Match-Made Christmas

By Daria White

From the outside, Adrienne has everything any woman could want. However, she knows what real happiness is, and it isn’t having a good job and a condominium. Traveling home to her small Texas town for a friend’s wedding, Adrienne is hit from all sides with the happiness she hasn’t found for herself—her long-married parents, her joyful sister and brother-in-law and their two children, and her childhood friends. They all think she has it all... all except one.

Trace has been a nemesis since grade school. Always ready with a quip and happy to squabble over even the smallest thing, Adrienne dreaded seeing him when she came back for the wedding. So why does it seem like Trace is the only one who really knows her, who sees her for who she is?

Losing his parents to a plane crash and his uncle to cancer, Trace is not too keen on losing anyone else close to him. If only she didn’t skip town after graduation. He didn’t have time to tell her how he felt. There was a reason behind all his teasing. He loved their banters. It meant spending time with her. He could hear her voice. Now she’s back, but her leaving is inevitable. He’d have to risk his heart by asking her to stay. He can’t take another loss.

Working to save their friends’ wedding brings Adrienne and Trace together. The clock is ticking, and it’s the worst blizzard Lakeshore, Texas has seen in years. Will these two match their friends or end up matched themselves?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daria White
• Release date: Jul 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463187524

Daria White

Daria has lived in Texas for most of her life. She never enjoyed reading as a kid. In fact, she almost hated it. However, as she grew up, that all changed. Though she received her degree in healthcare management, Daria kept her writing as a hobby. She meant it to be private and her own way of expressing herself. It never crossed her mind to publish until she was in college. She took a chance and published. It worked!

Book preview

Match-Made Christmas

Daria White

(A Sweet Romance Novel)

Match-Made Christmas

Daria White

Copyright © Daria White 2018

All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this eBook may be copied or sold. This eBook is fiction. All characters, locations, and situations are purely fictional, coincidental, and for entertainment only.

Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as fact. Any resemblance to actual events, organizations, or persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable, right to access and read the text of this book. Except for reviews or in promotional posts or similar uses, no part of this text may be reproduced in any form, by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known, or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the author. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

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Table of Contents

Blurb

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Epilogue

About the Author

Stay in Touch!

Thank you from Daria

Blurb

From the outside, Adrienne has everything any woman could want. However, she knows what real happiness is, and it isn’t having a good job and a condominium. Traveling home to her small Texas town for a friend’s wedding, Adrienne is hit from all sides with the happiness she hasn’t found for herself—her long-married parents, her joyful sister and brother-in-law and their two children, and her childhood friends. They all think she has it all… all except one.

Trace has been a nemesis since grade school. Always ready with a quip and happy to squabble over even the smallest thing, Adrienne dreaded seeing him when she came back for the wedding. So why does it seem like Trace is the only one who really knows her, who sees her for who she is?

Losing his parents to a plane crash and his uncle to cancer, Trace is not too keen on losing anyone else close to him. If only she didn't skip town after graduation. He didn't have time to tell her how he felt. There was a reason behind all his teasing. He loved their banters. It meant spending time with her. He could hear her voice. Now she's back, but her leaving is inevitable. He’d have to risk his heart by asking her to stay. He can’t take another loss.

Working to save their friends’ wedding brings Adrienne and Trace together. The clock is ticking, and it’s the worst blizzard Lakeshore, Texas has seen in years. Will these two match their friends or end up matched themselves?

Match-Made Christmas

(A Sweet Romance Novel)

Chapter 1

Adrienne drummed her fingers against her writing desk, willing time to slow down. Today marked her last day to spend in Los Angeles, her adopted home. It was the last day to enjoy the serenity of her quiet author’s life before going home to… Lakeshore, Texas.

