Kisses for Christmas: Desert Secrets Series, #3.1

By Wendy Ely

While most men want expensive tools or electronics for Christmas, all Sheriff Owen Brown wants is to take Clair out on a real date and for life to slow down a little to give Owen some time to enjoy lazy Christmas days with his son. Owen doesn't think he is going to get either thing on his Christmas list this year.

When someone starts stealing the Christmas decorations from homes in the town Owen protects and serves, he realizes that his days are not going to slow down at all. Maybe the thefts will force him to cancel the Christmas festival and ruin everyone's Christmas. And the secret admirer leaving him random love notes is annoying. Owen just doesn't have time for all the crap being slung at him…making him doubt his decision to ask Clair out.

Clair Hardin is back in Wilson after her aunt instructs her to take over the salon. Being in Wilson is not the glamorous fast-paced life she envisioned for herself but enjoys the slower lifestyle. Then the secret admirer letters start to show up in random places. She can't help but wonder who is sending them. She's not interested if Owen isn't the sender. When the secret admirer sends an invitation to meet him after the Christmas festival, she decides to end the silly game with whomever is sending the letters…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wendy Ely
• Release date: Oct 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386191353

Wendy Ely

Wendy Ely is a contemporary romance author. She writes some romantic suspense, really hot stories, and the wonderful happily-ever-after. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her own real-life hero and her two teenagers. Wendy loves to hear from readers. Email her at [e-mail]

Book preview

Chapter One

Clair Harden finished ringing up her last customer in the shop and waved goodbye. The moment the front door closed behind the elderly woman, Clair whirled around to face her friend. I don’t close for another hour, so finish your story before someone else comes in.

Levi’s small male frame lounged comfortably in her shop chair. His skinny-jean covered leg hung over the arm rest, swinging casually. He rolled his eyes and let out a huff. So there I sat, palming my Felix...

What the heck did that mean? You were what? she asked, reclaiming the shop chair next to his.

Palming my Felix. He waved his hand in the air between them as if that would suddenly make her understand the definition of his statement. It didn’t work. When she didn’t acknowledge his meaning, he rolled his eyes a second time while making an up and down motion with his hand as if he was holding a penis. You know. Masturbating!

George caught you masturbating... She should’ve known his story would end up about sex. That always seemed to be the main topic of her best friend’s conversations. But she hadn’t seen him for over a month due to him living in Phoenix while she resided two hours south. If she had anything to do with the arrangement, the distance between them would change soon. Actually, she hoped he’d take her up on the offer to work at her salon, Hard Hair. She’d tried trending up the small desert town, but she ended up fading into the background. Wilson, Arizona needed the Levi’s spunk. Levi didn’t have the ability to blend in any place. Certainly not here.

He slid his hand over his short, blue-tipped haired. Don’t deny playing with your taco.

I’m not talking about this with you. She giggled. You know what I need? Some female friends. And a cold can of Coke. The day had started wearing on her. Yes, Levi needed to help her run Hard Hair to lessen her hours. Since arriving in Wilson six months ago, she’d done nothing but work. Clair was beyond ready for some me time.

No, honey. What you need is a man.

Oh no! We are not going here again. Levi, I can’t even stand hanging out with myself, why would anyone else want to?

"Because if you don’t find someone, you’ll end up like one of those types of women. He held his hands in the air, opening and closing his fingers as if mimicking light bulbs on a stage. I can picture your future now. Ten cats... he said as his eyes widened, and a dildo."

Just so you know, I don’t like cats.

Levi offered a big grin. But you do like dildos.

She wasn’t opposed to dildos, but she didn’t own any, either. And she didn’t want ten cats. But there wasn’t anyone in town that she held a mutual attraction with. Sadly, if she didn’t do something soon, his prediction of her life could end up fairly accurate.

She crossed her arms over her chest. This isn’t about me. We were—are—talking about how you and George got together.

Right. So George walks in and takes an eye full of my shlong. Get this...he says, ‘I always wondered what you looked like under those skinny jeans.

He cheeks flushed from the detail. She couldn’t imagine saying something so brazen to a man. He must’ve liked what he saw.

Levi’s grin grew even bigger. All night long.

Jeez, Levi.

Levi scanned the salon’s interior. You know, cupcake, you really need to decorate for Christmas. I saw so many lights while driving through this little town that I thought maybe Santa had arrived early. He laughed. Except in here. You definitely missed the boat on the holiday spirit thing.

Yeah, yeah, she said. At least they had changed the topic to something besides sex.

The bells on the front door jingled, sending her jumping to her feet. Customers should never-ever see her slacking. She peeked around the half-wall to the waiting area. Her breath caught in her chest. I’ll be right there, Sheriff Brown. Thankful for the half-wall separating the lobby from her work area, she ducked out of Sheriff Brown’s view to check her hair in the mirror. After applying fresh shimmery lip gloss, she smacked her lips together, and then called out, Just give me a minute.

No problem, Clair. Take your time, Sheriff Brown called back to her in his deep voice. Chills swept through her.

She ran her fingers through her straight brown hair, figuring the strands were as good as they were going to get after working for nine hours already.

She glanced over at Levi who had moved to the edge of the chair, his eyes wide as he whispered, Who is that? I thought you said that there weren’t any men in town.

