran her finger along the rim of her glass as she wondered if she was seeing the rest of her life -- nights at Rowdy's and days at Brothers Diner. I'm discontent. Even if I had a boyfriend, I think I'd still be wondering if this is all there is. Yes, a boyfriend would be nice, especially during the holiday season, but she longed to be free of the diner. She loved her father and uncle and it was that love that kept her running a diner that she didn't want.

You need a one-night stand, Lissa said.

What?

Think about it, Lissa said, slapping her hand on the table. You're the good girl. For once, be the girl who goes after the guy for one night of hot sex.

I don't know. Robin shook her head.

That is the worst idea I've ever heard. That is not our Robin, Jill said.

Anger coursed through Robin. She lived inside a box and never ventured outside of it. It was what everyone had come to expect of her. Basically, she was a bore. Lissa was right. She needed some excitement and one night with a stranger would certainly be thrilling. Her pulse kicked up at the mere thought of it.

Next guy who walks in is mine.

Tapping at her temple, Jill said, Robin, think about this.

I have. I'm with Lissa on this one. She'd never done anything irresponsible before. She was cautious. A thinker. It would be nice to not think for once.

I didn't say to pick the first guy who comes through the door. You should be more selective than that.

Robin scanned the bar. A rugged-looking guy with light brown hair sat by himself at the bar with a beer in front of him. Sadness seemed to envelope him. Maybe she could give him some joy for awhile.

How about him? Robin asked, tipping her head toward the bar.

Nice, Jill said.

Hot, Lissa said. Go for it.

I don't know how to do this.

Sit next to him, introduce yourself, and ask him to buy you a drink.

Skip the drink, Jill said.

The drink makes her sound confident.

It makes her sound desperate.

Go for the drink.

No.

Robin guzzled the rest of her amaretto sour and left Jill and Lissa to battle it out. She sauntered across the scarred hardwood floor to the bar, her stomach fluttering.

Hi, she said as she sat down. I'm Robin.

Ty. He shook her hand and their eyes locked. Robin was mesmerized by his eyes, the color of coffee with flecks of gold. Can I buy you a drink?

Sure. This was easier than she thought. Amaretto sour. Thank you. Robin leaned toward him. She'd seen Lissa do that when Lissa tried to pick up a guy. He wasn't classically handsome. His nose appeared to have a couple of stories behind it. It was slightly crooked as though it had been broken before. A couple of thin white scars that were barely visible under his five o'clock shadow streaked his cheek. Lincoln Falls is a small town. I haven't seen you around here.

It's my first time here. I'm visiting my grandfather.

Who's your grandfather? I might know him.

Jonathan Flynn. He recently married Scarlett--

Pulaski. I know him. They are wonderful together. Proof that true love exists.

Maybe. He smirked and shook his head. Obviously, he disagreed with her. Was it true love or Jonathan and Scarlett weren't great together?

Everyone knew Jonathan and Scarlett were meant for each other, which meant only one thing. You don't believe in true love?

It's all a little sappy, don't you think?

I think it's wonderful. To find that one person you're meant to be with. Someone you can count on to always be with you. Someone who would kiss her even in the pouring rain, but she didn't say that out loud.

Like I said sappy. He took a sip of his beer and seemed to focus on something behind the bar.

Maybe she had picked the wrong guy. Then what's your idea of love.

He turned his gorgeous brown eyes on her and said, Everyone has faults, right?

Yes, Robin said, wondering where he was going with this.

Well, you find someone you can be with despite his or her faults. If you can live with that person's faults, it's love.

Wow. Robin didn't know what to say to that. The bartender placed the amaretto sour in front of her. She sipped it as she attempted to wrap her mind around the fact that she'd picked the one guy who didn't have an ounce of romance in him.

You're awfully quiet, which means you disagree.

Of course, I disagree. Just because you can live with someone's faults, it doesn't mean it's love. There's more to it than that. You've taken all the romance out of it.

Explain love to me.

I don't think I can. I've never been in love. Robin played with the stirrer in her drink. I believe it's a feeling. Somehow you know.

Like love at first sight.

Love at first sight exists in rare cases. Robin stirred her drink as she figured out the best way to explain love to him. That's not what I'm talking about. After you've been out a couple of times, you just know.

Listen, I know why you came over here, he said and pointed his beer at her. But we're not going to work.

I wasn't asking you out. Can't we enjoy a drink? What was up with this guy? As if it wasn't bad enough that he didn't believe in true love, now he was trying to brush her off. Why was he at Rowdy's if he wasn't there to hook up? The nerve of the man.

I've been watching you and your friends.

A chill swept over her. Was he some kind of psycho? He didn't look mental, but Robin was smart enough to know that looks didn't mean anything. You have? That's creepy.

I didn't mean it that way.

What did you mean?

That you're all out for a night on the town. I bet they told you to try to pick me up.

Actually, no. That was my mistake. She picked up her drink and walked back to her table. She'd had enough of his company. Surely, there was a guy who would appreciate being with her.

Struck out? Lissa asked.

He's a jerk, Robin said.

We'll find someone else for you.

No, we won't, Jill said. It's a sign.

Lissa rolled her eyes. You with the signs. It's not a sign. It happens. The next one will be a winner.

Ty watched the table of ladies. In particular, Robin. He didn't normally go for redheads, but she was a knockout. He loved the light spray of freckles across her nose and her eyes were an aquamarine that reminded him of the water in the Caribbean. If he had been into one-night stands, he would have taken her up on her offer. But he wasn't that type of guy. He might not be a believer in true love, but he believed in knowing a person before sleeping with them.

Robin was too idealistic for him. Her version of love was over the top. It only existed in fairy tales.

He watched her stride across the bar and slide onto a stool next to a blond guy sitting alone at one of the tall tables. A grin instantly appeared on the guy's face. Looks like she found what she was looking for. Ty gave them fifteen minutes tops before they were out the door.

The guy rubbed the top of her hand and then held it. Robin laughed at something he said. She was beautiful when she smiled.

The guy scooted her stool closer to him and his hand massaged her neck. Robin's carefree expression changed. Maybe Ty had her pegged wrong. He had assumed