She recalled Milly’s Coffee House, with colorful and welcoming displays in the storefront windows. Lakeshore’s streetlights and single-lane traffic with faded pavement markings filled her mind, and she faintly heard the chimes ringing as the doors would open. She couldn’t walk down the tree-lined sidewalk without someone waving, despite the uneven ground when walking over cracked pavement. How did she define her hometown? Fresh flowers and sunshine, especially in the spring and summer.

How long did she avoid going home? Too long, as her mother loved telling her. Then again, could anyone blame her? Her last memory of Lakeshore… not a pleasant one, but still she missed it.

I really don’t want to go back… Stop it. She admonished herself, knowing she couldn’t miss her best friend’s wedding. Paige would never forgive her. Still, it wouldn’t be easy going home.

Her cell rang. Speak of the devil.

Hi Paige, Adrienne greeted.

Please tell me you’ll be here this weekend, her best friend pleaded.

I promised you already, she assured her. Are you okay? Do you need chocolate?

Paige moaned. Why Adrienne? You know I’m trying to lose these last five pounds. Chocolate is not part of my diet.

Adrienne giggled. Sorry, I didn’t mean to put the idea in your head. Why did you go on a diet again? You look amazing.

I want everything to be perfect.

Adrienne smiled to herself. Paige’s perfectionism could be both a blessing and a curse. She could hear the stress brimming in her friend’s voice.

Calm down, she coaxed. By this time next year, you and Eric will be married.

Her friend agreed. Yeah, he’s great.

There you go, focus on that and everything will work itself out.

How do you always know what to say to calm me down? Paige said.

Adrienne chuckled. You’re my best friend, remember? At least for now. That’ll probably change after the wedding.

Don’t say that, Paige objected. You will always be my best friend. You’re more like a sister to me.

Adrienne pressed her lips together, embarrassed at letting her insecurity show. You’re a sister to me too, she said, but the comment already left her lips.

Are you sure you’ll be okay? Paige asked. You know with… Trace—

I’m not even thinking about him, Adrienne cut in, hoping to staunch any talk of her childhood enemy. Well, not quite an enemy. She and Trace never had a conversation without arguing at some point. It’s been years and I’m sure I’ll be fine.

Are you sure it won’t be awkward?

It won’t. We’re both grown and I’m not going to have any problems at your wedding.

I don’t understand why you two never hooked up, Paige pointed out to her.

Adrienne choked. What!

Yeah, I always thought you two would finally realize how you feel.

That will not happen. There’s too much history with us and we don’t know—I mean—I’m fine and when the right guy comes along, I’ll know.

Even if it’s Trace?

Adrienne rolled her eyes. Paige.

She giggled. Kidding.

Concentrate on you and Eric and the wedding of your dreams.

I know it will be fine, but the process is so overwhelming.

I’ll be there before you know it. We’ll get through it together like we always do, she beamed, relieved the subject changed.

Okay, I trust you. I can’t wait to see you.

Adrienne replied, Me too. I’ll talk to you later.

Love you, bestie.

Love you.

Adrienne ended the call, already regretting the days ahead. I haven’t seen Trace in years. Did he look the same? The Trace she remembered made her swoon with his scintillating smile, and… what am I doing?

She palmed her face. No way. Trace in that way, she never considered it—not once. Then again, going back home would take my mind off Greg. Adrienne moaned as more memories flooded her mind. Greg possessed good man qualities—sweet, kind, a gentleman, and even a partner at his family’s law firm. Adrienne loved him, but not enough to say I Do. She’d never forget that evening.

Greg had surprised her with a candlelight dinner and a bouquet of red roses. He reserved a private room for them at the restaurant and a violinist played in the background. Her eyes bugged, and when Greg got down on one knee, an unexpected wave of panic flooded through her. He professed his love for her and asked her to marry him. Her answer… no. Her happiness deemed more important, though she disappointed him.

While facing the truth proved daunting, she had too. Don’t think about that now. Too late. She longed for a marriage proposal in the past, but things changed over the course of their relationship. She stopped imagining their life together. When the moment came unexpectedly, she could not marry him.

