Kissing St. Nick

By Devon McKay

Driving a sports car in the middle of a blizzard wasn't the worst decision Laney Kelly had ever made. Considering the mess she'd made of her life in the past three years, returning home was one of her better choices—regardless of the weather. Wrecking her ex-boyfriend's Corvette? The best Christmas present ever.

 

Nick Moretti had little time for distractions. His demanding career as a firefighter was far too important, especially during the holidays, but rescuing a dark-haired beauty from his past changes everything.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Devon McKay
• Release date: Jun 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393504566

Devon McKay

About Devon McKay Bestselling Author Devon McKay writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance with a western flair. If she's not writing, she's busy with chores on her small ranch, working on a stained glass project, or walking one of her three dogs through the woods. Her greatest joy is putting a smile on a readers face and hearing from fans.

Book preview

Kissing St. Nick

Chapter One

LANEY KELLY STOOD OUTSIDE of the entrance of the Rimerock Mall, second guessing her rash decision to shop so close to Christmas. Not only was the entrance blocked by a crowd of eager shoppers, the large sliding glass doors were covered with festive yellow caution tape. If this wasn’t a sign to give up and just go home, she didn’t know what was.

The cluster of people started to shift, funneling into the plaza through the man door on the side. Bad manners trumped Christmas spirit, and good tidings, as several members of the crowd rushed in at once, shoving her into a brick wall of a man attempting to fix the mammoth glass door.

Struggling to regain his balance, the maintenance man teetered until he was able to find his footing, anchoring a heavy work boot on the toe of her two-inch heels. Pain shot up her leg, rendering a not so merry curse. What had she expected?

She wouldn’t even be here if there was another store that sold the expensive watch her fiancé, Randall, had been boldly hinting about. Unfortunately, with her busy work schedule, Laney hadn’t been able to buy the damn thing until now.

She shuffled back toward the man door, and once inside, stepped to the side to let the pushy shoppers pass by. Bracing her weight on the wall, she freed her foot from the heel, flexing her toes.

She peered over the crowd and caught sight of her destination, as the lighted silver and gold sign of Raphael’s Jewelers flashed in the distance. Once the throbbing of her big toe ceased and she was able to walk without limping, Laney slipped the shoe back on and headed toward the jewelry store, weaving a trail past eight festive reindeer stationed outside of the North Pole.

At least, she had one thing to be thankful for, she wasn’t one of the many people standing in the long line waiting to sit on St. Nick’s lap. Laney continued to thread her way through the mob as an announcement that Santa would be taking a Hot Chocolate break interrupted The Little Drummer Boy’s Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum and inspired a loud rumble of protest from the disgruntled crowd.

Ducking into the jewelry store, she exhaled a loud sigh of relief, as a tired and disheveled man in an oversized red and white suit walked past. Feeling his pain, she faced the counter where the watches were on display.

Several gold time pieces stared back at her, all out of her price range. Biting her lip, she considered her finances. After making the payment for Randall’s sports car, she couldn’t afford such an extravagant gift. In fact, he’d be lucky to get a cheap sweater.

Hell, who was she kidding? She couldn’t even afford a Christmas card. The seven hundred dollar a month car payment for the past year was killing her. And yet she had no one else to blame. She should have never signed her name on the dotted line. One of many stupid and rash decisions on her part to save a dying relationship.

However, at the time, she’d been put in a tough spot by Randall and two pushy salesmen. After the discovery Randall’s credit was shot, and several promises he’d make good on the debt later, it was easier to give in than to argue. Needless to say, Randall Tex Henry had yet to make a single payment. But here she was, still trying to please the selfish man when nothing she did was ever enough. What a fool.

A gleeful squeal drew her attention and she glanced at a couple standing by a counter displaying engagement rings and wedding sets. Another high shrill scream escaped the curvy blonde as she hugged the man who’d obviously just proposed.

Laney sighed again. It’d been a long time since she’d been that happy. And though the setting was not perfect, it was far more romantic than the one she’d received. Randall had asked for her hand on a coffee-stained piece of paper.

What was wrong with her, she chastised herself. Why dwell on the delivery? Obviously, Randall wasn’t the romantic type. Not a pre-requisite for marriage. She’d known from the start he wasn’t big on showing affection. Perhaps even a bit on the cold side. Icy, according to her sister, Kristen.

Laney turned her attention back to the pricey designer watches. A watch wouldn’t help her doomed relationship. Especially knowing the expensive car hadn’t. She raised her head as the man spun his future bride and she caught a glimpse of the soon-to-be groom’s face. Her heart lurched in her chest. Dazed, she stared, not certain she could trust her own eyes.

Randall?

No. It couldn’t be. He had been called out on a last-minute business trip. Not here—proposing to another woman. Cold awareness wrapped around her, and she gasped, struggling to breathe. Apparently, her fiancé was not only a liar, but far more romantic than she gave him credit for being. In fact, he appeared to be quite the Romeo. The polar opposite of the indifferent man with whom she’d wasted the past three years of her life.

Thoughts bombarded her at once until she focused on one—finding the quickest route out of the store. Tears threatened, blurring her vision, as she blindly rushed to the exit. 

A bleary bulk of red and white blocked her retreat. Unable to stop, she slammed into Santa, causing the beloved childhood icon to fall into his mass of reindeer. Chaos ensued as the scent of cocoa filled the air and the cries of children thundered over the sound of her heartbeat.

Frozen in place, Laney stared at the tangle of limbs and broken reindeer body parts in disbelief. Her gaze traveled to the pool of hot chocolate circling the mess like a frothy, brown moat.

Pulling herself free from her stupor, she extended her hand, but Santa refused the aid with a loud curse, followed by a savage thrust of his middle finger into the air. Heat crawled up her neck, inflaming her cheeks. Flipped off by Kris Kringle. The perfect ending to the most humiliating day of her life.

She raised her head, taking in the wide, shocked stares of the crowd before locking onto Randall’s frigid, blue gaze. Needing air, she burst into a run, fleeing the scene. Once outside, she embraced the crisp winter chill and searched for her car amongst the horde of other vehicles. Finding the ancient Honda Accord, she raced for the sanctuary the relic provided.

Laney fumbled with the frozen lock until she was granted entrance and settled in the driver’s seat. Taking another deep breath, she slid the keys into the ignition, but as she flicked her wrist nothing happened. Of course. Why would she expect anything less? Once again, the battery was dead. And at the worst possible time.

Tears brimmed again, threatening an outpouring of misery. Frustrated, she wiped at her eyes with the back of her coat sleeve. No. She refused to feel sorry for herself. Certainly not about Randall. The woman did her a favor. Laney should’ve ended the relationship with the deadbeat