Christmas Wishes: Paradise Hills, Montana

By Merri Maywether

Is Susan Waters ready to experience the Paradise Hills magic?

When Susan makes a wish for Santa to bring her a special present, she sets off a chain of events she never expected. She has helped other people find their true love. It only makes sense that her friends would try to repay the kindness. There is one little hitch to their plans. They're trying to match her with Hunter Lane. The same Hunter Lane she'd rather avoid for reasons she'd rather not disclose.

Hunter is the oldest of the Lane brothers and the only one of them who is single. When Hunter sees Susan, he knows there's something special about her. As he gets to know her, Hunter learns two things. They have a shared past, and he sees Susan in his future.

When Susan finds herself in a situation that demands Hunter's help, they discover it takes more than a wish to hold on to love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Merri Maywether
• Release date: Dec 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393324263

Merri Maywether

Twenty years ago, Merri Maywether went on a date with a very sweet man from Montana. Three weeks later they were engaged and they have lived happily ever after. This is Merri taking over the biography section...When I write my romance novels, the characters are the people that I see on a day to day basis. Up here in what I like to call the far, far north, people work hard, live fiercely, and love knowing that they have a community of people behind them. We support each other through the hardships and celebrate the victories. The best part...similar to the characters in my stories, at the end of a long day or a rough week we have stories to share for the years to come.

Book preview

Chapter One

The Paradise Hills magic filled Main Street. A barely perceptible dazzle sent sparks of anticipation of good things to come. Susan Waters blinked and focused to search out what it was that made the scene in front of her different than ones she had seen in other towns. Christmas lights, strung from one streetlamp to the next, guided groups of families and friends to the quaint restaurants and novelty shops. A father picked up his daughter. When she was nestled securely in his arms, he pointed at something in the window. The mother sided up to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. The tenderness of the moment had Susan silently longing for a life similar to what she had witnessed.

Snow drifted softly, turning the town into a virtual snow globe. Rather than ruin the moment by overanalyzing what it was that made Paradise Hills so special, Susan inhaled and embraced the beauty. Susan gripped the bag of Christmas decorations she had just purchased and imagined catching some of the magic and bringing some of it to her own home.

Every year for the past twelve years, Susan transformed her two-bedroom cottage-style home into a Christmas wonderland and invited her friends for an informal party. They brought a favorite snack food and played games she found on Pinterest. It softened the sadness of being away from her family in California. Her friends became her second family, filling the gaps loneliness created.

Susan turned and meandered down the sidewalk while admiring the window displays. It was the day after Thanksgiving. Unlike the shopping frenzies she saw on television, people nodded hellos and lifted their hands in a friendly greeting to acknowledge each other from across the street. When Susan passed by the window of the candy store, Kim, the owner, waved her in. Just as the door closed behind Susan, a cluster of men dressed in short leather jackets and beanies sauntered down the street. The feeling that she knew one of them touched the corner of her mind. It was soft enough to create an awareness, but not strong enough to stick. Susan clutched her bag to her chest. Be still my beating heart. They were a handsome group of men.

The curves at the corner of Kim’s mouth showed her amusement with Susan’s declaration. I need an honest opinion. Kim tied a bow to secure a gingerbread cookie decorated with piped icing and gumdrops to her tree. She brushed aside a strand of blond hair that fell out of her bonnet and backed away from the tree. Does this say Hansel and Gretel?

The bonnet matched Kim’s red pinstriped pinafore. The only thing missing to complete the grandmother's image was the wire-rimmed glasses. Susan was all about the holidays. Kim took it to a whole new level.

I’m helping the enemy. Susan hid the bag of ribbons, beads, and mistletoe sprigs behind her. We both know I will win the Christmas Tree decorating contest this year.

Kim clasped her hands in front of her chest. You may as well surrender the trophy now.

Never, Susan threw her head back to mock the evil witch role. "Everyone knows I was born to win the Christmas Tree contest. My birthday proves it. She was born on December 26th at 12:01 a.m. When she was younger, Susan’s mother used to tell her she was the last present Santa delivered.

Kim rolled her eyes while slowly wandering beside Susan. Being born the day after Christmas does not give you an advantage. She swiped at Susan’s bag.

Susan pulled away at the last minute. This is to be my secret until the judging.

Susan dodged Kim and hurried to hide on the other side of the tree. Kim, dressed like the kindly older woman, pursued Susan, and a playful chase ensued.  Susan wore an outfit that coordinated with her red knit hat that was accented with a white flower on the front. Her long red cardigan and candy cane leggings suited her to appear like a Gretel who had grown into a woman and got a job. Kim changed the course, and both women crashed into each other.

