A Very Married Christmas

By Erika Marks

Cookbook author Marley Chambers can’t think of a more festive way to spend Christmas than at a friend’s holiday wedding in her hometown of Magnolia Bay. If only her soon-to-be ex-husband, all-star pitcher, Beckett “Beck” Chambers wasn’t bringing his new girlfriend—and if only he wasn’t still the sexiest man to ever walk out onto the mound…

Beck never wanted the chaotic life of a sport star—especially not at the cost of his marriage to the only woman he’s ever truly loved. But his career is a runaway train—and he’s afraid it’s too late to hit the brakes.

But when a mix-up leaves Beck and Marley stranded together for Christmas Eve on the barrier island where Beck proposed years before, old memories burn bright—and sparks fly hotter than a bonfire on the beach.

Could the magic of the season bring the gift of a second chance, just in time for Christmas?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tule Publishing
• Release date: Nov 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781940296906

Erika Marks

Erika Marks is a women’s fiction writer and the author of Little Gale Gumbo, The Mermaid Collector, The Guest House and It Comes In Waves (July, 2014). On the long and winding road to becoming published, she worked many different jobs, including carpenter, cake decorator, art director, and illustrator. But if pressed, she might say it was her brief tenure with a match-making service in Los Angeles after college that set her on the path to writing love stories (not that there isn’t romance in frosting or power tools!) A native New Englander, she now makes her home in Charlotte, NC, with her husband, a native New Orleanian who has taught her to make a wicked gumbo, and their two little mermaids.

Book preview

Author

Dear Reader

Oh friends, how I love Christmas!!

When the clock strikes noon on Thanksgiving Day, I set my computer to a Pandora Christmas station and I DO NOT change it until midnight of New Year’s Even Day. True story.

So when I was given the chance to write a Christmas romance for Carolina Born, I was over the moon. A love story set at Christmastime? Sign me up!

And what a wonderful love story Marley and Beck have—though at the story’s start, we fear our hero and heroine might be headed toward a Blue Christmas. High school sweethearts and married for ten years, Beck’s career as a professional pitcher has steered him away from the love of his life, while Marley’s recent success as a cookbook author has her wanting out of a marriage that leaves her feeling stifled and unappreciated. But when Marley and Beck are reunited at the holiday wedding of old friends in their hometown of Magnolia Bay, warm memories prove powerful foils to cool separations, and even a pending divorce can’t douse the sparks of passion that still remain between them. Could the magic of Christmas work its charms and steer them back to one another for good?

(And PS—Don’t feel too badly for the sexy, young bartender, Mick, who sweeps Marley off her feet and makes Beck crazy-jealous—his love story is coming up next in the series. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving, right?!)

But for now, lovely friends, I give you Marley, Beck, and A VERY MARRIED CHRISTMAS—and my warmest wishes for a magical holiday for you and your loved ones too!!

XXOO,

Erika

Dedication

To my beautiful readers who honor me every time they let one of my stories into their hearts. Thank you. May every season bring you joy and peace.

Chapter 1

The tinsel-and-holly-draped lobby of the Bay Breezes Inn looked as if Mrs. Claus herself had decorated it, but the only thing Marley Chambers could see when she stepped through the frosted glass doors was her soon-to-be-ex-husband at the front desk—and the willowy brunette pressed against him.

Her heart twisted like a candy cane.

I can’t believe he actually brought her, Gina Martin said, giving her straight black bob an indignant toss.

Marley appreciated her best friend’s loyalty, but she was determined not to let it get to her that Beck had chosen the wedding of their high school friends to debut his new girlfriend.

We’re separated, Gee, remember? Marley said, hitching her purse higher up on her shoulder. He can bring whoever he wants. I don’t care.

Gina wrinkled her lips dubiously. If you don’t care, then why are we stalling behind this Christmas tree waiting for them to clear the desk so we can sign in?

We’re not stalling—we’re simply soaking up the décor, Marley said, giving the closest fir bough an appreciative tweak before it snagged on her loose, blond ponytail.

Do you know Jezebel’s name?

Marley did—but only because she read the tabloids like every other internet-addicted American who foolishly cared about the dating lives of celebrities and sports stars. In her case, she had a good excuse: up until a year ago, she and Beckett Beck Chambers had been headed toward their tenth anniversary so it behooved her—for legal purposes, mind you—to know who he was taking up with before the ink was even set on their divorce papers.

Her name’s Denise Weathers, Marley answered finally.

Gina snickered. I’m betting that name is as fake as her perfect boobs.

Marley sighed, shifting to avoid a mouthful of fir needles. If this is your way of helping get me out from behind this tree, she whispered, it’s not working.

I’m sorry but I still think it’s gross that he brought her here, when he knows these are all your friends, too—your hometown, for God’s sake! The place where you and he grew up and fell in love. It’s just wrong.

What could Marley say? She’d felt the same way when she’d learned from Erin, the bride-to-be, that Beck was bringing a date to Erin and Kyle’s holiday wedding. Surely Marley was bringing one too, Erin had asked. Marley had bluffed, not yet ready to admit that—as much as she wanted to bring a date—she had a better chance of being eaten by a shark. On land.

So has Beck seen you yet? Gina asked.

