Smoky Mountain Christmas: The Bedfords, #4

By H.C. Bentley

The Bedfords are playing matchmaker. And they have a little help.

 

Grace and Ray Bedford have opened up the family home for their annual Christmas party and half of the Gatlinburg area has been invited. This includes Reeanne Hawthorne, owner of Smoky Mountain Sweets, a popular local candy store. A classic workaholic, Reeanne only came to the Bedford's Christmas party because she was pressured by a friend into accepting the invitation. Feeling out of place in the crowd, Reeanne thought she'd be better off doing inventory or going over the books. At least until a certain firefighter caught her eye.

 

Seth Bennett still hasn't gotten over the fact his best friend, Colt Bedford, beat him at his chance at Amy, the girl of Seth's dreams. He couldn't hold a grudge, though, especially since Colt and Amy are engaged. And since Seth considers the Bedfords more like family than friends, there are no hard feelings. Especially once Seth meets Reeanne.

 

When Amy's sisters, along with the Bedfords, notice the sparks between Seth and Reeanne, they count on some Christmas magic (and a little scheming) to help the pair meet under the mistletoe. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: H.C. Bentley
• Release date: Nov 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201273033

H.C. Bentley

There's just something about a small town that makes relationships interesting, whether they are romances, long-running feuds, or life-long friendships. These are the relationships H.C. Bentley enjoys discovering and exploring. Well that, and the fact she just loves a good happily ever after or second chance story.  ​When she's not writing, H.C. works as a cataloging librarian at her county library. In her spare time, you can find her playing pool, traveling with her family, or curled up watching movies (romantic comedies are a favorite!). She's also an avid reader, leaning towards various authors of romance and chick lit, but her favorite is Nora Roberts.  ​A southern girl at heart, H.C. calls Kentucky her home. After opting to join the military to pay for college, she spent three years stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany before returning to her hometown in rural western Kentucky, where she and her husband live with their two daughters.  ​H.C. loves chatting with readers. You can contact her through the website, or any of her social media.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Christmas in the heart of the Smokies was the best time of year, as far as Grace Bedford was concerned. Pretty lights twinkled up and down the streets of Gatlinburg, on homes and businesses alike. Pigeon Forge could probably be seen from space, given the sheer volume of lights strung and lit in - and on - every available space. The sight of the snow falling, the scent of cookies and woodsmoke, and the sounds of Christmas cheer made this Grace’s favorite season.

It was also a time where, no matter what was going on in the world, the ones she loved the most gathered around her. Her husband, Ray, had stood by her side, steadfast and strong, for more than forty years. His mother, Annie, who she considered as much of a mother to her as her own, was fully recovered from her health scares over the last few years and was back to being as feisty as ever. Then there were her children, her joys, and the center of her world, even if they were fully grown.

There was Charlotte, the baby of the family, finally back home where she belonged after her adventures in New York City. She had been a top fashion photographer, until the pull and tug of the mountains, and her family, and brought her home. Charlie, as she was known among family, had married earlier this past fall, to the Montgomery boy – as he’d forever be known around these parts – and was settling into her new home. Landon, having realized his life-changing mistake in not following the love of his life to the city when she’d asked, recognized his second chance and doted on his wife. It was a lovely thing for Grace to see.

And speaking of lovely, Colt – her middle child – had found a truly wonderful woman of his own. Grace had begun to worry about Colt, whether he’d settle down, whether he’d be forever married to his work. Which, considering he was a firefighter, was a worry in itself. But then he’d met Amy Kincaid and Grace immediately noticed the change in him. His accident a couple of years ago had made him tense and closed off, but with Amy, he was back to his usual open, easy-going manner. Amy was sweet, sassy enough to hold her own with Colt and the rest of the Bedford clan, and she was a terrific mother. Emmy was a delightful girl, one who had Colt fully wrapped around her finger. As for Grace, she was eagerly anticipating the first Christmas where she had a grandchild to spoil. Even if Colt and Amy weren’t yet married, she still considered the Kincaid girls family.

Last, but not least, was her oldest son, Clay. He couldn’t be more different than his brother. Where Colt was broad with strong muscles and tattoos (something she’d given him more than a little grief over), Clay was whipcord lean but strong. When Colt would bluster and stalk about, Clay would sit and think. But, all differences aside, the two were close, often thick as thieves, never wavering in the support of each other. Grace gave a shiver as she remembered the two of them, armed and determined, went up into the mountains after Emmy when the child’s father, and Amy’s ex-husband, had kidnapped her. Clay, ever the big brother, had led the charge and made sure everyone made it back home where they belonged.

Sighing, Grace began to cut the cooling gingerbread she had baked. Her eldest child didn’t seem to be inclined to settle down any time soon. But hope sprang eternal. Maybe he’d meet someone tonight at her party.

Outside of her family and her work at the salon, there was nothing Grace enjoyed more than entertaining. And she’d found no better excuse to throw a party than a Christmas gathering with her friends and growing family. She’d decided to make tonight’s festivities an open house, a come and go as you please event for the people in her life. She’d been decorating for a week, driving Ray and Annie to the brink of madness as she adjusted, readjusted, and went over everything again. Grace made up for the insanity by baking dozens of cookies and other Christmas treats, making sure she set a platter of the goodies out for her husband and mother-in-law. It not only helped keep the peace but kept them out of her way, for the most part.

Glancing at the clock, Grace let out a quick huff of breath as she untied her apron. Guests would be arriving in less than an hour and she had yet to make one last round of the living spaces to make sure everything was as it should be. She was in the process of tossing her apron aside when