Thankfully Greg, being a gentleman, he understood, and they parted as friends. Now, as Adrienne sat on her couch, her mind raced like a Kentucky Derby horse. Did she do the right thing? Her return to hometown for her best friend’s wedding approached with every second. Though ecstatic for Paige, Adrienne’s own singleness made her chest tighten.

Single at twenty-eight, not a curse right? To her mother, yes. Her mom already adored her two wonderful twin grandchildren in Tyler and Sophie and an amazing son-in-law, Patrick Reed, compliments of Adrienne’s oldest sister Marissa. Her mother made it her mission to remind her youngest daughter she needed to get married and soon.

Why? Her career on the rise, and everything fell into place. Well, almost everything. While she should have been overflowing with gratitude, the feeling of not having someone special in her life took a toll. I can get through this wedding. She didn’t want to ruin her best friend’s day by wallowing in her own self-pity.

Still, Adrienne looked forward to seeing her family and friends. And some not-quite-friends. She bit her bottom lip as she recalled Paige’s comment. Adrienne and Trace together, what in the world gave her that idea? They were barely friends. Nothing brewed between them and it would remain that way.

She walked to her kitchen to see what she could cook for dinner. Tonight’s meal would be simple with grilled chicken and sautéed vegetables. About an hour and a half later, she settled at her table looking out the window. With building going on next door, hammers banged along with the whine of compressors and drills. She had even spotted workers in flat jackets and hard hats. They finally left, and the noise died down. Though it calmed outside, the city in no way compared to the quiet of Lakeshore. This time tomorrow, I’ll be home.

Would it still home feel the same? Would she fit in again with the people she loved since childhood? Biting her lower lip, she didn’t want to feel out of place. We’ll see.

Chapter 2

It still looks the same. A chuckle escaped Trace’s throat as he stared at the gazebo. It stood as a pillar to him since his childhood. Though various gatherers showed periodically, it remained rather secluded on the outskirts of town.

The place only drew a small crowd. Not as appealing in the winter as in the spring and summer months, yet he loved it. Arms crossed, he inched closer. How would it look with Christmas lights? What if some lights lit the pathway leading to the entrance?

He would return soon to decorate the space. With Christmas around the corner, the lights would be a coming attraction to the site. Trace then settled on the bench inside, resting his hands on his knees.

Nothing but the silence of nature surrounded him. With the creek frozen, he didn’t hear the gurgling of flowing waters. Instead, the sound of winter whistling through the trees took over. Trace relished in it. He loved coming to the gazebo to think and reflect. Nothing compared to having these serene moments to himself.

Despite the glacial winds, he loved being out in the gazebo. Then again, he preferred it a somewhat warmer climate. Still, he couldn’t stay away too long. It would not have been good to forget the place. Trace sighed, recalling another place he needed to visit. Rarely did he visit after the summer months, but he promised he would go as often as he could. With such a busy month recently, it made it difficult. However, his list of excuses sounded like a noisy argument in a drawing-room. I’ll go back and visit. Soon.

Trace stuffed his hands in his coat pockets. He couldn’t stay much longer. With his lunch break almost over, he wanted a few more minutes at his favorite place. He rose to his feet and straightened the wool cap on his head. He turned his back on his beloved spot. His boots crushed the ice beneath him as he trotted back to his truck. Once inside, he rubbed his hands together, turning on the heat once he cranked the engine. Would he ever tire of the place? No, never. It meant too much to him.

He then checked his phone on the charger. I missed a call from Aunt Maggie. She wanted him to stop by for dinner later that evening. He would never turn down a home-cooked meal. He regarded his aunt as one of the best cooks in Lakeshore. While he possessed some culinary skills, he preferred his aunt’s meals.

