Christmas, Mistletoe and Me

By Maggie Anderson

Kirsty Holloway is convinced Sean Donovan doesn't know the meaning of Christmas...

With the holidays right around the corner, Kirsty has finished her Christmas shopping and is standing in the freezing snow, arms laden with bags and boxes, trying to hail a cab. Finally, after an hour, one pulls into the taxi rank and an attractive businessman opens the passenger door, climbs in and is driven away.

TWO WEEKS LATER
What a surprise it is when Kirsty shares the elevator with the same man that had stolen her cab and discovers he is her new boss. How is she going to work with someone she believes is arrogant and uncaring?

Called into work during her vacation time, Kirsty wants to get what needs to be done out of the way so she doesn't have to spend any more time than she has to with Sean. But on accepting his offer of coffee afterward,discovers she may have been mistaken about him.

A Christmas romance novella with a Happily Ever After.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Luna Books, Australia
• Release date: Sep 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223244158

Book preview

Prologue

Kirsty Holloway was on the sidewalk, arms dripping with shopping bags and packages, waiting for the next available cab to pull into the rank. Christmas in New York was the busiest time of the year and she knew how difficult it would be to get a taxi at this time of the evening. The holiday season was her favorite celebration, so at least she could admire the twinkling white lights and other colorful festive decorations while she waited in the winter chill. The gutters were overflowing with slushy mounds of gray snow and, if she wasn’t careful, when a cab pulled in she’d be sprayed with the murky freeze. Her body gave an involuntary shiver as she waited and Kirsty hoped a taxi would come by soon.

She spotted a cab heading her way and awkwardly thrust out her overladen arm to hail it, but as the vehicle pulled into the curb a guy in a dark gray overcoat whipped open the back passenger door and climbed in, mouthing ‘sorry’ and giving her a handsome grin through the window as the taxi merged back into the Christmas traffic chaos.

Well, of all the nerve. Kirsty couldn’t believe how inconsiderate he had been. Couldn’t he see she needed the cab more than he did? And hadn’t she hailed it in the first place? He’d had no shopping bags. Where was his Christmas spirit?

Kirsty could feel the flush of angry frustration spread across her icy cheeks warming them to a rosy glow. Now she’d have to wait for who knew how long for another available taxi before she could arrive home to her cozy apartment and begin the happy task of wrapping the gifts she’d bought for her family and friends. She let out a sigh and shook off the feeling; she wasn’t going to allow one rude gesture to ruin her holiday cheer.

After waiting another thirty minutes for a cab, and traveling the extra half hour to her building (which should have taken ten minutes, but the traffic had been chaos), Kirsty finally stepped into her warm apartment and dropped the bundle of Christmas goodies on the floor by the front door. She’d take a hot shower to freshen up, change into her pajamas, robe, and slippers, and make a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows before getting started on the presents.

*

As she sat on the sofa beside her brightly twinkling tree, Kirsty felt elated as she wrapped the gifts her family would love. She always made a point of buying something she knew they wanted and couldn’t wait to see the excitement on their faces when they opened their presents on Christmas morning. She gave a contented sigh and continued her task. It was going to be a wonderful holiday... she could feel it.

The guy who’d stolen her cab popped into her head and she frowned. Why had he been so inconsiderate? It was the season of giving, after all. Her mind conjured up a picture of him. He was handsome, no doubt about that. Dark hair, blue eyes and a smile to die for, but he obviously had no manners at all. Chivalry was indeed dead. She wondered what his name was. Was he a New Yorker or in the city for the holidays? Maybe he was here visiting family. It didn’t really matter because she was never going to see him again.

One

Two weeks later: A week before Christmas

Kirsty stepped into the crowded elevator heading for the fifteenth floor. She worked for Dress to Impress Magazine, a fashion exposé for the fuller-figured woman to complement their voluptuous curves, and she loved her job. Flattering women who weren’t stick thin made what she did seem worthwhile. Why should slim women be the only ones to have fun with their clothes? She believed any woman should be comfortable in what they wore and enjoy the feeling of looking great no matter what their size.

Today, they would meet their new editor and chief, Sean Donovan, who was renowned for taking a once successful publication and skyrocketing sales with his innovative and creative approach. Everyone in the office was excited to see what plans he had for the magazine, and she, for one, wanted to work closely with him to learn from the best. His reputation preceded him and she couldn’t wait to meet him.

When the elevator stopped at her floor only she and another passenger remained inside. As the doors slid open the man standing behind her said, After you.

His deep, masculine voice poured over her like the warmth radiating from a burning fire and her body tingled.

Thank you. She turned to look at him and the smile on her face stopped mid-motion. You!

His amazing blue eyes met hers and his smile widened. Well, hello, I never expected to see you again.

No, I imagine you wouldn’t after hijacking my cab. She could hear the tightness in her voice and felt her spine stiffen. Of course he never expected to see her again and that’s the reason why he had taken her cab in the first place.

I’m sorry about that. I was late for an appointment. I guess I should have offered to share it with you but I was in a hurry and only thought about it after we’d driven away.

"You should’ve offered to share my cab with me? The cab you stole?"

I am sorry. Won’t you accept my apology considering we’re going to be working together?

Her eyes widened along with her mouth and she snapped it shut. So this was the famous, or infamous, Sean Donovan. Her new boss. Kirsty didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. How could this happen? I suppose I don’t have a choice, do I?

People always have choices, Miss Holloway. The gorgeous