Stuffing Her Stocking

By Shaw Hart

Beau is the least cheerful person in Christmas, Michigan.

He took over his dad's mechanic shop and now he's stuck in this holiday town.

When his dog runs off one night as he's closing up, he follows him to a find a car that slid off the road.

He rushes down to help and comes face to face with Holly.

One look into her green eyes and it feels like his tiny Grinch heart just grew three sizes.

Will Beau be able to convince Holly that he's the man for her and that she should stay in Christmas with him forever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shaw Hart
• Release date: May 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223245186

Book preview

One

Beau

I scowl at the heavily falling snow. It’s already freezing outside, well below zero, and I’m exhausted. Business has been steady with me checking out cars, changing oil and filters for the people who are headed out of town for the holidays.

I never leave.

There’s nowhere for me to go. I was raised by my dad after my mom died when I was just a little kid, but he passed a few years ago. He left me the Mistletoe Mechanic Shop which is the only reason that I am still in this god-awful town.

I mean seriously. Who names a town Christmas?

I didn’t always hate the holiday. I even liked living in Christmas, Michigan. It was a small town but the people were friendly and kind and it had everything that I needed.

It was after my father passed that I started to resent all of the Christmas cheer. Maybe it’s just because I’ve spent the last few years alone, or maybe I’m just turning into a cranky old man. Can that happen when you’re only twenty-eight?

Ford, my rescue mutt starts barking, his eyes trained outside of the big bay door into the night. I don’t know how he can see anything with how fast the snow is coming down but whatever he’s looking at, it’s captured his attention.

He’s a mix of a German Shepherd and some kind of Terrier. He had been just a little puppy when he had wandered into the shop one night. I found him curled up in a pile of my dirty rags the next morning. I had gone around town, trying to find who he belonged to but no one ever claimed him, so I adopted him.

I leave him to watch the night as I finish closing up the rest of the shop. It’s late, close to 9 pm and I’m ready to head across the street to my house, grab something to eat and take a shower before I pass out.

I switch off the lights, double checking that the back door is locked even though I know that no one will be breaking in here. I hit the button to close the big bay door and it’s almost shut when Ford darts out.

Shit! Ford! I yell, charging out the front door after him.

I hear the crash as soon as I step outside. The squealing of tires and the crash of breaking glass and metal being bent. I’m running after Ford before I can even process it.

I live on the edge of town and it’s pitch black between the streetlights. Luckily, the crash isn’t that far from my shop. I use the flashlight on my phone to light the way and I slide to a stop when I spot the tire tracks, veering down the hill on the side of the road.

It looks like the car slid on the ice and they skidded off the road. The car is down at the bottom of the hill, wedged between a grouping of small trees. They’re lucky that they didn’t hit it head on. Ford is already at the driver’s side of the car, barking and I hurry down the small hill after him.

The snow is still coming down hard and I shiver even in my Carhart jacket. My hat and gloves are back home. I didn’t think I would need them since I was just supposed to be walking across the street to my house.

I stop outside the car and try the door but it’s dented in. I run around to the other side and jerk open the rear passenger door.

I can’t see the girl's face but I can hear her as she groans and raises a hand to her face.

Are you alright? I