Christmas in Cedarwood

By Megan Slayer

FROM POPULAR AUTHOR OF LGBTQ+ ROMANCE MEGAN SLAYER

Book twelve in the Cedarwood Pride series

Two men, one kid and the frayed nerves that come with the holidays...can they make it through to Christmas without a blow-up?

Colt Harrison knew when he met Ashley Willis that he'd found the one man for him. He loves Ashley's son, Wyatt, as if he were his own son. But the stress of living together, compounded with buying a home and adopting pets has worn him down...not to mention the aggravation that comes with the diner he owns. He wants to make Christmas special for his family, but how can they have a great holiday when Colt's never home?

Ashley's got a two-week vacation from his job at the elementary school teaching art. All he wants is time with Colt and Wyatt. He loves Colt, but not the long hours spent at the diner, especially around the holidays. Can he be honest about what he wants from Colt and keep the man he loves?

Anything is possible if they embrace the magic of Christmas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Dec 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781839430947

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Author

Pride Publishing books by Megan Slayer

Single Books

Constant

Permanent

Vaulting

Drive my Car

We Belong Together

Finding Michael

Must Love Dogs

The One I Want

You and Me Again

The Real Me

My Other Half

Cedarwood Pride

Home to Cedarwood

Ripples in Cedarwood

Scoring in Cedarwood

Rainbows over Cedarwood

Rocking Cedarwood

Cedarwood Manny

Together in Cedarwood

Doc Cedarwood

Finding Forever in Cedarwood

Silver Fox in Cedarwood

Cedarwood Cowboy

Anthologies

Out of Bounds: Crossing the Line

Out of Bounds: Making the Play

Aim High: Lifetime Hitch

Brothers in Arms: One Night with You

Rules of Summer: Summer Stock

Collections

What’s his Passion?: Wild Card

Cedarwood Pride

CHRISTMAS IN CEDARWOOD

MEGAN SLAYER

Christmas in Cedarwood

ISBN # 978-1-83943-094-7

©Copyright Megan Slayer 2020

Cover Art by Erin Dameron-Hill ©Copyright December 2020

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2020 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

Book twelve in the

Cedarwood Pride series

Two men, one kid and the frayed nerves that come with the holidays… Can they make it through to Christmas without a blow-up?

Colt Harrison knew when he met Ashley Willis that he’d found the one man for him. He loves Ashley’s son, Wyatt, as if he were his own. But the stress of living together, compounded by buying a home and adopting pets, has worn him down…not to mention the aggravation that comes with the diner he owns. Colt wants to make Christmas special for his family, but how can they have a great holiday when he’s never home?

Ashley’s got a two-week vacation from his job at the elementary school teaching art. All he wants is time with Colt and Wyatt. He loves Colt, but not the long hours spent at the diner, especially around the holidays. Can he be honest about what he wants from Colt and keep the man he loves?

Anything is possible if they embrace the magic of Christmas.

Dedication

For those who struggle during Christmas.

You’re not alone.

For RB

For JPZ

Chapter One

Fourteen days until Christmas…

Ashley Willis stood in the foyer of his house and checked his phone again. He’d hoped his boyfriend, Colt Harrison, would have texted by now. Nothing. He groaned. Colt knew the school staff party was tonight at eight.

The diner, no doubt, would take precedence. It always did.

Ever since Ashley and Colt had moved in together, he seemed to see Colt even less than when they’d lived apart. Then there were the rumblings from his fellow teachers about why they thought he should be getting married.

Good Lord. He had enough to worry about without making things legal. Living together and buying the house in both names should’ve been enough. Sure, they had needed more room and bought the bigger house, but he hadn’t quite adjusted to the change. Anyway, he wasn’t the marrying type…right? He’d barely gotten his life in order with the new house and scheduling conflicts. Then Wyatt, his son, had begged for a puppy. Colt, the man who could seem surly to everyone but the ones he truly loved, had brought home two pups he’d rescued from the shelter. Having two puppies wasn’t bad, but they created a whole new group of problems like accidents, having to go outside at all hours of the night and chewing up the furniture. Colt helped, but he wasn’t home that much to make a difference. At least Colt and Wyatt were good at taking the pups for walks.

About the only thing Colt had done was give Wyatt ideas for naming the dogs. Wyatt thought the world of Colt and, of course, had agreed to Colt’s ideas. The female had become Liz and the brown male was named Dick.

Ashley shook his head. He and Colt had been through hell together. After finally getting the nerve to speak to each other, they’d tried dating. Then the Coalition, the group who wanted to rid Cedarwood of gay people, had attacked Colt and beaten the hell out of him. The moment he’d found out, Ashley had thought he’d lost Colt. Ever since the attack, he’d realized just how much he loved Colt. He couldn’t see his life without him. But that didn’t help right now when he seemed to be doing a lot of living alone.

Wyatt thundered down the steps. Ready.

Great. Ashley shoved his phone into his pocket. At least one of you is. Shit. He shouldn’t have said that in front of Wyatt.

Colt isn’t? Wyatt rolled his eyes in the way only an eight-year-old could. Is he gone?