No, said Marley, and I’m hoping he won’t.

Marley, it’s a wedding. I’m fairly certain they expect all the guests to be at the church at the same time.

Unfortunately, Marley thought, catching another glimpse of her estranged husband and his nubile girlfriend cuddling up against each other like giddy teenagers. But when Beck’s hand drifted down the woman’s skinny body to rest on her rear, the sight was so unsettling that Marley darted back and collided with a bellhop’s filled cart, sending a tower of luggage tumbling to the floor, the crash loud enough to make every head in the lobby swerve her way.

Including Beck’s.

Marley turned back, panicked, only to find his eyes fixed on her.

Embarrassment scalded her cheeks. She scanned the lobby, her eyes darting furiously toward the stairwell, their railings wrapped in strands of pine boughs and blinking Christmas lights. If she took off her shoes and ran barefoot, she could easily make a dash for the steps before he could cross the—

Hey, Mar.

Too late.

Looking up, Marley saw he’d already arrived. God, she’d forgotten how fast he was. On—and off—the pitcher’s mound. And damn him, if he didn’t look even better than when they were together. He’d toned up, or maybe it was just his deep tan. Whatever the reason, his brown eyes seemed as liquid as melted chocolate. He’d let his dark hair grow out slightly, something he never would have done when they were a couple. Why did she think Miss Weathers had something to do with that?

Hey, Gina, he said, turning to her best friend.

Gina gave him a polite, but cool, nod. Hey, Beck.

Marley raised her chin, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tiny pillow of fat she’d lately seen hiding out underneath—the downside of being a bestselling cookbook author who was constantly testing new recipes.

Hello, Beck, she said evenly.

Mar, he said, this is Denise Weathers. Denise, this is Marley Chambers.

The younger woman offered up a quick, tight smile then looked around the lobby with the kind of wild-eyed discomfort of someone who realizes they’ve walked into the wrong party but can’t find their way out. Marley almost felt sorry for the poor girl—until Denise slid her arm deeper into the crook of Beck’s bent arm and any spark of sympathy was drowned under a wave of jealousy.

Beck, sweetie, Denise said, I really need to get up to our room and call in to the studio.

Sure thing. Beck turned back to Marley and she had the sudden urge to look away. Getting caught in the glare of his killer smile was like staring too long into the sun. She’d been warned against that as a kid. If only her mother had warned her of the dangers of staring too long into the eyes of hot pitchers, too.

She felt a hand at her elbow. We should probably get checked in, Gina said.

Marley gave her friend a grateful smile. We should.

Beck swept an arm around Denise and steered her toward the stairs. It’s good to see you, Mar, he said over his shoulder.

Somewhere besides the other side of a negotiating table in the lawyer’s office, he likely meant, Marley thought sourly as she followed Gina to the check-in desk, wondering what a girl had to do to get herself a mug of spiked egg nog around here.

I still say you should have switched out his shampoo for Nair when you had the chance—the creep, Gina muttered as they arrived in front of their third-floor room a few minutes later.

Marley turned the key and pushed open the door, relaxing at once at the sight of their plush suite. The Hibiscus Room was every bit as beautiful as the innkeepers had promised. A pair of overstuffed double beds flanked a cushioned window seat that offered a view of Main Street. Spiced candles flickered from the window sills, filling the air with the scents of vanilla and cinnamon. On the dresser, a gift basket overflowed with treats and beside it, a bottle of champagne rested in an ice bucket. Marley set down her bags and went to the basket, plucking the card from behind a box of gingerbread cookies: Eat, Drink and Be Married—Courtesy of the Bride and Groom.

Clever.

Well, hello, handsome. Gina came beside her and swept up the bottle from its ice bath, eyeing it approvingly. Dom Perignon. Leave it to a Loveless to spare no expense. Excuse me while I help this guy out of his clothes, if you get my drift.

While Gina stepped out onto the balcony with their champagne, Marley rummaged through the gift basket, more interested in food than alcohol at the moment. Some women calmed their nerves with booze—she preferred the relaxing properties of dark chocolate.

Bingo.

She tugged out a decorative tin of chocolate-covered peppermint bark and tore off the top. The first bite was so rich that she let go the kind of moan one usually reserves for great sex. Not that she’d had any of that lately.

A pop sounded; Gina reappeared in the next moment with the bottle, a soft ribbon of smoke rising from its recently opened spout, and filled both flutes to the very top. A toast, she said, handing a glass to Marley. To a wonderful weekend, and a Christmas to remember.

And to avoiding the soon-to-be-ex-husbands we want to forget, Marley added as she lifted her glass to her lips. She took a long sip and let the bubbles do their magic. Her thoughts fizzed and blurred pleasantly. If only she could make the buzz last all weekend—or at least erase the image of Beck and Denise Weathers feeling each other up like prom dates.

Oh who was she kidding?

She set down her glass, the façade of her stiff-upper-lip suddenly crumbling like a square of peppermint bark.

"I don’t think I can do this, Gee. I don’t think I

Reviews for A Very Married Christmas

[61Chick · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked the premise of the story, but Beck spends most of the book talking about and sleeping with his "hot" girlfriend. He jumps into bed with Marley after being in bed with the girlfriend that morning!! Sorry that just doesn't work for me.