Noel

By H.M. Shander

Who needs holiday magic when your life is almost perfect?

Britannia Edwards thinks she has it made. A high-profile career, a corner office with a view, and a private weekly meeting with her sexy boss to boot. Convinced he’s going to leave his wife for her, she jumps at the chance to pick up his kid in an emergency to show him she’s ready to do anything for him.
At the private school, she meets handsome Noel Sullivan – a magnetic teacher full of holiday spirit. Suddenly, she can’t stop thinking about him. Despite her desires and beliefs, she starts falling under the spell of the season, and of Noel Sullivan.

Britannia is going to learn that mixing business with pleasure comes with a price, and she’ll need more than a little holiday magic when it comes to choosing between love and her career.

• Language: English
• Publisher: H.M. Shander
• Release date: Oct 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781999234379

H.M. Shander

USA TODAY bestselling author H.M. Shander is a star-gazing, romantic at heart who once attended Space Camp and wanted to pilot the space shuttle, and not just any STS – specifically Columbia. However, the only shuttle she operates in her real world is the #momtaxi; a reliable electric car that transports her two kids to school or work and all their various sporting events. When she’s not commandeering LeBolt, you can find the elementary school librarian surrounded by classes of children as she reads the best storybooks in multiple voices. After she’s tucked her endearing kids into bed and kissed her trophy husband goodnight, she moonlights as a contemporary romance novelist; the writer of sassy heroines and sweet, swoon-worthy heroes who find love in the darkest of places.If you want to know when her next heart-filled journey is coming out, you can follow her on Twitter(@HM_Shander), Facebook (hmshander), or check out her website at www.hmshander.com.

Book preview

Noel

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

H.M. SHANDER

Noel

Published by H.M. Shander

Copyright 2020 H.M. Shander

Noel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used factitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events or locals, are entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored, in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written consent of the author of this work. She may be contacted directly at [e-mail], subject line ‘Permission Requested’

www.hmshander.com

Cover Design: Get Covers

Editing: PWA & IDIM Editorial

Shander, H.M., 1975—Noel

Noel

Who needs holiday magic when your life is almost perfect?

Britannia Edwards thinks she has it made. A high-profile career, a corner office with a view, and a private weekly meeting with her sexy boss to boot. Convinced he’s going to leave his wife for her, she jumps at the chance to pick up his kid in an emergency to show him she’s ready to do anything for him.

At the private school, she meets handsome Noel Sullivan – a magnetic teacher full of holiday spirit. Suddenly, she can’t stop thinking about him. Despite her desires and beliefs, she starts falling under the spell of the season, and of Noel Sullivan.

Britannia is going to learn that mixing business with pleasure comes with a price, and she’ll need more than a little holiday magic when it comes to choosing between love and her career.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Other Books to Read

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Chapter One

Yes, absolutely sir. You have my word and can count on me. I hung up the phone and stared at it, shaking my head in disbelief.

My executive assistant job description within the world of Holden Enterprises just added a new ‘other jobs as required’ item to my ever-growing bullet list. Now I had to go and pick up the CEO’s fowl-mouthed ten-year-old from school and drive him home as his mother was sitting in the emergency room with pelvic pains. Of course, Daniel Holden was rushing to his wife’s side; there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, except tell her it was over, and how he was running away with me.

I rose from my plush leather chair and sauntered over to my secretary, with my clutch tucked under my arm. Janice, I’ll be gone for the rest of the afternoon. Forward all calls to voice mail, and I’ll check on them later.

Sure thing, Ms. Edwards. The lady, old enough to pass for my mother, started rustling the scattered papers on her desk. Anything else I can do for you?

Yes, actually, there is one more thing. I paused and worked through my thoughts to make sure it was attainable. When your work is done, you can take the rest of the afternoon off.

What? She tipped her head to the side as if she didn’t hear me.

You can leave early. I tugged down my blazer as I smiled at Janice. She was one of the hardest working employees I had and deserved a break. Maybe go shopping for your darling grandbaby.

Thank you, Ms. Edwards. Shall I text you when I leave?

No need. As long as your work is done, that’s all that matters. Just make sure the Fuentes account is caught up and sitting on my desk.

Yes, ma’am. She beamed. Thank you so much.

It was nearly Christmas. Everyone deserved a break. Great, see you Monday. Enjoy your weekend.

I didn’t hang around to hear her gush on and on, something she did non-stop when I gave her a bit of unexpected, yet paid, time off, or gave her a lavish gift. Janice was always so grateful, but her gratitude was almost too sweet. A simple thank you was enough.

I stepped into the elevator and pushed the parkade level - plus side of running personal errands for Daniel was the use of his Audi.

I pressed the button on the remote and the car beeped, flashing its headlights. Slipping inside, I snuggled into the rich interior, scented in his expensive and exotic cologne, and started the vehicle. It was much louder than my Tesla and the rattling caught me off guard. It had been a while since I’d been in Daniel’s vehicle, and it definitely wasn’t being driven the last time I was. Brushing away the thought of riding him, I gave the school address to the GPS and it plotted it out nicely. Thirty-minutes away. Perfect. Lots of time for me to belt out my favourite Christmas carols.

As predicted, I pulled up thirty minutes flat in front of the school in the kiss and go section. School wasn’t out for another hour, so it wasn’t like I was taking up space needed for the nannies in the minivans or the school buses. Did kids at an exclusive prep school even take the yellow bus, or were they all chauffeured? Regardless, I wasn’t going to be here long enough for it to matter.

I armed the red sedan, and shoulders back, walked to the main door and buzzed.

Yes? A voice crackled over the intercom.

Britannia Edwards. I’m here to pick up Bentley Waltham.

Why they chose to give their child a different last name was something I never understood. Daniel and the missus had been photographed with their kid at several high-profile events. Maybe if he was never in the spotlight, it would make sense. But that was on them, and it wasn’t my concern, although I wasn’t going to deny the curiosity.

Come in.

The door clicked and I pulled it open, stepping into the foyer where it looked like Christmas threw up. Ornaments, clearly decorated by the students, hung from every imaginable surface. A giant tree with full boxes of mittens and toques and toiletries sat