Tell you later, she whispered back. She made sure her blouse had stayed tucked into her black skirt before rushing out to greet Owen Brown. To Owen, she said, Hello, Sheriff Brown. Did I miss an appointment on the calendar?

As soon as their eyes met, Owen stood. You didn’t miss anything, Clair. He ran his fingers through his hair. I just had an extra few minutes, so I stopped by for a haircut. Do you have an available spot for me today? If not, I can come on another day...

She glanced at the calendar even though she knew she didn’t have anyone else scheduled for the rest of her day but stayed open for walk-ins. Really? Pretending like she actually had to check her schedule was something a high school girl would do to a crush. She fought back a groan as she realized how immature she acted whenever Owen wandered into her shop. Right this way, she said with a smile.

As she followed him back to the shop chair, she let her gaze move down the length of his body. She loved working with his soft, brown hair that he preferred to keep trimmed in a cut resembling a military style. He had broad shoulders, a muscular back, and a thick waist covered by his tan colored uniform. Heat rushed over her cheeks as she moved her stare down to his butt. The perfect shape of his toned cheeks would fit nicely in her hands.

Clair, Levi said, snapping her attention off Owen’s gorgeous backside.

The heat in her cheeks deepened. Yes?

Levi winked at her. Aren’t you going to introduce me?

To him? Levi acted like the sheriff was her best buddy. Owen wasn’t even her friend, but she sure wished he fell under that category in her life, and then perhaps things could progress into something romantic between them. This is the town sheriff.

Owen glanced at Levi. I haven’t noticed you around town.

Sheriff, this is my friend Levi. He’s visiting from Phoenix and I’m hoping he takes the job I offered him at the salon. She wrapped the cape around Owen’s shoulders, getting a little too close to him and having the opportunity to breathe in his heavenly maleness scent she had a hard time identifying. Something earthy.

In that case, welcome to Wilson. I hope you enjoy your visit. He tried turning his head to look at Levi but must’ve realized she had scissors too close to the back of his head because he jerked his attention straight again. Sorry, Clair.

No problem, Sheriff.

Owen tensed under the hand she’d placed on the side of his head. Isn’t it about time you call me Owen? How long have you been in town?

"If that’s what you prefer... Owen." Desire swept through her so fast that she almost choked.

I’m going to run next door for a bite to eat, Levi said, hopping up from the chair next to Owen’s. Do you want anything?

He’s leaving me alone with Owen? Clair’s stomach rolled. Owen always had her nerves tied in knots even with people around. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d been alone with the man. Her hands started to tremble. Focus, Clair, she ordered herself. Nothing for me. Thanks though, she mumbled, keeping her eyes glued to the top of Owen’s head.

Nice meeting you, said Owen, his shoulders stiff as Clair snipped at his hair.

Out of Owen’s view, Levi offered her a wink before disappearing. The small set of bells on the front door jingled, signaling his departure from the salon. Clair’s hand started trembling again. In an attempt to settle her nerves, she set the scissors down and took an extra minute to take a deep, calming breath before grabbing the clippers from the docking station on her counter.

Sorry if I seem so frazzled.

You’re fine, Clair. Take your time.

She snatched the clippers from the counter and quickly turned back toward him, not seeing a hunk of hair on the floor, sending her skidding forward. The swift movement made her reach out to him and drop the comb.  Shoot! Now she had to find another one instead of using her favorite. After grabbing the replacement comb, she flicked the clipper’s on switch. Nothing happened. Her cordless clippers weren’t charged.

I can’t even believe this, she grumbled.

Don’t worry, Clair, he said. I’m not in a hurry.

Having Owen stop in for an unexpected haircut was a surprise, leaving her unprepared. Usually she knew beforehand that he’d be stopping in, giving her a chance to have all the equipment ready. Not today. She moved over to where the only plug was located and bent over, trying really hard not to point her ass in his direction.

OWEN BROWN BIT BACK a laugh as Clair bent over to push the clipper’s plug into the socket. Her vain attempt at not providing a view of her backside failed miserably, only drawing more attention to her ass. And Owen loved every second of the shapely butt pointed in his direction. His instincts—and lack of self-control— to stop in to the salon today proved to be in his favor. He’d liked her since the moment he’d first spotted her unloading the moving truck during his daily patrol through town. Attraction for her had built so strong he couldn’t wait another day to ask her out on a date.

He twisted his hands together underneath the cape she’d wrapped around him. Ask her now. Just do it. He needed to before she turned those loud clippers on. Waiting wasn’t an option. Her friend might be back before she finished cutting Owen’s hair, or another customer might walk in.

She stood and turned his chair around, so his back faced the mirror. Clair?

Yes? The sound of her voice warmed his insides.

I came here for the haircut, but I also wanted to— his ringtone, an Aerosmith rock song, filled the small room, cutting off his confession. Dang! He pulled his phone from underneath the cape and connected the call without checking caller ID. When you are the sheriff, every call is important. Sheriff Brown.

Dad! exclaimed his thirteen-year-old son. Where are you? I’m on Main Street. I see your car, but you aren’t in any of the shops I checked.

Owen sighed as he reminded himself that the job of ‘dad’ always came before any other. I’m getting my hair cut. Is everything okay? Nate had been at soccer practice. He glanced at his watch. Nate’s soccer practice wasn’t even over yet. If he’d known his son