Our Valentine's

By S. J. Coles

FROM POPULAR AUTHOR OF LGBTQIA ROMANCE S. J. COLES

Book two in the Once Upon a Holiday series

We' ll make it our Valentine' s— and the best show on Earth.

Everyone believes movie star Charlie Kearney lives a charmed life, not least because he recently returned to his hometown of Littleton with enigmatic fashion designer Jacques Clement on his arm. Their whirlwind romance and high-profile engagement have kept Charlie trending on the socials for weeks, and his management company couldn' t be happier.

But there' s just one problem. Charlie and Jacques aren' t engaged. They aren' t even in a relationship. Charlie needed someone to bring home for Christmas and had also hoped the news of their engagement' might tempt an old flame.

Things haven' t quite gone according to plan. Now Charlie feels he has no choice but to ask Jacques to continue with the charade, even though his fake fiancé has a Valentine' s Day fashion show in Paris to prepare for. Jacques agrees to stay, but Charlie is now beginning to wonder if saving face is the only reason he' s so desperate to keep Jacques in Littleton.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Jan 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781839432446

S. J. Coles

S. J. Coles is a Romance writer originally from Shropshire, UK. She has been writing stories for as long as she has been able to read them. Her biggest passion is exploring narratives through character relationships. She finds writing LGBT/paranormal romance provides many unique and fulfilling opportunities to explore many (often neglected or under-represented) aspects of human experience, expectation, emotion and sexuality. Among her biggest influences are LGBT Romance authors K J Charles and Josh Lanyon and Vampire Chronicles author Anne Rice.

Book preview

Pride Publishing books by S. J. Coles

Single Books

Blood Winter

Straight to the Heart

Dark Summer

The Devil You Know

Once Upon a Holiday

Your Christmas

Collections

My Bloody Valentine: Blood Red Roses

Sun, Sea and Small-Town Secrets

Enemy Territory: My Iron Knight

Once Upon a Holiday

OUR VALENTINE’S

S. J. COLES

Our Valentine’s

ISBN # 978-1-83943-244-6

©Copyright S.J. Coles 2023

Cover Art by Kelly Martin ©Copyright February 2023

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 2023 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 two in the

Once Upon a Holiday series

We’ll make it our Valentine’s—and the best show on Earth.

Everyone believes movie star Charlie Kearney lives a charmed life, not least because he recently returned to his hometown of Littleton with enigmatic fashion designer Jacques Clement on his arm. Their whirlwind romance and high-profile engagement have kept Charlie trending on the socials for weeks, and his management company couldn’t be happier.

But there’s just one problem. Charlie and Jacques aren’t engaged. They aren’t even in a relationship. Charlie needed someone to bring home for Christmas and had also hoped the news of their ‘engagement’ might tempt an old flame.

Things haven’t quite gone according to plan. Now Charlie feels he has no choice but to ask Jacques to continue with the charade, even though his fake fiancé has a Valentine’s Day fashion show in Paris to prepare for. Jacques agrees to stay, but Charlie is now beginning to wonder if saving face is the only reason he’s so desperate to keep Jacques in Littleton.

Dedication

For my Valentine of sixteen years and counting

Trademark Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

The EastEnders: BBC Studios Continuing Drama Productions

Heathrow Airport: Heathrow Airport Holdings

Twitter: Twitter Inc.

Superman: D.C. Comics General Partnership Inc.

TikTok: ByteDance

Armani: Giorgio Armani S.p.A.

iPad: AVC Group LLC

Batman: D.C. Comics General Partnership Inc.

Whatsapp: Whatsapp Inc.

Chanel: Chanel Inc.

Chapter One

Radio Littleton had reported it as the coldest Christmas the region had seen in years. The snow had reached record levels by Christmas morning, and it was still falling. The wind blew the fat flakes in and out of the puddles of streetlight like confetti.

But Charlie Kearney couldn’t feel the cold. He didn’t see his breath fogging in the air. All he could see was Nick Bostock, the former love of his life, kissing their mutual friend Seph Rose in the circle of light cast by one of the park lanterns. When they broke apart and smiled at each other, Charlie’s chest tightened like a vise.

They turned and vanished together into the shadows.

Charles? Are you okay?

Charlie started. A small figure swathed in several overcoats stood just behind him. Black eyes twinkled up at him from under a home-knitted bobble hat.

Auntie Mia? What are you doing here?

Oh, just walking off some of that Christmas pud, she said, patting her belly. Her brow creased with concern. What’s wrong, love? You look like you’ve had a shock.

Nothing. Just… He almost spilled everything. I was right. Nick didn’t really want me. He just thought he did. And now I don’t know what to do. He forced a smile. Nothing.

The old woman seemed to look right through him. She smiled softly and put a mittened hand on his elbow. "Remember when