He’s at the diner. Ashley helped his son into his coat. I’ll worry about him. Where’s your bag? Aren’t you bringing clothes and toys to Grandma’s?

Yep. Wyatt abandoned the coat and hurried up the stairs again. He clunked back down with his plastic suitcase. I’ve got my action figures, my blocks and my tunes.

Clothes? Pajamas? Anything? He loved his son, but Wyatt could drive him crazy. You need something to sleep in.

Grandma has clothes. Wyatt put his coat on. She said I didn’t need to bring anything.

If I text her and you’re fibbing, you’re in trouble. Right now, he needed to get moving. He still had to drop Wyatt off with his mother and stop at the diner. Put your boots on and get in the car, please.

Wyatt disappeared into the garage.

Ashley stepped into his loafers. Where’d he put his gag gift for the exchange? He spotted the bright red and green box. Everyone had been asked to bring a gift. Nothing fancy or expensive. When he’d spotted the carved wood statue, he knew he’d found the right item. The eyes weren’t quite right on the statue of Santa. It was quirky enough to be funny without being insulting. He’d boxed the odd piece of art and wrapped it. He’d wanted to show his treasure to Colt, but Colt hadn’t been home much since Thanksgiving.

He understood Colt was important. Colt ran and owned the diner. The thing was, Colt took his role at the restaurant to the extreme. If something went wrong, Colt acted like he was the only person who could fix the situation. The staff Colt had hired were capable, but Colt wouldn’t relent.

Ashley knew better, but Colt didn’t listen to him. Colt knew how to run the diner and took no advice from him.

He grabbed his keys and phone. Where was his wallet? He patted his pocket for his wallet. Found it. He carried the box to the back of the SUV and put the gift in the cargo area. He rounded the vehicle before he slid behind the wheel. Buckled?

Yes, I am. Wyatt held up his hands. Safe.

Thank you. He opened the garage door and switched on the engine. He checked the driveway in the slight hope that Colt might have come home. Nothing. He backed out of the garage, then put the door back down.

Why wasn’t he surprised Colt wasn’t home? He should have known Colt wouldn’t be around in time for the party. Colt needed to work. The diner was in his blood.

Ashley drove across town to his mother’s condominium. Wyatt sat in the backseat and sang along to the Christmas songs on the radio.

Ashley tuned out Wyatt’s singing. He didn’t feel Christmassy. His heart sank when he drove past the diner. Colt’s car was in the lot. Knowing Colt, he hadn’t even looked at a clock.

Oh well. Ashley couldn’t fault Colt for being devoted.

Ashley drove the rest of the way across Cedarwood to the Knowlton Condominiums. At least there wasn’t any snow. He hated driving when the weather conditions weren’t ideal. He pulled into the condo lot and parked in front of his mother’s garage.

Brenda opened the front door. She met Ashley and Wyatt on the front walk. There are my boys. She stopped. Where’s Colt?

Ashley handed Wyatt the suitcase and gritted his teeth. Wyatt knew Colt wasn’t around, but it didn’t mean he needed to hear the discussion.

Brenda nodded. Wyatt? I put some popcorn in the microwave. It should be done. Why don’t you check it for me?

Yes. Wyatt raced past her with the suitcase and disappeared into the condo.

He’s all energy. Brenda laughed. I’m sad I’m going to miss the Christmas musical. She paused. I mean, Winter Extravaganza. I wish I didn’t have to work. No one wanted to switch shifts. I tried, mind you, to switch.

I know. He’s looking forward to singing and his one line. All he has to say is ‘Winter is the time for everyone to come together.’ You’d think he was delivering the State of the Union. Ashley relaxed. His mother could be pushy, but she cared. I’ll stand in the back and record it with my phone.

Thank you. She touched his arm. He’s nothing like you, yet just like you. Want to tell me what’s wrong?

It’s nothing. Ashley closed the car door. Colt’s at the diner.

Again?

He is the owner. Ashley hooked his fingers into his trouser pockets. He has to be there.

I know. Brenda hugged him. It seems like it’s more frequent, him being gone. It’s Christmas. He should be home.

He’s gone a lot, but the diner is his livelihood. Not that it didn’t feel like a jealous, demanding lover at times.

I know. She hugged him again. Just keep your eyes open. Sometimes people who stay away aren’t only working.

Mom. He should’ve seen this coming. She was looking out for him, but that didn’t make her comment hurt any less.

I love him and he’s been good for you, but stuff happens, Brenda said. He likes Wyatt, but he’s taken on a lot.

I know. She didn’t have to vocalize all his concerns. I need to go, but, before I do, Wyatt said he didn’t need to bring clothes. Want to clue me in?

I told him to leave a set of clothes here in case he spilled something on his. I bought some stuff, too. She offered an impish smile. I was trying to help. You’ve taken on a lot and you’re doing well, but I can help you. I’ll tell him to pack clothes next time. She sighed. He also told me you’re working to keep clothes on him. I thought maybe you were overwhelmed and would appreciate the assistance.

You’ll spoil him, but I do appreciate the help. Her heart was in the right place. "Maybe save the rest