He drove back into town and parked in front of his furniture shop. Not ready to go back inside, he settled for a stroll in town. During this time of the year, it became a habit of his. No matter how much time passed, Trace… it’ll be okay. It happened years ago, but why did it feel like yesterday? His body shivered, shaking away the feeling, but his heart would never forget.

Memories. Some of them weren’t as clear as others, but he would never wallow in what he couldn’t change. His uncle would never have approved of that. A smile tugged at his lips at the thought of his Uncle Max. His childhood filled with memories of him and his Aunt Maggie, and laughter escaped from his chest like a glad bird from a treetop. He would never forget his Uncle Max.

Trace paused for a moment to read the town banner, Merry Christmas Lakeshore. The first week of December arrived. Meaning his best friend, Eric Wilson, would marry Paige Sutherland. Inseparable for as long as Trace could remember, their well-deserved happiness made him beam.

Trace breathed into his gloved hands to warm them. The temperature dropped tremendously in the last week and the rumors of snow spread. In the southern part of Texas, it didn’t happen often. Then again, as he scrutinized the gray sky, the possibilities increased. Who knew?

He continued strolling along the sidewalk as his fellow townspeople did the same. He loved living in Lakeshore and he wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Although, he came close to making a change. He shrugged his shoulders not wanting to think about the past.

I’m happy… at least that’s what he told himself. He led a fulfilling life. He owned a furniture business, left to him by his uncle. Close to his aunt and friends, he lived in a town he loved. What more could he want? Trace didn’t want to think about it. The memory still caused a sharp pain in his gut. The one time he took a chance, he got his heart broken. Now, facing the past with no clue how it would turn out made his mouth dry.

Trace wrung his hands together. The weekend arrived. Adrienne Fields is coming home. Trace gave a faint smile remembering his friend and growing up together in Lakeshore. In her mind, they weren’t friends, but he begged to differ. Their implied friendship was stony as the Rockies. How would she look? Would they fall into their usual routine of teasing and picking an argument with one another? Trace proceeded down the street. Probably so.

As if it belonged inside a snow globe, the snow flurries fell to the ground covering the town. Lakeshore glowed during Christmas time, truly a sight to see. Wreaths decorated storefront windows, the lighted garland snaked around light posts and twinkled with colorful lights at night. Even the eleven-foot tree became the focal point during the lighting ceremony, which was only several more days away. Trace’s eyes then focused ahead of him. His attention diverted to Eric strolling beside Paige down the sidewalk.

Three weeks and counting and his friends would marry. They’d been sweethearts since their elementary school days and remained close in their college years. While Paige went off to school to study journalism and Eric majored in family law, the couple came back to their hometown. Paige worked as a writer at the town’s paper, Lakeshore News, and Eric opened his own private practice downtown. Including Adrienne, the four musketeers remained close knit during adolescence, until she attended college out of state.

Now Trace would fly solo as soon as his friends married. Though the couple’s expressions always beamed, full with sweet gestures, today their faces told a different story as they met Trace on the sidewalk. Eric tugged at his scarf and Paige’s lips pressed tightly together. Trace raised an eyebrow.

Why didn’t you tell me this before? Paige argued.

I didn’t want to see that look on your face. I knew what it meant to you, Eric answered.

Paige rolled her eyes. I can’t believe this.

Trace cleared his throat. Are you two okay?

Paige folded her arms as she met Trace’s gaze. We’re fine, as long as I keep my mouth shut and go along with whatever he says.

Eric argued. Is that what you think? I’m not trying to control everything. I don’t feel comfortable going on a cruise for our honeymoon.

A cruise? Trace’s mouth twisted.

Apparently, his friend replied, we can get a great deal since many people don’t cruise during this time of the year, but I’m not sold on the idea. We agreed on Hawaii. That’s where we’re going, so I don’t get where this is coming from.

I thought it would be different. You’re always telling me to be spontaneous and be daring, Paige continued.

Eric grunted. I said that, but I prefer to be on land when you do. Besides, we already have plans.

Paige countered, "So the