Through giggles, Susan said, I surrender. You can see my secret weapon.

I want to see everything in the bag. Kim crossed her arms in front of her.

Susan appreciated her friendship with Kim. Both women were in their early thirties, but it still felt like they were the teenage girls who became best friends at band camp during their sophomore year of high school. Kim was raised in Paradise Hills.

When Susan graduated from college, she was hired by the resort and had lived in Paradise Hills ever since. Kim was the familiar face from Susan’s childhood that helped with the homesickness spells.

Susan regarded her friend with warmth and pulled the items out of her bag. I’m using this gold ribbon and these clear beads to decorate sprigs of mistletoe.

Kim’s brow wrinkled, and she puckered her lips. How are you going to make it work?

The Christmas bells Kim used to decorate the candy store door jingled. Both women looked up from the items on the counter. The men Susan saw pass by the window earlier had come back into the store.

Hunter Lane smiled his greeting to Kim. He shifted his gaze to Susan and tipped his head to say hello. His eyes were still a striking gray. Slight creases at the edges had softened his expression. A short beard smoothed his strong jawline. Susan remembered him being attractive in college. The man in front of her was even more striking.

It may have been the excitement from running around the store, or perhaps the sweet scent of gingerbread mixed with the pine tree intoxicated Susan, or it could have been a self-induced over exposure to mistletoe. Because Susan did something completely out of character. Her mouth dropped, and like a child who had seen the newest toy commercial, she gasped. I hope Santa puts one of you under my Christmas Tree.

Chapter Two

Hunter Lane and Greg Grayson’s friendship began with a mutual agreement. Both men were interested in dating Samantha Ellis. She happened to be the same Samantha Ellis, who had just got engaged to Hunter’s brother, Gibson. While Hunter and Greg thought Gibson was a nice enough person, they both agreed Sam deserved to end up with someone better. The definition of someone better was them.

At Samantha and Gibson’s engagement party Hunter and Greg commiserated over the loss of a good woman and agreed to support each other through the grieving period. That meant avoiding rebound relationships.

When they walked by the window of Kim’s candy store and saw two women running around the Christmas Tree, Hunter forgot the agreement. Hunter knew the one in the back was Kim. She was a bridesmaid at his younger brother’s wedding. Kim was fun. She liked to dance and could keep up her end of the conversation. He never would have pegged her as someone who would get caught running around a tree.

He vaguely recognized the one being chased. The determination on her face was adorable. For a brief second, he imagined her running from him. Then, he saw himself catching her. His arm wrapped around her shoulder, and he circled in front of her. She bumped into his chest. Through breaths ragged from running, he declared his victory. You can’t get away from a Hunter. They laughed, and he kissed her. Hunter’s heart raced, and he felt like his jacket was too heavy. It was twenty degrees outside, but he was too warm.

How old are they? Greg bent at his waist as though the minor shift in perspective would answer his question.

The oversized elf costume hid that Kim was in her thirties. Hunter’s heart hammered in his chest when the other woman changed course, and the two women ran into each other. It was as though he watched the beginning of his fantasy come to fruition. But the woman with the sweet face crashed into the wrong person. Both women giggled until they caught their breath. Then they turned their back to the window to do something on the counter.

I need to go in there. Hunter headed for the door. My mom loves the candy from here. I’ll get some for her party.

The door closed behind him when the one who took over his vision said something that Hunter couldn’t quite hear.  Greg replied, It depends on if you were naughty or nice.

Both women twisted toward Hunter and Greg. Kim leaned away from Greg. The other woman’s hat emphasized her eyebrow arch of disapproval. 

It sounded better in my head, Greg bumbled. I was going with the whole Santa theme. He pointed at the corner of Kim’s shop. It had a workbench with baking implements, making it look like the candy section of Santa’s workshop. He’s making a list and checking it twice?

When both women frowned in confusion, his voice trailed off. Never mind. It was funny and charming in my head.

Then both women laughed.

The taller one. The one Hunter took an immediate liking to pointed at Greg. You look familiar. Are you related to Clark?

A flare of jealousy sparked in Hunter. Upon feeling it, he realized he didn’t care about Sam as much as he thought he did. He resisted the urge to push Greg behind him so the woman would pay attention to him. Then he thought, I need to get out of the forest. I’m thinking like the animals. Hunter focused on the conversation and waited for his chance to speak.

Greg’s smile brightened with recognition. Yes, I’m his brother.

I’m Susan. I work with Clark at the hotel. Susan’s face changed from playful and flirty to